Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog, page 34

Episode 114 – Thanks for the Inspiration: Neil Peart

Thanks for the Inspiration is a type of show that appears from time to time in the regular schedule for this podcast.

As writers, we often absorb elements from the world, the places, and the people around us. We observe, we ask questions, we speculative, we listen, we watch, we feel, and we write so much of that down which gets re-integrated, like some sort of sausage creation, into the stories and words and worlds we share with our readers.

Thanks for the Inspiration episodes are an attempt to acknowledge and say thanks to the people, places, and things that have helped to either feed the muse, or perhaps just to feed the very soul and makeup of the writer behind that writing.

In this particular episode, Mark thanks Neil Peart, drummer and lyricist for RUSH and writer, for the way his work has repeatedly inspired him over the decades.

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast via patreon.com/starkreflections

[image error]Neil enjoying breakfast and a book at a diner

In his reflective thanks, Mark shares the influence that Neil Peart has had on his writing and talks about:

How his buddy Pete got him into RUSH with the album Grace Under PressureHow RUSH lyrics have long been a significant part of his life (and, sometimes to the annoyance of friends), part of everyday conversation.  “There is a RUSH lyric for that!”A column Mark wrote for a high school newspaper that was entitled QUOTH, which were articles inspired by lyrics written by Neil PeartMark’s friends with Kevin J. Anderson, and how the two bonded over their mutual love of RUSH and craft beerRe-publishing the co-authored story “Drumbeats” by Kevin J. Anderson and Neil Peart. Once in Tesseracts Sixteen, and forthcoming in an issue of Pulphouse MagazineWriting a story inspired by the song “Losing It” which Anderson published as editor in the RUSH-themed anthology 2113



[image error]Kevin J. Anderson and Mark enjoying craft beer and likely talking about RUSH)



Re-publishing the aforementioned story “Some Are Born to Save the World” in NOBODY’S HERO.Peart’s desire for privacy and not being treated as separate from the rest of society or in any celebrity mannerMemories of sharing RUSH with the people that he lovesHow Peart’s music, lyrics, and writing has inspired Mark in multiple ways over the years and the way that has been infused into his own creative pursuitsAnd more….



[image error]Traveling Music by Neil Peart

Links of Interest:

RUSHNeil Peart (Wikipedia)Neil’s Website Bubba’s Bar N Grill Levack Ontario (Onaping Falls, ON)Mark’s Blog Post about Neil: There’s Somethings Here As Strong As LifeNobody’s Hero (Story Collection)2113: Stories Inspired by the Music of RUSHGalaxia (includes the short story “Grace Under Pressure)Episode 94 – Thanks for the Inspiration: Laurie BlakePatreon for Stark Reflections

The 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 113 – Productivity for Authors

This episode features a live webinar panel discussion that Mark moderated with authors:

M Jane ColetteTracy Cooper-PoseyAndrea PearsonTalena Winters

…who have all mastered productivity in different ways.

As Mark attempts to learn more about how to be a productive author, he asks questions and solicits tips from these experts.

Video of panel discussion

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

Learn more about 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.

Prior to the panel discussion on productivity, Mark shares a recent comment as well as a brief personal update.

In the discussion, the following questions and more get discussed:

Why is productivity important?Is it important for someone to be productive?How do you measure productivity?How do you figure out the best time of day that works for you to be productive?What tools are effective in helping with your productivity?How do you find time to write when you have conflicting priorities, such as a day job or a busy/demanding family life?

After the conversation, Mark asks listeners to share their own reflections on what they learned, or perhaps their own unique tip on productivity.

All listeners who comment on the episode show notes for this episode will be entered into a chance to win either a hardcover or paperback (their choice) copy of Joanna Penn’s Productivity for Authors. All Patrons of the show will also automatically be entered for a chance to win a second copy of that book. (Entries will be accepted up to the end of day on Jan 31, 2020).

Links of Interest:

YouTube video of the panel discussionBecca Syme’s The QuitCast EP 1.06 – Question the Premise: Procrastination is BadM Jane Colette Instagram Tracy Cooper-Posey Productive Indie Fiction Writer Andrea Pearson 6 Figure Authors PodcastSelf Publish Strong Talena Winters InstagramTwitter Findaway VoicesPatreon for Stark Reflections



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M Jane Colette writes tragedy for people who like to laugh, comedy for the melancholy, and erotica for men and women who like their fantasies real. She believes rules and hearts were made to be broken; ditto the constraints of genres. The result? “A whole new sub-genre of her own… social realist erotica that’s frenetic and complex and funny and very well observed.”

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Tracy Cooper-Posey is a #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, historical, paranormal and science fiction romance. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.

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Andrea Pearson – Andrea is the author of many full-length novels (the Kilenya Chronicles, Mosaic Chronicles, and Koven Chronicles), and several novellas. Writing is the chocolate of her life – it is, in fact, the only thing she ever craves. Being with her husband and kids, family, and close friends is where she’s happiest, and she loves thunderstorms, the ocean, hiking, public speaking, painting, and traveling.

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Talena Winters writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres including young adult, urban fantasy, romantic suspense, and women’s fiction. She loves travel, music, whole food, sewing, knitting, reading, and chocolate. She is addicted to tea and silver linings. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.

The 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 112 – Reflections on 2019 Goals and Sales

Mark takes a look at his 2019 goals compared with his accomplishments for the year and also shares the %’s of his eBook, audio, and print sales for his indie published books in 2019.

Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments and emails received. He also talks about a forthcoming live webinar he will be hosting featuring: M Jane Colette, Tracy Cooper-Posey, Andrea Pearson, and Talena Winters talking about productivity for 2020 (On Monday Jan 6, 2020).

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

Learn more about Findaway Voices

Mark thanks Lindsay Buroker for joining the team of Patrons supporting the show over at Patreon.com/starkreflections.

In the main content, Mark reviews his 2019 goals and discusses the fact that he only achieved one of those items on his list.

He then looks at the things he DID accomplish in 2019 that weren’t on the initial list. And he follows that with outlining 16 goals he has set for 2020.

He then looks into the breakdown of his sales % from his indie publishing income for 2019 broken down by format: eBook, print, audio. He then breaks each format down by source, exploring where his income earnings came from.

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Links of Interest:

Jan 6, 2020 FREE Webinar on ProductivityStark Publishing Solutions SeriesThe 7 P’s of Publishing Success (Book 1)Killing It on Kobo (Book 2)An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores (Book 3)Canadian Werewolf UniverseThis Time Around (Book 0)A Canadian Werewolf in New York (Book 1)Amazing Monster Tales: Monster Road Trip (“Stowe Away” – Book 1.5)Findaway VoicesPatreon for Stark Reflections

Episode 111 – Progression

In this episode, Mark shares the chapter on Progression from his book The 7 P’s of Publishing Success.

The introduction is very brief because, as Mark explains, he has been hit hard with a nasty flu virus.

Learn more about Findaway Voices

Links of Interest:

The 7 P’s of Publishing SuccessFindaway VoicesPatreon for Stark Reflections

The 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 110 – Working with Libraries and Bookstores

In this episode Mark shares an interview that was conducted in the Draft2Digital offices for a Facebook Live video where Dan Wood interviewed Mark about his new book An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores.

[image error]An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores

This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of this podcast, who support it over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections

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Links of Interest:

An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresFindaway VoicesPatreon for Stark Reflections

The 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 109 – 12 Takeaways from CAPS Convention 2019

In this episode, Mark talks about the importance of attending events and conference outside one’s own area. In this case, since Mark normally attends conferences about writing and publishing, he extols the value he reaped from attending CAPS Convention 2019. CAPS is short for Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.

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

Learn more about 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.

For his personal update, Mark shares details about the release of his new book AN AUTHOR’S GUIDE TO WORKING WITH LIBRARIES AND BOOKSTORES as well as comments on Twitter.

The twelve takeaways that Mark shares include quotes from the following CAPS CONVENTION 2019 speakers.

Donald CooperMimi BrownGeorge Campbell (AKA Joe Malarkey)David ArvinGair MaxwellBen MoorsomKelly SwansonLisa “Longball” VlooswykClay Hebert

Links of Interest:

CAPS – Canadian Association of Professional Speakers Findaway Voices Blog Post by Karen WIlliamsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresNaNoWriMoEpisode 105 – Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMapEpisode 51 – A Lot of Niching to be Done with Rachell AmphlettFindaway VoicesPatreon for Stark Reflections

The 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 108 – Silver Linings with Talena Winters

Mark interviews Talena Winters about her multi-genre fiction, and the numerous other creative tasks and entrepreneurial endeavors she is involved in.

Prior to the interview, Mark plays an audiobook marketing tip from an interview with Will Dages in place of the regular Ad read for this episode’s sponsor.

Learn more about 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.

Mark then shares a few comments and tweets and then a personal update which includes:

Completing NaNoWriMo while clocking in over 60,000 wordsAn article featuring Mark entitled “Mark Leslie Lefebvre” Finds His Voice”His guest spot on the 6 Figure Authors podcastThe completion and pre-order push of his new book An Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries and Bookstores



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In their conversation, Mark and Talena talk about:

The multiple creative pursuits that Talena is engaged in, and how she defines herselfTalena’s background as a musician and the creative evolution of her upbringing that eventually led to writingGetting married on the same day that both Talena and her husband had graduated from universityThe full length-full scale musical that Talena and a good friend dreamed up and created and which has remained on the back-burner for many yearsHow inspiration strikes and keeps growing when Talena latches on to an ideaThe course that Talena took from Holly Lisle while she was still home-schooling her children and how much she valued things she learned in that classThe legacy of the “story in the drawer” that Talena wrote and then tucked awayThe tragic family loss which threw their lives for a loop, the public way that Talena shared that experience, and the outpouring of community supportThe empty home, the overwhelming grief, and the surrounding environmental changes that led to a serious move into writingThe “creatives for hire” ad for a new magazine that caught Talena’s eye the led to journalistic writingApplying that journalistic experience to Talena’s inspirational blogHow Talena divides up and prioritizes her timeThe value and importance of learning how to say no to certain projectsThe app Timely that helps Talena track the things she does (so you can stop lying to yourself)The quote that Talena has on her website: “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.” by Muriel Rukeyser

After the interview, Mark reflects on the importance of saying NO and in prioritizing the many tasks that often either fall onto a writer’s plate, or come within a writer’s horizon.

Links of Interest:

Talena Winters – WebsiteTalena’s Blog article: Mark Leslie Lefebvre Finds His VoiceAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresNaNoWriMoEpisode 106 – Hybrid Publishing with Arthur SladeEpisode 105 – Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMapFindaway VoicesPatreon for Stark Reflections



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Talena Winters is addicted to stories, tea, chocolate, yarn, and silver linings. She writes page-turning fiction for teens and adults in multiple genres, coaches other writers, has written several award-winning songs, designs knitting patterns under her label My Secret Wish, and is lead writer for Move Up magazine.

She currently resides on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, with her husband, three surviving boys, two dogs, and an assortment of farm cats. She would love to be a mermaid when she grows up.

Episode 107 – Samantha M. Bailey, Woman on the Edge

Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey about her debut thriller Woman on the Edge, about her lifelong writer journey, her relentless determination, and the patience, practice, and persistence that it took to get here.

[image error] WOMAN ON THE EDGE

Prior to the interview, Mark gives a brief personal update about his progress on NaNoWriMo and a trip he will be taking to speak to a group of writers in Sudbury, and then shares a word about the episode’s sponsor.

Learn more about Findaway Voices

In their interview Mark and Samantha talk about:

How, at 10 years old, Samantha submitted her first manuscript to a publisher, which was rejected – and how it was her first lesson in developing a tough skin and not giving upSamantha’s life-long love of really dark tales and thrillers, but how Jennifer Weiner’s novels inspired her to write in a similar genreThe completion of her first novel, landing an agent and trying to sell that first novel, then a second novel and how neither of them worked outThe multiple queries Samantha sent to her current agent before the two actually connectedHer experience self-publishing one of her novels under a different name several years ago and the relationships that came out of thatHow Samantha never considered giving up and knew that she just had to keep goingThe way that writing Woman on the Edge changed Samantha’s life and the inspiration for the novelWhy Samantha set this novel in Chicago rather than in her home of Toronto – but how Chicago, to her, invokes the spirit or essence of Toronto to her in several waysThe two perspectives in this thriller, from the POV of Morgan (the main character), and the flashback sequences of Nicole, the woman who handed Morgan her baby before she jumpedHow Morgan’s POV was re-written into first person to give that part of the tale such a sense of urgencyThe wonderful experience of working with her agent, Jenny Bent, who worked with Samantha to polish up the manuscript and then sold the book to Headline in the UK and Simon & Schuster Canada for CA and US distributionThe sales of translation rights to 7 other countriesThe exciting promo that is planned for the book for release day in Canada (Nov 26, 2019) – eBook, audiobook, and paperbackHow the paperback is coming in the US in the spring of 2020, but the eBook is being launched in the US in NovemberHow Simon & Schuster Canada is the publisher of Samantha’s dreamsThe morning television programs Samantha will be appearing on as part of the book’s Canadian release, as well as the scheduled bookstore and library appearancesAdvice that Samantha would offer to her younger self: “It won’t be fast, it won’t be easy, but it’ll all be worth it.”

After the interview, Mark reflects on Samantha’s upbeat positivity and the hard work, determination, and never-give-up attitude she adopted which helped lead to her unique path of success.

Links of Interest:

Samantha M. Bailey’s WebsiteWoman on the EdgeSimon & Schuster CanadaAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresNaNoWriMoStoryBundle
NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle
Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019Findaway VoicesPatreon for Stark Reflections



[image error] Photo Credit: Dahlia Katz Photography

Samantha M. Bailey is a Toronto-based journalist and freelance editor who’s written extensively for Now Magazine, Oxford University Press, and several other publications. She is also the co-founder of “BookBuzz,” a promotional and interactive author-reader event held in New York City and Toronto that has attracted the attention of prominent publicists, influential media, and bestselling authors.

Samantha holds a Master of Education in Applied Linguistics and credit that degree with her writing career because she wrote her first novel while taking a course on imagination. Now her imagination leads her to create dark and twisty stories.

Her debut psychological thriller, WOMAN ON THE EDGE, is being published in nine countries world-wide, including with Garzanti in Italy, Roca Editorial in Spain, Heyne in Germany, General Press in Hungary, Euromedia in the Czech Republic, Ikar in Slovakia, Znak in Poland, and in North America with Simon and Schuster Canada, and the UK with Headline.

Samantha loves reading as much as she loves writing, so if she’s not tapping away at her computer, she’s probably curled up on her couch with a book.

Episode 106 – Hybrid Publishing with Arthur Slade

In this episode Mark interviews Arthur Slade, the author of twenty-five novels for young readers about his writing, about his multi-layered hybrid publishing activities, about writing at a treadmill desk, and about his author newsletter.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, discusses a few social media and podcast comments, and shares a word about this episode’s sponsor, Findaway Voices.

Learn more about Findaway Voices

In their conversation, Mark and Arthur talk about:

The ten years that Arthur has been writing using a treadmill desk, walking a minimum number of kilometers per dayHow the energy boost has come from that allowing him to get more work doneWorking and writing at a standing desk verses actually walking – and how long it took Arthur to get used to itThe walking speed that Arthur sets to enjoy a natural paceWriting in forty-minute bursts, then taking twenty minutes off, which assists with the necessary reset for his brainHow long Arthur has been a full time writer and how he writes so muchThe moderate success of self-publishing the Amber Fang series, and how they were recently acquired and released by OrcaThe challenge of not being able to track sales on traditionally published titlesDeath by Airship, the book that Arthur wrote by coming up with the title first, then figuring out what it would be about while writing it The book Dragon Assassin, which was picked up by Scholastic Books in Canada, but which Arthur maintains non-Canadian rights toWorking with Podium for one of his audiobooksArthur’s novel Flickers, set in the 1920s in Hollywood, which was also hybrid publishedThe way that publishers and booksellers look at past sales history and how that affects their acquisition and buying decisionsThe way that Arthur adds a unique personal flavor to his newsletter, and how he manages unopened reads of itArthur’s love of audiobooks, as a writer and as a reader

After the interview, Mark reflects on Arthur’s hybrid publishing journey and talks about how it is a solid long-term publishing strategy.

Links of Interest:

Arthur Slade’s WebsiteDescript (Audio Company with advanced audio editing, transcription and a beta Voice Double program)Episode 103 – 15 Takeaways from WMG Publishing Master ClassEpisode 104 – Living the Writing & Editing Life with Valerie FrancisEpisode 105 – Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMapNaNoWriMoStoryBundle NaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019WMG Publishing Business MasterclassFindaway VoicesPatreon for Stark Reflections

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Arthur Slade was raised on a ranch in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan. He is the author of twenty five novels for young readers including The Hunchback Assignments, which won the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award and Dust, winner of the Governor General’s Award for Children’s Literature. His lifetime of work has also received the prestigious Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence.  All of these awards mean that when he drinks tea he has to raise his pinky. It’s very fancy. He lives in Saskatoon, Canada. 

P.S. He does all of his writing on a treadmill desk. And he listens to heavy metal. At the same time.

The 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 105 – Location Based Storytelling with VoiceMap

In this episode, Mark interviews Gary Morris, Head of Production at the South African-based company VoiceMap. VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world.

The episode opens up with Mark’s Voice Double from Descript’s new beta program welcoming people to the podcast. He then shares a bit of information about this new opportunity for authors, which he thinks is idea to talk about during the opening of this particular interview.

Mark then shares a word about this episode’s sponsor, Findaway Voices.

Learn more about Findaway Voices

ou 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 Gary talk about:

Gary’s background as a creative person in audio, his early experiences with musical instruments, and the path that led to a role in sound engineering as a music and audio producerJoining VoiceMap two and a half years ago as an audio tour editorWhat VoiceMap is and how it worksThe underlying passion of VoiceMap which involves walking along while sharing a storyPartnerships that VoiceMap has with various tour and tourism organizationsHow, while walking tours are the most common, there are also bicycle, driving, and boat toursSome examples of popular tours, such as the one of the theatre district of London with Sir Ian McKellenSpecific techniques that need to be employed on a walking tour, including timely silences, directions, and remindersHow authors can set up at VoiceMap account and set up their own tourLogistics of creating a tour map and crafting a script based on timing (word count and estimated time) to walk from location to location on a tourVoiceMap being in a 158 different countries at this pointThe types of tours that VoiceMap is looking forward to seeing authors createThe use of VoiceMap to share fictional talesDifferent ways that authors can leverage promotion for the VoiceMap tours they have createdWhere people can find out more about VoiceMap and download the free app to their smartphones

After the interview, Mark talks about how excited he is about the emerging audio opportunites for authors and storytelling in brave and bold new ways.

He then shares a couple of examples of the sound-track to his Downtown Hamilton Ghost Walk tour from VoiceMap.

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Links of Interest:

Voicemap.meMark’s Downtown Hamilton Ghost Walk Tour on VoiceMapLink to YouTube video of Mark presenting on Storytelling 360The official Haunted Hamilton WebsiteThe Ghost Walks: Hamilton, Niagara & TorontoMark’s book Haunted HamiltonDescript (Audio Company with advanced audio editing, transcription and a beta Voice Double program)NaNoWriMoStoryBundle
Saving the World StoryBundleNaNo Writing Tools StoryBundle
Mythulu Writing Binge Survival Pack 2019WMG Publishing Business MasterclassFindaway VoicesPatreon for Stark Reflections

VoiceMap takes stories beyond the screen. It papers them to walls, hangs them over statues, and plants them neatly in public parks. Then, when you come along, there they are: reflections on the soul of LA, murder on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, nostalgia for the vanishing hutongs of old Beijing, and much more, by storytellers and passionate locals all over the world.

All you need is our mobile app for iPhones and Android devices. It uses your location to play audio automatically and includes offline maps. Just put on your headphones and you’re ready to explore.

If you’d like to tell a story of your own, you can start right now, for free. Our publishing tool is easy to use and our team of editors delights in bringing new stories out into the world.

The 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