Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog, page 21

Episode 247 – My Mom’s Influence On Me As A Writer

After the loss of his mother, Mark reflects on the ways in which she influenced his love of reading, and other things.

Prior to the main content, Mark 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:

The 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

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 246 – Four of the Pitfalls of Publishing

Mark shares four of the many pitfalls of publishing that can befall authors.

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

This episode is sponsored by The 2022 Write Stuff StoryBundle.

For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you’re feeling generous), you’ll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE.

Domesticate Your Badgers by Michael W LucasPublishing Pitfalls for Authors by Mark Leslie LefebvreWriting Craft by DeAnna KnipplingA Freelancer’s Survival Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus five more books and an online lecture, for a total of 10 books/lectures. That includes two StoryBundle exclusives!

A Writer Prepares by Lawrence BlockFree Your Inner Nonfiction Writer by Johanna Rothman (StoryBundle Exclusive)Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Virtual Worlds by Joanna PennCreate a Character Clinic by Holly LisleDo…Quit Your Day Job by Christina F. York (StoryBundle Exclusive)The Pop-Up Series – Clean First Draft Writing by Dean Wesley Smith

During the main content of this episode, Mark shares four of the P’s of publishing pitfalls:

PACINGPACKPACKAGINGPARALYSIS

Links of Interest:

The 2022 Write Stuff StorybundleEpisode 202 – Predators and Publishers“7 Tools For Pacing A Novel & Keeping Your Story Moving At The Right Pace,” Courtney Carpenter, April 24, 2012“Pacing in Writing: 10 Powerful Ways to Keep Readers Hooked,” Reedsy Blog, October 13, 2018Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need , Jessica Brody, Ten Speed Press, October 2018.Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish, James Scott Bell. Writers Digest Books, October 2004.How to Write Best Selling Fiction, Dean R. Koontz, Writers Digest Books, September 1981. (Out of Print asof the release of this book in August 2021)Buy 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

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 245 – Reflective Round Table March 2022

Mark chats with patrons Matty Dalrymple and Roland Denzel from the March 2022 “Reflective Round-Table.”

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update (that includes the release of the co-authored book Accounting for Authors) and a word from this episode’s sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support the podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections

During their conversation, Mark, Matty, and Roland talk about:

In person events for authorsPrint books for indie authorsChallenges related to pre-release print ARCs (Advance Reader Copies)Tricks and Hacks for in person events and other physical props related to book eventsBook Launches – both virtual and in personWorking with local bookstoresPublic Lending RightsAnd so much more…

Links of Interest:

Matty DalrympleRoland DenzelEpisode 216 – Podcasting for Authors with Matty DalrympleEpisode 128 – Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland DenzelEpisode 116 – Taking the Short Tack with Matty DalrympleReflective Round Table EpisodesFindaway VoicesSuperstars Writing SeminarsBuy 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

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 244 – Rambling Reflections

A rambling reflection episode that talks about writing fast and slow, writing with passion, worrying over reviews, and marketing, and Mark’s “Pineapple on Pizza Principle.”

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron S.W. Millar, reads a few comments, shares a personal update, and 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:

Episode 243 – Creating a Nurturing Welcome Sequence with Holly DarlingBest Book Ever Podcast – Episode 92 – Leah Carey on “One To Watch” by Kate Stayman-LondonFindaway VoicesSuperstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsThe 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

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 243 – Creating Nurturing Email Welcome Sequences with Holly Darling

In this episode, Mark interviews Holly Darling, an author and email marketing consultant.

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new Patron Holger Nils Pohl, shares a brief 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 conversation, Mark and Holly Talk About

Holly’s background as a romance author and how that led to her passion about email marketingHer background in the entertainment business doing email and social media for musicians with large record companiesResponding to questions like: “Why do I need an author email?” or the idea of: “I’m a new author and don’t yet have a readership yet.”The industry average of open rates being anywhere between 18% and 22% but how open-rates are not a reliable metricHow author email offers you a lot more control over the reader journeyThe importance of a four-email 2nd phase nurturing aspect of the welcome sequenceBuilding a welcome sequence on paper first before moving on to the email service providerHow readers are 42% more likely to buy from an author inside of a welcome sequence than in a standard newsletter updateThe way that a well-thought-out nurturing plan can help reduce your emails getting targeted as spamWhat a lead magnet is and what type of content can work best in that regardHow, in sales, people buy from other people they know, like, and trustThat the trust element is what we’re working on inside of the nurturing phase of the welcome sequenceThe first short email in that sequence which usually contains the following elements:A picture of yourselfA link to the reader magnet being offeredOrientate them by reminding them how they got thereSet the tone for what’s to comeThe importance of the trust in the email delivery service and the receiving email’s trust of youHow clicks signal to the email service provider that the person sending the email is “legit”Holly’s typical email timing sequence for those 1st four emails is:
1) immediately when they sign up
2) 2 days later
3) 4 days later
4) 7 days laterWhy Holly is a huge fan of the double opt inThat every email service provider out there allows you to customize your standard double opt-in messageThe survey Holly has added to her emails asking if subscribers to the email want to receive all of the news she has, or if they only want to know about new releases and promotional offersWhat tends to happen, statistically, when you give someone more than two choices or optionsThe importance of tagging people based on their interactions or status, including why it’s good to tag people on their way “out”eMail service providers that Holly would recommendHow the initial emails, particularly in the welcome sequence, need to have a heavier text component to themA reminder to focus on the click rather than on the email open rateThe free courses Holly has on her site, as well as the 1:1 coaching she does with authorsUse code MARK20 to get 20% off any of Holly’s paid coursesAnd more…

The WELCOME SEQUENCE TEMPLATE

Links of Interest:

Holly Darling HQFREE Email Marketing ResourcesOnline CoursesHolly Mortimer AuthorVIDEO from Live Streamed Interview (YouTube)Findaway VoicesSuperstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsThe 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

Holly Darling is a self-published author and an email marketing consultant for authors based in the theatre city of Stratford, Ontario. Over the years, she has helped nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses with proven email marketing strategies. And it all began with her passion for writing!

Holly’s mission is to teach writers how to use emails to increase their sales and cultivate loyal fan bases. Her signature course, Email Marketing for Authors, is for writers looking to use email to grow their business. Whether you’re a brand new author or an experienced writer trying to cut through the noise, Holly’s passion is to help authors turn their readers into raving fans.

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 242 – Helping Others Share Important Stories with Kim Lengling

An interview with Kim Lengling, author, writer, and host of Let Fear Bounce podcast and the Write Stuff, the author’s voice TV Show.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, 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 conversation, Mark and Claire talk about:

How Kim accidentally fell into writing after being asked to share a very personal story about her grandfather who was a WWI veteran in front of an audience of 800 people and a bunch of television camerasBeing invited to write a monthly column on veteran issues after this speechThe evolution of this writing into personal stories that Kim helped veterans sharedBeing the person who can help other people share their storiesA little about her grandfather’s personal story that Kim had shared on that fateful dayThe unique manner by which some of the veterans Kim has spoken to wanted to share their stories, and just how difficult sharing those stories can be for themHow with each story, Kim’s passion for helping other people sharing their stories grewKim’s transition from sharing those stories to her podcast and television workThe circumstances that led to Kim wanting to start a podcastWhy Kim named her first podcast “Let Fear Bounce”The universality of fear and how that means virtually anyone can be a guest on that podcast regardless of their backgroundThe 3 faith-based anthologies Kim published in the “When Grace Found Me” series that shares real life stories of women of faithKim’s advice for writers that includes the negative self-talk authors can often do to sabotage themselvesReaching out to Kim if you’re interested in being on her podcast: VIA: lengingauthor@gmail.comAnd more…

After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something Kim said that really stuck about continuing to do something because of the fulfilling feeling that comes from doing it.    

Links of Interest:

Kim Lengling’s WebsiteLet Fear Bounce – Season 2, Episode 6: Barnaby Bones, Werewolves and Big Cities….Oh My! with Mark Leslie LefebvreFindaway VoicesEP 241 – Indie Publishing Has a Creep ProblemEP 240 – Character, Story, & Industry Alignment with Claire TaylorEP 233 – Love, Only Better with Paulette StoutNo One Will Read Your Book: And Other Truths About PublishingSuperstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsThe 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

Kim Lengling “accidentally”, began writing in 2004. With her writing, she shares her faith, nature, love of rescue animals, and living with PTSD.
She has been featured as a co-author in seven anthologies, is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book faith-based series titled When Grace Found Me, the host of the podcast Let Fear Bounce, and host of The Write Stuff, the author’s voice TV Show.
You can regularly find Kim taking walks with her rescue dog, Dexter, reading, drinking coffee, and jotting down story ideas about her Realm. She is also 20+ year advocate for Veterans who live with PTSD .

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 241 – Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem

It’s time to stop pretending we’re the exception.

A reading, by the author (H. Claire Taylor) of her March 7, 2022 Medium article entitled: “Indie Publishing Has a Creepy Problem“

Links of Interest:

Claire Taylor’s WebsiteIndie Publishing Has a Creep Problem (Original Article)Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark Reflections

Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media.

With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development.

She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal.

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 240 – Character, Story, and Industry Alignment with Clarie Taylor

Mark has a conversation with Claire Taylor, founder and owner of FFS Media, about her writing, about story alignment, and about a creep problem that exists in the indie publishing industry.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares some randomly drawn prizes for three of his Patrons (two copies of a book on worldbuilding by Angeline Trevena and a virtual course by Claire Taylor), 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 conversation, Mark and Claire talk about:

How long it has been since the last time they saw one another in person due to that “thing that happened” (a global pandemic)Claire’s start on The Sell More Books Show Podcast (with co-host Bryan Cohen) in Jan 2020 and the importance of how the two hosts can raise different points to bring perspective to the news and tipsThe challenge of reading news articles aloud liveClaire’s FFS media company and how her story alignment work first startedThe Enneagram (a typology system that describes human personality as a number of interconnected personality types) that Claire uses for her story alignment processMark’s mispronunciation of Enneagram as angiogramAligning characters to their core motivationsThe different genres and series novels that Claire writes in. H. Claire Taylor as a writer of contemporary comedy novels; H. Clarie Taylor co-authoring with Brock Bloodworth (a pseudonym for Claire) writing a paranormal cop comedy adventure series; Nova Nelson writing cozy mysteries and magical Renaissance fiction; CLaire Feeny writing serial killer fictionClaire’s passion for Renaissance FairsLeveraging her husband’s experience as a police officer (and soon to be detective) in making her cop fiction more realisticThe culmination of having been writing since May 2015Learning the importance of rest and changing her previous habits of being a chronic over-achieverThe origin of Claire’s “The Waffling” series of videos and its relation to her giving in to peer pressureClaire’s social media “Hot Walks”Being at the two year anniversary of when everything shut-down/locked-down for “two weeks”Her publishing strategy of “Exclusive to Amazon Kindle” VS “Wide”The genesis for Clarie’s March 14, 2022 Medium article “Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem”How important it is for men to be aware that this type of thing is happening and how it’s not going to be reported, and why women don’t report itThe importance of paying attention to and focusing on that “sixth sense” of just knowing something is wrong, or the body language being witnessed seems offHow woman are often programed to diminish such an experience and to also gaslight themselves – so having someone acknowledge the wrong taking place can be extremely beneficial to them in validating the experienceClaire’s own Enneagram type and how that aligns with her deep-rooted satisfaction in doing what is right and what needs to be doneAnd more…

After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something that Claire said that really stuck with him. “My fear of seeming awkward in a situation is less important than the possibility of a woman being in a bad situation I haven’t intervened in.”   He also shares that the article Claire published to Medium will be the main content of Episode 241 which will be published almost immediately after Episode 240.  

Links of Interest:

Claire Taylor’s Website5 Day Indie Author Alignment Course (FREE – Virtual)Supercharge Your Story Course (Virtual)Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem (Medium Article)EP 237 – Building and Destroying Worlds with Angeline TrevenaFindaway VoicesA Bundle of Fears and Frights (get 25% off at Kobo using promo code: MARCH25)Superstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsThe 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

Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media.

With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development.

She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal.

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 239 – Public Lending Right for Authors

In this solo episode Mark talks about Public Lending Right programs.

Public Lending Right (PLR) is the right of authors and other rightsholders to receive payment for the free public use of their works in libraries. PLR has been in existence since the 1940s and is currently available for authors in more than 30 countries around the world.

Prior to the main content, shares a personal update that includes Writers for Ukraine: The Million Word Challenge, 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.

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Links of Interest:

Writers for UkraineGo Fund Me for Writers for UkrainePLR InternationalLinks to Established Global Region programs for PLRPLR CanadaFindaway VoicesSuperstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsThe 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

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 238 – This is Not a Real Interview with Jeff Cottrill

Mark interviews Jeff Cottrill, a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada, about spoken-word art and his new novel HATE STORY.

Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes a Patreon supporter, shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes 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 conversation, Mark and Jeff talk about:

How Jeff had always been writing since he was young, including silly poems and sketches and storiesThe writing becoming a bit more serious in nature in high school, and then later in university, where he was actually discouraged from writing for a whileDiscovering the unique nature of spoken-word and open mics and then adapting his own style and adaptation of the artHow really bad workshops can be traumatizing and can set back a writer for yearsThe lack of (or overabundance of) life and energy within spoken-word poetryReading the room and playing off the crowdJeff’s Octobe 2020 article on Digital Journal called “Meet the Zoom Poets: How lockdown has connected artists globally”A bit of a backstory about and a short reading from Jeff’s poem: ““This Is Not Real Poetry”Jeff’s new novel Hate Story, which is a mix of satire and mystery that has a plot structure that’s like a loose parody of Citizen KaneHow social media gaffs can completely destroy a person’s lifeThe Justine Sacco 2003 Twitter fiascoTrying agents, and then discovering Dragonfly Publishing in Australia for this bookThe virtual book launch on March 19, 2022 that is going to include guest musicians and other authors, performance poets and creative artistsAdvice Jeff would offer to budding writers and spoken word artistsAnd more…

After the interview, Mark talks about what writers can learn from witnessing really good spoken word performances as well as the idea that sometimes your idea for a project may not always come at the proper time.

Links of Interest:

Jeff Cottrill’s WebsiteMeet the Zoom Poets (Article on Digital Journal)How One Stupid Tweet Ruined Justine Sacco’s Life (New York Times Article)Findaway VoicesFindaway Voices – Title Discount PromoSuperstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsThe 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

Jeff Cottrill is a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada. He has headlined in countless literary series throughout Canada, the U.K., the U.S., France and Ireland over the last twenty years. His performance style is influenced by slam conventions, but subverts them with wit, ironic humour and a satirical tone.

His poem “This Is Not Real Poetry” is currently nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and his first novel, “Hate Story”, is coming soon from Dragonfly Publishing.

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