Mark interviews Juliette N. Banks, a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances. Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, welcomes new patron Dharma Kelleher, and shares a personal update and 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.ca/Findaway.   In their conversation, Mark and Juliette talk about: Juliette always believing that some day she would be a published author, but it was something she never chased Juliette's marketing background at a book she wrote in 2012 that was published by Random House in 2013 The significant and tight Covid related lock-downs in New Zealand Juliette's adaptation to reading a lot of eBooks during the pandemic The incredibly expensive cost of print books in New Zealand Writing an archangel series and a vampire series Launching her books and reader magnet in Jan and March of 2021 Working a full time job squeezed into 4 work days per week while writing all these novels The roughly 200 people Juliette was sharing her works with for free before she even published her first book (and how they've maintained their loyalty as readers to this day) Launching a new contemporary billionaire romance series at the beginning of 2022 The parallel between the vampire characters and the billionaire characters Training herself to think very American in terms of her largest readership base Calculating the value of going to book signings, particular in the cost of flying from New Zealand to somewhere in the US The process Juliette works on with editing and publishing Having had five BookBubs in 2022 The steady stream of releases and the stress that comes from that, particularly when illness like Covid occurs to throw a monkey wrench into it Where Juliette has been focusing in her initial goal to get to the 5 figures she needed in order to quit her corporate job Spending time on learning what she has to do to make her books "BookBub Worthy" Why she doesn't separate "indie" and "traditional" - you're competing in a store with suppliers of all sizes The pricing strategy that Juliette uses How only 10 of her books are creating income right now. The other 10 are things like reader magnets The way Juliette plans and maps out her writing business The importance of knowing what your skills and abilities and weaknesses are The value of professional coaches and taking some action upon those meetings/sessions And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on the investment Juliette made by engaging for a long period and in detail with a group of 200 readers.   Links of Interest:   Juliette N. Banks Website BookBub Article: How I Maximized my First BookBub Deal EP 285 - Written Word Media's Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 EP 284 - Collaborations in AI with Elizabeth Ann West Walk Thru of Sudowrite with Elizabeth Ann West (Patreon) EP 280 - J.C. McKenzie & Jo-Ann Carson on the 2023 Jozie Planner for Authors Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     Juliette N. Banks is a bestselling, wide author who writes steamy contemporary and paranormal page-turning romances with alpha heroes who fall for sassy heroines and a healthy dose of action and suspense. Juliette has a vast background in consumer marketing and previously published with Random House. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand with Tilly, her Maine Coon kitty, and is now a full-time author.   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 

To kick off the new year, Mark shares a Jan 3, 2023 article from the Written Word Media blog on the Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023. Prior to the main content, Mark share a personal update and 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.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest:   Written Word Media: Top 10 Publishing Trends for 2023 Join Written Word Media as an Author Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

Mark talks with Elizabeth Ann West about her writing and using AI tools such as Sudowrite for intriguing new types of collaborations. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a 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 audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and Elizabeth talk about: Elizabeth's start in indie publishing back in the "early days" of self-publishing The Jane Austin Fan Fiction that Elizabeth writes for a living The panic in the writing community with the dropping of chatGPT (GPT = Generative Pre-trained Transformer) What Public Domain content is and a look at the grey area of AI generated content and copyright Changes to Public Domain and copyright law related to Disney and Mickey Mouse How Public Domain is really important to culture Some of the areas where AI has already been integrated into the tools we use as writers and just in general AI as a robotic co-writer that you can lean on as an author Sudowrite and how it's based on a UNIX command called "Super Do" and not "pseudo" making you the super user How as the human in this equation, you are the "creative director" still responsible for all of the final writing, the research, the voice, etc How prompts work within Sudowrite and the way authors can be very specific with them The importance of authors being unique and creative when creating their prompts How the AI works within the context of the most recent segment of the document an author is working within The idea that's in development of performing something like a "fine tune" A bit of the tech about how "tokens" work within the technology Playing within "Open AI Playground" How much time a tool like Sudowrite can help writers with outlining and summarizing a chapter Simulating readers reacting to a piece of writing The process of interviewing an AI character The cost structure for using Sudowrite How Elizabeth has written and released three books since Nov 2021 with the assistance of AI The re-write function in Sudowrite that performs a "show, don't tell" on a sentence Feeling like a writer with super-powers by having access to these types of tools How Elizabeth teachers her online classes for learning how to collaborate with AI The $99 fee that gives people access to all of Elizabeth's "Learning AI" classes and recorded live sessions past, present, and future Elizabeth's thoughts for writers who are nervous, anxious, or worried about the disruption that AI will bring to writing And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on a few things Elizabeth said. He then shares his own recent experiment with creating a book description using chatGBT. Links of Interest:   Elizabeth Ann West's Website Elizabeth's Courses & Coaching Intro to Collaborate With AI Tools - Outlining, Prose, & Editing (Affiliate Link) 1:1 AI Consultation with Elizabeth Ann West (Affiliate Link) AI COMMUNITY #WANTK (Affiliate Link) Elizabeth's Short Walk-Thru with Mark of Sudowrite YouTube Interview/Walk-Thru about AI / Sudowrite with Joe Solari Elizabeth's 20BooksVegas Presentation - "Selling Mr. Darcy" EP 265 - Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood from Scribecount EP283 - Doing LSB with Amy S. Peele Sanderson Takes on Audible Apple Digital Narration Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   A Jane-of-all-trades, mistress to none! Elizabeth Ann West is the author of 12 novels and 11 novellas, 22 of which are story variations of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Her books have won reader conference awards and hit the Historical Bestseller lists on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBooks stores multiple times. A lover of all things geeky, Elizabeth codes websites, dabbles in graphic design, and is always looking for new technology to learn and master. She teaches authors at conferences like 20Booksto50KVegas, RWA Nationals, on topics of technology and business in the digital publishing world.   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 

Mark has a chat with Amy S. Peele, an Amazon best-selling and award-winning author. They discuss her medical mystery series, her healthcare background, comedy, laughing yoga, and so much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a question from recent a episodes, an update regarding looking for guests (especially newer writers) for the podcast, and 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.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Amy talk about: Having been an RN since 1974 and the life-long friends she has maintained her entire life Leveraging the "two best friends" theme in her mystery series as the two main protagonists Spending thirty-five years in organ transplants Deciding to kill people she didn't like in real life as fictional characters in her novels Writing the three murder mysteries after she retired in 2014 because she still had "transplants" that she needed to get out of her system The next book she is working on, a romantic comedy Amy's training with Second City Player's Workshop in Chicago because of her need to have some levity outside her day job work How Amy got started with where and how to publish her first mystery novel and how she found her agent The importance of relationships in the publishing world Why Amy values local independent bookstores, including her local bookstore, Book Passage The process of getting her books made into audio Self-care for writers and why it's important Laughter yoga and hand yoga How, especially lately, we've been in fight or flight mode and the fact that people are not breathing L.S.B. (Laughter, Stretch, and Breath) Why deep breathing and laughter is so valuable Advice Amy would offer to beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark shares a reflection. He then welcomes new patrons Lizbeth Meredith, Stephanie Tallent, and Angela Grit Landau and thanks all patrons. Links of Interest:   Amy S. Peele's website Amy's Hand Yoga Video Be a guest on the Stark Reflections Podcast Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Amy S. Peele was born and raised in the Chicago area. Having graduated from South Chicago School of Nursing (SCCH) in 1974, Amy discovered her passion for organ donation and transplantation when she started as a transplant coordinator at the University of Chicago in 1976. She enjoyed a 35-year career in Transplantation retiring from University of California San Francisco in 2014. As President of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO), she was a guest on the Phil Donahue talk show as well as national and local radio stations, discussing the National Organ Transplant Act, which was passed in 1984. Amy has a love for comedy and improv and graduated from Second City Players Workshop in 1985 in Chicago. She has also studied Improv at BATS (Bay Area Theatre Sports) in San Francisco. Amy’s sense of humor comes through in all her writing. Amy met her architect husband, Mark Schatz, through his mother who was her student at a transplant coordinator course. They were married in 1987 and have two children. Gracie is a butcher, fishmonger, and chef living in Eugene Oregon. Bennett works in the digital sound industry in San Francisco, enjoys building bikes, and playing music. Amy now lives in Marin County where she has been writing creatively since 1988. With CUT, Amy infuses her passion for transplantation into her murder mysteries and brings a fresh, knowledgeable, and humorous new voice into the world of mystery novels.   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 

In this solo episode Mark reflections on a couple of topics: AI in creativity and writing to market with passion. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and 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.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest:   EP 280 - The Jozie Planner with Jo-Ann Carson and J.C. McKenzie EP 86 of the Fantastic Comic Fan Podcast (with guest Mark Leslie) EP 453 of Sell More Books Show Superstars Writing Seminars (Save $100 with code: STARKSSWS2023 Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

In this extra, slightly shorter episode sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast, Mark reflects on an episode of David Richman's Stop Making Yourself Miserable podcast where he discusses the power of crowds. David's Podcast, Stop Making Yourself Miserable is a series of short (usually 15 minute) episodes where David shares an insight and reflects on what we can learn from it, or how we can grow. Links of Interest:   David Richman's Website David Richman's Podcast (Stop Making Yourself Miserable) Episode 54 Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

Mark interviews J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson, a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives and have created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief personal update, comments from recent episodes and patreon, and 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.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, J.C. and Jo-Ann talk about: How J.C. was indoctinated into the writing world via her mother, Jo-Ann being a creative person and writer Returning to Canada from New Zealand and how a combination of reading a lot and some vivid dreams led to the first book she wrote Looking at the first two books she wrote which she considers were a "hot mess" SHIFT HAPPENS, J.C.'s third book, and first published book, and the other 6 books that were published by The Wild Rose Press Jo-Ann's initiation into the world of writing, how she didn't start taking writing seriously until she retired, and the long-term view she has taken for her writing career How storytelling has always been important to Jo-Ann her entire life. J.C. writing locations that she doesn't often see represented, as well as the way she likes to drift back to urban fantasy with her writing Jo-Ann also enjoying writing about witches and vampires, and having a good time injecting more humor into her fiction Despite writing in similar genres, and critiquing one anothers' work, the fact they have not collaborated on any fiction projects yet The JoZie 2023 Planner, and how the name was created from a combination of their two names About the planner itself, and the binding (spiral bound) which allows it to lay flat Where this idea came from and why they feel this planner is important to writers and a writer's needs Their desire for more feedback to continue to improve the planner for 2024 The option of hole-punching the pages from the binder each year and keeping previous year pages in a binder The current floral pattern of the planner, and their interest in looking at different styles for future years Tips for writers who have never actually used a planner before And more... After the interview, Mark shares a couple of reflections, Mark welcomes new patrons and reminds them of their chance to indicate their interest in winning one of four copies of the 2023 JoZie Planner for Authors.   Links of Interest:   J.C. McKenzie Website Blog Facebook Twitter Goodreads Amazon Newsletter BookTok Jo-Ann Carson Website BookBub Facebook Goodreads Amazon Pinterest JoZie Planner (Vervante) JoZie Planner (Amazon CA) JoZie Planner (Amazon US) Episode 253 - Survival, Resilience, Grace, and Persistence with Lizbeth Meredith Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   J.C. McKenzie and Jo-Ann Carson are a mother and daughter team of Vancouver Island authors who share a strong desire to organize their hectic writing lives. Some would call it an obsession. Together they’ve created the JoZie Planner for Authors by Authors. J.C. McKenzie is a book loving, gumboot-wearing, unapologetic science geek. She predominantly writes urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic dystopian fantasy with strong romantic elements. When she’s not spinning tales, she’s in the classroom sharing her passion for science and mathematics while secretly warping the young impressionable minds of our future to carry out her evil plans for world domination. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. Jo-Ann Carson is an award-winning Fantasy author of 31 books who loves the magic of storytelling. She places unique characters, in fast-paced plots, to tell tales about love, friendship, and family. Recently a critic likened one of her main characters to, “… Stephanie Plum with magic.”Jo-Ann’s last four series are the Dial Witch trilogy, Perfect Brew trilogy, Ghost & Abby Mysteries, and Gambling Ghosts novellas. Buy links for all her books can be found on her website. A firm believer in the magic of our everyday lives, Jo-Ann loves watching sunrises, walking beaches near her home in the Pacific Northwest and reading by a crackling wood fire.   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   

Mark interviews Michael La Ronn, the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and 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.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Michael talk about: How long it has been since Mark and Michael saw one another Michael getting back on the travel circuit and being one of the guest speakers for Superstars Writing Seminars in Feb 2023 How Michael got extremely ill in 2012 with an extreme case of food poisoning combined with a hospital infection he acquired, and how that laid him up for a full month Taking the time to realize, while he was stuck in the hospital how he'd been working in a dead-end job and not being the writer he wanted to be Having a beautiful vision of being a successful published writer, and the feeling of happiness that came from that Learning about self-publishing from the Alliance of Independent Authors and The Creative Penn The more than 80 books Michael has written while working full-time, raising a family, and going to law school at night The "secret weapons" that Michael relies on for his writing goals Writing using Scrivener on the MAC and the Scrivener app on his iPhone as well as using dictation Getting writing done using dictation while walking the dog Being a pantser (or "discovery writer") Michael's writer manifesto The different pseudonyms Michael uses for fiction VS his books for writers Michael's role as ALLI's outreach manager The two estate planning books Michael has. One for writers and the other for a writer's heirs Loving his day job and not wanting to give it up despite how successful and prolific his writing career has been The enjoyment of challenging himself And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the prioritizing of finding every available small moment for getting just a few extra words in and how that all adds up. He also considers Michael's thoughts on "balance." Links of Interest:   Michael's Author Website Author Level Up Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Michael La Ronn is the author of over 80 science fiction & fantasy books and self-help books for writers. He writes from the great plains of Iowa and has managed to write while raising a family, working a full-time job, and even attending law school classes in the evenings. You can find his fiction at www.michaellaronn.com and his videos and books for writers at www.authorlevelup.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 

Mark interviews Danielle Kaplan about her new book I Married a Thrill-Seeker. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and 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.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Danielle talk about: Danielle's background before she decided to write her new book The irony of doing a thesis in brain-injury, with most of them involving motorcycle accidents How Danielle, who was considered a moderate who "followed the rules" first met her "wild and crazy" husband Steve back in university Moving to Toronto, Canada to start her life with him and continuing her career in the medical field Having written for medical publications prior to this first book Steve's life as an adventure rider on his Harley Davidson motorcycle when on a trip in the Yukon Keeping all her correspondence and personal journals during the tragic events following her husband's accident Showing the original manuscript to a good friend who is a script/screen-play writer who asked her if this was going to be a personal document for her family, or for public consumption and how that question changed everything The dramatic lows and highs that Steve went through since the accident The various audiences that the book is likely to appeal to Where Danielle found support through this entire journey Working with Rebecca at re:books on the release of the book in Nov 2022 And more... After the interview Mark reflects on how Danielle was able to use all the details she recorded and stored, not because she was going to write a book about it, but for other reasons. Links of Interest:   Danielle's Book on Amazon EP 267 - Why Publishing Needs a Makeover with Rebecca Eckler Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Danielle Kaplan is a speech-language pathologist and movement specialist. She grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa and holds a master’s degree in Speech Pathology. She and her husband Steve emigrated to Canada, where she spent twenty years working in acute teaching hospitals, in Neurology, Neurosurgery, and spinal injury. Danielle gained a certification in Pilates and then went on to train further in movement while achieving her Personal Training certification (CanfitPro), Ballet Barre for fitness training and then received her Rehab Exercise Specialization Certification. The mother of two, she lives with her husband Steve and their two fur babies in Toronto, Ontario. I Married A Thrill-Seeker is her first book.   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 

Mark has a chat with several authors from the ASK THE AUTHORS 2022 book edited by Kaye Booth. Prior to the main segment, 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.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: The Writers Career Toolkit StoryBundle Writer Beware Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles     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 

Mark interviews Diann Floyd Boehm, an award-winning author of children’s books who writes stories to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination! Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, recent comments and 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.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Diann talk about: How Diane started off as a teacher - from 4 year olds all the way up to 8th grade Becoming one of the self-taught tech-knowledgable teachers in the system early on, falling in love with computers, and realizing how much she could help students Enjoying and preferring writing long-hand despite being comfortable with and adept at using a computer The process of developing and writing children's books and the parallel inspiration for both children and adults that can exist within them The beauty of what can happen when people open their minds, expand their horizons and learn and work together The power of stories in sharing ideas and preventing people from putting up walls The hybrid publisher (OC Publishing) that Diane uses Diane's new book CHARLIE AND THE TIRE SWING Recognizing that we're all storytellers, even if we've never written anything, and exercises Diane likes to share to help people realize this The online story garden that Diane created on YouTube, creating safe, clean-cut and wholesome stories for families What Diann wish she'd known when she first started out Diann's publicist, Mickey Mikkelson of The Creative Edge And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the innate creativity we all have, and then talks in detail about the idea of "hybrid" publishing companies, and his default suspicion about them. He then goes to explain why OC Publishing is a legitimate business with very transparent and clear business practices and why a company like that which is honest and demonstrates integrity might be a good fit for some authors. Links of Interest: Diann Floyd Boehm's Website Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Pinterest Diann's Story Garden OC Publishing Writer Beware Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Diann Floyd Boehm is an award-winning international author of children’s books and has published a young adult historical fiction. In addition, Diann writes books to inspire readers to be kind, like themselves, and Embrace Imagination! You can find all her books on Amazon. Diann’s Story Garden YouTube Channel lets children hear different children’s authors read their stories. Diann continues to be involved in various humanitarian projects with multiple organizations. Diann was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to the parents of George M. Floyd and Mabel Adella Harris Floyd. She moved to Texas at about 18 months and her two brothers. Over time the Floyd family grew, and Diann had five brothers, Chris, Danny, Mike, Larry, and Bryan. Diann is a wife and mother of three grown children and one grandson. She has traveled extensively to many parts of the world and has lived in the Philippines and Dubai. She and her husband now reside in Austin, Texas.   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 

Mark interviews Samantha M. Bailey, the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller, and WATCH OUT FOR HER, an instant #1 national bestseller about her twenty-year writing journey. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and 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.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Samantha talk about: How long Mark and Samantha have known one another and how long it has been since they've chatted, and Samantha's previous guest spot on this podcast Samantha's latest thriller WATCH OUT FOR HER and the 13 weeks it spent on the Globe and Mail bestseller list in Canada The book's presence on numerous indie and chain bookstores as well as non-bookstore locations across Canada including Shoppers Drug Mart, Walmart, and Costco, where it was a buyer's pick How everyone in the retail space was so good to Samantha The twenty years Samantha worked at writing before this huge wave of success Her previous book (Woman on the Edge) being released just prior to the pandemic starting Samantha's rock star agent, Jenny Bent of The Bent Agency and how Samantha found her twenty years earlier Nita Prose, author of The Maid, a New York Times bestseller, who is the editor of both Samantha's novels Getting her first rejection for a story that she wrote and submitted to a publisher at the age of ten Being able to wallpaper her house with the amount of rejections she has received for her books over the years Why Samantha never gave up after collecting enough rejection slips to wallpaper her entire neighborhood The common "yellow raincoat" motif that appears on both of her books despite them being stand-alone novels completely unrelated by anything except the genre and the author Why Samantha loves the concept of an unreliable narrator How, when reading a thriller, Samantha never trusts anyone at all, ever The two performers who read the audiobook version of WATCH OUT FOR HER Being a very visual person, particularly as a reader What Samantha tries to do with every book she writes, and a little bit about the book she is working on now Advice Samantha would have given to her younger self The various genres and types of book she has loved reading and writing over the years Taking all the risks in writing while taking very few risks in life And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the concept of unreliable narrators and the idea of letting fear hold you back.   Links of Interest: Samantha M. Bailey Website Woman on the Edge Watch out for Her EP 107 - Samantha M. Bailey, Woman on the Edge Sarah Sampino Interview (via Draft2Digital) The Bent Agency (Sam's Agent Jenny Bent) Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Samantha M. Bailey is the author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, a USA TODAY and #1 national bestseller; her second novel, WATCH OUT FOR HER, was an instant #1 national bestseller. Her books have sold in eleven countries to date. Samantha is a journalist and freelance editor; her writing has appeared in NOW MAGAZINE, THE VILLAGE POST, THE THRILL BEGINS, and THE CRIME HUB, among other publications. She lives in Toronto, where she can usually be found tapping away at her computer or curled up on her couch with a book.     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 

Mark interviews Michelle Oucharek-Deo, a writer, speaker and art therapist about her fiction writing journey, creative therapy, and her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update and 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.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Michelle talk about: How Michelle became an art therapist 28 years ago, working with people from 3 to 103 years old Using art and the process of art-making as a process for healing A memory from Grade One involving being in the library and dreaming of one day being a writer Being a creative writing major in university and how that didn't align with Michelle's vision Sitting down to do some writing in her mid-30s and then again in her 40s; then diving in to engage in fiction writing Michelle's first fiction and how it relates back to her life as a therapist The journey towards self-discovery and being accountable for one's past and one's trauma Her "Wine, Love, and Friendship" trilogy Michelle's belief that there should be a "men's fiction" genre The benefit of writing about important and sensitive subjects within a fictional setting The colleague of Michelle's who read her first book and had it hit so close to home that she had to put the book aside for a while to process it in her mind All the different types of creative and nature therapies that exist and which can cross-over Michelle's thumbnail version of what art therapy is, as well as what it isn't Using the ceremony of the art-making and the experience as a way of allowing someone the opportunity to effectively "say goodbye" to a cherished family pet The 42 minute hour and how it relates to the tremendous amount of time so many of us seem to be "losing" lately Finding and leveraging the time that exists as opposed to letting it sift away Michelle's 42 Minute Club on Facebook How we all have different and unique tools in our own baskets. Advice Michelle has for dealing with writer's block or being stuck And much more... After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of lost time as well as the concept of the different tools that we all possess and the way they work for us at different times.   Links of Interest: Michelle Oucharek-Deo Website The Girl in the Peach Tree Barefoot in the Dirt Untangled Vines The 42 Minute Club: Time With Intention (Facebook Group) EP 273 - Deep and Meaningful Music Connections with Jennifer Buchanan Findaway Voices Blog - Merchandising Call for Entries The Canadian Mounted Spotify Playlist The Official Lover's Moon Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Michelle Oucharek-Deo is a writer, speaker and art therapist who has dedicated herself to living her life on the sparkly side of the street. She spent 28 years with a paintbrush in her hand walking with people through their emotional journeys. Several years ago she stepped outside of the counseling office to create her first fictional series about a woman pushing past her fear and looking at who she really wants to become. During the process of Michelle's emerging writing career, managing her counseling business and motherhood, she created a new and exciting way to manage her time. Michelle looks forward to sharing stories about her fiction writing journey and how her time management philosophy of the 42 Minute Hour allowed her to lay the foundation to running two parallel careers, baking muffins for her son, planting her garden and still staying sane.   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 

Mark interviews Jennifer Buchanan, a musician, author, entrepreneur, music therapist, and two-time award-winning author about her more than thirty years of experience helping people connect using music. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal reflective update and a word about this episode's sponsor that's also filled with a few reflections. 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 their conversation, Mark and Jennifer talk about: When Mark and Jennifer had last spoken and how much Jennifer enjoyed the conversation How Jennifer has been a health entrepreneur who has been running her music therapy business for 31 years Her youngest client is 2 months old, and her eldest is 104 Becoming an author and how that has been such a pleasure Being passionate about music therapy and the good it can do Reminding people of their innate humanness and the strengths that still exist inside them Mark's unique music-related connection with his best-friend The reason why Jennifer has "written another book" Even though they can be short/small connections, music connections can be really meaningful and deep and lasting Jennifer's re-released children's book (My Body is Special, Especially for Me) inspired by a group of children she had worked with and a song she wrote for them Remembering that a song is never just a song, and that a playlist is never just a playlist Finding out what your anchor songs are How Jennifer's Book Tune In was meant to be her first and last book on the topic of music therapy. But that she loved it so much she fell back in love with the topic The importance of never underestimating luck Listening to the clues given by your body and your health Getting out and doing movement and weight training Missing just getting her guitar out and playing it and singing And much more... After the interview Mark reflects on three different things that the conversation made him think about.   Links of Interest: JB Music Therapy Jennifer Buchanan Website EP 151 - Wellness, Well Played with Jennifer Buchanan The Canadian Mounted Spotify Playlist The Official Lover's Moon Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jennifer Buchanan first witnessed the power of music as a young teen when her Grandad had his second stroke leaving him unable to speak or walk and living in long term care. It was Granny who asked her the simple question…”Jenny would you bring your guitar next week and sing your Grandad’s favorite song?” As she sang, Jennifer would witness the face of the grumpy old man she thought she knew, turn into the tears of a man who wanted a more meaningful connection. Today Jennifer Buchanan is the Founder of JB Music Therapy (JBMT), a company that has been instrumental in the implementation of hundreds of music therapy programs throughout Canada for more than 30 years and has been thrice nominated for the Community Impact Award by her local Chamber of Commerce. JB Music Therapy employs a specialized team of 18 Certified Music Therapists (MTAs) serving infants to elders in medical, education and community wellness settings. As the author of two award-winning books and the current Executive Director of the Canadian Association of Music Therapists Jennifer is recognized as a trusted source for television and print media throughout North America on the topics of music, mental health and the power of a playlist.   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 

Mark interviews Lila Holley, a US Army combat Veteran, and the multiple award-winning author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. Prior to the main segment, 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 audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Lila talk about: Lila's life of more than two decades in the army, then transitioning into creating a platform allowing veteran women to share their stories Trying to find her place in high school, but enjoying writing and getting excellent feedback and encouragement from a teacher The difficulty of the transition of leaving the military and then re-creating that civilian life Returning to journalling as an outlet in that transition Sharing her experiences in order to help other veterans Realizing how important to would be to help so many others share their own stories How Lila works with veterans to help them share their experiences, reminding them that everyone has a story The way Lila's first book eventually lead to an entire Camouflaged Sisters movement The themes of the three different Camouflaged sisters books as well as the behind-the-rank series Being the only female and the only black person in the room for parts of her career in the military service Feeling like she had to work longer hours and keep proving herself, and how that pressure can often come from an internal place The equal pay nature of the military service Sharing your ugly truth and the lessons learned How the military is a reflection of society The importance of not feeling alone The online community of Camouflaged Sisters and how people can be a part of it Involvement of military family perspectives that are included in the community, the stories, and the books The monthly safe space sisterhood chat that focuses on self-care Why Lila decided to work towards her Masters in Publishing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the power of writing, the power of story, of sharing one's story, of helping others share their story, and of ensuring that people realize they are not alone. Links of Interest: Camouflaged Sisters Website EP 271 - Story Nerd Podcast with Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill EP 268 - Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli Draft2Digital Blog Post on Industry Insights for Q1 & Q2 of 2022 The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Lila Holley is a US Army combat Veteran. She is the multiple award-winning, Amazon bestselling visionary author behind the Camouflaged Sisters brand. This retired US Army Warrant Officer has published 9 total books, including 8 anthology books with 143 coauthors and has additional projects scheduled with the launch of her Camouflaged Sisters Publishing company. Camouflaged Sisters empowers military women and women Veterans to take back the narrative and ownership of their stories. Lila believes there is no one better to tell these stories than those who lived them. She is creating an amazing platform that celebrates military women and women Veterans with her online community, virtual and live events, retreats and getaways, and workshops. Through this community military women connect with each other, access resources, and share their stories. Camouflaged Sisters is more than just books—it’s a movement!   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 

Mark interviews Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill of the Story Nerd Podcast. The Story Nerd Podcast demystifies story theory so writers spend less time studying and more time writing. Literary editors and writers, Valerie Francis and Melanie Hill, analyze a film a week as an example of a storytelling principle. Prior to the main segment, 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/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark, Valerie, and Melanie talk about: How long it took for the three of them to coordinate the interview (2 months) and a bit of banter about time zones and Melanie being so further in the "future" than Valerie and Mark Mark's nerding out on how the Y2K bug wasn't solved, it was just pushed back to 2050 Mal's background as a poet and her passion for writing poetry and how much passion could be conveyed in such a "small" piece Loving poetry that has artwork or imagery with it The real art that is involved in writing books that engage children The point at which Valerie's day job got on her nerves enough and how she'd always enjoyed being creative via music and writing Keeping track of how many words Valerie had written for and discarded from her novel Immortal How Valerie and Melanie met Applying story theory to their own manuscripts Being an extrovert in an introvert's job Learning something new with every single episode they produce Doing things that are a bit fearful so that you can grow and improve How their "hourly" recording session usually takes 3 hours because they're having so much fun and such insightful story discussion It doesn't matter what genre one writes in, one can learn from reading all genres How the concepts that they talk about on the podcast that relate to film can be applied to novel writing, because the story structure elements are all the same Comparing walking, running, and running a marathon to the various steps on the writer journey The way the podcast is broken down into seasons and the themes they are exploring And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on how Valerie and Melanie make story theory so easy by providing clear examples in a way that's easy and fun to digest, and recommends listeners go check out an episode or two starting with movies they're familiar with. Links of Interest: Story Nerd Podcast EP 213 - Putting Story Theory Into Practice with Valerie Francis EP 104 - Living the Writing & Editing Life with Valerie Francis EP 270 - Reflections from the NINC 2022 Conference EP 269 - Dreaming a Writer's Dream Straight on Until Morning with Gama Ray Martinez EP 268 - Neurodivergence and the Creative Process with October K. Santerelli EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue with Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively EP 263 - Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley When Words Collide Keynotes The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Thrifty Tips for Authors (Facebook Group) 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

This year's NINC (Novelist's Inc) Conference was themed "Work Smarter." Mark shares reflections based on the notes he took when at NINC the previous week (Sept 19 thru 25). Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely 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. Links of Interest: NINC NINC Author Membership Requirements About the NINC Conference EP 28 - Reflections on the Power of Moments The Official LOVER'S MOON Spotify Playlist Lover's Moon Podcast (Spotify) Thrifty Tips for Authors (Facebook Group) 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

Mark interviews Gama Ray Martinez about his recent novel GOD OF NEVERLAND, his writing life, and more. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely 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 conversation Mark and Gama talk about: How Mark and Gama normally only see one another once per year at Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado in Feb each year Gama always wanting to be a writer, and in school turning in stories instead of descriptive essays The first story that Gama sold, which won 2nd place in a David Farland anthology Taking several of David Farland's workshops Writing a "purple unicorn" story involving a potato based on a parody cover James A. Owen had crafted The background of the "purple unicorn" story Value that can come, both professionally and personally, from attending in person conferences like Superstars Writing Seminars The inspiration for writing God of Neverland which came from the epilogue of the original story of Peter Pan Embracing both traditional publishing and indie publishing Having support from both family and close friends The audiobook version, which took home an audio award The forthcoming sequel, Queens of Wonderland, which ties in to the classic Lewis Carroll book The GamaVerse of this series and how it will connect even more classic texts Writing with something on the TV in the background, but it having to be something that he has seen countless times Advice Gama would offer to other writers and beginning writers How Gama shoots for one plot point per 1000 words when greating a rough outline for a writing project Gama's goal to do a half-marathon in every state, and the Disney marathons he has participated in The feeling of walking into a bookstore such as Barnes and Noble and seeing your books on display And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the years of hard work and investment Gama put into his writing to get to where he is today and the important of getting that first draft DONE.   Links of Interest: Gama Ray Martinez Website Facebook Twitter Instagram 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Gama Ray Martinez lives near Salt Lake City, Utah, with his wife and kids. He moved there solely because he likes mountains. He collects weapons in case he ever needs to supply a medieval battalion, and he greatly resents when work or other real-life things get in the way of writing. He secretly hopes to one day slay a dragon in single combat and doesn’t believe in letting pesky little things like reality stand in the way of dreams.   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 

Mark interviews October K. Santerelli about neurodivergence as it relates to the writing life. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares 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 starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their conversation Mark and October talk about: October's start with writing during a 7th Grade poetry unit project receiving an A+ Dedicating his first book to that teacher who was so inspiring and supportive Getting a publishing deal offer at the age of sixteen Doing a lot of fantasy writing (that got finished) as well as Queer fiction (that never got finished)- Loving the act of "spite writing" The terms of Neurotypical, Neurodivergent, and their understanding within the writer's life How ADHD and Autism spectrum can have really powerful effects on your writing career The way that many of the "rules" for writers don't align with a brain that isn't neurotypical Giving a general guideline on how something might feel - ie, the results rather than the strict processes October creating mini "celebrations" to accompany completely particular small victories Showing how he re-frames some of the standard bits of advice that work well for him The useful and valuable tool of doing writing sprints and how it creates a short and very immediate deadline And more... After the interview Mark shares a few reflections and reminds authors that not all "how to" and recommended processes are a "fit all" option. Adaptation into one's own manners and systems is important. Links of Interest: October K. Santerelli Website October on TikTok October's Course on Neurodiversity for Creatives 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   October K Santerelli is a fantasy author from the mountains of Denver, Colorado, USA. He is an LGBTQ+ writer and sensitivity reader, as well as a public speaker on disability, neurodivergency, and Own Voices writing in the publishing industry.   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 

Mark interviews Rebecca Eckler, journalist, bestselling author and the founder of RE: Books. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a personal update, reads listener comments, and announces the patron winner of the Dialogue Doctor Masterclass 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 conversation Mark and Rebecca talk about about: The concept of retirement when it relates to writing Feeling "done" after publishing 10 books with the big publishing houses The concept of helping younger aspiring female authors Haters being a person's best motivator While Rebecca believes that publishing needs a makeover Spending an afternoon outside a bookstore in order to better understand why people purchased the books they picked up that day The pathetically low average advances that are being offered by publishers and how Rebecca is using a different model The features that Rebecca includes on her blog/newsletter Rebecca's focus on wanting to help prop up Canadian female authors Hosting the annual #writeaway summer contest How most traditional publishers do all the work preparing a book but only publicize a handful of their books And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Rebecca's focus on readers and propping up Canadian female authors, and the fixin' that is needed in the publishing industry. Links of Interest: Rebecca's Website Rebecca - Facebook Rebecca - Twitter The Dialogue Doctor Sept 10, 2022 - Dialogue MasterClass EP 266 - "Let's Talk Dialogue With Jeff Elkins," He Said Reflectively EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections Buy Mark a Coffee Sell More Books Show - EP 439 (Mark as guest co-host) Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   In addition to being one of Canada’s most well-known journalists, Rebecca Eckler is an international bestselling author. She’s penned 10 books, including the famous Knocked Up: Confessions of a Hip Mother-to-Be, Wiped! Life with a Pint-Sized Dictator, Toddlers Gone Wild, How to Raise a Boyfriend, Mommy Mob, and her most recent success, Blissfully Blended Bullsh*t. Eckler lives in Toronto with her two kids: Rowan and Holt. When she’s not writing or working on re:books, you can find her sharing her brutally honest opinions on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.     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 

Mark has a conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor. Prior to the main segment, Mark explains his goof-up that led to releasing this particular episode and then shares a few words 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 conversation Mark and Jeff speak, chat, discuss, converse, reflect, consider, chew on, and talk about about: How a book that is 160 K can read like it's so much shorter because it's 95% dialogue Remembering that dialogue is just another tool that we, as writers can use - and how can it help impact the emotional resonance of your story The distance skyline of NYC versus the details of a narrow street as a parallel for two types of writing (prose and dialogue) The energy-building dialogue of Aaron Sorkin in shows like The West Wing Dialogue in action scenes The love/hate relationship writers can have with dialogue tags And more... After the interview Mark reflects on one of the things he is going to try in his own writing to help improve his dialogue.   Links of Interest: Jeff Elkins' Website The Dialogue Doctor Sept 10, 2022 - Dialogue MasterClass Draft2Digital LIVE (Self-Publishing Insiders) - Sept 1, 2022 - The Dialogue Doctor with Jeff Elkins (FULL INTERVIEW) Episode 157 - A Conversation with Jeff Elkins, The Dialogue Doctor Episode 172 - Understanding and Navigating Gender Episode 226 - Reflective Round Table December 2021 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jeff Elkins writes stories about outsiders who fight for outcasts, rejects, and the oppressed. He is the author of more than ten novels, a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and the host of the Dialogue Doctor podcast. During the day, he leads the writing team for a training company that simulates difficult conversations. He lives north of Baltimore, Maryland with his wife of twenty-years and his five kids.   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   

Mark has a chat with Elizabeth Ann West and Randall Wood. Elizabeth Ann West is not only the public face of ScribeCount but is also an author whose books have hit the bestseller lists on all major vendors, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo. Randall Wood is the author of the bestselling Jack Randall thrillers and co-founder of ScribeCount a platform with the desire to be the preeminent author service platform, offering services every author needs. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares recent comments, a personal update, and a few words 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 conversation Mark, Elizabeth and Randall talk about: Elizabeth's new role at Scribecount Why Elizabeth goes to conferences with two notebooks The origin of ScribeCount in the back of a room and on cocktail napkins at NINC (Novelist's Inc) in Florida Randall and Elizabeth's background as writers The decision Randall made related to signing a deal with Tor versus indie publishing Elizabeth's earliest entrepreneur activities which involved killing her mother's rubber tree plant at the age of eight The thrill of landing on writing "Jane Austin fan fiction" style historical romance Why Elizabeth sells her eBooks at $9.99 An overview of what ScribeCount is and how it helps authors understand their sales data from numerous sources The complications that come with understanding advertising and marketing expenditures related to sales campaign The difference of earnings in a month (live reporting) versus payments in a month (usually delayed 30 to 90 days) "Get off the spreadsheet, get on the Sunburst!" How ScribeCount is free to use until an author earns more than $999/month Launching Ingram Spark into the platform (which did happen roughly half way through August 2022) The very clear privacy policy that ScribeCount has, preserving data for ONLY each author account - it is never merged with other data The learning library that Elizabeth is working on to help mid-list authors learn how to leverage the data and the tools ScribeCount has Some of the conferences that Elizabeth and Randall will be at over the next little while And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the author-centric nature of ScribeCount and why that is so important. He also shares his thoughts on Elizabeth's $9.99 price point for her novels. Links of Interest: ScribeCount (Mark's affiliate link) Elizabeth Ann West Randal Wood EP 263 - Terry Brooks & Susanna Kearsley - WWC Keynotes Part 1 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

Mark shares the keynotes given by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a few words 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.   Hank Phillippi Ryan shares discusses ten things that she learned during the pandemic that she realized she already knew   Edward Willett shares his life-long dream of being a writer, the circuitous journey and the multiple unexpected stops along the way The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.   Links of Interest: When Words Collide Hank Phillippi Ryan Edward Willett YouTube Video of FULL Keynote Talks EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections EP 263 - Terry Brooks & Susanna Kearsley - WWC Keynotes Part 1 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

Mark shares the keynotes given by Terry Brooks and Susanna Kearsley from an event he hosted on August 12, 2022 for the virtual When Words Collide 2022 annual conference. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcomes a new patron and then says 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.   Terry Brooks talks about a topic he hates to answer or discuss: "Where do you get your ideas?" and explains why   Susanna Kearsley explores the concept of an author's supposedly "solitary" life that may actually be filled with relationships. The full video of these keynotes, as well as the ones by Hank Phillippi Ryan and Edward Willett (plus the conversation and Q&A that followed the talks) can be found here on YouTube.   Links of Interest: When Words Collide Terry Brooks Susanna Kearsley YouTube Video of FULL Keynote Talks EP 262 - Rambling Hometown Reflections The Fantastic Comic Fan Podcast EP 57 - Author Mark Leslie 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

In this solo episode Mark reflects on a few things related to the regular returns back to his hometown of Levack, Ontario, and how those things have influenced his writing life. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares an extremely 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.   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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

Mark interviews S.W. Millar about his new book - How to Write Brilliant Beginnings: Crafting Your Novel’s Opening Chapters Made Easy. Prior to the main segment, Mark shares a brief 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 retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Shane talk about: Shane's background as an urban fantasy writer and a certified Story Editor Writing his first novel back in 2010, pulling it out of a drawer in 2015 and realizing how much it was lacking, and then engaging in a long period of study to better his craft and understanding of the business Wanting to write the kind of books he needed when he was first starting out and wanting to learn How reading Jim Butcher's Harry Desden files novels inspired Shane to want to write similar tales Realizing that he wanted to train as a writer-friendly editor with Kristina Stanley from Fictionary The importance of having a degree of distance when you are taking in feedback from editors or readers Shane's preference for the type of fiction he prefers to edit: Urban fantasy, Thrillers, and Science-Fictio How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, Shane's new book, and why it is such an important element to help with sales The invisible/subtle question that you set up so that, in the reader's mind, they are compelled to keep reading to find the answer to it Why it is equally compelling to end your chapters, particularly the first two or three chapters, which as much of a hook as possible That "just one more principal" The idea of a character "going about their current 'flawed' existence" How everything a character sees and experiences is filtered through their wound and scar Giving your main character something very unique to them as an identifier The five top things that you should give your character for them to be three dimensional and compelling to readers The value of opening the novel with some type of conflict or action beat When ending chapters or cutting scenes, the element of cutting it off BEFORE the resolution that can compel the reader to keep reading The way that old television programs, such as Batman that always cut to a commercial break with a hook that would make the audience want to keep watching to find out how it was resolved That "know, like, and trust" thing which can be so important when engaging in social media The importance of open-ended questions that can lead to engagement and detailed answers Shane's books: How to Write Brilliant Beginnings, How to Plot Your Novel and How to Write Novels Fast And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on distance and objectivity as well as that end of chapter "cut to commercial" hook. Links of Interest: S. W. (Shane) Millar's Website Instagram TikTok Fictionary EP 260 - Mood, Atmosphere, and Worldbuilding with Joshua Essoe 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe about the elements of atmosphere, mood, and world-building. Prior to the main segment, Mark 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 retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. In their conversation, Mark and Joshua talk about: How Joshua got into being an editor twelve years ago The limitation of only being able to work 1:1 with so many clients at a time and how that led to Joshua deciding to release books (Essoe's Guides to Writing) to assist writers with some of his knowledge/experience The way Joshua divides up a typical day of work, which involves a lot of burning the midnight oil Joshua's unique way of combining two subjects into a single double-sided flip book as a special Kickstarter exclusive project The first flip book - Action Sequences / Sex Scenes The second flip book - Worldbuilding / Mood & Atmosphere The problem with trying to release a flip-book format in the traditional print book market. (Where does the bar code that's supposed to be on the "back" of the book go?) Original artwork from James A. Owen that is part of these books, and this special Kickstarter project The 6 major areas where writers usually have issues in Worldbuilding, including Info-dumping, which is also broken down into 6 types: world-building info dump the back-story info dump the technical info dump dialogue info dump thought info dump emotion info dump How Kevin J. Anderson does a great job of setting up his world in the first several pages of the Dan Shamble, Zombie P.I. novels Three big things that you need to do in your world-building: broadening it, deepening it, and involving it How writers need to shackle their impulse to share too many details about their world all at once to readers A discussion of Tolkien's world-building, which involved a combination of intriguing teaser moments, but also some longer segments of info-dumping What are we talking about when we're talking about Mood and Atmosphere? How there aren't that many books in existence on the topic of mood and atmosphere The way that every aspect of your writing that can contribute to mood How atmosphere is a part of mood, but is a big enough element that it can be understood and explored on its own An excellent example of atmosphere from A Wrinkle in Time How you want to be purposeful when creating and sharing mood in your writing Some of the rewards that are going to be available in Joshua's Kickstarter And more...   After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the discussion. Links of Interest: Joshua's Website Joshua's Worldbuilding, Mood & Atmosphere Kickstarter EP 137 - Action Sequences and Sex Scenes with Joshua Essoe Kobo Writing Life Podcast - EP 76 - (Mark's first interview with Joshua) Findaway Voices The Emotion Thesaurus on the Writers Helping Writers Website Other Episodes Mentioned in this podcast EP 247 - My Mom's Influence on Me As A Writer EP 258 - June 2022 Reflective Hangout Highlight Clips   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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

In this solo episode where Mark shares some examples of ways that authors can leverage some of the audio and audiobook options available to them. Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark 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 retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Other Episodes Mentioned in this podcast EP 029 - Terry Fallis on Writing with Authenticity, Humor, and Passion EP 063 - Wait! Did You Hear That? All About Audiobooks EP 136 - Great sales at Google with Brian Rathbone EP 148 - AI Voice Double Conversation with Joanna Penn EP 233 - Love Only Better, with Paulette Stout EP 227 - Publishing Trends and Reflections for 2022 EP 257 - Naima Simone on Writing with Heart, Humor, and Heat Draft2Digital Podcast EP 073 - Acting, Audiobooks, and TikTok with Actress Sarah Sampino This Time Around (Short Story - Audio Versions) Human Narrated/Scott Overton (Paid) Human Narrated/Scott Overton (FREE YouTube) Google Play AI Narrated - Mike (FREE) The 7 P's of Publishing Success Human Narrated/Mark (Paid) AI Narrated - VocoCraft - Brian AI Narrated - Google Play - Mike Mark's Short Story Collections Active Reader Bumps in the Night Snowman Shivers Evasion (Human Narrated / Brian Troxell) 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

This week's episode is a series of highlighted clips from the nearly 3 hours of Reflective Hangout sessions that took place in June 2022 with Mark and a few patrons of the podcast: Katie Cross Matty Dalrymple Roland Denzel Kathy Mac Prior to the main segment and clips, Mark 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. Links of Interest: Findaway Voices Audiobooks See Double Digit Growth (Findaway Blog) APA - Sales & Consumer Survey Press Release June 2022 Reflective Hangout 1 June 2022 Reflective Hangout 2 June 2022 Reflective Hangout 3 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

Mark interviews USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone about writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads recent comments, 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 starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Naima talk about: Naima's unique and fun tagline: "Where heart, humor, and heat collide" Learning to read as early as 3 and 4 years of age Some of Naima's favorite books she read when growing up, and also sneaking into her mom's room to read her mom's more adult romance books at the age of 11 and 12 Writing her first story about a cucumber named Fred who went to the bookstore The romance book she wrote in the 2nd grade The "fan fiction" type of stories that she used to write and trade with her sister The "Donnie Wahlberg" inspired romantic story Naima wrote Why Naima worked so hard and never gave up on her dream to be a published author What was supposed to be that "next level" of her career and the experience of opening that first royalty check Naima's father's advise about following your passion and how his support and advice helped her at that devastating moment of seeing that particular royalty check The importance of the emotional and logistical support of her husband How Naima may write romance but that her husband is the romantic person in their relationship The core of honor, respect, and vulnerability from her husband who has made it into some of Naima's fictional characters Deciding between working with a publisher or self-publishing a particular writing project Naima's love of the 80's and 80's music and how that has made it into a particular series she is writing Her book Jessie's Girl, and the connection to Rick Springfield using it as an example that song titles can't be copyrighted Naima's advice for new of beginning writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Naima's pivotal moment. Links of Interest: Naima Simone's Website Instagram Facebook Twitter EP 256 - Knowing Your Value and Worth as an Author Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Published since 2009, USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone loves writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and Entertainment Weekly, and described as balancing “crackling, electric love scenes with exquisitely rendered characters caught in emotional turmoil.” She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.   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   

Mark shares an excerpt about calculating your worth as an author from the book ACCOUNTING FOR AUTHORS which he co-authored with D.F. Hart. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patron Jenny Simard LaBranche to his patron supporters, and shares a word from 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. Links of Interest: Accounting for Authors EP 255 - Overcoming Obstacles and Just Doing It With Jenny S. LaBranche Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Lovers Moon Podcast The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   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 

Mark interviews Jenny S. LaBranche about not letting anything stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, reads comments, 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 starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Jenny talk about: Wanting, her entire life, to be a writer Growing up in a Hollywood family, and first learning about screenplays Jenny's work-related connection to the 9/11 tragedy in New York City (75% of their clients were in the World Trade Center buildings) and becoming a firefighter and EMT shortly after that Leaving her job in August 2021 and the great support her husband offered her Signing the Red Sneaker contract A little bit about the Red Sneakers book series from William Bernhardt and how they helped Jenny Being surrounded by so many of mother's books when she was young Working with William Bernhardt as a writing coach and as an editor The Writing Retreat in the Ozark that Jenny was scheduled to attend this summer Jenny's forthcoming novel Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame and the heart of her main character Scheduling her day to include writing, other tasks, and non-writing-related chores and responsibilities Going for walks with her characters Being a hard-core plotter Jenny's plans for the new novel and the options she's considering How Jenny learned about Draft2Digital The value and power of acknowledging that "I Am A Writer" Why it's important to stop doubting yourself and to just do it And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on two of the things Jenny spoke about, thanks Patrons, and also reads an excerpt from Fright Nights, Big City as an example of a "walk with your character" exercise.   Links of Interest: Jenny's Facebook Page Red Sneaker Writers Red Sneaker Writing Retreats EP 252 - Broadening Your Writing Universe with Rona Gofstein Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles   Jenny S. LaBrache spent from ages 20–31 working in the IT field. On September 11, 2001, Jenny was working as a Corporate IT Manager, managing 10 of the world’s largest internet companies. 75% of her companies clients were in the world trade centers and they themselves occupied the 136 floor of The South Tower. After that devastation, Jenny left the IT field and began working as a Firefighter and Emergency Medic until the end of 2014. Throughout her life and career, Jenny always let her dyslexia stand in the way of pursuing her dream of becoming a writer, but no longer. On August 26th, 2021, Jenny joined William Bernhardt’s Red Sneaker Writers Center on Facebook and began The Red Sneaker Writers Book Series. Her first high fantasy novel will be Kingdoms of Shadow and Flame. This is a thrilling, fast paced fantasy filled with adventure, dark forces, deceit, laughter, friendship and, a humorous discovery of the primal nature of one’s true self. Where new friends become tutors in the most interesting and hilarious ways.   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 

Mark interviews Bryan Cohen who runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, reads comments, offers 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 starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Bryan talk about: Bryan's "Best Page Forward" book blurb writing business that started in 2016 Slowly growing the business by starting off with "bargain basement" pricing, and then eventually growing to having 8 writers and having written more than 5000 book descriptions The misconception that it's necessary for a blurb writer to have to read the book they are writing about Adding instructions for Amazon and Facebook ads to his repertoire The fact that even people who work on the Amazon Ads product can find it complex and confusing The quarterly free Amazon Ad Challenges that Bryan has been running for the past couple of years The hands-on approach to this challenge that begins right at step-one Who these free challenges and the full courses are for Opportunities that exist within email marketing The forthcoming book that Bryan is working on that follows the "story" of helping a fictional author named Nina Bryan's long-running podcast The Sell More Books Show The importance of regularly scheduled down-time for one's mental and physical health A little bit about Bryan's own personal writing career Bryan's final "hot potato of wisdom" (a shtick from The Sell More Books Show) And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the importance of downtown for an author, as well as Bryan's reminder about starting off focusing on one writing thing and one marketing thing.   Links of Interest: Bryan Cohen's Website Best Page Forward Sell More Books Show Podcast Bryan's Kick Your Email Kickstarter Episode 251 - The Author Journey with C.J. Anaya Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Bryan Cohen runs Author Ad School, Best Page Forward, and co-hosts The Sell More Books Show. He's helped over 30,000 authors through his free Ad Challenges and has sold 140,000 copies of his own books as well.   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 

Mark interviews Lizbeth Meredith an award-winning author, speaker, and online teacher living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Her memoir Pieces of Me has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television and was released earlier this year. Prior to the interview, Mark thanks his patrons, talks about a cool Kickstarter that one of his patrons, Holger Nils Pohl is running, 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 starkreflections.ca/Findaway. During their chat, Mark and Lizbeth talk about: Lizbeth's earliest melodramatic poetry writing when she was young Why and how the writing helped when she started to think of her life as a story Realizing how Lizbeth's PIECES OF ME is just one of an endless number of stories of survival and resilience Her story of looking over two years of her children being abducted and taken away by their non-custodial father The importance of community for writers as well as for people in general Being told, when sharing her first draft "You know, this doesn't HAVE to be published" Positive feedback from agents who loved her manuscript but would be unable to take it on Deciding to publish with a hybrid publisher (a publisher that charges authors for all the publishing costs) Learning about writers grants to be able to take advantage of and applying for them How applying for a grant helps a writer learn how to pitch Having her book optioned by Canadian company Cineflex The lengthy timelines that it took in order to get the option in place The movie name being re-adapted from the book title to "Stolen by Their Father" The release date of the 2022 movie lining up with the anniversary of the date Lizbeth left her husband Some of the other writing projects Lizbeth is working on Lizbeth's podcast, Persistence U with Lizbeth Advice Lizbeth would offer to her younger self or beginning writers And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on Lizbeth's business decision on how she would publish, recognizing the skills she already had with skills from the hybrid publisher she chose. He also reflects on her pointing out the value of community.   Links of Interest: Lizbeth's Website Lizbeth's Podcast IMDB Listing for Stolen by Their Father Lizbeth's Interview of Best Book Ever Podcast Findaway Voices Holger Nils Pohl's Kickstarter: Creating Clarity 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Lizbeth Meredith is an author living in Chattanooga, Tennessee after more than 5 decades in Alaska. Her memoir, Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters, has been adapted as Stolen By Their Father for Lifetime Television. Lizbeth is a speaker and online teacher who enjoys coaching and consulting part-time, a fun addition after three-decades career serving crime victims and offenders. In her off- time, Lizbeth enjoys movies at the theater, talking with podcast guests at Persistence U with Lizbeth, and Facetime chats with her adult daughters and grand-pets.   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 

Mark interviews Rona Gofstein, an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach who specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She also writes contemporary romance, is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA.  Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks his patrons and provides them an update on June virtual hangouts 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 chat, Mark and Rona talk about: When Rona first started to play around with writing when back in college How Julia Cameron's Book The Artist's Way inspired Rona to get serious about writing and publishing a book Being a "feel your way through" type of writer Knowing her characters really well, despite being a planstser How Rona works through character sheets The importance of having a "what would they never, ever do?" element on a character sheet What Broad Universe is within speculative fiction and how they use it to help bring attention to a more diverse range of authors Becoming an accredited Author Accelerator Book coach Rona's love of helping writers realize their dreams of becoming a writer The different types of clients Rona works with and the techniques and elements she helps them understand Where and how Rona fits in her own writing Continuing to do the "Morning Pages" from the previously mentioned book by Julia Cameron How coaching and writing can help feed off one another for Rona The Joan Didion quote: "I don't know what I think until I write it down." And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of the morning pages that Rona does based on reading Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way. Links of Interest: Rona Gofstein's Website Broad Universe Findaway Voices 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 for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Rona Gofstein is an Author Accelerator certified fiction book coach and specializes in helping writers of genre fiction develop, write and revise their novels. She writes contemporary romance and will be launching a new series and pen name later this year. Rona is the president of Broad Universe, an international organization for women and alternatively gendered authors of speculative fiction, as well as president of the New Hampshire Chapter of RWA. She desperately needs her morning coffee, thinks reservations are the best thing to make for dinner, and believes that one day she will find the magic planner that will keep her perfectly organized.   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 

Mark interviews C.J. Anaya, a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author who enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey. Prior to the main content, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, an ad he recorded with Julie Strauss for the release of their new novel Lover's Moon, 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 chat, Mark and CJ talk about: How by the time she was eight months old CJ was singing Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents The singing and performing she did, including starting to writing songs at the age of 18 Going through three incidents of cancer. First at the age of 18, then at 26, and more recently in the past year How her writing journey began shortly after running into Jennifer Griffith when CJ was in a bookstore signing copies of her CD Writing short stories for her friends at the age of 10 because she wanted to give them all Christmas presents Dreaming about a spirit trapped in a Japanese statue which lead to writing THE HEALER which ended up being the first book in a series How the Paranormal Misfit series started off as a 10,000 word short story The specific themes and issues that this YA series deals with The book and course CJ created about writer's block Specific genres that CJ works on as a developmental editor CJ's experience attending Superstars Writing Seminars alone (as opposed to always previously going to conferences with a friend) Advice she would give to her youngest self Something that she hadn't expected when taking Kevin J. Anderson's Western Colorado University's Masters in Publishing program Writing songs for characters in her books And more...   After the interview Mark reflects on when CJ spoke about learning to deal with constructive criticism and appreciating that it's not that there's anything wrong with the work, but about what can we improve upon and how can we make this even better. Links of Interest: CJ Anaya's Website CJ's YouTube Channel Cindy Savage Music on Reverbnation Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Best Book Ever Podcast Lovers Moon Podcast TikTok Video - Mark's Skeleton Author Prop French River Trading Post The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   C.J. Anaya is a USA Today bestselling and multi-award-winning author. She also enjoys assisting authors in writing, publishing, and marketing books with her YouTube channel Author Journey. She's a huge fan of The Mindy Project, Hugh Jackman, and binge eating any and all things chocolate. As a mother of four awesome kiddos, C.J. is usually helping out with endless amounts of homework, attempting difficult and harrowing crochet projects with her daughters, and getting schooled in basketball by her teenage son. She loves writing entertaining reads for everyone to enjoy and dabbles in singing and songwriting for kicks and giggles.   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 

Mark interviews E.S. Curry, an insatiable renaissance man who loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter, listening to classical music on vinyl, and imagining bedtime stories with his son Åsmund. 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. During their chat, Mark and Scott talk about: How Scott started writing for himself four years ago after years of doing ghostwriting and working in advertising and marketing The importance of discovering his own voice as a writer and how it took writing over one million words before he found his voice The experience of a being at a "Fred Forward" conference at the Fred Rogers Center and how Fred Rogers talked about the importance of being in a bubble with a child and really engaging and attending to them and that space Getting away to the wilderness with his son Åsmund, unplugging from the digital realm, and really connecting with one another and within nature The desire of parents to want to "write these things down" when experiencing that magical time in their child's life where the fantastical and imagination are such powerful elements Doing their first father/son book signing at Lake Placid Writing on a 1953 Royal Quiet Deluxe typewriter Discovering his own author brand and his persona in the same way that he had to discover his own writer voice The scholarly 1858 expedition known as the Philosopher's Camp Richard Louv's writing, his books The Nature Principal, Last Child in the Woods, and his ideas of a Nature Deficit Disorder Being visited by Ralph Waldo Emerson's ghost in Scott's next book: Camping with Emerson's Ghost Scott being a huge believer in the 3-format author A little bit about Scott's role at Findaway Voices The experience of doing the audio for his first book, including auditioning himself as a potential narrator The importance of having a simultaneous release with multiple formats to maximize your launch marketing effort impact Some of the projects that Scott has been working on outlining Being a big believer in the Rule of 3's Creating book ciphers for his son as well as for marketing And more... After the interview Mark reflects on Scott's work at writing millions of words before finding his voice, communing with nature, and the tactile experience of writing on a typewriter.   Links of Interest: E.S. Curry's Website Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   E.S. Curry is an insatiable renaissance man that loves writing outside the data stream on a Royal typewriter while listening to classical music on vinyl, plays piano and guitar, races his sailing yacht Escapade, fences, and imagines bedtime stories with his son Åsmund. For over 20 years, he’s worked with iconic brands around the world designing brand strategies and marketing campaigns, including IMG, Arnold Palmer, Olympics, Fashion Week, and numerous non-profit initiatives. He is currently the Marketing Strategist for Findaway Voices, a platform that empowers authors and publishers to create and distribute audiobooks to reach listeners globally. A former ghostwriter, he published his first book under his own pen name, The Flying Sabuki: A Father-Son Nature Adventure, in 2021. One of the many five-star reviews describes the book as a “Must Read for Parents” and “Curry’s approach to parenting struck a chord with me, as his intentional foundation of love and genuine connection with this child is what I aspire to as a parent. On several occasions, tears streamed down my face…” The follow-up book entitled The Philosophers Ghost: Camping with Ralph Waldo Emerson will be published later this year. E.S. Curry calls Cleveland, Ohio, and Great Lake Erie his home port. To learn more and sign up for his email list visit escurry.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 

Mark interviews D. E. Cunningham, a middle-grade fantasy author, about his life as a storyteller and his new novel Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a recent comment, 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. During their chat, Mark and David talk about: The inspiration behind writing Marco Swift and the Mirror of Souls Writing a musical comedy for stage when in college, and making short VHS movies, improv and parodies with his friends when he was in high school Being able to bang out 1000 words an hour, but without proper structure and plotting Discovering Brandon Sanderson's DIY writing class on YouTube How dramatically different the later drafts of the novel became after David learned more about the craft David's desire to make the heart of the Marco Swift story about children facing trauma and learning to not blame themselves Inspiration from Mister Roger's and his own passion for ensuring that every child knew they were loved and they are capable of loving Going through depression and being semi-suicidal when he was younger Writing this first novel while working on his MFA for Film Production Hiring an editor through Reedsy Work David had done writing a couple of episodes and outlines for a few different television shows as well as voicing the main character for one series Spending a year and a half querying 122 agents The one agent who asked to read the book who told David it was "good not great" Hiring a second editor to address the feedback this agent had offered to David Trading skills with an artist/designer to get a professional looking cover for his self-published book The 99% Perspiration/1% Inspiration principal Realities of television and movie adaptations The coolest things about self-publishing a book David deciding to do the audiobook himself because he already had voice-acting experience Advice David would offer to his younger self And more... After the interview Mark reflects on David's life-long passion for storytelling, being cognizant of his target audience, and his determination and persistence as a writer.   Links of Interest: Marco Swift Website D. E. Cunningham Facebook Page D. E. Cunningham Instagram Findaway Voices The World of Publishing (Victoria, BC & Virtual) - May 14, 2022 Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   D. E. Cunningham is a middle-grade fantasy author who currently resides in Virginia Beach with his wonderful wife and three fun-loving boys. His search for truth, goodness, and beauty have driven him to write larger-than-life adventures for a new generation of readers. When not writing, he can be found voicing cartoon characters, producing animated children’s shows, and exploring the wilderness with his family.   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   

Mark interviews Carina Alyce, a best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update as well as 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 chat, Mark and Carina talk about: Carina's love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Grey's Anatomy, and how this evolved, along with her passion for storytelling, to start writing her current series Her medical and clinical background that helped inspire some of her stories A typical work and family day, and where and how Carina gets her writing in The "dead drop" method of communicating with herself using Gmail drafts while working on a manuscript Scheduling TikTok content in advance during one-hour of work to use for the remainder of the week How a TikTok "page flip" video works Managing projects via a visible wall whiteboard/calendar Writing Firefighter/Doctor/Police romances The HEROES WITH HEAT AND HEART 9/11 charity anthology Carina edits and heads up Using a combination of personal experience and interacting with firefighters and law enforcement to help make the content in her novels legitimate How sometimes "crossover" can be an understatement in Carina's MetroGen novels that include the hospital, the firestation, and the police station The number of books Carina already has out and the batch of forthcoming releases coming out in the next several months Setting up the stories in a way that the readers can help determine what happens in the ongoing stories, with plot twists such as who the father of a pregnant woman's child will be How a single event can include numerous people who all have their own unique story that can covered within this series The dramatic storytelling principal of "Chekov's gun" ("If in Act I you have a pistol hanging on the wall, then it must fire in the last act".) And more... After the interview, Mark reflects on a couple of things from the conversation.   Links of Interest: Carina Alyce Website Carina on TikTok EP 247 - My Mom's Influence on Me as a Writer The 2022 Write Stuff Storybundle Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Carina Alyce is the pen name of the Amazon best-selling author and full-time triple board-certified physician who started writing dramatic medical romances after twenty years in the trenches of health care. She promises she never had sex in a call room - the mattresses are not comfortable - or had a fistfight with a patient - though she did work as a fight doc at the Octagon. Her stories are sexy, snarky, and real with all the romance and drama of the lives of our first responders. She writes the MetroGeneral Downtown series that tackles the personal and professional challenges facing our front-line providers. You’ll find her stories have the drama of Grey's Anatomy, the comedy of Scrubs, the sexiness of Outlander, and the medical details of Forensic Files. They feature fast, witty dialogue, strong women with goals, and quirky ensemble casts. When not working or writing, she is a brown belt in judo, an avid reader, and an attending surgeon in stuffed animal veterinary medicine for her six kids. (No one trusts her husband's medical skills because he's just a lawyer.) You can follow her at carinaalyce.com/newsletter or see her dance and make Grey's Anatomy jokes on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@carinaalyce   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   

After the loss of his mother, Mark reflects on the ways in which she influenced his love of reading, and other things. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a word from 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.   Links of Interest: The 2022 Write Stuff Storybundle Findaway Voices Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   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   

Mark shares four of the many pitfalls of publishing that can befall authors. Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update  and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 2022 Write Stuff StoryBundle. For StoryBundle, you decide what price you want to pay. For $5 (or more, if you're feeling generous), you'll get the basic bundle of four books in any ebook format—WORLDWIDE. Domesticate Your Badgers by Michael W Lucas Publishing Pitfalls for Authors by Mark Leslie Lefebvre Writing Craft by DeAnna Knippling A Freelancer's Survival Guide to Starting Your Own Business by Kristine Kathryn Rusch If you pay at least the bonus price of just $20, you get all four of the regular books, plus five more books and an online lecture, for a total of 10 books/lectures. That includes two StoryBundle exclusives! A Writer Prepares by Lawrence Block Free Your Inner Nonfiction Writer by Johanna Rothman (StoryBundle Exclusive) Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Virtual Worlds by Joanna Penn Create a Character Clinic by Holly Lisle Do...Quit Your Day Job by Christina F. York (StoryBundle Exclusive) The Pop-Up Series - Clean First Draft Writing by Dean Wesley Smith   During the main content of this episode, Mark shares four of the P's of publishing pitfalls: PACING PACK PACKAGING PARALYSIS   Links of Interest: The 2022 Write Stuff Storybundle Episode 202 - Predators and Publishers “7 Tools For Pacing A Novel & Keeping Your Story Moving At The Right Pace,” Courtney Carpenter, April 24, 2012 “Pacing in Writing: 10 Powerful Ways to Keep Readers Hooked,” Reedsy Blog, October 13, 2018 Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need, Jessica Brody, Ten Speed Press, October 2018. Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot That Grips Readers from Start to Finish, James Scott Bell. Writers Digest Books, October 2004. How to Write Best Selling Fiction, Dean R. Koontz, Writers Digest Books, September 1981. (Out of Print asof the release of this book in August 2021) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   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 

Mark chats with patrons Matty Dalrymple and Roland Denzel from the March 2022 "Reflective Round-Table." Prior to the main content, Mark shares a personal update (that includes the release of the co-authored book Accounting for Authors) and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast who support the podcast over at www.patreon.com/starkreflections During their conversation, Mark, Matty, and Roland talk about: In person events for authors Print books for indie authors Challenges related to pre-release print ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) Tricks and Hacks for in person events and other physical props related to book events Book Launches - both virtual and in person Working with local bookstores Public Lending Rights And so much more...   Links of Interest: Matty Dalrymple Roland Denzel Episode 216 - Podcasting for Authors with Matty Dalrymple Episode 128 - Healthy Home Workspaces with Roland Denzel Episode 116 - Taking the Short Tack with Matty Dalrymple Reflective Round Table Episodes Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Accounting for Authors The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   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 

A rambling reflection episode that talks about writing fast and slow, writing with passion, worrying over reviews, and marketing, and Mark's "Pineapple on Pizza Principle." Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patron S.W. Millar, reads a few comments, shares a personal update, and a word from 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.   Links of Interest: Episode 243 - Creating a Nurturing Welcome Sequence with Holly Darling Best Book Ever Podcast - Episode 92 - Leah Carey on "One To Watch" by Kate Stayman-London Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   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 

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 conversation, Mark and Holly Talk About   Holly's background as a romance author and how that led to her passion about email marketing Her background in the entertainment business doing email and social media for musicians with large record companies Responding to questions like: "Why do I need an author email?" or the idea of: "I'm a new author and don't yet have a readership yet." The industry average of open rates being anywhere between 18% and 22% but how open-rates are not a reliable metric How author email offers you a lot more control over the reader journey The importance of a four-email 2nd phase nurturing aspect of the welcome sequence Building a welcome sequence on paper first before moving on to the email service provider How readers are 42% more likely to buy from an author inside of a welcome sequence than in a standard newsletter update The way that a well-thought-out nurturing plan can help reduce your emails getting targeted as spam What a lead magnet is and what type of content can work best in that regard How, in sales, people buy from other people they know, like, and trust That the trust element is what we're working on inside of the nurturing phase of the welcome sequence The first short email in that sequence which usually contains the following elements: A picture of yourself A link to the reader magnet being offered Orientate them by reminding them how they got there Set the tone for what's to come The importance of the trust in the email delivery service and the receiving email's trust of you How clicks signal to the email service provider that the person sending the email is "legit" Holly's typical email timing sequence for those 1st four emails is: 1) immediately when they sign up 2) 2 days later 3) 4 days later 4) 7 days later Why Holly is a huge fan of the double opt in That every email service provider out there allows you to customize your standard double opt-in message The survey Holly has added to her emails asking if subscribers to the email want to receive all of the news she has, or if they only want to know about new releases and promotional offers What tends to happen, statistically, when you give someone more than two choices or options The importance of tagging people based on their interactions or status, including why it's good to tag people on their way "out" eMail service providers that Holly would recommend How the initial emails, particularly in the welcome sequence, need to have a heavier text component to them A reminder to focus on the click rather than on the email open rate The free courses Holly has on her site, as well as the 1:1 coaching she does with authors Use code MARK20 to get 20% off any of Holly's paid courses And more... Links of Interest: Holly Darling HQ FREE Email Marketing Resources Online Courses Holly Mortimer Author VIDEO from Live Streamed Interview (YouTube) Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Holly Darling is a self-published author and an email marketing consultant for authors based in the theatre city of Stratford, Ontario. Over the years, she has helped nearly 1,000 entrepreneurs grow their businesses with proven email marketing strategies. And it all began with her passion for writing! Holly's mission is to teach writers how to use emails to increase their sales and cultivate loyal fan bases. Her signature course, Email Marketing for Authors, is for writers looking to use email to grow their business. Whether you’re a brand new author or an experienced writer trying to cut through the noise, Holly's passion is to help authors turn their readers into raving fans. 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 

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/Findaway. During their conversation, Mark and Claire talk about: How Kim accidentally fell into writing after being asked to share a very personal story about her grandfather who was a WWI veteran in front of an audience of 800 people and a bunch of television cameras Being invited to write a monthly column on veteran issues after this speech The evolution of this writing into personal stories that Kim helped veterans shared Being the person who can help other people share their stories A little about her grandfather's personal story that Kim had shared on that fateful day The unique manner by which some of the veterans Kim has spoken to wanted to share their stories, and just how difficult sharing those stories can be for them How with each story, Kim's passion for helping other people sharing their stories grew Kim's transition from sharing those stories to her podcast and television work The circumstances that led to Kim wanting to start a podcast Why Kim named her first podcast "Let Fear Bounce" The universality of fear and how that means virtually anyone can be a guest on that podcast regardless of their background The 3 faith-based anthologies Kim published in the "When Grace Found Me" series that shares real life stories of women of faith Kim's advice for writers that includes the negative self-talk authors can often do to sabotage themselves Reaching out to Kim if you're interested in being on her podcast: VIA: [email protected] And more... After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something Kim said that really stuck about continuing to do something because of the fulfilling feeling that comes from doing it.     Links of Interest: Kim Lengling's Website Findaway Voices EP 241 - Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem EP 240 - Character, Story, & Industry Alignment with Claire Taylor EP 233 - Love, Only Better with Paulette Stout No One Will Read Your Book: And Other Truths About Publishing Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Kim Lengling “accidentally”, began writing in 2004. With her writing, she shares her faith, nature, love of rescue animals, and living with PTSD. She has been featured as a co-author in seven anthologies, is the lead author and coordinator of a collaborative 3-book faith-based series titled When Grace Found Me, the host of the podcast Let Fear Bounce, and host of The Write Stuff, the author’s voice TV Show. You can regularly find Kim taking walks with her rescue dog, Dexter, reading, drinking coffee, and jotting down story ideas about her Realm. She is also 20+ year advocate for Veterans who live with PTSD . 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 

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. With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development. She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal.   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 

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, 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 conversation, Mark and Claire talk about: How long it has been since the last time they saw one another in person due to that "thing that happened" (a global pandemic) Claire's start on The Sell More Books Show Podcast (with co-host Bryan Cohen) in Jan 2020 and the importance of how the two hosts can raise different points to bring perspective to the news and tips The challenge of reading news articles aloud live Claire's FFS media company and how her story alignment work first started The Enneagram (a typology system that describes human personality as a number of interconnected personality types) that Claire uses for her story alignment process Mark's mispronunciation of Enneagram as angiogram Aligning characters to their core motivations The different genres and series novels that Claire writes in. H. Claire Taylor as a writer of contemporary comedy novels; H. Clarie Taylor co-authoring with Brock Bloodworth (a pseudonym for Claire) writing a paranormal cop comedy adventure series; Nova Nelson writing cozy mysteries and magical Renaissance fiction; CLaire Feeny writing serial killer fiction Claire's passion for Renaissance Fairs Leveraging her husband's experience as a police officer (and soon to be detective) in making her cop fiction more realistic The culmination of having been writing since May 2015 Learning the importance of rest and changing her previous habits of being a chronic over-achiever The origin of Claire's "The Waffling" series of videos and its relation to her giving in to peer pressure Claire's social media "Hot Walks" Being at the two year anniversary of when everything shut-down/locked-down for "two weeks" Her publishing strategy of "Exclusive to Amazon Kindle" VS "Wide" The genesis for Clarie's March 14, 2022 Medium article "Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem" How important it is for men to be aware that this type of thing is happening and how it's not going to be reported, and why women don't report it The importance of paying attention to and focusing on that "sixth sense" of just knowing something is wrong, or the body language being witnessed seems off How woman are often programed to diminish such an experience and to also gaslight themselves - so having someone acknowledge the wrong taking place can be extremely beneficial to them in validating the experience Claire's own Enneagram type and how that aligns with her deep-rooted satisfaction in doing what is right and what needs to be done And more... After the interview Mark shares a brief reflection about something that Claire said that really stuck with him. "My fear of seeming awkward in a situation is less important than the possibility of a woman being in a bad situation I haven't intervened in."   He also shares that the article Claire published to Medium will be the main content of Episode 241 which will be published almost immediately after Episode 240.   Links of Interest: Claire Taylor's Website 5 Day Indie Author Alignment Course (FREE - Virtual) Supercharge Your Story Course (Virtual) Indie Publishing Has a Creep Problem (Medium Article) EP 237 - Building and Destroying Worlds with Angeline Trevena Findaway Voices Findaway Voices - Title Discount Promo Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   Claire Taylor is the founder and owner of FFS Media. She also leads the Story Alignment services offered by FFS Media. With over a dozen top-selling humor novels published (and many more on the way), she can write the crap out of a funny book. And she can help you bring out the humor in your story, too, without sacrificing a compelling narrative or strong character development. She has professionally edited 200+ fiction manuscripts, with experience in every stage of the editing process from outline evaluation to proofreading. Her passion lies in telling a story that sticks with readers long after they finish the last page, and she loves helping others achieve that goal. 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 

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 includes Writers for Ukraine: The Million Word Challenge, 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.   Links of Interest: Writers for Ukraine Go Fund Me for Writers for Ukraine PLR International Links to Established Global Region programs for PLR PLR Canada Findaway Voices Superstars Writing Seminars Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon   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