Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog, page 4

Episode 405 – Ask Not What Your Bookstore Can Do For You

In this solo episode Mark shares an excerpt from his forthcoming book A BOOK IN HAND: Strategies for Optimizing Print Book Sales via Signings and Other In Person Events.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place in early Feb 2026 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: STARK100 to get $100 off your registration.

Links of Interest:

Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

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 404 – Elbows Up, Canada!

In this special additional solo episode, Mark reflects on the term “Elbows up!” and recent events in Canada/US relations and the tariffs being needlessly opposed based on completely fabricated issues. He also discusses the disease of division that is so prominent today, and shares a clip of Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau from a press conference held on March 4, 2025.

Links of Interest:

Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

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 403 – The Magic of Combining Poetry and Playwriting with Richard Marsh

Mark interviews writer, actor and poet, Richard Marsh, the genius behind YIPPEE KI YAY the one-man poetry stage parody of Die Hard.

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

This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don’t Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you’re writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be.

Mark also mentions a free podcast event he’ll be on with Suzie on March 7th called NAVIGATING TODAY’S PUBLISHING.

In the interview, Mark and Richard talk about:

How, ever since Richard started poetry, he ended up using it to tell the types of stories that one wouldn’t normally think could be told via poemsThe poetry rom-com stage show Richard worked on with a good friendHow the procrastination project of writing a Die Hard play told in poetry became a priority when Richard wasn’t interested in the play he’d been intending to roll out that had a heavy themes of grief and loss. The Die Hard play was fun and silly and funny and warm, and was more of what the world could use at the timeHow focusing on a few elements of what would make Richard himself laugh was a great place to startThe themes in the play of how love and life change through parenthoodThe importance to Richard of not just retelling or parodying Die Hard, but to do so much moreHow the personal story that Richard weaved into his Die Hard stage show ties in quite nicely to the relationship between John and HollyArt impacting us differently through various stages in our lifeThe first time that Richard ever performed the play, which was an active reading in the middle of a crowded barThe initial public performance of the stage show at The Omnibus theatre in London in March of 2022Taking the show on the road beyond the UK by touring the US during Christmas 2023Additionally touring in Australia and CanadaA little bit about the play Richard DIRTY GREAT LOVE STORY that Richard co-wrote and performed with Katie Bonna was created and launchedHow the people who go to poetry events are some of the most loveable weirdos in the worldThe various plays that Richard has publishedWorking with producer James Seabright to produce Yippee Ki-YayThe numerous complex elements of staging Yippee Ki-Yay, including movement and physicality, puppet show aspects, props, finger guns, and more – and the importance of the collaborators that helped with thisThe two-hander stage show WINGMAN which is a type of romantic comedy between a father and son, which has been optioned for both US and UK televisionThe numerous things Richard has written that ultimately end up as an “elaborate PDF” on his PCThe moment when Stephen E. de Sousa co-writer of Die Hard, went to see Richard’s play at the London Action FestivalThe musical Richard is working on which is based on the movie SON OF RAMBOWAnd more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Richard Marsh’s WebsiteYippee Ki Yay: The Parody Stage ShowRichard’s social media handle: @speckywiththegoodhairRichard on InstagramJames Seabright / ProducerEP 398 – Multiple Outlets for Storytelling with Denise BadenEP 402 – The Visible Author Marketing Method with Laurie CooperBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas VacationRichard Marsh is a writer (film, TV, theatre, to-do lists). Actor (stage, radio, social events). CEO of the MCU (Marsh Connected Universe). He will rhyme for money (write poems on commission). You can find him online at: https://www.richmarsh.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 402 – The Visible Author Method of Marketing with Laurie Cooper

Mark interviews Laurie Cooper, an award-winning speaker, and an author coach and marketing expert, who helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers.

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

Learn more about Toronto Indie Author Conference 2025 here.

In their conversation, Mark and Laurie talk about:

The round-about way that Laurie got into the role of becoming a marketing coach for authorsStarting off as a virtual assistant, then moving on to more marketing-related and coaching for authorsIt being 11 years since Laurie started working with authorsSome of the ways the marketing landscape and promotion strategies have changed over the yearsLaurie’s “The Visible Author Method” that authors can enroll in, but only after a discovery call with Laurie and an invitationThe idea that coaches need coaches and therapists need therapistsThe most important aspect of what writers want, which is ways to connect with their readers, and having their books readHow “Niching Down and Branding” is at the core of everything Laurie offers to authorsHow positioning, or establishing a positioning statement is one of the most taxing endeavors for an authorThe way that working with a coach can help an author with being able to see themselves and their writing in a new light/different way is importantThe tiny roadblocks that can stop us from moving forward, and the importance of getting over themThe concept of personalized repeatable systemsNavigating the road map of best practices, and the importance of trial and error and measurable metricsSome of the differences related to marketing for traditionally published authors versus self-published authorsAn example of working with a traditionally published author that took some extra effort but worked nicely in the endSome resources that Laurie recommendsThe three questions that you should always be answering for your readers
  1) What can they expect
  2) Why should they care? (What makes it special)
  3) What they can/should do nextThe importance of the idea of “my brand equals my promise to my readers”And more…

After the interview Mark reflects on how the the same process/procedure might work differently for different authors, as well as the importance of being able to pivot when unexpected elements clash with your plans and goals.

Links of Interest:

Laurie Cooper’s Pub-CraftLaurie’s Printer-Friendly Book Launch ChecklistLaurie’s Pub-Craft ResourcesBook a free consult with LaurieBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Award-winning speaker, Laurie Cooper, launched her online business, Pub-Craft: Marketing for Books and Brands, in October 2013. She helps fiction authors go from struggling, feeling invisible and not knowing what to do next, to finding and connecting with their ideal readers. In her first year of business, Laurie went from 1 to over 200 clients and helped 100+ authors hit the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Lists. While she works as a marketing coach with authors from around the world, Laurie calls Ottawa, Canada her home. Learn more about Laurie and her course,The Visible Author Method. Connect at http://www.Pub-Craft.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 401 – Rambling Reflections From the Road: Superstars Writing Seminars 2025

Mark reflects on the power and importance of Superstars Writing Seminars and why it’s one of the most important annual in person sessions he attends and participates in.

He also reflects on the rule of “no politics/no religion” in writing groups focused on supporting one another and helping to learn and grow, a new way he now sees this, and his desire for continuing to create bridges rather than divides without compromosing his morality.

Links of Interest:

Superstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

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 400 – Community Reflections

In this special 400th Episode, Mark shares comments from the Stark Reflections Community.

This episode’s sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount’s handy all-in-one interface.

This episode includes comments from:

Matty DalrympleZachary KaiBirgit ConstantStanley B. TriceDonn KingBeth BissMatthew del PapaGuylaineKathy MacJustin Trudeau

Links of Interest:

Superstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

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 399 – Post Publishing Marketing with Deborah Kevin

Mark interviews Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, about her new book SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success.

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

This episode is sponsored by the Show, Don’t Tell Writing Podcast with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book you’re writing into the bestseller you know deep down that it can be.

During the interview Mark and Deborah talk about:

How Deborah describes herself as one of the most curious people you’ll ever meetFirst learning about the Camino de Santiago in 2013, and then later walking the pilgrimage in chunksLearning to read when she was four years old, and Deborah’s first library card at the age of fiveWriting her first “novelette” when she was eleven years old, and then later adapting that initial story into a novel that she used to get into StanfordThe giant wall calendar that Deborah uses for planning out the year using different colored sticky notesLaunching Highlander Press, and the story behind the initial name Deborah wanted to use to denote  the idea of a missionThe 51 books that Highlander Press has released (as of November 2024 when the interview was conducted)Shifting the structure of the way we talk about running a business from less masculine energy and more feminine energyDeborah’s new book: SHELF LIFE: A Field Guide to Long-Term Author Success and the origin of writing itHow promotion and marketing can be simple and easy and to properly serve readersSuggestions for authors on pre and post publication promotionsThe importance of ensuring that “fun” is a part of the work you do when showing off your creative works and lifeHow showing up as ourselves authentically is one of the best things an author can doAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of dividing big tasks into chunks, the importance of not self-rejecting, and being one’s authentic self.

Links of Interest:

Highlander Press BooksDeborah Kevin on LinkedInEP 142- Strategies for Launching a Book During a Pandemic with Suzy VadoriEP 398 – Multiple Outlets for Your Writing with Denise BadenEP 397 – In It For the Creativity and Connection with Ron VitaleEP 396 – Waubgeshig Rice on Community, Publishing, and the Creative JourneyForm for Listener Reflections for Episode 400Superstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Deborah Kevin, the visionary founder and chief inspiration officer at Highlander Press, ignites change-makers to share their stories of healing and truth. Having steered hundreds of authors to literary success, she’s a beacon for impactful writing. Deborah also hosts the STORYTELLHER podcast, amplifying women’s voices one riveting episode at a time. When she’s not shaping the future of publishing, she’s globetrotting from the historic trails of Camino de Santiago to the comforts of home in Maryland with her soulmate, Rob, their adventurous sons, and a mischievous puppy, Fergus.

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 398 – Multiple Outlets For Storytelling with Denise Baden

Mark interviews Denise Baden about the novel/book version of Murder in the Climate Assembly as well as the various incarnations and adaptions she had created for the stage and television.

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

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount’s handy all-in-one interface.

During the interview Mark and Denise talk about:

Denise’s varied educational, professional, and personal background which has given her a finger in “every pie”How Denise turned to fiction because it’s her joyThe different formats that a story can take for a creative personDenise’s memoir “Confessions of a Climate Activist in a Business School” and how she adapted it into a novel by fictionalizing some elementsAlso creating a re-adaptation of the story into a stage play “Murder in the Citizens’ Jury”The additional dramatic monolog version of the play that Denise createdThe TV-script version that Denise also wrote based on thisThe videos that Denise has that share these highlightsHow the different mediums inform Denise’s approach to each version of the storyNot feeling good about the traditional publishing offer Denise rec’d for the bookA Kickstarter project that Denise is launching related to this same IPThe struggle with what to do as a reward, and what to do as an add-onHow too much of existing climate fiction is so dystopian in natureThe white-washing that some companies tried to do in partnering Denise’s Green Stories projectThe idea of thrutopian fictionAnd more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the choice Denise made to turn down a publishing contract and launch the book leveraging Kickstarter, as well as the genius way she’s taken a single IP and adapted into numerous formats and platforms.

Links of Interest:

Denise Baden’s WebsiteMurder in the Citizens JuryDenise’s Kickstarter for Murder in the Climate AssemblyThe Green Stories ProjectGreen Stories YouTubeDenise/Green Stories on Bluesky: @greenstories.bsky.socialDenise on LinkedInDenise on TwitterDenise on InstagramDenise on FacebookT. Thorn Coyle’s Resistance Matters KickstarterEP 304 – Narrative Transportation with Denise BadenEP 397 – In It For The Creativity and Compassion with Ron Vitale EP 395 – Rants and Reflections From the Road on 2024 Sales SharingForm for Listener Reflections for Episode 400Patreon Article with Zoom Hangout Links (for Episode 400 Listener Reflections)Wide for the Win WIDEStream (YouTube Link)Superstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainability at the University of Southampton and a writer. Her eco-themed rom-com ‘Habitat Man’ was published in 2021, followed by ‘The Assassin’ and ‘No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet’ in 2022. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and has worked with Bafta on #ClimateCharacters exploring cultural aspects of sustainability. A TV adaptation of her play ‘Murder in the Citizens’ Jury’ was a winner of the 2024 Writing Climate Pitchfest and is under consideration by Hollywood producers. She is currently launching the novel version ‘Murder in the Climate Assembly’ on Kickstarter.

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 397 – In It For The Creativity and Compassion with Ron Vitale

Mark interviews Ron Vitale about his writing, and his recent unflinching and honest looks at his writing income versus expenses.

Prior to the interview, Mark talks about wanting to hear from listeners on THEIR reflections via an online form or via a few Zoom hangouts (see more info here) for forthcoming Episode 400.

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Mark also shares comments, a personal update and word about this episode’s sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In their conversation Mark and Ron talk about:

Ron growing up in an environment where a family member stuggled with alcoholism and then learning how to heal from some of the trauma experienced in his pastThe 2020 lockdown blog posts that Ron wrote and shared in order to help others who might be dealing with that and giving back to the communityThe four “Let Go And Be Free” books he released that were derived from that blog contentWriting his first short fiction at the age of 9 and his first novel at 16Ron’s Masters degree and how his topic related to traumaHow to date Ron’s best success as an author has been with his “Let Go and Be Free: 100 Daily Reflections for Adult Children of Alcoholics” booksShooting for 365 reflections for his books, but ending up with 400The value in creating content thinking of the benefit to himself as well as others, and how that worked out extremely well because of the way it hit with the correct audienceHow Ron’s fiction titles dealt with most of the same issues, but that they ended up hitting different with the audiencesMaking a decision of what he needs to let go of in order to make more space for focusing on what he wants to do as a writerThe five different fiction series that Ron has written, including a Cinderella fairy tale-inspired series, and a Were-whale series inspired by Moby DickRon’s start in indie writing in 2009 and publishing in 2011Why Ron has consistently shared such an honest and unflinching look at the economics of his own publishing journeySharing his annual numbers for about 10 years and how only two of those years were ones where he earned more than he spentHow 2024 was a “non-marketing-spending” year for Ron as an important experimentThe elements of the filter that most people put on before they share something publicly or on social media’The regular habits that Ron says make an important differenceBeing touched by a personal message from a reader who appreciated one of Ron’s audiobooks and how it moved herHow Ron isn’t in writing just for the money, but for so many other reasonsAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on a few things Ron said and also shares a special offer to listeners in support of both Ron and the Stark Reflections community, thanks to Mark’s coffee buddy Nikki Guerlain.

Links of Interest:

Ron Vitale’s WebsiteRon’s Blog:What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2024What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2023What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 20222021 Year End Wrap Up: Full Sales and ExpensesEP 396 – Waubgeshig Rice on Community, Publishing, and The Creative JourneyEP 395 – Rants and Reflections From the Road on 2024 Sales SharingForm for Listener Reflections for Episode 400Patreon Article with Zoom Hangout Links (for Episode 400 Listener Reflections)Superstars Writing SeminarsBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

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 396 – Waubgeshig Rice on Community, Publishing, and The Creative Journey

Mark interviews Waubgeshig Rice, an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation, and the author of four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow and Moon of the Turning Leaves.

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

This episode is sponsored by Superstars Writing Seminars: Teaching you the business of being a writer which takes place Feb 6 through 9, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

Use code: MARK1592 to get $100 off your registration.

In their conversation Mark and Waubgeshig talk about:

Waub’s interest in high school with English classes but still feeling like there was no strong connection and that not many of the books and stories being taught in Ontario in the 1990s were all that relatableBeing shown books by indigenous authors via his Auntie that weren’t being studied in school — books by authors such as Richard Wagamese, Lee Maracle, Louise Erdrich — and how that blew his world wide open and included thoughts such as maybe he could do that himself some dayThe Grade 12 Writing Course taught by Tom Bennett at Parry Sound High School that helped Waubgeshig in shaping storiesBeing side-tracked from creative writing by studying and beginning a career in journalismThe benefit of getting to know writers and artists in the Toronto area in the early 2000sApplying for his first writing grant from Canada Council for the Arts in 2004Waub’s first book, Midnight Sweat Lodge, a connected short story collectionHow things really changed when Waubgeshig’s Moon of the Crusted Snow first came out in 2018Leaving full time journalism employment at CBC to become a full-time writer in 2020The Northeast Blackout of 2003 and how his experiences being back home at Wasauksing First Nation near Parry Sound when it was all going down is what inspired Waubgeshig in writing Moon of the Crusted SnowComing to the realization that home was the best place to be if this were actually a world-ending electricity blackoutThe stereotypes and mythologies about what life on a reservation is, and how, during that dark moment, it was a reminder of the resources and the beauty that place could actually beExpressing the heartfelt spirit of community that has withstood a lot of violence historically, and how that helps a group of people survive this latest major crisisDeciding to set the story in a location that a little further removed from Southern Ontario than where Waubgeshig actually grew upWaub’s approach in writing the sequel and wanting it to take place several years after the events in the first novel and how that came to happenHow the second novel explores the way the people of the community are able to live more autonomously on the land as Anishinaabe peopleThe interesting publishing path that Waubgeshig’s first novel took in landing at ECW PressWorking with acquiring editor Susan Renouf and how great an experience that was and the wonderful suggestions she made to improve the raw manuscriptThe speculative fiction elements of a post-apocalyptic novel and Waub feeling so accepted in the SF/F communityHow the success of Moon of the Crusted Snow led Waub to getting agent representation by Denise BukowskiThe path that led to Penguin Random House offering the contract for the sequel Moon of the Turning LeavesThe new project that Waub is working on nowAdvice that Waub would offer to other writersAnd more…

After the interview Mark reflects on several different things he was thinking about during and after the conversation.

Links of Interest:

Waubgeshig Rice WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitterBlueskySuperstars Writing SeminarsEP 389 – “Now You’ve Gone” with Cathy Rankin and Ken K. MaryBuy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsHow to Access Patreon RSS FeedsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover’s MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingThe Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Waubgeshig Rice is an author and journalist from Wasauksing First Nation.

He’s written four books, most notably the bestselling novels Moon of the Crusted Snow, and Moon of the Turning Leaves.

He graduated from the journalism program at Toronto Metropolitan University in 2002, and spent most of his journalism career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a video journalist and radio host.

He left CBC in 2020 to focus on his literary career.

In addition to his writing endeavours, Waubgeshig is an eclectic public speaker, delivering keynote addresses and workshops, engaging in interviews, and contributing to various panels at literary festivals and conferences.

He speaks on creative writing and oral storytelling, contemporary Anishinaabe culture and matters, Indigenous representation in arts and media, and more.

He lives in Sudbury, Ontario with his wife and three sons.

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