Libsyn Directory

EP 398 - Multiple Outlets For Storytelling with Denise Baden

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Release Date: 01/24/2025

EP 423 - Dear Writer: The World Needs Your Writing Now More Than Ever

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode Mark expresses his frustration, anger, and anxiety over what's happening in the world right now, and reminds himself, and listeners, about the power of writing and why the world NEEDS you and your writing now more than ever before. Link to video of Mark's Keynote for The BookFest Spring 2025. "Writer, the World Needs You: Why Your Writing Is More Important Than Ever." Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin...

EP 422 - Writing, Humor, and Teaching with Patrick MacPhee

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark interviews Patrick MacPhee, teacher and Writers of the Future award-winning author about his love of reading, writing, and helping to inspire students. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Patrick talk about: Patrick's experience reading Fellowship of the Rings when he was rather young and how it impacted him in a profound...

EP 421 - Some Publishing Pitfalls

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode Mark shares some audio excerpts from his book PUBLISHING PITFALLS FOR AUTHORS. This episode's sponsor: This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) 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 420 - Artist and Author Collaboration with JJ McFaull

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark interviews Jacob from the JJ McFaull is collaboration children's book Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the new book The Podcast Guest Playbook co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple. Check out the book here: In the interview, Mark and Jacob talk about: Mark and Jacob talk about: How even as a kid, Jacob was making up stories Getting involved in the book industry in 2024 after initially trying to get his children's book published The...

EP 419 - Seeing The Beauty with Artist, Photographer, Graphic Designer, and Music Aficionado Stephan Gaydos

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark has a conversation with his life-long best buddy Steve Gaydos about art, beauty, photography, music, and so much more in a conversation recorded on their recent Canadian East Coast road trip. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) 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 418 - Giving Away A Million Copies of Your Book With DC Gomez

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark interviews D.C. Gomez about her plan to give away a million copies of her best-selling and award-winning novel Death's Intern. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and D.C. talk about: DC being one of those kids who was into storytelling since as far back as she can remember Having a passion and background for video and screenplays The way everything changed for DC back during 9/11...

EP 417 - Embracing Your Passion for Creativity with Artist and Author C L Fors

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark interviews author and artist C L Fors about her recent award win with Writers of the Future and her life in writing and illustration. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. In the interview, Mark and Cherrie talk about: Cherrie's recent win as an illustrator for Writers and Illustrators of the Future for Volume 41 of the annual anthology Entering the contest...

EP 416 - The Irony of a Woefully Inadequate Imposter Syndrome

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

That pervasive feeling of self-doubt and insecurity you believe you are not deserving of your achievements and fear being exposed as a fraud known as imposter syndrome is especially common among writers and other creatives who often grapple with the vulnerability inherent in sharing their work with the world. But perhaps your imposter syndrome is actually a positive sign about your progression as a writer. That's the topic of this solo episode in which Mark reflects upon that. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own...

EP 415 - April Showers Bring May Reflections

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode Mark shares a personal update and some reflections about writing, publishing, and some marketing ideas. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) 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 414 - Thanks for the Inspiration Nancy Kilpatrick

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark reflects on friend, mentor, and fellow author Nancy Kilpatrick. Nancy Kilpatrick (May 6, 1946 – March 31, 2025) was a Canadian author who wrote stories in the genres of , , , , and and was perhaps best known for her vampire novels and stories. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) 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

More Episodes

Mark interviews Denise Baden about the novel/book version of Murder in the Climate Assembly as well as the various incarnations and adaptions she had created for the stage and television.

Prior to the interview, Mark reads comments from recent episodes, shares a personal update, and a word about this episode’s sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by ScribeCount (affiliate link). Spend less time logging in to multiple platforms and crunching numbers, and more time writing and marketing your books thanks to ScribeCount’s handy all-in-one interface.

During the interview Mark and Denise talk about:

Denise's varied educational, professional, and personal background which has given her a finger in "every pie"
How Denise turned to fiction because it's her joy
The different formats that a story can take for a creative person
Denise's memoir "Confessions of a Climate Activist in a Business School" and how she adapted it into a novel by fictionalizing some elements
Also creating a re-adaptation of the story into a stage play "Murder in the Citizens' Jury"
The additional dramatic monolog version of the play that Denise created
The TV-script version that Denise also wrote based on this
The videos that Denise has that share these highlights
How the different mediums inform Denise's approach to each version of the story
Not feeling good about the traditional publishing offer Denise rec'd for the book
A Kickstarter project that Denise is launching related to this same IP
The struggle with what to do as a reward, and what to do as an add-on
How too much of existing climate fiction is so dystopian in nature
The white-washing that some companies tried to do in partnering Denise's Green Stories project
The idea of thrutopian fiction
And more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on the choice Denise made to turn down a publishing contract and launch the book leveraging Kickstarter, as well as the genius way she's taken a single IP and adapted into numerous formats and platforms.

Links of Interest:

Denise Baden is a Professor of Sustainability at the University of Southampton and a writer. Her eco-themed rom-com ‘Habitat Man’ was published in 2021, followed by ‘The Assassin’ and ‘No More Fairy Tales: Stories to Save the Planet’ in 2022. Denise is listed on the Forbes list of Climate Leaders Changing the Film and TV industry and has worked with Bafta on #ClimateCharacters exploring cultural aspects of sustainability. A TV adaptation of her play ‘Murder in the Citizens’ Jury’ was a winner of the 2024 Writing Climate Pitchfest and is under consideration by Hollywood producers. She is currently launching the novel version ‘Murder in the Climate Assembly’ on Kickstarter.

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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