Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog, page 15

Episode 302 – Fat Vampires, Storytelling, and Empathy with Johnny B. Truant

Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant, the author of the Fat Vampire novels adapted by SyFy as “Reginald the Vampire” starring Spider-Man’s Jacob Batalon.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview Mark and Johnny talk about:

How Mark and Johnny have known one another for more than 10 yearsYoung Johnny who had always wanted to be a writer and convinced his high school newspaper to allow him to write a column for themOrbiting the same circles as Sean Platt and how the two met via working via places like Copyblogger and the Blog World ConferenceHow The Self Publishing Podcast came from Johnny wanting to interview (and talk and learn from) Sean Platt and David Wright about the co-authoring and self-publishing they were doingWhere the spark for the idea of “Fat Vampire” came from (the old “after-show” podcast they did called “Better Off Undead” for horror fansJohnny wanting to explore the “sameness taken to the extreme” in Reginald, the fat vampireHow not being exclusive to Amazon actually led to Johnny selling the option and license for FAT VAMPIRE to become the TV show “Reginald the Vampire”The expression “enthusiasm is free”What it was like watching the TV show “Reginald the Vampire” based on Johnny’s novelsPrepping for releasing a companion podcast to the TV seriesSpending three days on the set of the recording of the television programJohnny’s views on the power of story and how they can help break through those psychological walls and the blocks that someone might put up to a different perspective by introducing readers to a “maybe they’re just like me” train of thoughtAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of storytelling in creating connections between people and empathy, sharing a few quotes from an articile in Discovery magazine, as well as the reality of when an author’s work is adapated for media.

Links of Interest:

Johnny B. Truant’s WebsiteFat Vampire to Reginald the Vampire: The Journey so FarSterling and Stone WebsiteDiscover Magazine Article: How Reading Fiction Increases Empathy…Findaway VoicesBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Johnny B. Truant is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by SyFy as “Reginald the Vampire” starring Spider-Man’s Jacob Batalon. His other books include Pretty Killer, Pattern Black, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, and over 100 other titles across many genres.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

Episode 301 – Procrastinating Partners Collaborating with Liz Anderson

Mark interviews his partner Liz Anderson about her work as a Principal within education, as the better half of a writer, and also as a fellow procrastinator and creative collaborator.

This episode is sponsored by the awesome Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support this podcast and receive additional audio, video, and text content.

During the interview, Mark and Liz talk about:

The elements of procrastination that bond the two of them togetherHow Liz has learned to embrace procrastination as a way to get the creativity flowingLiz’s long-time practice of producing videos and short moviesThe “Last Minute Productions” Liz makes, leveraging the “L” and “A” of her initials into the brandingThe “show” (Isolation Station) that Liz started for the staff at her school during the pandemic and how that evolved into “Distance Daily”How these virtual shows allowed the staff to connect in a way that they never had been able to do beforeMark’s participation in Liz’s “Distance Daily” show for a while during the time when she was without a Vice PrincipalThe ongoing daily “Flair Fun” video announcements segment that initiated during the pandemic but continue to this day at Liz’s schoolThe value of the participation from the entire school community in these daily videos that allows for a deeper sense of connection and being seen and heard and part of something biggerThe way Liz practices the role of being an elementary school PrincipalThe important revelation during a Grade 8 graduation that was an eye-opening moment for LizThe difference between being an auditory learner and a visual learnerWhat it’s like for Liz living with Mark the writerThe “spies” Liz has watching for Mark to not engage in particular activities on social mediaHow while Liz had long been creative and producing videos, it was a long time before she felt comfortable getting in front of a cameraMark and Liz’s first creative collaboration, doing the “Stuck in This House Here with You” parody of the Steelers Wheel song “Stuck in the Middle with You”The way that we “paint” and fill spaces with things that tell a story or prompt people to see a space differentlyThe decision fatigue that can happen for a reader and how Liz appreciates being able to just keep reading the next book in a seriesLiz’s love of Joanna Penn’s J.F. Penn thrillers and Kevin J. Anderson’s “Dan Shamble” zombie P.I. novelsSome of the creative endeavors Liz is interested in exploring this coming summer

Then Liz turns the tables on Mark and asks him some reflective questions.

Links of Interest:

Parody VideosStuck In This House Here With You (Parody Music Video with Liz)Kay-Tell Presents: Isolation Parody Songs (Parody Music Video with Liz)The 2022 Aurora Awards Opening Sequence (Hosted by Liz and Mark)The Full 2022 Aurora Awards CeremonyMark’s Tavern: Where Everybody Shares Your Name – Pilot (Cheers Parody)Mark’s Tavern: Dad Jokes MatterMark’s Tavern: TensionMark’s Tavern: Mister Bright SideMark’s Tavern: Death by CoffeeBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

Episode 300 – Celebrating 300 Episodes with Guest Reflections

Mark celebrates the 300th episode by sharing reflections from listeners, past guests, and other podcast hosts.

The guest reflections, in order and with links:

Edwin DownwardEdwin’s websiteStanley B. TriceStanley’s websiteSacha BlackThe Rebel Author PodcastEP 133 – Anatomy of a RebelEP 155 – Rebellious Reflections with Guest Host Sacha BlackJohnny B TruantSean PlattSterling and StoneReginald the Vampire (Fat Vampire)Honoree CorderHonoree’s WebsiteEP 198 – Multiple Prosperous Wins in Marketing and PublishingConnor WhitelyConnor’s WebsiteBryan Cohen & H. Claire TaylorSell More Books Show PodcastEP 240 – Character, Story, and Industry Alignment with Claire TaylorEP 241 – Indie Publishing Has a Creep ProblemEP 254 – Best Pages, Ads, and Newsletters with Bryan CohenKevin J Anderson & Rebecca MoestaWordFire PressSuperstars Writing SeminarsEP – Writing Through Change, Tragedy, and Trauma with Kevin J. AndersonJoanna PennThe Creative PennEP 2 – Living the Health Writer’s Life with Joanna PennEP 148 – A Voice Double Conversation with Joanna PennEP 212 – A Conversation with Joanna Penn on Co-Authoring The Relaxed AuthorJ. ThornJ. Thorn’s WebsiteEP 21 – Real-World Connections in a Digital World with J. Thorn and Zach BohannonKaye BoothWriting to be ReadEP 277- Live Chat with Ask the Authors 2022Kevin TumlinsonKevin’s WebsiteEP 15 – The Process of a Writer’s LifeEP 82 – D2D Ask Us Anything – Part 1 of 2EP 83 – D2D Ask Us Anything – Part 2 of 2EP 86 – D2D Marketing QuestionsEP 93 – D2D Ask Us Anything Aug 2019Matty DalrympleThe Indy AuthorEP 116 – Taking the Short TackEP 216 – Podcasting for AuthorsEP 226 – Reflective Round Table – Dec 2021EP 231 – Reflective Round Table – Questions that Should be in a Writing CourseEP 258 – Reflective Hangout HighlightsLindsay BurokerLindsay’s Website6 Figure Authors PodcastRon CollinsRon CollinsJulie StraussJulie’s WebsiteBest Book Ever Podcast RSS Feed

Links of Interest:

Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

Episode 299 – Marketing and Promo Stacking with CraveBooks

Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Cary Bergeron from CraveBooks.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview, Mark, Kerrie and Cary talk about:

A bit of a background about Kerrie’s writing, publishing, and industry experience, including her multiple previous appearances on the Stark Reflections podcastCary’s experience running a marketing agency and how CraveBooks was initially a side project that grew into something biggerThe challenge with many of the promo sites and the fact they don’t “save” or “keep” the details from an author of previous promotionsWhat CraveBooks.com is and how it works as a marketing platform tool for authorsHow CraveBooks owns and operates about eight of those sites, but also has connections via third party promotion sitesHow Kerrie and Cary met and started working togetherWhere Mark and Kerrie first metThe “Version 2” of CraveBooks, AKA, CraveBooks 2.0 and the bells and whistles that will be included in thatHow you have a free author profile on CraveBooksvice about marketing in generalAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of different things from the conversation.

Links of Interest:

CraveBooks (affiliate link)Other episodes featuring Kerrie FlanaganEP 209 – Growing Sales, Subscribers, and Twitch Marketing with Kerrie Flanagan & Chuck HarrelsonEP 117 – Multi-Layered Collaboration with Kerrie Flanagan, Chuck Harrelson, and MacLeod AndrewsEP 45 – Co-Authoring with the Writers Behind C. K. WilesEP 31 – Writing and Selling Magazine Articles with Kerrie FlanaganFindaway VoicesBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Crave Books is a full-service eBook site and daily email service that gives readers free and bargain eBooks and connects readers and writers. The site also offers a variety of book promotional opportunities and service for authors to raise their profiles and reach new readers.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

Episode 298 – Honesty, Humor, Poetry, Essays, and Disability with Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau

Mark interviews Sudbury area writers Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few listener comments reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview, Mark, Mat and Vera talk about:

Vera and Mat’s backgrounds as writersHow humor is always going to show up in almost anything that Vera writesHaibun Poetry, which is a form that combines haiku and with prose poemMat’s very first book of “railroad stories” and how a lot of his work is focused on his home town of Capreol, OntarioWhat’s funny about disability?How humor can be a coping mechanism for dealing with frustrationVera’s love of poetry and fascination with Japanese forms of writingHow poetry is a way of giving the shortest word picture imaginableThe uniqueness of Latitude 46 Publishing, the publisher releasing both of these books in the spring of 2023The way large publishers commonly make “we just published a book like that” restrictionsMat and Vera billing themselves as the “Rolling Writers” when promoting these booksHow small presses can be a really great resource for writersA focus on what is unique about writers from Northern Ontario and the mutual respect and understanding in the local writing communityThe benefits and drawbacks of being a writer in a northern community as opposed to a larger cityA bit about Sudbury Wordstock, a fantastic literary festival that is celebrating its 10th year in 2023A look at the geography and physical breadth of Canada and how one has to really hustle and really “want it” in order to be successful as a performer in CanadaThe term “criplit,” the divisiveness in the use of the term among disabled writers and why that writing is importantHow the use of Zoom during the pandemic has been a boon for folks who have mobility issues and difficulty getting out and aboutDealing with the inability to travel for book promotionsVera becoming a Poet Laureate of Greater Sudbury the day the pandemic started, but how that helped her bring Sudbury to the worldHow the pandemic taught a lot of able bodied people the concept of “not being able to do something you want to be able to do”And more…

After the interview Mark reflects on the important of community, the uniqueness of the Sudbury writing community, and an element from Mat’s email signature that he finds inspiring.

Links of Interest:

Matthew Del Papa’s WebsiteVera Constantineau’s WebsiteLatitude 46 PublishingEP 224 – Being an Independent Publisher and Bookseller with Heather CampbellEP 189 – From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod CarleySudbury Writers GuildFindaway VoicesSubmit YOUR reflections for Episode 300Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Matthew Del Papa lives in Capreol. He joined the Sudbury Writers’ Guild in 2009 and served two years as president. A voracious reader, Matthew has written for local newspapers and websites, contributed to magazines, and together with Lisa Coleman-Brown co-authored a fund-raising novella entitled Nightmare at the North Pole for the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre (Greater Sudbury’s #3 tourist attraction).

Having self-published ten titles, either as author or editor (and sometimes both), Matthew always has a project or two on the go. The majority of his work is humorous and focused on Northern Ontario, specifically his home town.

His titles include: The Legend of Capreol Red: And Other Stories From a Railroad Town; Nursing Doubts: The Miss Hattie Mysteries; Green Eyes Through Capreol: More Stories From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol: Chilling Tales From a Railroad Town; Captivating Capreol: Thoughts From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol, Jr.: Chilling Tales From—and For—Young Minds; Capreol At Bat: The Fastball Years; Creepy Capreol, Jr. 2: Too Many Zombies; and Merry Capreol: Christmas Stories From a Railroad Town.

Matthew’s first essay collection, Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, is being released May 6th, 2023 by Latitude 46 Publishing.

Vera Constantineau lives in Copper Cliff, ON. She served a two-year term (2020-2022) as poet laureate of Greater Sudbury. The pandemic arrived on the scene the day her appointment was affirmed forcing her to rethink the role, which was very community oriented. She spent a good part of her two years on zoom and travelled around the world to workshops and poetry events. Her podcast, The PL Pod, gathered a following that included regular listeners in the UK, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Australia as well as the US and Canada. Her poetic focus is the Japanese forms of haiku, senryu, tanka and haibun.

In addition to her interest in poetry, Vera writes both fiction and nonfiction. In 2019 her essay Options was included in an anthology, Against Death—35 Essays on Living, published by Anvil Press of Vancouver. In 2020 her haiku placed third in the Martin Lucas Award for Haiku in England. Vera’s early writing coered a ten year span as a humour columnist. Her weekly column appeared in several Northern Ontario Community newspapers.

Vera is the author of Daisy Chained, a collection of short fiction, three lines at a time, a chapbook of haiku that has gotten excellent reviews.

Vera is the Haiku Canada Regional Representative for Ontario and a member of the Haiku Society of America, a member and past president of the Sudbury Writers’ Guild as well as a member of NOWW Thunder Bay.

Her poetry collection, Enlightened By Defilement was published in April of 2023 through Latitude46 Publishing of Greater Sudbury.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

EP 298 – Honesty, Humor, Poetry, Essays, and Disability with Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau

Mark interviews Sudbury area writers Matthew Del Papa and Vera Constantineau.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a few listener comments reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

During the interview, Mark, Mat and Vera talk about:

Vera and Mat’s backgrounds as writersHow humor is always going to show up in almost anything that Vera writesHaibun Poetry, which is a form that combines haiku and with prose poemMat’s very first book of “railroad stories” and how a lot of his work is focused on his home town of Capreol, OntarioWhat’s funny about disability?How humor can be a coping mechanism for dealing with frustrationVera’s love of poetry and fascination with Japanese forms of writingHow poetry is a way of giving the shortest word picture imaginableThe uniqueness of Latitude 46 Publishing, the publisher releasing both of these books in the spring of 2023The way large publishers commonly make “we just published a book like that” restrictionsMat and Vera billing themselves as the “Rolling Writers” when promoting these booksHow small presses can be a really great resource for writersA focus on what is unique about writers from Northern Ontario and the mutual respect and understanding in the local writing communityThe benefits and drawbacks of being a writer in a northern community as opposed to a larger cityA bit about Sudbury Wordstock, a fantastic literary festival that is celebrating its 10th year in 2023A look at the geography and physical breadth of Canada and how one has to really hustle and really “want it” in order to be successful as a performer in CanadaThe term “criplit,” the divisiveness in the use of the term among disabled writers and why that writing is importantHow the use of Zoom during the pandemic has been a boon for folks who have mobility issues and difficulty getting out and aboutDealing with the inability to travel for book promotionsVera becoming a Poet Laureate of Greater Sudbury the day the pandemic started, but how that helped her bring Sudbury to the worldHow the pandemic taught a lot of able bodied people the concept of “not being able to do something you want to be able to do”And more…

After the interview Mark reflects on the important of community, the uniqueness of the Sudbury writing community, and an element from Mat’s email signature that he finds inspiring.

Links of Interest:

Matthew Del Papa’s WebsiteVera Constantineau’s WebsiteLatitude 46 PublishingEP 224 – Being an Independent Publisher and Bookseller with Heather CampbellEP 189 – From Stage to Page and Back to Stage with Rod CarleySudbury Writers GuildFindaway VoicesSubmit YOUR reflections for Episode 300Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Matthew Del Papa lives in Capreol. He joined the Sudbury Writers’ Guild in 2009 and served two years as president. A voracious reader, Matthew has written for local newspapers and websites, contributed to magazines, and together with Lisa Coleman-Brown co-authored a fund-raising novella entitled Nightmare at the North Pole for the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre (Greater Sudbury’s #3 tourist attraction).

Having self-published ten titles, either as author or editor (and sometimes both), Matthew always has a project or two on the go. The majority of his work is humorous and focused on Northern Ontario, specifically his home town.

His titles include: The Legend of Capreol Red: And Other Stories From a Railroad Town; Nursing Doubts: The Miss Hattie Mysteries; Green Eyes Through Capreol: More Stories From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol: Chilling Tales From a Railroad Town; Captivating Capreol: Thoughts From a Railroad Town; Creepy Capreol, Jr.: Chilling Tales From—and For—Young Minds; Capreol At Bat: The Fastball Years; Creepy Capreol, Jr. 2: Too Many Zombies; and Merry Capreol: Christmas Stories From a Railroad Town.

Matthew’s first essay collection, Jerry Lewis Told Me I Was Going to Die, is being released May 6th, 2023 by Latitude 46 Publishing.

Vera Constantineau lives in Copper Cliff, ON. She served a two-year term (2020-2022) as poet laureate of Greater Sudbury. The pandemic arrived on the scene the day her appointment was affirmed forcing her to rethink the role, which was very community oriented. She spent a good part of her two years on zoom and travelled around the world to workshops and poetry events. Her podcast, The PL Pod, gathered a following that included regular listeners in the UK, Ireland, Japan, Sweden and Australia as well as the US and Canada. Her poetic focus is the Japanese forms of haiku, senryu, tanka and haibun.

In addition to her interest in poetry, Vera writes both fiction and nonfiction. In 2019 her essay Options was included in an anthology, Against Death—35 Essays on Living, published by Anvil Press of Vancouver. In 2020 her haiku placed third in the Martin Lucas Award for Haiku in England. Vera’s early writing coered a ten year span as a humour columnist. Her weekly column appeared in several Northern Ontario Community newspapers.

Vera is the author of Daisy Chained, a collection of short fiction, three lines at a time, a chapbook of haiku that has gotten excellent reviews.

Vera is the Haiku Canada Regional Representative for Ontario and a member of the Haiku Society of America, a member and past president of the Sudbury Writers’ Guild as well as a member of NOWW Thunder Bay.

Her poetry collection, Enlightened By Defilement was published in April of 2023 through Latitude46 Publishing of Greater Sudbury.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

Episode 297 – Enthusiasm, Encouragement, and Alchemy for Authors with Jo Buer

Mark interviews Jo Buer, a gothic suspense and literary fiction author from New Zealand who describes herself as a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo. 

Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Jo talk about:

The many different ways that Jo is “bookish”Being able to go back all the way to when she was five years old, and how Jo fell in love with her school’s libraryWriting about a gift she was given when she was six years old and the belief she had, even then, that her writing was stellar and would capture the attention and praise of her teacherThe devastation and determination that early experience left her with as an authorPublishing her first book, a collection of short stories in 2020Finding herself in a really dark place with a significantly negative impact on her self esteem, and how that determined voice of herself at 6 years old kicked inBeing too hard on herself by trying to measure up to the productivity of a full time author while being a part-time author with another full time jobJo’s podcast Alchemy for AuthorsHer role as a teacher and how that might tie back to her own experience having her enthusiasm squashed as a six year oldThe challenge of hosting a podcast while being such an introverted personHow overthinking and looking for the “perfect” solution can often get in an author’s wayJo’s experience working at Chapters and Indigo when she lived in CanadaOne of the most heart-breaking and frustrating things about seeing how bookstores deal with mass market paperback returnsHer experience working in a library, including speaking to the various people who came in thereHow, if you’re an introvert, for example, you’ve sometimes got to “fake it”Advice that Jo would give to her younger selfAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on the “fake it” approach as well as Jo’s advice about leveraging a photo of your younger self.

Links of Interest:

Jo Buer WebsiteInstagramFacebookJo’s Podcast: Alchemy for AuthorsInstagramAlchemy for Authors NewsletterBrandon Sanderson’s Response to WIRED articleMark’s Patron Post with audio of that article and his reflectionFindaway VoicesSubmit YOUR reflections for Episode 300Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Joe Buer is a gothic suspense and literary fiction author living in New Zealand. She is a sucker for the supernatural, time travel, and all things woo-woo. From an early age she came to realize that sometimes truth is stranger than fiction.

She lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary town with her husband and feline familiars, Atlas, Gaia, Zeus, and Hades. When not doting on her cats, devouring self-help books or gorging on chocolate, she writes slightly dark, sometimes scary, often ghostly stories with a smattering of romance.

Jo is also the host of the Alchemy for Authors podcast – a podcast to transform and supercharge your writing life.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

Episode 296 – Powerful in Person Print Book Marketing with Richard H. Stephens

Mark interviews Canadian Epic Fantasy author Richard H. Stephens about finally realizing a life-long dream of writing, about how his fourteen book fantasy series was inspired by hearing an Iron Maiden song in 1982, and about selling print books at in person events.

Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Richard talk about:

Richard’s epic fantasy writing, which is told in trilogy batches, all within the same universeHow the song “Run to the Hills” from Iron Maiden in the early 1980s put the story that became his first trilogy into his head, but also how Richard’s serious start in writing didn’t start until 2017How his first novel was called “The River Styx” for the first 33 years that he kept it kicking around in his headPitching his first novel to an agent, and then realizing this was something he could do for himselfPublishing 14 books in the “Soul Forge” universe since 2018A bit of a background on the reasoning behind retiring from Waterloo Police Service, and how that allowed him to be able to writeRichard’s analogy of being the race car driver with a fantastic pit crew (his wife, family, and the professionals he works with) that helps him look goodWhy Richard invests so much into in person and print sellingMeeting David M. Kelly at GraphicCon in Sudbury, ON and how Richard learned a lot from David in that type of environmentHow 2020 was supposed to be their “breakthrough” yearThe value of what happens when a person browsing at Richard’s table realizing they’re actually talking to an authorThe epic-fantasy themed costumes that Richard will sometimes wear when doing an event in personThe trilogy discount promotional pricing that Richard can offerOrdering print copies from a local printer (in Toronto) rather than having them shipped from AmazonThe trailer Richard has for doing in person events with the book covers on itRichard’s advice on not being afraid to engage with people, and don’t be shy about sharing the fact that you are the authorHow, even with a sign that has your photo on them and a “meet the author today” people still don’t “get it” that the author is right thereThe importance of trying different ways and approaches to see what works best for youMaking someone’s day by offering a woman who was having a bad day the opportunity to name a dragon in one of his booksHow Richard decides which in person book events are worth it and which ones aren’tAdvice Richard would give to his younger 1982 selfAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of making it clear, despite when things seem like they’re already overtly obvious, as well as how we all tend to focus on our “one star” elements rather than our “five star” ones.

Links of Interest:

Richard H. StephensPrinting Legacy (Toronto area Printer)Findaway VoicesSubmit YOUR reflections for Episode 300Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Richard H. Stephens began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to do. A trip to a local bookstore saw the proprietor introduce him to the works of Terry Brooks and Stephen R. Donaldson and his writing life was forever changed.

Richard worked in a warehouse for 22 years, before going back to school. Graduating with honours, he joined the local Police Service.
In 2017, Richard resigned from the Police Service to pursue writing full-time. With the support of his family, he has finally realized his boyhood dream.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

Episode 295 – Body Brokers, Vital Organs, and Selling Direct with Dharma Kelleher

Mark chats with Dharma Kelleher who writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. They talk about that and a lot more.

Prior to the interview, Mark reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, provides a personal update and shares a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Dharma talk about:

Dharma’s “long, torrid” life-long affair with writing, and beginning to write on a manual typewriter in their teenage yearsWhat happened in the intervening years, including getting a degree in journalismComing out as transgender, initially to self in college, and then later on. And the challenges of doing that in the deep south of the USCelebrating 25 years of marriage in 2023Falling back in love with writing in 2007 thanks to NaNoWriMoSpending eight years focusing mostly on the craft of writingPitching to 90 agents and then landing a deal with a New York publisherComing to the realization that the trad pub model wasn’t going to work (due to the publisher requiring print book rights even though they weren’t planning on publishing beyond eBook)Getting tired of hearing the “we already had a transgender author book this year” from publishersRed Market’s release in February 2023 and how Dharma is selling it directly before doing a wide publishing releaseHow you get it early and get more when you buy it direct from the authorSwitching from a WooCommerce to a Shopify website for direct salesDoing the best they can to deliver their books to any customer wherever they are on the planetBeing the first person in Arizona to donate a kidney to a stranger and how that was part of the inspiration for Red MarketThe Jinx Ballou Crime Thriller series and how crime thrillers, mysteries, etc are often about “justice”Some of the things writers can get wrong when they include transgender characters in their fictionDisclosure (Netflix) – that takes a deep dive into those tropesThe importance of giving transgender characters agency in fictionHow the tropes can cause real harm, not just hurt feelingsDharma’s love of numbers and love of writing being among their biggest passionsAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on two of the things that came up in their discussion.

Links of Interest:

Dharma’s WebsiteQueer Women Kick Ass (dot com)Red Market (direct sales link)Trailer for Disclosure (Netflix)Lambda Literary: Three Transgender Crime Writers (Dharma, Robyn Gigl, Renee James) Talk Thrills and Challenges of Writing in the GenreEpic Reads: YA Fiction with Transgender and Non-Binary CharactersGoodreads: Novels of Trans Protagonists by Trans authorsFindaway VoicesSubmit YOUR reflections for Episode 300Co-authoring Collaborations: Conflict, Conquest, and Concord (You Tube Video)Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Dharma Kelleher writes action-driven thrillers that explore the complexities of social and criminal justice in a world that favors the privileged. She is one of the only openly transgender authors in the crime fiction genre. Dharma lives in Arizona with her wife and a black cat named Mouse. 

Learn more about Dharma and her work at https://dharmakelleher.com.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 

Episode 294 – Content for Everyone with Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini

Mark interviews Jeff Adams and Michele Lucchini about their new book, CONTENT FOR EVERYONE: A Practical Guide for Creative Entrepreneurs to Produce Accessible and Usable Web Content.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, reminds listeners about sending THEIR reflections for forthcoming Episode 300, a personal update and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark, Jeff, and Michele talk about:

Their new book, released March 1, 2023 entitled CONTENT FOR EVERYONE and who the book is forTheir backgrounds working at Useablenet and how it relates to this new releaseJeff’s Big Gay Fiction Podcast, which has been going on for eight years nowPioneering digital accessibility with UseableNetThinking about accessibility as an opportunity or a basic expectationIt being hard for Jeff and Michele to not notice accessibility issues out there on the netThe genesis of the book and how it became a collaborative effort between the two of themConveying a message in the widest way possible so that the widest number of people can consume itThe importance of color contrast for people with low visionConsidering the different ways different users interact with a web pageA good rule is “do not rely on a single sense when you communicate”A theme running through the entire book: Being true believers in that if you know WHY you have to do something, you’ll be a lot more committed in doing itAn approach to consider if it feels too overwhelming to take on the task of making one’s work more accessibleAccessibility is about reaching as many potential customers as possibleAll of the conditions that might be creating a temporary disabilityHow the only wrong thing to do is to do nothingThe oddness of the situation where someone who requests something in a more accessible format is asking a favor rather than just laying out a fundamental expectationThe idea of thinking of an accessible format as an “extra task” rather than a basic and fundamental taskThe importance of progress over perfectionAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific learnings he took away from it and ways he can grow and improve/expand upon his mindset related to accessibility.

Links of Interest:

Content for EveryoneUseableNetWebAIM’s Contrast CheckerJeff Adams (& Will Knauss)- Big Gay Author PodcastJeff & Will on Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders Live (Blog)(YouTube)Episode 293 – The Capacity to Unlearn and Relearn with Diane DevenyiFindaway VoicesSubmit YOUR reflections for Episode 300Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Jeff Adams is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. As the Accessibility Operations Director for UsableNet, a company focused on making the digital world more accessible and usable, he consults with clients around the world about digital accessibility. In addition, Jeff’s a creative entrepreneur as an author of queer romance and queer young adult fiction and co-host of the Big Gay Fiction Podcast.

Michele Lucchini is the Vice President of Delivery and Accessibility Operations for UsableNet and oversees the teams responsible for ensuring client’s success in their digital accessibility program. Michele’s background is rooted in software development first and moving to team and operation management later. Thanks to experience gathered in over two decades, Michele is an expert and helping companies, from the largest to the smallest, making their digital experiences accessible.

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0