Libsyn Directory

EP 368 - Written Word Media with Clayton Noblit

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Release Date: 06/28/2024

EP 389 - "Now You've Gone" with Cathy Rankin and Ken K. Mary

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark interviews Cathy Rankin and Ken Mary about Cathy's new single "Now You've Gone." On October 29, 2024, Cathy Rankin released her debut single “Now You’ve Gone,” featuring renowned musicians David Ellefson (formerly of Megadeth) Ken Mary (formerly of Alice Cooper) and John Ronson. The emotional track, inspired by deeply personal experiences, reflects on themes of love, grief, and ultimately hope. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the - Only available until the end...

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Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

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EP 387 - Rambling Reflections From The Disappointing Aftermath

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

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EP 386 - Inside Every Poem, a Raging Sea of Writerly Advice with Liz Worth

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

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EP 385 - Rambling Reflections From The Road: Go West Not So Young Man

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from his hotel room in Victoria, British Columbia, on Canada's West Coast. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at and . Links of Interest: The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By

EP 384 - Rambling Reflections From The Road: World Fantasy Con 2024

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode, Mark shares a few thoughts from the hotel room at World Fantasy Con 2024 in Niagara Falls, New York. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at and . From Mark's extremely detailed bullet points about what he wanted to reflect on: 1) Coming to WFC. 2) The nature of relationships in the writing world/community 3) Feeling like a real writer (via recent events) 4) But also feeling like a failure - afternoon at Indigo 5) Links of Interest: The introductory, end, and bumper music for...

EP 383 - 20 Haunting Years

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode Mark talks through the logic and reasoning behind a recent book launch by sharing a little of his own experience and publication history. This episode is sponsored by the patrons who support this podcast at and . Mark shares the behind-the-scenes story of: Why he first self-published the book One Hand Screaming in 2004 The logistics and strategy behind making it fully returnable and why he was trying to push the envelope of publishing so early in the digital publishing revolution A little bit of his experience as a writer in those manual "mail out...

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Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

EP 381 - Showcasing Independent Bookstores, Publishers, And Authors with Andrew Snook

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

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EP 380 - Passion Project Publishing with Brianna Wodabek

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

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More Episodes

Mark has a chat with Clayton Noblit, a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media.

Prior to the interview, Mark thanks Patrons, welcomes a few new Buy Me A Coffee buddies, shares a personal update, and shares a word from this episode's sponsor.

episode's sponsor.

Learn more about this self-publishing/WIDE-publishing focused cruise.

In the interview Mark and Clayton talk about:

What Written Media is (a book marketing/promotions company)
Clayton's personal background as a marketer, and a big reader, but not an author
The purposeful design of the Written Word Media dashboard to help authors schedule a marketing promotion in about 20 minutes then get back on to the other parts of their day
The various Written Word Media reader-facing brands: FreeBooksy, BargainBooksy, Red Feather Romance, New in Books, and Audiothicket
Their partnerships with other reader promo sites like eReader News Today, Book Barbarian, Hello Books, and others
The strategy of promo stacking by spreading marketing promotions out over a series of 3 to 5 days
How the Facebook Ads and Amazon Ads support at Written Word Media works
The Written Word Media membership levels (Gold and Platinum) which offer a 10% discount on booking promos as well as additional exclusive promotion options and savings on other third party services
The Limelight feature promotion option available for members
The content that appears on the Written Word Media blog, including regular surveys of authors and industry trends
A few of the responses from a survey conducted in late 2023
A discussion of author's perceptions of AI and social media
The importance of diversifying instead of being reliant on a single platform
Advice Clayton offers to authors working on promoting and marketing their books

After the interview Mark reflects on just how much Written Word Media has grown over the years, by listening to authors, and adding tools and options to allow for greater efficiency in marketing. He also notes how authors are becoming more professional in their approach of planning ahead, and admits to not being as good at making those plans as he'd hoped.

Links of Interest:

Clayton Noblit is a senior marketing manager at Written Word Media. He is passionate about helping authors find their readers and finding ways to sell more books. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing sports, and making beverages.

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

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