Stark Reflections On Writing And Publishing

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 Canad

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 Pre

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

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 followin

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 Groov

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 op

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

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

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 Mar

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

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 suc

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 Were

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 Wri

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 neurotypic

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/newsle

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

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 Randa

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 &

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 Hom

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