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EP 447 - The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. Barker

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Release Date: 12/05/2025

EP 454 - Finding Surprising Success Publishing Kids' Books with Darcy Pattison

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark interviews award-winning author Darcy Pattison about publishing childrens' books. In their conversation, Mark and Darcy talk about: Darcy's background on getting into being an author of children's book The 70 books Darcy has written in the past 13 years The number of different illustrators Darcy has worked with over the years The Moments in Science picture books Darcy has written with along with the specific illustrator who has worked on a dozen of those titles with her The books for authors Darcy is releasing in January 2026 that collect details about the current state of publishing for...

EP 453 - Celebrating Eight Years, 452 Episodes and One Simple Truth

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark reflects on the anniversary of the first episode of this podcast, which took place on Jan 5, 2018. Links of Interest: EP 001 - Substack Article: (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation - 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 452 - Accounting for Murphy's Law when Setting Realistic Goals

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode Mark outlines a dozen tips to consider when setting realistic goals. Links of Interest: EP 451 - Draft2Digital Self Publishing Insiders - Jan 1, 2026 Episode () (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation - 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 451 - Messages to Readers

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode Mark shares a couple of recent messages to readers in the hopes that it inspired other authors with ideas of the types of things that their readers might find interesting. The two examples are: 1) Mark's introduction to his recent collection of stupid dad jokes (and how that can tie to the use of making the local community the "hero" or "focus" 2) Mark's recent author newsletter with a gift for readers and the story that updates recent changes to an ongoing series he's writing Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation -...

EP 450 - The Life of a Mercenary Writer with Jarrett Mazza

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark interviews Jarrett Mazza about his action/thriller novels and his mercenary-style approach to writing. 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 MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Jarrett talk about: Jarrett's origins and how he got into writing Starting off writing comic books and short stories How Jarrett considers himself a "mercenary" writer Jarrett's love of fiction within the...

EP 449 - The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come"

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode, Mark reads from that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This is be Part 2 of a two-part series of episodes. (See ) Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at . Links of Interest: Article: EP 446 - EP 445 - (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to...

EP 448 - When Your Writing Gets Rejected A Gazillion Times

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this solo episode, Mark reads from that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This will be Part 1 of a two-part series of episodes. Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, a comment from a recent episode, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at . Links of Interest: Article: EP 445 - (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice...

EP 447 - The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. Barker

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark interviews J.D. Barker about his writing and publishing journey and his many collaborations over the years, including with James Patterson, and the unique publishing and distribution collaboration with Simon & Schuster that combines the best of the self-publishing and the traditional publishing worlds. 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 MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and J.D....

EP 446 - Exercising Multiple Creative Outlets with Artist, Author, and Musician Meaghan Smith

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about the new children's book IT SNOWED that she wrote and illustrated, which was inspired by her popular holiday song of the same name. This Juno-Award winning singer-songwriter shares her many creative passions for music, writing, and art. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to . Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Meaghan talk about: The origin of Meaghan's song "It Snowed" and how...

EP 445 - Overcoming The Self-Sabotage from Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

In this episode Mark interviews Andrea Torrey Balsara about her writing, her passion in inspiring joy through storytelling and energy healing, trauma, creativity and much more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update and a word about this episode's sponsor. is available now in hardcover, mass market sized paperback, and audiobook. In the interview Mark and Andrea talk about: The very serious and troubling trauma Andrea had been living with for most of her life without realizing it and how it prevented her from trying to focus and work on The sabotage that kept creeping...

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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 Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark and J.D. talk about:

How JD was always interested in writing including a little business endeavor he had when he was youngBeing told by his mother that writing is a fantastic hobby, but you have to get a "real job" - and following her advice
The main day job he had, which he hated, and coming home at night to write
How the first two decades he'd been writing he did ghost writing and did book-doctor sort of work
Having written six different books that hit the New York Times bestseller list but had other people's names on the cover
JD's wife coming up with a plan to get him to writing for himself
How putting his feet to the coals was what JD really needed
What it was like writing on his own
The value that JD recognizes in the 20 years of writing other peoples' books
Having Asperger's which often involves mimicking other people (which JD could do on paper, continuing to write in another person's voice)
How ghostwriting for celebrities/NYT Bestselling authors can be very lucrative
What it was like co-authoring with James Patterson
Being the only guy who has ever gotten James Patterson to "pants" a novel, but how Patterson convinced him to outline, which he now does for certain projects
What a typical work-day looks like for JD
Making a change in terms of what time of day JD does interviews
Working with a virtual assistant and the various PR agencies JD works with
Switching over to paying for PR a la carte rather than a monthly retainer
Selling more than half a million copies of his first self-published book, which caught the attention of agents
That "taste" of being an indie author which mean a loss of freedom
Creating his own unique path within publishing that's a blend of self-publishing and traditional publishing models
The imprint JD has with Simon & Schuster - Hampton Creek Press
How JD has done a number of recent co-authored titles under his imprint by paying the co-authors up front in a work-for-hire manner, which removes the complexity of paying royalties
The way JD can pay it forward by helping the mentor the co-authors that he is working on
Why JD gave away a skid of hardcover books at Reader Nation in Vegas
Advice JD has about authors who are constantly "chasing each other"
The unique marketing JD created for his book SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS that involved an overnight stay in a real haunted house
What James Patterson did to get his book ALONG CAME A SPIDER onto the New York Times bestseller list
And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things from the conversation that have inspired him in different ways.

Links of Interest:

J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural.

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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