Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark interviews Johnny B. Truant about his new THE ART OF NOTICING podcast. Prior to the main content, Mark leverages his digital AI voice from Eleven Labs to offer a brief introduction as well as a word about this episode's sponsor, the  Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast .   Links of Interest: Johnny B. Truant's Website Mark's YouTube Channel Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections...

Mark interviews author, coach & CEO/Founder of Little Labradoodle Publishing April Cox. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal updates and a word about this episode's sponsor, the Authorpreneur Summit 2023. Transform your passion to profit! Unveil the business behind the book and elevate your business acumen with 35+ industry-leading authorpreneurs at the Authorpreneur Summit .   Dur...

Mark interviews writer and indexer Stephen Ullstrom about book indexing and his recent release BOOK INDEXING: A Step-by-Step Guide. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update about a skeleton and license plate theft, as well as word about this episode's sponsor, the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast .   In their conversation, Mark and Stephen talk about: Stephen's long-time in...

Mark interviews actor/director/producer/writer Eriq La Salle about his latest novel LAWS OF ANNIHILATION and his life-long passion for storytelling. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.   You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and libr...

Mark interviews Terry Fallis about his latest novel,  A New Season . A two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour, Terry Fallis is the author of nine novels, all of them national bestsellers—including six #1 bestsellers—and all published by McClelland & Stewart/Penguin Random House. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes new Patron Nikki Guerlain,...

Mark interviews Joanna Penn about her new book  Writing the Shadow:  Turn Your Inner Darkness into Words , then associated Kickstarter she launched for it, plans she has to window its release, and much more. Prior to the main content, Mark thanks Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast .   In their conversation, Mark and Joanna talk about: How it has been a while since Joanna has been on Mark's p...

Mark interviews author E.L. Williams about her writing life, about her books, about rebranding one of the books in her series, and more. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes a brief personal update, welcomes new patron T. Thorn Coyle, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast .   In thei...

In this episode Mark reflects back to Episode 6 of this podcast, which was released on Feb 6, 2018. He shares clips from that episode, in which he outlined three of the things that bothered him about the indie publishing world. Reflecting back, he comments on a few things that have changed, and what is consistent more than 5 years after the initial broadcast. This episode is sponsored by the Patro...

In this solo episode, Mark interviews Joe Solari about his new book  May I Have a Moment of Your Attention? Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and then reflects on the reasons why he canceled a trip he was supposed to take to Florida to attend NINC (Novelist's Inc.) This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast .   In their conversation...

In this solo episode, Mark reflects on his last few days in his old childhood home which has been in his family for three generations. This episode is sponsored by the Patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast . Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls fo...

Mark interviews Ricardo Fayet of Reedsy about their new online course on How to Write a Novel . Prior to the interview, Mark shares and reflects on a brief industry update related to Amazon's recent AI-related change, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. Reedsy contains an online listing of vetted professionals from across the industry, including editors, cover des...

Mark interviews Emilia Rose and Michael Evans of Ream Stories, a subscription platform built by authors for authors. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway....

Mark interviews Reenita Malhotra Hora, an award-winning screenwriter, novelist and audio producer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. Learn more about SciFidea and the awesome Dyson Sphere Sci-Fi Writing Contest .   In the interview, Mark and Reenita talk about: How Reenita has been writing her entire life and her love of storytelli...

Mark interviews the creative daughter/father team of Brigid Collins and Ron Collins about their collaborative writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway...

In this solo episode Mark reflects on the value authors can have for libraries, exhaustion of being on the road for several weeks in a row and too many commitments, and the feeling of "coming home." This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast . Links of Interest: Digipalooza Mark Leslie's Books via OverDrive Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Books via OverDrive Buy Mark a Coffee Pat...

In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few of the things he has learned from a couple of the craft talks given at his intense residency week in the Masters in Creative Writing program at Western Colorado University. This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast . Links of Interest: Graduate Program in Creative Writing at WCU Steve Coughlin (Professor of English) Maya Jewel...

Mark interviews Johanna Rothman about her latest book FREE YOUR INNER NON-FICTION WRITER . Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor This episode is sponsored by Mark's new book  Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard . In the interview, Mark and Johanna talk about: Why Johanna is often called The Pragmatic Manager The thirty-year...

In this solo episode Mark reflects on being overly stressed about having too much on his plate, and what seemed to have helped him deal with that. This episode is sponsored by patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast . Links of Interest: Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pit...

Mark interviews David Olive, Jr (AKA David Grimdark) author and one of the engineers behind Penspyre a tool to help writers tackle writer's block and productivity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes, and word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems aro...

Mark interviews author, publisher and RPG gamer Peter M. Ball who has been engaged in experimental and digital publishing since the very beginning of its appearance in the book industry. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.c...

Mark interviews Jeff Elkins about his writing, about dialogue and character voice, about his new book  The Dialogue Doctor Will See You Now , and more . . . Prior to the interview, Mark shares the winners of the complimentary tickets to BookMARCon, the surprise winners of complimentary pizza, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your a...

Mark interviews Lindsay Buroker, a full-time independent fantasy and science fiction author who has written over a hundred novels, appeared on the USA Today bestseller list, and has been twice nominated for a Goodreads Readers' Choice Award. Prior to the interview, Mark shares an extremely short personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your...

Mark interviews Dana Claire, an award-winning author and the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Book Brush about her writing, about Book Brush, and about the virtual BookMARCon conference. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor.   You can find out more about BookMARCon at  https://bookbrush.com/bookmarcon/ During their conversation, M...

Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book From Zero to Four Figures:  Making $1,000 a Month Self-Publishing Fiction . Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares comments from recent episodes and a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/...

Mark interviews, actor and writer C. C. Humphreys about his new novel Some Day I'll Find You . Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word from this episode's sponsor. You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During the interview Mark and Chris talk about: Chris's new epic romance saga nov...