Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog, page 20

Episode 256 – Knowing Your Worth And Value As An Author

Mark shares an excerpt about calculating your worth as an author from the book ACCOUNTING FOR AUTHORS which he co-authored with D.F. Hart.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Jenny Simard LaBranche to his patron supporters, and shares a word from this episode’s sponsor.

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

Links of Interest:

Accounting for AuthorsEP 255 – Overcoming Obstacles and Just Doing It With Jenny S. LaBrancheFindaway VoicesBuy 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 MoonThe 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 255 – Overcoming Obstacles and Just Doing It with Jenny S. LaBranche

Mark interviews Jenny S. LaBranche about not letting anything stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer.

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

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

During their chat, Mark and Jenny talk about:

Wanting, her entire life, to be a writerGrowing up in a Hollywood family, and first learning about screenplaysJenny’s work-related connection to the 9/11 tragedy in New York City (75% of their clients were in the World Trade Center buildings) and becoming a firefighter and EMT shortly after thatLeaving her job in August 2021 and the great support her husband offered herSigning the Red Sneaker contractA little bit about the Red Sneakers book series from William Bernhardt and how they helped JennyBeing surrounded by so many of mother’s books when she was youngWorking with William Bernhardt as a writing coach and as an editorThe Writing Retreat in the Ozark that Jenny was scheduled to attend this summerJenny’s forthcoming novel Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame and the heart of her main characterScheduling her day to include writing, other tasks, and non-writing-related chores and responsibilitiesGoing for walks with her charactersBeing a hard-core plotterJenny’s plans for the new novel and the options she’s consideringHow Jenny learned about Draft2DigitalThe value and power of acknowledging that “I Am A Writer”Why it’s important to stop doubting yourself and to just do itAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Jenny spoke about, thanks Patrons, and also reads an excerpt from Fright Nights, Big City as an example of a “walk with your character” exercise.

Links of Interest:

Jenny’s Facebook PageRed Sneaker WritersRed Sneaker Writing RetreatsEP 252 – Broadening Your Writing Universe with Rona GofsteinFindaway 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 MoonThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Jenny S. LaBrache spent from ages 20–31 working in the IT field. On September 11, 2001, Jenny was working as a Corporate IT Manager, managing 10 of the world’s largest internet companies. 75% of her companies clients were in the world trade centers and they themselves occupied the 136 floor of The South Tower. After that devastation, Jenny left the IT field and began working as a Firefighter and Emergency Medic until the end of 2014. Throughout her life and career, Jenny always let her dyslexia stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer, but no longer.

On August 26th, 2021, Jenny joined William Bernhardt’s Red Sneaker Writers Center on Facebook and began The Red Sneaker Writers Book Series. Her first high fantasy novel will be Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame. This is a thrilling, fast paced fantasy filled with adventure, dark forces, deceit, laughter, friendship and, a humorous discovery of the primal nature of one’s true self. Where new friends become tutors in the most interesting and hilarious ways.

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 254 – Best Pages, Ads, and Newsletters with Bryan Cohen

Mark interviews Bryan Cohen who runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, reads comments, offers a personal update and shares a word about this episode’s sponsor.

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

During their chat, Mark and Bryan talk about:

Bryan’s “Best Page Forward” book blurb writing business that started in 2016Slowly growing the business by starting off with “bargain basement” pricing, and then eventually growing to having 8 writers and having written more than 5000 book descriptionsThe misconception that it’s necessary for a blurb writer to have to read the book they are writing aboutAdding instructions for Amazon and Facebook ads to his repertoireThe fact that even people who work on the Amazon Ads product can find it complex and confusingThe quarterly free Amazon Ad Challenges that Bryan has been running for the past couple of yearsThe hands-on approach to this challenge that begins right at step-oneWho these free challenges and the full courses are forOpportunities that exist within email marketingThe forthcoming book that Bryan is working on that follows the “story” of helping a fictional author named NinaBryan’s long-running podcast The Sell More Books ShowThe importance of regularly scheduled down-time for one’s mental and physical healthA little bit about Bryan’s own personal writing careerBryan’s final “hot potato of wisdom” (a shtick from The Sell More Books Show)And more…

After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of downtown for an author, as well as Bryan’s reminder about starting off focusing on one writing thing and one marketing thing.

Links of Interest:

Bryan Cohen’s WebsiteBest Page ForwardSell More Books Show PodcastBryan’s Kick Your Email KickstarterEpisode 251 – The Author Journey with C.J. AnayaFindaway 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 Moon

Bryan Cohen runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show. He’s helped over 30,000 authors through his free Ad Challenges and has sold 140,000 copies of his own books as well.

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 253 – Survival, Resilience, Grace, and Persistence with Lizbeth Meredith

Mark interviews Lizbeth Meredith an award-winning author, speaker, and online teacher living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her memoir Pieces of Me has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television and was released earlier this year.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, talks about a cool Kickstarter that one of his patrons, Holger Nils Pohl is running, and shares a word about this episode’s sponsor.

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

During their chat, Mark and Lizbeth talk about:

Lizbeth’s earliest melodramatic poetry writing when she was youngWhy and how the writing helped when she started to think of her life as a storyRealizing how Lizbeth’s PIECES OF ME is just one of an endless number of stories of survival and resilienceHer story of looking over two years of her children being abducted and taken away by their non-custodial fatherThe importance of community for writers as well as for people in generalBeing told, when sharing her first draft “You know, this doesn’t HAVE to be published”Positive feedback from agents who loved her manuscript but would be unable to take it onDeciding to publish with a hybrid publisher (a publisher that charges authors for all the publishing costs)Learning about writers grants to be able to take advantage of and applying for themHow applying for a grant helps a writer learn how to pitchHaving her book optioned by Canadian company CineflexThe lengthy timelines that it took in order to get the option in placeThe movie name being re-adapted from the book title to “Stolen by Their Father”The release date of the 2022 movie lining up with the anniversary of the date Lizbeth left her husbandSome of the other writing projects Lizbeth is working onLizbeth’s podcast, Persistence U with LizbethAdvice Lizbeth would offer to her younger self or beginning writersAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on Lizbeth’s business decision on how she would publish, recognizing the skills she already had with skills from the hybrid publisher she chose. He also reflects on her pointing out the value of community.

Links of Interest:

Lizbeth’s WebsiteLizbeth’s PodcastIMDB Listing for Stolen by Their FatherLizbeth’s Interview of Best Book Ever PodcastFindaway VoicesFindaway’s Series of Live Author Q&A Events (June 2022)Holger Nils Pohl’s Kickstarter: Creating ClarityBuy 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 Moon

Lizbeth Meredith is an author living in Chattanooga, Tennessee after more than 5 decades in Alaska. Her memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television.

Lizbeth is a speaker and online teacher who enjoys coaching and consulting part-time, a fun addition after three-decades career serving crime victims and offenders. In her off- time, Lizbeth enjoys movies at the theater, talking with podcast guests at Persistence U with Lizbeth, and Facetime chats with her adult daughters and grand-pets.

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 252 – Broadening Your Writing Universe with Rona Gofstein

Mark interviews Rona Gofstein, an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach who specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She also writes contemporary romance, is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. 

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks his patrons and provides them an update on June virtual hangouts and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

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

During their chat, Mark and Rona talk about:

When Rona first started to play around with writing when back in collegeHow Julia Cameron’s Book The Artist’s Way inspired Rona to get serious about writing and publishing a bookBeing a “feel your way through” type of writerKnowing her characters really well, despite being a planstserHow Rona works through character sheetsThe importance of having a “what would they never, ever do?” element on a character sheetWhat Broad Universe is within speculative fiction and how they use it to help bring attention to a more diverse range of authorsBecoming an accredited Author Accelerator Book coachRona’s love of helping writers realize their dreams of becoming a writerThe different types of clients Rona works with and the techniques and elements she helps them understandWhere and how Rona fits in her own writingContinuing to do the “Morning Pages” from the previously mentioned book by Julia CameronHow coaching and writing can help feed off one another for RonaThe Joan Didion quote: “I don’t know what I think until I write it down.”And more…

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the morning pages that Rona does based on reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way.

Links of Interest:

Rona Gofstein’s WebsiteBroad UniverseFindaway 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 Moon

Rona Gofstein is an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach and specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She writes contemporary romance and will be launching a new series and pen name later this year. Rona is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. She desperately needs her morning coffee, thinks reservations are the best thing to make for dinner, and believes that one day she will find the magic planner that will keep her perfectly organized.

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 251 – The Author Journey with C. J. Anaya

Mark interviews C.J. Anaya, a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author who enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, an ad he recorded with Julie Strauss for the release of their new novel Lover’s Moon, and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

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

During their chat, Mark and CJ talk about:

How by the time she was eight months old CJ was singingWriting short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presentsThe singing and performing she did, including starting to writing songs at the age of 18Going through three incidents of cancer. First at the age of 18, then at 26, and more recently in the past yearHow her writing journey began shortly after running into Jennifer Griffith when CJ was in a bookstore signing copies of her CDWriting short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presentsDreaming about a spirit trapped in a Japanese statue which lead to writing THE HEALER which ended up being the first book in a seriesHow the Paranormal Misfit series started off as a 10,000 word short storyThe specific themes and issues that this YA series deals withThe book and course CJ created about writer’s blockSpecific genres that CJ works on as a developmental editorCJ’s experience attending Superstars Writing Seminars alone (as opposed to always previously going to conferences with a friend)Advice she would give to her youngest selfSomething that she hadn’t expected when taking Kevin J. Anderson’s Western Colorado University’s Masters in Publishing programWriting songs for characters in her booksAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on when CJ spoke about learning to deal with constructive criticism and appreciating that it’s not that there’s anything wrong with the work, but about what can we improve upon and how can we make this even better.

Links of Interest:

CJ Anaya’s WebsiteCJ’s YouTube ChannelCindy Savage Music on ReverbnationFindaway VoicesBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBest Book Ever PodcastLovers Moon PodcastTikTok Video – Mark’s Skeleton Author PropFrench River Trading PostThe 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 Moon

C.J. Anaya is a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author. She also enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey.

She’s a huge fan of The Mindy Project, Hugh Jackman, and binge eating any and all things chocolate.

As a mother of four awesome kiddos, C.J. is usually helping out with endless amounts of homework, attempting difficult and harrowing crochet projects with her daughters, and getting schooled in basketball by her teenage son.

She loves writing entertaining reads for everyone to enjoy and dabbles in singing and songwriting for kicks and giggles.

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 250 – Typewriters, Nature, and Fatherhood with E.S. Curry

Mark interviews E.S. Curry, an insatiable renaissance man who loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter, listening to classical music on vinyl, and imagining bedtime stories with his son Åsmund.

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

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

During their chat, Mark and Scott talk about:

How Scott started writing for himself four years ago after years of doing ghostwriting and working in advertising and marketingThe importance of discovering his own voice as a writer and how it took writing over one million words before he found his voiceThe experience of a being at a “Fred Forward” conference at the Fred Rogers Center and how Fred Rogers talked about the importance of being in a bubble with a child and really engaging and attending to them and that spaceGetting away to the wilderness with his son Åsmund, unplugging from the digital realm, and really connecting with one another and within natureThe desire of parents to want to “write these things down” when experiencing that magical time in their child’s life where the fantastical and imagination are such powerful elementsDoing their first father/son book signing at Lake PlacidWriting on a 1953 Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriterDiscovering his own author brand and his persona in the same way that he had to discover his own writer voiceThe scholarly 1858 expedition known as the Philosopher’s CampRichard Louv’s writing, his books The Nature Principal, Last Child in the Woods, and his ideas of a Nature Deficit DisorderBeing visited by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ghost in Scott’s next book: Camping with Emerson’s GhostScott being a huge believer in the 3-format authorA little bit about Scott’s role at Findaway VoicesThe experience of doing the audio for his first book, including auditioning himself as a potential narratorThe importance of having a simultaneous release with multiple formats to maximize your launch marketing effort impactSome of the projects that Scott has been working on outliningBeing a big believer in the Rule of 3’sCreating book ciphers for his son as well as for marketingAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on Scott’s work at writing millions of words before finding his voice, communing with nature, and the tactile experience of writing on a typewriter.

Links of Interest:

E.S. Curry’s WebsiteFindaway VoicesBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsAccounting for AuthorsThe 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 Moon

E.S. Curry is an insatiable renaissance man that loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter while listening to classical music on vinyl, plays piano and guitar, races his sailing yacht Escapade, fences, and imagines bedtime stories with his son Åsmund.

For over 20 years, he’s worked with iconic brands around the world designing brand strategies and marketing campaigns, including IMG, Arnold Palmer, Olympics, Fashion Week, and numerous non-profit initiatives. He is currently the Marketing Strategist for Findaway Voices, a platform that empowers authors and publishers to create and distribute audiobooks to reach listeners globally.

A former ghostwriter, he published his first book under his own pen name, The Flying Sabuki: A Father-Son Nature Adventure, in 2021. One of the many five-star reviews describes the book as a “Must Read for Parents” and “Curry’s approach to parenting struck a chord with me, as his intentional foundation of love and genuine connection with this child is what I aspire to as a parent. On several occasions, tears streamed down my face…” The follow-up book entitled The Philosophers Ghost: Camping with Ralph Waldo Emerson will be published later this year.

E.S. Curry calls Cleveland, Ohio, and Great Lake Erie his home port. To learn more and sign up for his email list visit escurry.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 

EP 250 – Typewriters, Nature, and Fatherhood with E.S. Curry

Mark interviews E.S. Curry, an insatiable renaissance man who loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter, listening to classical music on vinyl, and imagining bedtime stories with his son Åsmund.

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

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

During their chat, Mark and Scott talk about:

How Scott started writing for himself four years ago after years of doing ghostwriting and working in advertising and marketingThe importance of discovering his own voice as a writer and how it took writing over one million words before he found his voiceThe experience of a being at a “Fred Forward” conference at the Fred Rogers Center and how Fred Rogers talked about the importance of being in a bubble with a child and really engaging and attending to them and that spaceGetting away to the wilderness with his son Åsmund, unplugging from the digital realm, and really connecting with one another and within natureThe desire of parents to want to “write these things down” when experiencing that magical time in their child’s life where the fantastical and imagination are such powerful elementsDoing their first father/son book signing at Lake PlacidWriting on a 1953 Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriterDiscovering his own author brand and his persona in the same way that he had to discover his own writer voiceThe scholarly 1858 expedition known as the Philosopher’s CampRichard Louv’s writing, his books The Nature Principal, Last Child in the Woods, and his ideas of a Nature Deficit DisorderBeing visited by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s ghost in Scott’s next book: Camping with Emerson’s GhostScott being a huge believer in the 3-format authorA little bit about Scott’s role at Findaway VoicesThe experience of doing the audio for his first book, including auditioning himself as a potential narratorThe importance of having a simultaneous release with multiple formats to maximize your launch marketing effort impactSome of the projects that Scott has been working on outliningBeing a big believer in the Rule of 3’sCreating book ciphers for his son as well as for marketingAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on Scott’s work at writing millions of words before finding his voice, communing with nature, and the tactile experience of writing on a typewriter.

Links of Interest:

E.S. Curry’s WebsiteFindaway VoicesBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsAccounting for AuthorsThe 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 Moon

E.S. Curry is an insatiable renaissance man that loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter while listening to classical music on vinyl, plays piano and guitar, races his sailing yacht Escapade, fences, and imagines bedtime stories with his son Åsmund.

For over 20 years, he’s worked with iconic brands around the world designing brand strategies and marketing campaigns, including IMG, Arnold Palmer, Olympics, Fashion Week, and numerous non-profit initiatives. He is currently the Marketing Strategist for Findaway Voices, a platform that empowers authors and publishers to create and distribute audiobooks to reach listeners globally.

A former ghostwriter, he published his first book under his own pen name, The Flying Sabuki: A Father-Son Nature Adventure, in 2021. One of the many five-star reviews describes the book as a “Must Read for Parents” and “Curry’s approach to parenting struck a chord with me, as his intentional foundation of love and genuine connection with this child is what I aspire to as a parent. On several occasions, tears streamed down my face…” The follow-up book entitled The Philosophers Ghost: Camping with Ralph Waldo Emerson will be published later this year.

E.S. Curry calls Cleveland, Ohio, and Great Lake Erie his home port. To learn more and sign up for his email list visit escurry.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 249 – Epic Kids Adventures with D. E. Cunningham

Mark interviews D. E. Cunningham, a middle-grade fantasy author, about his life as a storyteller and his new novel Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

https://starkreflections.ca/findaway

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

During their chat, Mark and David talk about:

The inspiration behind writing Marco Swift and the Mirror of SoulsWriting a musical comedy for stage when in college, and making short VHS movies, improv and parodies with his friends when he was in high schoolBeing able to bang out 1000 words an hour, but without proper structure and plottingDiscovering Brandon Sanderson’s DIY writing class on YouTubeHow dramatically different the later drafts of the novel became after David learned more about the craftDavid’s desire to make the heart of the Marco Swift story about children facing trauma and learning to not blame themselvesInspiration from Mister Rogers and his own passion for ensuring that every child knew they were loved and they are capable of lovingGoing through depression and being semi-suicidal when he was youngerWriting this first novel while working on his MFA for Film ProductionHiring an editor through ReedsyWork David had done writing a couple of episodes and outlines for a few different television shows as well as voicing the main character for one seriesSpending a year and a half querying 122 agentsThe one agent who asked to read the book who told David it was “good not great”Hiring a second editor to address the feedback this agent had offered to DavidTrading skills with an artist/designer to get a professional looking cover for his self-published bookThe 99% Perspiration/1% Inspiration principalRealities of television and movie adaptationsThe coolest things about self-publishing a bookDavid deciding to do the audiobook himself because he already had voice-acting experienceAdvice David would offer to his younger selfAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on David’s life-long passion for storytelling, being cognizant of his target audience, and his determination and persistence as a writer.

Links of Interest:

Marco Swift WebsiteD. E. Cunningham Facebook PageD. E. Cunningham InstagramFindaway VoicesThe World of Publishing (Victoria, BC & Virtual) – May 14, 2022Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsAccounting for AuthorsThe 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 Moon

D. E. Cunningham is a middle-grade fantasy author who currently resides in Virginia Beach with his wonderful wife and three fun-loving boys. His search for truth, goodness, and beauty have driven him to write larger-than-life adventures for a new generation of readers. When not writing, he can be found voicing cartoon characters, producing animated children’s shows, and exploring the wilderness with his family.

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 248 – Personal and Professional Challenges with Carina Alyce

Mark interviews Carina Alyce, a best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word about this episode’s sponsor.

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

During their chat, Mark and Carina talk about:

Carina’s love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Grey’s Anatomy, and how this evolved, along with her passion for storytelling, to start writing her current seriesHer medical and clinical background that helped inspire some of her storiesA typical work and family day, and where and how Carina gets her writing inThe “dead drop” method of communicating with herself using Gmail drafts while working on a manuscriptScheduling TikTok content in advance during one-hour of work to use for the remainder of the weekHow a TikTok “page flip” video worksManaging projects via a visible wall whiteboard/calendarWriting Firefighter/Doctor/Police romancesThe HEROES WITH HEAT AND HEART 9/11 charity anthology Carina edits and heads upUsing a combination of personal experience and interacting with firefighters and law enforcement to help make the content in her novels legitimateHow sometimes “crossover” can be an understatement in Carina’s MetroGen novels that include the hospital, the fire station, and the police stationThe number of books Carina already has out and the batch of forthcoming releases coming out in the next several monthsSetting up the stories in a way that the readers can help determine what happens in the ongoing stories, with plot twists such as who the father of a pregnant woman’s child will beHow a single event can include numerous people who all have their own unique story that can covered within this seriesThe dramatic storytelling principal of “Chekov’s gun” (“If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act”.)And more…

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

Links of Interest:

Carina Alyce WebsiteCarina on TikTokEP 247 – My Mom’s Influence on Me as a WriterThe 2022 Write Stuff StorybundleFindaway VoicesBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsAccounting for AuthorsThe 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 Moon

Carina Alyce is the pen name of the Amazon best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care. She promises she never had sex in a call room – the mattresses are not comfortable – or had a fistfight with a patient – though she did work as a fight doc at the Octagon. Her stories are sexy, snarky, and real with all the romance and drama of the lives of our first responders.

She writes the MetroGeneral Downtown series that tackles the personal and professional challenges facing our front-line providers. You’ll find her stories have the drama of Grey’s Anatomy, the comedy of Scrubs, the sexiness of Outlander, and the medical details of Forensic Files. They feature fast, witty dialogue, strong women with goals, and quirky ensemble casts.

When not working or writing, she is a brown belt in judo, an avid reader, and an attending surgeon in stuffed animal veterinary medicine for her six kids. (No one trusts her husband’s medical skills because he’s just a lawyer.) You can follow her at carinaalyce.com/newsletter or see her dance and make Grey’s Anatomy jokes on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@carinaalyce

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