Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog, page 37

Episode 85 – Annette Spratte on German Translations

In this episode Mark interviews Annette Spratte, a bilingual author living in Germany who has published books in various genres and languages, including a contemporary romance series self-published in English, a children‘s book series in German with three traditionally published books and two more scheduled for 2020. A historical romance will also be traditionally published in German in 2020. In addition to writing, Annette loves to support Indie authors with affordable translation services.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episodes sponsor…

Learn more about Findaway Voices

Mark then goes on to thank Patrons of the show as well as those who left comments on episode 84, and who were entered in a chance to win a copy of Patrick O’Donnell’s book COPS AND WRITERS.

Thanks to Amy Tasukada, Chad Boyer, MZ Lowe, and Vale Nagle for leaving comments. Also, thanks to Patrick O’Donnell for answering the police related questions.

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In their conversation Mark and Annette talk about:

Annette’s history as a translator since 1995 before she moved over into book translation, which she enjoys far moreThe importance of getting the emotion and the tension right in a literary translation (as opposed to legal document translation)Annette’s own writing experience with contemporary romance fiction (English) which was self-published and the children’s adventure fiction (in German) that has been picked up by a publisherHow Annette initially started with a self-publishing services company that she later on found out charged almost $50 for the print book in the US – she managed to get out of that deal and published the book directly herselfThe size of the German book industry and the fact that eBooks might be as little as 5% of overall book salesThose magic words from a publisher who said to Annette: “I read your book and I couldn’t put it down!”How a lot of the romance books on the market in Germany are translations from EnglishA bit of a perspective on the size and reach of Tolino, a major eBook retailer in GermanyWhat it’s like for an author from Europe using an American platform for eBook publishingWhy authors shouldn’t use something like Google translate for translating their novelSubtle differences in the form of address in the German language (formal VS familiar)The genres that Annette works with and prefers to work with in her translation businessWhy she prefers to avoid horror and erotica translations as well as a preference for fiction over non-fictionThe research that can be involved in doing a literary translation, particularly for historical fictionExamples of terms or services that aren’t used or known in Germany – such as “Uber” – for exampleThe importance of using the same translator when working through a book series in order to have a consistent style/voiceHow word of mouth is the most common way that authors and translators connect with one anotherTypical costs of translations, and Annettes current and lower fees of 3 cents per wordHow an English speaking/reading author would be able to determine if the translation is a quality oneSome of the legal aspects associated with copyright on translations in GermanyThe fixed price laws for books in Germany and how that has allowed for the continued existence of both chain and independent bookstores in that countryThe continued popularity of thrillers and romance in the German book marketHow German readers are perfectly content with books that aren’t set in GermanyThe value of the resources on the site indiesgogerman.com

Mark then reflects on the subtle differences in languages, terms, and even different laws in different countries, provinces and states and how this can both be something that can harm a story (ie, an inaccurate overlooked detail), or it can be something that brings an additional depth and realistic richness to a story if used effectively.

Links of Interest

Chat with Annette (Blog) Annette’s WebsiteAnnette’s Facebook PageAnnette on InstagramIndies Go German WebsiteHelp Helen Smash TV (Facebook)English VS American VideoLaura Clery YouTube ChannelEpisode 84 – From The Academy to the Street with Patrick Findaway VoicesStark Reflections Listener SurveyPatreon for Stark Reflections



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Annette Spratte is a bilingual author living in Germany with her husband and two sons. She has published books in various genres and languages: A contemporary romance series self-published in English, a children‘s book series in German with three traditionally published books and two more scheduled for 2020. A historical romance will also be traditionally published in German in 2020.

Being fluent in two languages, she loves to support Indie authors with affordable translation services.

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 84 – From The Academy To The Street With Patrick O’Donnell

In this episode, Mark interviews Patrick O’Donnell who has been with a larger metropolitan police department for the past three decades, about his new book COPS AND WRITERS: From The Academy to the Street.

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Prior to the interview,Mark shares a personal update and then also shares the names of the four winners of the print copies of the book UNSKIPPABLE by Jim Kukral (from Episode 81) and thanks his Patrons from over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections for their support.

Before the main segment, Mark shares a personal update as well as a word from this episode’s sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

Learn more about Findaway Voices



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In their conversion, which comes with a disclaimer that Patrick does not represent any specific police or law enforcement agency and does not intend for any of the information provided to be intended as legal advice, Mark and Patrick discuss:

Patrick’s life before police work which included Sociology, Crimonology and an intense passion for musicThe original goal of wanting to become a high school band director for his careerThe restaurant management roles that Patrick was involved in and how being a night shift manager at an IHOP he ended up getting in more fights than in the same time period as a police officerThe various different ways you can get into a career with the police department and the details related to those methods of entryLearning how to read/understand people via experience as a car salesmanThe book (I Never Wore Plaid) he wrote about how to buy a car and navigate car salespeople under a pseudonymThe unfortunate situation that led to the loss of an opportunity in selling this book to a publisherPatrick’s book talking about the loss of his marriage (which is common in the police force) written under a different pseudoynm – Divorced Dad: Kids are Forever, Wives are NotMad City, the post-apocalyptic novel that he wrote under his own nameThe reason why Patrick shelved the sequel to Mad City and started to write a series of books about the police force, which includes the first book, Cops and Writers: From the Academy to the StreetThe seventeen years of working the night shift as a copThe 50/50 chance that the average person has of their marriage failing, how being a cop bumps that up to 70% and how, if both partners are cops, the chances are 90%Some of the basic things that writers can get wrong when it comes to police procedures or protocolsWhat Patrick has learned about book marketing through the various books and genres he has published in

After the interview, Mark shares details on how listeners and Patrons can win a print copy of Patrick’s new book (you have until July 31, 2019, to leave a comment or question for Patrick on the show notes for Episode 84 at www.starkreflections.ca)

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He also shares his thoughts on the importance of a police procedural book that delves into such detail of this aspect of a police officer’s life.

Links of Interest

Patrick O’Donnell’s website Patrick’s Books: Cops and WritersI Never Wore Plaid (Joel Grey)Divorced Dad: Kids Are Forever, Wives are Not (L.J. Burke)Mad City Patrick’s Facebook Group (Cops and Writers)Related Facebook Group: Legal Fiction (Jennifer Severino)Related Facebook Group: Trauma FictionRelated Facebook Group: The Writer’s Detective BureauRelated Podcast: The Writer’s Detective Bureau PodcastBryan Cohen’s Best Page Forward (Book Descriptions)99Designs (Book Covers, etc)Findaway VoicesEpisode 81 – Becoming Unskippable with Jim KukralStark Reflections SurveyPatreon for Stark Reflections

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Patrick O’Donnell has been with a large metropolitan police department for the last twenty-four years, seventeen of those as a street sergeant. That means he has been a supervisor on the street for the bulk of his career. When testifying in court, he is considered an expert in police procedure. He is also an author of fiction and nonfiction. He understands theunique author point of view and can see through a writer’s eyes. He loves helping authors write authentic, accurate, and believable stories.

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 83 – Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING June 2019 – Part 2 (of 2)

In this episode Mark shares the second half of a Draft2Digital “Ask Us Anything” Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019.

The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark.

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Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and then shares a word from this episode’s sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

Learn more about Findaway Voices

In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions:

How does Draft2Digital work with its retail and library partners for various promotional opportunities, and what do those platforms look for?Formatting your own copyright page VS the system-generated copyright page option that D2D offers.An overview of publishing your eBooks “wide” to all retailers VS being exclusive to Amazon Kindle.The way that libraries purchase eBooks (the two main liscening options).What’s going on with Draft2Digital and Google Play.How can an author get their books onto bookstore and retailer shelves.How Findaway Voices might change the landscape for audiobooks being available beyond Audible.

After the recording, Mark reflects on the importance of actually reaching out when there is an offer available to you as an author and taking advantage of it because you and your writing are valuable and worth it.

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Links of Interest

Draft2Digital Blog with Tags “Marketing” and “Promotion”The Draft2Digital Facebook Page The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video Draft2Digital Blog Post with video & full transcript Episode 15 – Interview with Kevin Tumlinson (The Process of a Writer’s Life)Episode 53 – The Co-Founders of Draft2DigitalFindaway VoicesStark Reflections SurveyPatreon 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 82 – Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING June 2019 – Part 1 (of 2)

In this episode Mark shares the first half of a Draft2Digital “Ask Us Anything” Live Chat that was recorded on Thursday June 27, 2019.

The chat was composed of questions submitted by authors and answered by Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark.

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Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, talks about comments from previous episodes, discusses the ongoing “Comment on Episode 81 for a chance to win a copy of Jim Kukral’s Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable which is open until July 10th, mentions Patrons, and then shares a word from this episode’s sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

Learn more about Findaway Voices

For this episode’s ad read for Findaway Voices, Mark reads a question and the answer from the good folks at Findaway which had been asked, but didn’t end up being read during the chat, due to time constraints.

The question: Is there a lot of preparation involved in getting your book ready or is it as simple as handing over your published manuscript as is?

In the Live Chat, Dan, Kevin, and Mark cover these questions:

What is the biggest missed opportunity on D2D for most indie authors already using the platform?I understand that the eBook will go out to places that are checked on the next page. How can I check on the results?In addition to universal links, what’s the benefit of using D2D to list our books?Why are payments from Draft2Digital sometimes delayed?Is the expense for purchasing my own ISBNs worth the outlay?How do promo opportunities work for the various channels you distribute to? Places like Kobo and Apple and OverDrive.I’m confused over how to make Books2Read work for me. Beyond a link on my website, what more should I be doing to help readers find me?Is there some sort of pre-built chart or graph in the Draft2Digital dashboard that shows all your sales in one place?Questions about formatting WORD documents with images for eBooks as well as using Vellum for eBook formatting.



[image error]Screen Shot from the Ask Us Anything live chat

After the recording, Mark shares a few thoughts about the idea of asking questions and how questions can be understood differently by different people.

Links of Interest

Draft2Digital Blog with Tags “Marketing” and “Promotion”The Draft2Digital Facebook Page The Ask Us Anything Live Chat Video Episode 15 – Interview with Kevin Tumlinson (The Process of a Writer’s Life)Episode 53 – The Co-Founders of Draft2DigitalFindaway VoicesStark Reflections SurveyPatreon 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 81 – Becoming Unskippable™ with Jim F. Kukral

In this episode Mark interviews Jim F. Kukral, author of Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable: (in your business, life & career).

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Prior to the interview Mark:

Shares a comment from a previous episodeTalks about a new short story he is working on and some of the logistical research challenges that were holding him backTalks about an ASK US ANYTHING Facebook Live chat that Mark, Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood will be hosting on the Draft2Digital Facebook page on Thursday July 27 at 3PM Eastern

Mark then says a word about this episode’s sponsor 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.

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In their conversation, Jim and Mark discuss:

Why Jim opened the book sharing his perspective on goals and priorities that have more to do with personal satisfaction than seeking wealth and statusThe importance of the merger between mindset and businessThe deeply personal and vulnerable way Jim shared his experience getting involved in local politicsThe authenticity of Jim’s voice in the book which matches the way that he would deliver the same content in person via a conversation or on stageThe strategy of not wanting to write a straight-up marketing book, but, instead, a book with business lessons and personal inspirationJim owning the trademark for the term UnskippableThe importance of creating powerful moments and “talk triggers” that people will remember well beyond just the “cheapest price” or “fastest delivery” or some other temporary perk from a Popsicle hotline at a hotel pool to the Jolly Ranchers that a business supply owner added in to every orderThe reasons that set you apart, take you to th next level, and make you unskippable and memorableThe story behind the mysterious persona “Johnny Showtime”The importance of actually standing for something as a brand in order to reach “belief-driven buyers”

After the interview Mark shares the logistics of how listeners can download a free digital copy of Jim’s new book, and also possible win some signed copies.

Free Digital Download

Click here to access your free copy of Unskippable

Win a Signed Copy of the paperback of Unskippable

Leave a comment for Episode 81 at www.starkreflections.ca by July 10, 2019. Entrants will be entered into a random draw for a signed copy of the book that Jim will be shipping.All entrants who leave a comment by July 10, 2019 will be enteredPossible things to comment about include:
What’s one point you took away from this interview that you’d want to highlightor reflect on?What’s one unique thing about you or your writing that might help you towards establishing yourself as unskippable in today’s skippable world?
This copy is courtesy of Jim Kukral

Win a paperback copy of Unskippable

All entrants, as above, will be entered in a second random drawing for an additional copy of the paperbackMark will be ordering this via an online bookstore (most likely Amazon, unless the listener is in a country where shipping via a local store there is preferable)

One more chance for winning the 3rd paperback copy

All Patrons of Stark Reflections will automatically be entered in a chance to win the third copy of the book.(Yes, that means Patrons who comment get an additional chance to win)

A final chance for the 4th copy (also for Patrons)

Over on Patreon, patrons of the podcast can comment on this post for an additional chance to win a print copy of the book

Mark then reflects on something that Jim spoke about in the interview. When Jim was talking about standing for something and brands taking a stance, a solid, non-wishy-washy stance that focuses on beliefs and core values, it reminded Mark of the age-old advice to authors that your book is NOT for everyone.

Links of Interest

Jim Kukral’s Website Your Journey to Becoming Unskippable (All Retailers)Jim’s other booksJim’s podcast: Unskippable with Jim KukralJim’s co-hosted podcast – The Sell More Books Show The Creative Penn Podcast (Joanna Penn) Episode: How To Be An Unskippable Author with Jim KukralStark Reflections EP 74 – Perspectives on the Past, Present, and Future of PublishingFindaway VoicesStark Reflections SurveyPatreon for Stark Reflections



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Jim Kukral is recognized as an expert in online marketing and branding. He delivers insightful and entertaining keynotes to growth-oriented organizations on attention-getting marketing, creative branding and understanding how customers think, react and most importantly, buy.

With a passion for speaking and teaching, Jim travels around the world to teach brands and business owners on how they can apply his UNSKIPPABLE method to their marketing and brand mission to generate positive ROI-based outcomes and purposely attract lifetime customers.

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 80 – German Thrillers with Mark O’Neill

In this episode Mark interviews Mark O’Neill a writer of German spy thrillers who has released more than a dozen books in his Department 89 spy thriller series in the past couple of years after spending thirty years passionate about writing.

Prior to the interview, Mark talks about a Twitter comment from Rachel Amphlett regarding episode 78.

He also thanks Patrons of the show who support it via www.patreon.com/starkreflections.

Mark also shares a personal update about receiving his annual royalty statement and check from one of his publishers, referring to it as “Schrodinger’s Envelope” – before the envelope is opened it is both larger than and small than last year’s at the same time.

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

Learn more about Findaway Voices

In their conversation Mark and Mark talk about:

Mark’s background in writing via journalism and a life-long passion until he encountered Mark Dawson who opened his eyes to the self-publishing side of thingsThe value of the introduction to self-publishing course that Mark Dawson taughtThe reasoning behind setting his spy thrillers in Germany as well as making the lead character a strong female spy



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Mark’s contacts in the police, embassy and military that have been helpful for research in his novelsThe concept of Mark’s thrillers not being for those who want 100% accuracy but are there to enjoy the escape and fantasy of a novel that is just an entertaining rompThe importance of not focusing on Captain Sophie Decker, the main character, as a sex object, but as a specialist and capable professional regardless of being male or femaleA bit of the backstory of how Decker created Department 89The different English and German media programs that Mark might have been partially inspired by when writing this seriesThe German translations that Mark has produced for the first two books in the seriesA little about the difference in the German market as compared to the North America and UK marketsThe media page that Mark has on his author websiteWhat Mark would go back and tell his younger writer self about what he has learned in the past two years

Links of Interest

Mark O’Neill’s Website
Mark’s Media Kit
Mark Dawson’s Self Publishing Formula CoursesEpisode 51 – Interview with Rachel AmphlettFindaway VoicesStark Reflections SurveyPatreon for Stark Reflections



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Mark O’Neill is a 40-something Scotsman, now living the expatriate lifestyle in Würzburg, Germany. He has been writing in one form or another for the past 30 years. However, he is now an independently published fiction writer, currently working on the Department 89 espionage novels starring the female spy Captain Sophie Decker, protecting the German state.

The first D89 book, “The Renegade Spy” was downloaded more than 4,000 times in the first 4 weeks. Plots have been outlined for up to 20 Department 89 novels.

The first book, “The Renegade Spy” has received rave reviews, with one reviewer comparing Sophie Decker to the female version of Bruce Willis’s character, John McClaine, in the Die Hard movies.

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 79 – Why Kobo

In this slightly shorter episode (which was initially intended to be a bonus episode for Patreon supporters of the podcast), Mark does a “reflections on other podcasts” show.

He shares a clip from the Kobo Writing Life Podcast where Christine Munroe interviews Rakuten Kobo CEO Michael Tamblyn and then reflects on some of the things that Michael talks about.

Banner from the Kobo Writing Life Podcast Episode 153

Prior to the interview, Mark reads some listener comments from Pranathi and Chad Boyer and also thanks new podcast patron Linda Stirling for supporting the show via www.patreon.com/starkreflections and talks about this episode’s sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by BundleRabbit

You can learn more about how authors can use BundleRabbit as a collaborative publishing tool over at www.bundlerabbit.com .

In the interview, which is a clip from Episode 153 of the Kobo Writing Life podcast, podcast co-host Christine Munroe interviews Michael Tamblyn.

Michael shares an intriguing and meaningful response to the question Why Kobo? and also talks about other things that are important to this eBook and audiobook retailer that is focused on the reading experience.

After the short clip, Mark reflects on the comments from Michael.

Links of Interest

Kobo Writing Life Podcast – Episode 153 – Why Our CEO Loves Indie AuthorsBundlerabbit
Episode 9 of Stark Reflections – Interview with Chuck Heintzelman of BundleRabbitEpisode 27 – Jamie Ferguson on Bundles, Curation and Collaboration
Killing It On KoboStark Reflections SurveyPatreon for Stark Reflections

Episode 78 – Post BEA 2019 Reflections

In this episode, Mark shares some thoughts and reflections from last week’s visit to Book Expo America in New York.

He explains a bit about what the fair is, why the fair is, his impressions and thoughts of this year’s fair and a bit about its history, as well as a few news items related to the fair.

Prior to the main content, Mark talks about a few comments and welcomes new Patron Stanley B. Trice.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

Learn more about Findaway Voices

During the episode Mark talks about:

Headline – a cool way to promote your audio contentAn intriguing blog series from Penguin Random House with insights into traditional publishing that indie authors might find informativeA deal between Dreamscape Media and LMBPN Publishing (Michael Anderle’s publishing company)James A. Hunter and the publishing company (Shadow Alley Press) that he runs with his wife Jeanette



[image error]The “What book changed your life?” wall from Penguin Random House at BEA 2019

Links of Interest

Book Expo AmericaBISG (Book Industry Study Group)LMBPN PublishingDreamscape/LMBPN Press ReleaseShadow Alley PressPenguin Random House Blog Series (Book Lover’s Guide to Publishing)
1 – Publishing Ephemera2 – Publishing Process3 – Printing & Production4 – Design & Size
Findaway Voices
Blog post on using Headliner to promote your audio
Stark Reflections SurveyPatreon 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 77 – A Gut-Check on the State of Publishing with Kristine Kathryn Rusch

In this episode Mark chats with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristine Kathryn Rusch about writing with chronic health issues, contract negotiations with publishers, mistakes that authors are making, and so much more.

Prior to the interview, Mark does a little house-keeping regarding winners of Danny Bell’s first novel from Episode 70, reads new comments, thanks Patrons who support the show, and talks about being in New York this week for Book Expo America.

Mark also shares a recent presentation that Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Kobo, presented to the BISG (Book Industry Study Group) in late April.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices . . .

Learn more about Findaway Voices

In their conversation Kris and Mark talk about:

Kris’s recent move and the discoveries made in relation to a book she recently released called WRITING WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS



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.How Kris’s entire life has revolved around exercise and writing and that likely made a positive difference for her despite huge health challenges that she faced, and potentially is what might have kept her aliveThe realization that Kris made only recently that she had never learned how to restThe way she utilizes running and walking to benefit her writingHow Kris’s training in radio automatically activates her “critical voice”The rotating playlists Kris uses when running (often ones that have to have a really good beat)The move from 5000 square feet (with offices across the house from one another) to 1600 square feet (and a shared office) and how Kris and her husband Dean manage their own unique writing spacesThe value for writers in understanding the way that different editors approach a piece of writingBreaking down the myth that there’s a single book (or story) out there that everyone will loveWhat “reader cookies” are and how they can play upon an editor’s personal preferencesA look at “anti-reader cookies” – element or content in a story that an editor hates or will refuse to readHow Ray Bradbury practiced writing a short story a dayThe concept of “writing into the dark” when creating your first draft and how that plays into the fact we have been consuming stories since we were pre-verbalHow, with so many tasks, deadlines and balls in the air, Kris decides what writing project to work on nextThe importance of growing as a writer by writing about things that stretch or challenge herHow Kris’s book DEAL BREAKERS helped Mark negotiate a much better contract with his publisherThe choice of “walking” which writers always have when being presented with a publishing contractThe three big things that Kris sees that indie authors are not doing correctly: Following Trends, Burning Out and Neglecting their Personal Lives/Families/Health, Following the Scams (that promise seemingly impossible results)The free content that Kris shares (both fiction and non-fiction) on her website on a regular basis, and the origin for bothThe value of networking and personal connections made during in-person workshops (both the craft workshops as well as the business workshops)The “no politics” and “no religion” rules that Kris and Dean operate within for their workshops (which allows writers to bond regardless of their political or religious biases)

After the interview, Mark reflects upon one of the things Kris said regarding taking a workshop when it’s in town as opposed to removing yourself from your regular schedule/life, and why the travel/removal of one’s self from day to day life for such a learning/bonding experience can be valuable.

Links of Interest

Kristine Kathryn Rusch Business Musings Blog PostsBook: Writing with Chronic Illness WMG Publishing WMG Writing and Publishing Workshops Ron Collins’ Blog Series “Face the Strange” on Editing for Fiction RiverFindaway VoicesStark Reflections Survey



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Kristine Kathryn Rusch is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Kris writes in almost every genre and her novels have made bestseller lists around the world and her short fiction has appeared in more than twenty best of the year collections. She has won more than twenty-five awards for her fiction, including the Hugo, Le Prix Imaginales, the Asimov’s Readers Choice award, and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers Choice Award.

Kris also has an extensive history in publishing and editing, having been the editor of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction as well as co-publishing the original Puuse Magazine with her husband, Dean Wesley Smith. The two now run WMG Publishing, which publishes a revised version of Pulphouse, the Fiction River anthology series and many other projects, along with running publishing workshops both online and in person.

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 76 – Recognizing Success in Failure with Sarah McVanel

In this episode Mark interviews Sarah McVanel, author, professional speaker, and owner of the boutique firm Greatness Magnified, about her latest book FLIP SIDE OF FAILING.

[image error]Sarah McVanel, author of FLIP SIDE OF FAILING

Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update (which includes being stuck in Oklahoma City for a couple of extra days due to tornado-rich storms) and also shares a word from this episode’s sponsor Findaway Voices . . .

Learn more about Findaway Voices

In their conversation, Sarah and Mark talk about:

Sarah’s introduction to being a writer and a speaker when a work colleague that she adored decided to retireHow we (the corporate world) don’t properly leverage recognitionSarah’s first book F.R.O.G. (Forever Recognize Others’ Greatness) and the accompanying workbook that provided tools she co-authored with Brenda Zalter-MindenHow Sarah and Brenda collaborated on the booksRecognizing the two distinct author voices in their particular collaboration and how they leveraged thatThe exploratory method that took two years for Sarah and Brenda to write their first bookHow Home Depot was the first big corporate client to hire Sarah because they discovered her first bookA personal and professional turning-point moment involving Sarah’s son, dealing with bullying, and cuttingSarah’s new book Flip Side of Failing and how she didn’t plan on writing a book on failureThe common theme of the book that you can fail and still be great – and how failure can help us achieve greater successHow we have to have a failure-friendly mindset, and be in a context that accepts failure in order to elevate from failureThe acronym ACCEPT (Acquire / Choice / Connection / Expect / Progress / Transformation)



[image error]Sarah in the middle of a keynote



How Sarah launched the book exclusively at the Spark Women’s Leadership Conference on May 16th prior to the book’s global release on May 21st. Everyone at the conference gets a book, Sarah does a keynote, and there’s a panel that Sarah moderates on the topic of failingHow you are going to show up if you believe in your new book and what it offers to readersThe importance of attaching your book launch to an event

After the interview Mark reflects on two things from the conversation with Sarah that were imporant to him. First, the importance of recognizing the greatness in others. And second, the concept Sarah mentioned that you don’t always write the book you planned to write.

Mark then thanks Patrons of the show and reminds them of the additional audio content available to them (including a few answers to four questions post that went up earlier that same day) – he also riffs off of a couple of verbal errors he previously made.

Links of Interest

Sarah McVanel’s Website Flip Side of FailingForever Recognize Others’ GreatnessThe FROG Effect WorkbookSarah’s Speaker ProfileSarah’s Video Resources Spark Women’s Leadership ConferenceFindaway Voices EP 005 – Global Audiobook Opportunities for AuthorsEP 022 – Finding my Way with Findaway Patreon for Stark ReflectionsCAPS – Canadian Association of Professional SpeakersStark Reflections Survey



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SARAH McVANEL helps individuals leverage the exponential power of recognition to retain top talent, fuel healthy teams and sustain healthy bottom lines. She speaks nationally on the topic, leads workshops, coaches leaders, and conducts organizational recognition program reviews. Sarah specializes in working with service-based organizations and “helping professionals.”

Sarah is a Certified Speaker Professional (CSP), Certified Senior Organizational Development Professional (CSODP), Professional Certified Coach (PCC), Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL), and president of the Toronto Chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS). She has a BA in Psychology, MSc in Family Relations, and Diplomas in Human Resources and Healthcare Administration.

Sarah has over 18 years’ experience including at a senior leadership level and now owns boutique firm Greatness Magnified. She is an author of peer-reviewed journals, articles and four books.

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