Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode, Mark interviews Holly Darling, an author and email marketing consultant. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new Patron Holger Nils Pohl, shares a brief personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversa...

An interview with Kim Lengling, author, writer, and host of Let Fear Bounce podcast and the Write Stuff, the author's voice TV Show. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/F...

A reading, by the author (H. Claire Taylor) of her March 7, 2022 Medium article entitled: " Indie Publishing Has a Creepy Problem " Links of Interest: Claire Taylor's Website Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem (Original Article) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections   Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media....

Mark has a conversation with Claire Taylor, founder and owner of FFS Media, about her writing, about story alignment, and about a creep problem that exists in the indie publishing industry. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some randomly drawn prizes for three of his Patrons (two copies of a book on worldbuilding by Angeline Trevena and a virtual course by Claire Taylor), a personal update, a...

In this solo episode Mark talks about Public Lending Right programs. Public Lending Right (PLR) is the right of authors and other rightsholders to receive payment for the free public use of their works in libraries. PLR has been in existence since the 1940s and is currently available for authors in more than 30 countries around the world. Prior to the main content, shares a personal update that in...

Mark interviews Jeff Cottrill, a fiction writer, poet, journalist and spoken-word artist based in Toronto, Canada, about spoken-word art and his new novel HATE STORY. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes a Patreon supporter, shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailer...

In this episode Mark interviews Angeline Trevena, an author of dystopian urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic fiction, a podcaster, an events manager, and the author of a number of phenomenal books about world-building. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a short personal update, including the fact one of his patrons will win a copy of Angeline's latest edition of 30 Days of Worldbuilding , a cou...

Mark has a panel discussion with four of his patrons. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who supposed this podcast via www.patreon.com/starkreflections . Matty Dalrymple Alyssa Kuron Kathy Mac Faye Whyte The round-table discussion focuses mainly on the following topics: Digital/virtual versus real-world/in-person connections POD and bookstore returns Mark als...

Mark interviews Annaliese Morgan, an author, traveller, a solo mum of two boys, and an award winning Advanced Veterinary Surgical Nurse, about writing, her book STAY WILD, and her passion for inspiring young adults and young readers through fiction. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work d...

This episode goes a bit meta with Mark sharing a recording of Kathy Mac interviewing a group of her students shortly after a virtual talk that Mark gave to them on the opportunities available to authors within the traditional and indie publishing realms. It is a "reflections on a reflective talk" episode. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn mor...

Mark interviews author E.E. Judd about her new novel, TEETH, her writing life, and interacting with her readers. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Elise talk...

Mark interviews David Boito, a screenwriter and novelist about his new novel VALLEY FLIERS, writing screenplays and scripts, and so much more. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their con...

Part of series of bonus "Reflective Round Table" episodes that are discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at: https://patreon.com/starkreflections In this episode, Mark chats with: Matty Dalrymple Julie Strauss Kathy Mac Linda Hill Talena Winters   Links of Interest: EP 2...

Mark interviews author Jacob Hess about character development, world-building and The Hero's Journey. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, a cautionary tale about making POD titles returnable, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway....

Mark interview Michelle Rowen/Morgan Rhodes about her different pen names, the genres she writes, her publishing journey, and her latest novel, ECHOES & EMPIRES. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update that includes devastating news of the loss of a writer friend, along with some good news related to his writing, the results of a recent Chirp audiobo...

In this episode, Mark looks back at his 2021 goals and achievements, outlining the successes, the failures, and the unexpected. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. A hi...

Mark reads from a 2000 word article he wrote when asked to discuss publishing trends for 2022. Prior to the main content, Mark, using an AI voice double (Overdub) from Descript to speak the words he has typed, explains why he is using a voice double for the interstitial parts of the podcast, and also shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work dis...

The first in a new series of "Reflective Round Table" discussions between Mark and a selection of patrons of the podcast. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections podcast who support this podcast at: https://patreon.com/starkreflections In this episode, Mark chats with: Matty Dalrymple Shari Decter Hirst (writing as Sherilyn Decter ) Jeff Elkins Kathy Mac In their conversa...

Mark interviews Ami Sands Brodoff, the award-winning author of three novels and two story collections about her latest book,  The Sleep of Apples and the stories and books she has written over the years. Prior to the main content, Mark discusses recent comments, welcomes new patron Jared Nelson, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can...

Mark interviews Heather Campbell co-founder and publisher at Latitude 46 Publishing, and owner of a brand-new indie bookstore in Sudbury, Ontario. Prior to the main content, Mark shares some recent comments, a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkrefl...

In this episode Mark interviews author Paulette Stout about her new novel Love, Only Better . Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, a personal update, thanks new patron Jo-Ann Carson, and shares a word and update about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Fi...

Mark interviews author Brittany Fichter about writing happily ever after endings, clean romance, and taking the time to care for her readers. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update, thanks new patron James S. Aaron, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at st...

Mark shares three short audio excerpts from the November 2021 20BooksVegas conference. 20Books Vegas 2021 is by far the biggest and best of the 20Books shows (there have been ten so far). It is the biggest show in the world focused on self-publishing although there is something for every author, traditional or indie. The 20Books mentality is that everyone deserves a chance to succeed if they take...

Mark interviews Vikrant Shaurya, CEO and Founder of Bestsellingbook.com. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely brief personal update with crappy audio from a Vegas hotel room and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation Mark...

Mark interviews Chris Racknor about his Shawn Ronin mystery series, about science fiction and about his experiences in both traditional and indie publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Finda...