Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog, page 24

Episode 217 – Dynamic Writer & Editor Partnerships with Sarah Kades & Adrienne Kerr

Mark has a conversation with Sarah Kades and Adrienne Kerr about how their relationship as a writing and editing team, about Sarah’s recent release, Kiss Me in the Rain and about their pathways into the writing and publishing world.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode’s sponsor: Stark Publishing and his books for writers.

In their conversation, Mark, Sarah, and Adrienne talk about:

How Sarah got into writing and how Adrienne got into editingThe first book that Adrienne edited and the intriguing story behind itSarah’s first experience with a nurturing editor and how that led to a positive experience ensuring she stuck with writingThe importance of having a solid connection and relationship with an editor who understands your goalsHow Adrienne and Sarah first met and the huge faux pas Sarah made trying to connect with AdrienneThe airport pickup story and how Sarah and Adrienne bonded in the car on the way to the conference hotelThe way the two helped one another at mutually critical junctures in their livesA bit about the novel Kiss Me in the Rain and the elements Sarah likes to include in her novelsHow the setting in Kiss Me in the Rain is a character in the novelEarning your right to criticize as an editorSarah’s writer voice and confidence growing stronger by working with AdrienneKeeping in mind a book in a series as a stand-alone story for readers of that book as well as the readers of the entire seriesAnd more…Recording of the LIVE interview

After the conversation Mark reflects on the importance of a solid writer/editor relationship as well as the value of being specific when offering both positive and negative feedback.

Sarah’s WebsiteAdrienne’s WebsiteKiss Me in the RainMark’s Books for WritersFindaway VoicesSelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) – The Craft of Writing Short BooksThe 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools StorybundlePatreon 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 City

Sarah Kades writes action adventure thrillers with strong environmental themes as Sarah Kades and socially responsible narrative nonfiction as Sarah Graham. She is passionate about culture, landscapes, knowledge accessibility, the arts and Momma Earth. She loves writing books that remind us of the natural nature within each of us, a re-wilding to our true, authentic, best awesome self!

She has studied in the United States, Canada and Scotland, and for the last twenty years her day job has been as an archaeologist and Indigenous Knowledge studies and engagement facilitator. In 2020, she received her first literary arts grant and was a two-time Energy Futures Lab Banff Summit storyteller. When she is not writing you can find her running, bumping into her next adventure or trying to figure out where in the garden to put the makeshift wood fired pizza oven.

Adienne Kerr has more than twenty years of experience in book publishing, with expertise in retail, sales, acquisitions, and editing. As Senior Editor at Penguin Random House Canada from 2009 to 2015, she acquired and edited thirty national bestsellers and in 2011, The Canadian Booksellers Association named her Editor of the Year.

​Since 2016 as a freelance editor Adrienne has worked with publishers, literary agents, and private clients.
She speak at events such as the Surrey International Writers’ Festival, Calgary’s When Words Collide, and the Ontario Writers’ Conference and lectures on publishing topics at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada.

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 216 – Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple

Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple about her new book THE INDY AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS.

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

This episode has been sponsored by Findaway Voices.

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

In their conversation Mark and Matty talk about:

Matty’s celebration of the 100th episode of her podcast and the ongoing celebratory series of 7 episodes featuring Orna RossThe workshop that Matty and Mark collaborated on for the 2021 Alliance of Independent Authors Self Publishing Conference talking about the craft of writing short fictionThe drabble writing assignment that Matty and Mark offer as part of their workshop. (A drabble is a short story that is exactly 100 words)Matty’s new book The Indy Author’s Guide to Podcasting for Authors that includes podcasting itself as well as being a good podcast guestThe downloadable Captain’s Log resource that Matty has made availableMatty turns the table and asked Mark why he started the Stark Reflections PodcastMatty’s thoughts on whether or not a podcast is going to help an author sell books, as well as her own experience as both a podcast host and a podcast guestThe concept of how a podcast guest might be temporarily bringing their own fans as listeners to someone else’s podcastLeveraging a podcast as a way to connect with people that you’re interested in connecting with and learning fromSome of the technology, software, and assets required to record, produce, and distribute a podcastThe amount of time that it takes Matty per week for her podcastStruggling with transcription and using Descript for thatHow the transcript for a podcast episode serves a particular portion of the audienceUse of feature affiliates, Patreon and “Buy me a Coffee” for The Indy Author podcastAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on consistency in author branding, intrinsic motivation, and thinking long term.

Links of Interest:

Matty’s Websites:The Indy AuthorEpisode 098 – Redefining Indy Success through Short Fiction with Ran WalkerMatty DalrympleFindaway VoicesSelfPubCon 2021: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) – The Craft of Writing Short BooksThe 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools StorybundlePatreon for Stark ReflectionsBuy Mark a CoffeeThe 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 City

Matty Dalrymple podcasts, writes, and speaks on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author. She is the host of THE INDY AUTHOR PODCAST and the author of THE INDY AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO PODCASTING FOR AUTHORS. She is also the co-author, along with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, of TAKING THE SHORT TACK: CREATING INCOME AND CONNECTING WITH READERS USING SHORT FICTION. Matty is a member of the Alliance of Independent Authors. You can connect with The Indy Author via Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
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Matty is also the author of the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, SNAKES AND LADDERS, and THE IRON RING; the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels THE SENSE OF DEATH, THE SENSE OF RECKONING, THE FALCON AND THE OWL, and ​A FURNACE FOR YOUR FOE; and the Ann Kinnear Suspense Shorts, including CLOSE THESE EYES and WRITE IN WATER. Matty is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Brandywine Valley Writers Group. You can connect with Matty via Facebook and Twitter.

​Matty lives with her husband and three dogs in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

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 215 – The Fusion of Horror, Culture, and Entertainment with Patricio X. Maya

Mark interviews Patricio X. Maya, who writes in both English and Spanish. They talk about his writing, his essays, his first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, which has been called “a techno-beat The Great Gatsby” about cultural exile, multiculturalism, and so much more.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks Patreon 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.

– What drew Patricia to writing in the first place, and those early teenage poems written in SpanishBeing inspired by Columbian writer Gabriel García MárquezPatricio’s move to the United States when he was 13 and his introduction to the English worldWriting prose in English and poetry in SpanishPatricios’s first book, a collection of essays and philosophiesThe theme of cultural exile in Patricio’s second bookCherished early memories and defining half of his life from the age of 13The origin of the poem “80 Miles Per Hour”The stylized American circus that’s a part of Patricio’s novelThe Reggaetón Cruise and how it explores the contemporary moment of American culture where horror and entertainment marry and fusePatricio’s publishing partnership with Grady Miller Books that allows mutual growth togetherThe media manager that Patricio works with for promotional appearancesThoughts about multiculturalism and super-multiculturalism in the US, Canada, the UK and other placesWhat is the cost of becoming cosmopolitan?And more…

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things the conversation made him think about.

Links of Interest:

The Reggaetón CruiseFindaway VoicesAnnouncing MarketplaceSelf-Publishing Insiders Chat with Will Dages (YouTube)The 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021)Business Bootcamp for Authors – Paths to Publication: Alternatives to Traditional Publishing (Panel) – (Oct 19, 2021)SelfPubCon: The Writing Craft Conference (ALLI) – The Craft of Writing Short BooksThe 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools StorybundlePatreon 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 City

Patricio X. Maya was born in Quito, Ecuador, and moved to California at age 12. He writes in English and Spanish. His first book, Walking Around with Fante and Bukowski, is made up of 21 essays grouped into sections about art, politics, and autobiography. His second book, 80 MPH, is a collection of eighty powerful poems written in Spanish.

His first novel, Reggaetón Cruise, has been called “a techno-beat The Great Gatsby.” Some of the novel’s themes are globalization, viral fame, and hyper-reality. The narrative plot is complex and the characters from all over the world. Though the novel touches upon immigration, terrorism, exile, and murder, parts of it are humorous, while others have been called thought-provoking, and even unnerving.

Too Much Sweetie, his second novel, is about René, a young Ecuadoran artist trapped between a moneyed upbringing and his current down-and-out North American reality. René’s tense world view collapses when he falls for Meaw-Meaw, an ambitious Thai masseuse who loves him for all that he wants to leave behind. Too Much Sweetie, that strangest of things -a sensual novel of ideas- is set to be published later this year under the Hollywood publisher Grady Miller Books, which has also published the writer’s previous books.

Along Miller, Maya has gathered the collected poems of Aldo Tambellini for publication. He has also acted as editor-in-chief of 80 MPH Anthology, which showcases the work of various Hispanic and American writers. Maya holds an M.A. in Arts Journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University and a B.A. in English from CSULA. He has been a Visiting Scholar at the CalArts’ Aesthetics and Politics program and a poetry lecturer at the Los Angeles Public Library Summer Lecture Series.

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 214 – Collaborations in Space with Carol Van Natta

Mark interviews Carol Van Natta about the collaborative author PETS IN SPACE series.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, and shares an audio clip of Will Dages from Findaway Voices, 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.

In their conversation, Mark and Carol discuss:

How, back in high school, Carol and a bunch of her friends wrote a great deal of fan fictionPitching her first co-written book to publishers, and then experimenting with KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)The different series novels that Carol has written and releasedThe origin of the Pets in Space anthology series and the charity it raises funds for“Pigs in Space” from the Muppet Show and how the anthology is meant to be a fun one that doesn’t take itself too seriouslyEach release of the anthology being limited so that the rights can go back to all the individual authorsCarol being in numerous editions, then becoming the editor of Pets in Space 6The curation involved in creating the anthologyCross promotion opportunities for the 11 authors involved in this projectHow the giant anthology (Approximately 400,000 words) is only produced in eBook and not print (mostly for logistical reasons)The pros and cons of the anthology only being available for a limited timeWriting with music, and the “Pets in Space” playlistSusan Smith’s song that she wrote and producedHow writers interested in being considered for this anthology series can reach out to CarolThe fact that other writers are not competition for one anotherAdvice Carol would give her younger self: Outlining is a good thingAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on how easy misunderstandings can happen over different groups in the author and publishing communities using words to mean different products (such as “anthology”) and the power of author collaborations.

Links of Interest:

Carol Van Natta’s WebsitePets in SpaceRaia’s Song by S.E. SmithThe 6 Figure Author Podcast (Episode 102 – How to Keep Yourself from Stressing Out as an Author While Still Achieving Your Goals)Findaway VoicesAnnouncing MarketplaceSelf-Publishing Insiders Chat with Will Dages (YouTube)The 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021)The 2021 NaNoWriMo Writing Tools StorybundlePatreon 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 City

Carol Van Natta is a USA TODAY bestselling and award-winning science fiction and fantasy author. Series include the Central Galactic Concordance space opera series that starts with Last Ship Off Polaris-G, Overload Flux, and Minder Rising, and the Ice Age Shifters® paranormal romance series that starts with Shifter Mate Magic and Shift of Destiny. She is also the editor of the Pets in Space 6 science fiction romance anthology. She shares her Fort Collins, CO home with just the right number of mad-scientist cat.

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 213 – Putting Story Theory Into Practice With Valerie Francis

Mark has a conversation with Canadian author Valerie Francis, a literary editor, podcaster, story nerd, and the bestselling author of the steamy romance, Masquerade (think Bridgerton for the 21st century).

Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode’s sponsor regarding their forthcoming marketplace.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

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

In their conversation, Mark and Valerie talk about:

– Valerie’s introduction to becoming a StoryGrid editor in 2015 when she had finished her first novel, a middle-grade fantasy she had written on instinctThe New York trip Valerie took to a two day workshop and how her writing took a quantum leap from thatHow, despite learning the intricacies of story and breaking elements apart, Valerie hasn’t lost her love of storyThe different tools that writers can use when crafting a storyThe concept of the “potato chip length” chapterThe origin of Valerie’s 12 part serialized novel MasqueradeThe tagline for Masquerade: “What would you do if you knew you wouldn’t get caught?”The designs that Valerie commissioned for the print book versionDefining the target audience for Masquerade and how it was designed specifically as an escape for themCreating a romance with protagonists in their 40sThe five different plot lines involved in the Masquerade storyHow the entire project of Valerie’s novel Immortal came aboutLearning how to create a story within a story, multiple story lines and a non-linear structure Challenges that come with having to hook your audience multiple times with multiple story linesThrowing away the entire first draft of her manuscript after 18 months of workThe fact there are 57 million books on Amazon right now and what that means for authorsAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on Valerie’s long-term hard work ethic of writing the best books she can and really understanding her target audience.

Links of Interest:

Valerie Francis’ WebsiteValerie’s Book ClubLove Stories for Busy WomenPsychological Thriller: ImmortalMiddle Grade FantasyBooks for WritersEpisode 104 – Living the Editing & Writing Life with Valerie FrancisEpisode 199 – Chelle Honiker & Chrishaun Keller-Hanna of Indie Author MagazineEpisode 128 – Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland DenzelFindaway VoicesAnnouncing MarketplaceThe 2nd Annual Online Sci-Fi & Fantasy Writers Conference (Oct 16, 2021)Brantford Public Library Online Workshop: Writing True Ghost Stories (Oct 6 and 7, 2021)Patreon 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 City

Canadian writer, Valerie Francis, is a bestselling author of fiction for women and children. She’s so obsessed with the craft of storytelling that she’s started an online book club featuring stories by, for and about women. You can join the book club by clicking here.

Originally published under the pseudonym, Robin St. Croix, Masquerade is a love story designed for busy women on the go. At a dinner party one night, Valerie’s friends (all avid readers and busy women) confessed that due to their hectic schedules, they didn’t read as much as they used to. So, Valerie designed a book in 12 parts that could easily be read on a cell phone while they waited in dentists’ offices or stood on the sidelines of soccer fields. Each part is about the length of a glass of wine or a commute home. Guilt-free moments of escape for readers in their otherwise chaotic days!

Nature Knights is a fantasy adventure for kids ages 9 and up. The idea came to her after seeing a photo of a turtle that had died because of plastic garbage it had ingested. She wondered what would happen if nature could fight back and that evening, she began to write the story.

Although Valerie writes across genre, there is a common thread in her work and that is, strong female characters. Women and girls of all ages have a particular perspective on the world and it’s this point of view she’s keen to explore.

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 212 – A Conversation with Joanna Penn on Co-Authoring The Relaxed Author

Mark and Joanna Penn talk about collaborating on the writing and release of their co-authored book THE RELAXED AUTHOR: Take the Pressure Off Your Art and Enjoy the Creative Journey.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from a recent episode, thanks Patrons and offers a few words about this episode’s sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

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

In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about:

How pretty and beautifully designed the book turned out to beWhere the idea for this book came from and why they decided to write itKnowing one another both personally and professionally for so long and the inherent trust and understanding they had getting into this projectHow to determine that a potential opportunity is with the right partnerThe contract that Joanna and Mark signed as part of this agreement/collaborative publishingThe logistics behind publishing the book under Curl Up Press, Joanna’s imprintHow they divided up the responsibilities for the overall book projectUse of Draft2Digital’s payment splitting for the eBook and the other ways the book is being published in different formats as well as available to purchase direct from JoannaTheir different approaches to outlining and writing a non-fiction bookHow each chapter of the book includes both of Joanna and Mark’s voice in answer to specific topic areasThe different tools that each of them enjoy using, such as Google spreadsheets, Dropbox, Scrivener, ScribeCountCreating the original draft of the book in audio first via a series of conversationsSome of the challenges and frustrations of the re-writing and editing of the work in a collaborative manner that they encounteredThe relaxed approach Joanna and Mark are both taking in the launch of the bookWhy they both admitted to not always being relaxed as an important thing to include in the bookHow the practices that Mark and Joanna talk about help prepare them for the long-term author journeyThe way that the things they shared in this book aren’t all that different than the things they’ve shared in their previous books for authors, but that the focus is “the relaxed author” so it’s more of a concise and narrowed down focus on that topicThe inclusive way that their suggestions for being a relaxed author include “do X, or don’t”How an author’s writing should be where they can turn to for solice and comfort, not for stressAnd more…

After the conversation Mark reflects on just how lucky he is that he got to work on a collaborative project like this with Joanna. He then asks listeners to reflect on their own experience around being, or trying to be a relaxed author.

Links of Interest:

Joanna Penn’s WebsiteThe Creative Penn PodcastThe Books and Travel PodcastJoanna’s BooksThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectRelated YouTube VideosThe Relaxed Author (Sample Excerpt)Video of the Conversation in this EpisodeEpisode 203 – A Rand on Unprofessional Author BehaviorEpisode 002 – Living the Healthy Writer’s Life with Joanna PennEpisode 148 – AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna PennEpisode 164 – Reflections on The Creative Penn Podcast Episode 517Publishing Pitfalls for AuthorsPatreon for Stark ReflectionsAn 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 City

Joanna Penn is an award-nominated, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers under J.F.Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors. She’s an award-winning creative entrepreneur and podcaster. You can learn more about Joanna at http://www.thecreativepenn.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 211 – Around the World in 90 Minutes with Marty Essen

Mark interviews Marty Essen, the author of several non-fiction and fiction titles, and a much sought after public speaker.

Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons to the podcast, shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

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

In their conversation, Mark and Marty talk about:

How Marty’s first book tour experience evolved into compelling storytelling rather than dry readings from his bookDifferences involved in moving from writing short articles for newspapers and magazines to writing a bookThe eye opening experience of working with an editorWinning an award at Book Expo America in NYCMarty’s experience working at radio stationsThe newspaper interview that resulted in being invited to write an article about his Amazon Rainforest explorationHow Marty’s show is a pre-scripted show that is exactly the same. Why he does that and how he keeps himself motivated repeatedly delivering the same contentThe research Marty does in terms of researching colleges to pitch to for his talksHow this work resulted in Marty representing other talents through his company/agency (Encante Entertainment)A tip Marty has used to combat stage frightDoing virtual talks during the pandemic and the pros and cons of thatHow Marty found his first editor and deciding to self-publishThe two different covers on one of his booksSetting up distribution through Midpoint TradeThe huge number of print copies that Marty has sold in printDoing full color printing for a recent book that required using a printer in China to keep the costs downHow a common theme in all of Marty’s books are about protecting the environment and protecting human rightsMarty’s experience at writing and releasing three novels (satirical science-fiction/political)An idea Marty has for a Kickstarter style projectAnd more…

After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of turning a weakness into a strength, and the idea of authenticity in scripted/rehearsed performance.  

Links of Interest:

Marty Essen’s WebsiteVideo excerpts of some of Marty’s talksMarty’s BooksEpisode 210 – Facing Creative Block with Morgan RhodesEpisode 207 – Library and Bookstore StrategiesEmpire Builder’s SummitThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsPatreon for Stark ReflectionsAn 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 City

Marty Essen began writing professionally in the 1990s as a features writer for Gig Magazine. His first book, Cool Creatures, Hot Planet: Exploring the Seven Continents, won six national awards, and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune named it a “Top Ten Green Book.”

His second book, Endangered Edens: Exploring the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Costa Rica, the Everglades, and Puerto Rico, won four national awards.

His novels, Time Is Irreverent, Time Is Irreverent 2: Jesus Christ, Not Again! and Time Is Irreverent 3: Gone for 16 Seconds, have all received rave reviews.

Hits, Heathens, and Hippos is Marty’s sixth book, and like all of his books, it reflects his values of protecting human rights and the environment—and does so with a wry sense of humor.

Marty is also a popular college speaker, who has performed the stage-show version of Cool Creatures, Hot Planet on hundreds of campuses in forty-five states.

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 210 – Facing Creative Block with Morgan Rhodes

A keynote from Morgan Rhodes (Michelle Rowen) about her writer journey and facing creative block. The keynote is from the When Words Collide August 2021 Virtual Conference.

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

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

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:

Morgan RhodesMichelle RowenVideo of WWC Keynote Talks (Que’d to Morgan’s talk)Empire Builder’s SummitThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsPatreon for Stark ReflectionsAn 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 City

Morgan Rhodes is a psuedonym for Michelle Rowen. Under Morgan Rhodes she has published 6 books in the Falling Kingdons series, and her Razorbill (Penguin Teens) novel Echoes and Empires, comes in January 2022.

Michelle Rowen is the bestselling and award-winning author of over two dozen novels. She has written for Penguin, Grand Central, Harlequin, Dorchester, and Bloomsbury.

A former president of Toronto Romance Writers, Michelle lives in Mississauga, Ontario, where she refills her creative well by watching trashy reality TV and drinking a lot of delicious coffee.

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 209 – Growing Sales, Subscribers, and Twitch Marketing with Kerrie Flanagan & Chuck Harrelson

Mark interviews Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson about collaborating on multiple genres under two shared pseudonyms, growing global sales, increasing author newsletter subscribers, and experimenting with marketing through Twitch.

Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Malcolm Coon, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

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, Kerrie, and Chuck talk about:

The origin of how Kerrie and Chuck started writing together under multiple pseudonymsThe books that they are working on under the names C.G. Harris (The Judas Files – Urban Fantasy; The Rax – Science Fiction) and C.K. Wiles (Romance)Their experimentation with going exclusive on their eBooks with KDP Select and how it failed and they returned to publishing wideDedication to getting more subscribers and moving from 55 to over 3000 people on their listHow focusing on Facebook ads was helpful in the newsletter subscriptionApple success that came from Apple putting The Nine (book one in The Judas Files) on their “Free First in Series” pageUsing ScribeCount to measure their wide sales and the difference that a few months madeHow they work together in terms of the writing process as well as the logistics of publishing and handling the financesThe way they are budgeting out their ad spendThe experimentation they did with sponsoring a Twitch stream to talk about their The Judas Files booksLearning about the unsustainable nature of rapid releasesAnd more…

Mark then reflects on the experimentation and iteration that Kerrie and Chuck continue to do, trying new things, changing their approach, exploring new marketing opportunities, and not giving up.

Links of Interest:

C.G. Harris WebsiteJudas FilesThe RaxC.K. Wiles WebsiteTwitch Stream Content from Fellowship of Awesome:Full Stream (Starts about 11 minutes in)Talking about The NineReading excerpt in Canadian accentReading excerpt in sexy romance voiceEpisode 31 – Kerrie Flanagan on Writing and Selling Magazine ArticlesEpisode 45 – Co-authoring with the Writers Behind C.K. WilesEpisode 117 – Multi-Layered Collaboration with Kerrie Flanagan, Chuck Harrelson, and Macleod AndrewsThe Relaxed AuthorPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsPatreon for Stark ReflectionsAn 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 City

C.G. Harris is an award winning science-fiction and fantasy author from Colorado who draws inspiration from favorites, Jim Butcher, Richard Kadrey and Brandon Sanderson. For nearly a decade, Harris has escaped the humdrum of the real world by creating fictional characters and made-up realities. When not writing, Harris spends time collecting the illusive arcade token, from the golden age when Dig Dug and Frogger were king. Harris knows the value of such a collection will only be seen in the confused faces of those family members left behind long after C.G. Harris is gone.

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C.G. Harris is the combined persona of writers Kerrie Flanagan and Chuck Harrelson.

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 208 – Writing & Living a True Crime with Deborah Vadas Levison

Mark interviews Deborah Levison, a multi award-winning author, freelance writer, publicist and the author of THE CRATE: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice – a true crime story with echoes of the Holocaust.

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

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

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 Debbie talk about:

How much of a bookworm Debbie was from an early age, and that she’d always dreamed of being an authorOne of the earliest essays she had to write for school about her, her mother, and her grandmother going to visit the bears at dusk at the local garbage dumpDebbie’s lonely childhood growing up spending summers in the Muskoka region of Ontario, and how that helped fuel her imagination and love of fictional characters from booksHer work as a professional writer (a journalist, publicist, etc)Debbie’s true crime book, The Crate, which was about a very grizzly and gruesome crime that personally impacted her familyFamily history that includes paralleling evil from the past (Debbie’s parents being Holocaust survivors) with evil in the presentThe surreal 2010 life-changing phone call Debbie received from her brother informing her about this crate he discovered hidden under the crawl space of their family cottageThe challenge and experience of reaching out to the victim’s mother and sister and learning about who she was — which was the focus of the second half of the bookHow the media painted the situation in a very “blame the victim” mannerThe “memoir” elements in the structure of this bookThe process of pitching the book, and the first agent she’d reached out to who graciously spent time and energy helping Debbie make the book better for her pitch, and then recommended her to another agentHow Canadian publishers are heavily subsidized by the Canadian government, which led to them passing on Debbie’s book because she was no longer a Canadian resident (those publishers only get grant money when they publish books from Canadian authors)The third agent Debbie worked with who found a publisher in Colorado that worked quickly to get the book outThe cover promotional blurbs Debbie got from Lee Child and James Rollins after connecting at ThrillerFest in New YorkSome of the logistics about the research and writing of this bookThe numerous live events she has done talking about The Crate, and what Debbie is working on now

Links of Interest:

Deborah Levison’s WebsiteEpisode 206 – No One Will Believe In You More Than You, with Steena HolmesEpisode 204 – Overcoming Self Doubt with Tessa Smith McGovernEpisode 203 – A Rant on Unprofessional Author BehaviorEpisode 191 – Insights from the Immersive Media & Books 2020 Consumer SurveyThe Relaxed AuthorPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsPatreon for Stark ReflectionsAn 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 City

Deborah Levison is a multi award-winning author, freelance writer, and publicist. Her life has two parts: the first in Canada, where she attended University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the second in Connecticut, where she lives with three children, two doodles, and one husband.

Her debut book, THE CRATE: A Story of War, a Murder, and Justice, is a true crime story with echoes of the Holocaust. Since its release she has spoken to over 120 audiences, from five to five hundred people, across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

New York Times bestselling authors Lee Child called it “impressive and important” and James Rollins said it was a “gut punch with such harrowing moments that you have to stop and take a breath… treat yourself to this journey and be transformed.” Other reviewers have called it “gorgeous and poetic,” “heart-wrenching,” and “a brilliant story.” The Jerusalem Post wrote: “exquisite.”

THE CRATE has received seven literary awards.

Visit her at DebbieLevison.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