EP 459 - Creating Experiences in Art and Story with Tanya Hales
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
Release Date: 01/30/2026
EP 486 - Seeing The World Metaphorically with Melissa Heathers
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Melissa Heathers, author and host of The Book Crawl. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, and shares 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. Links of Interest: (Use code STARKDIRECT at checkout to save $4.00. Patrons, check the post on Patreon.com/starkreflections for the post dated June 12, 2026 for your special 67% off coupon) (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation -...
info_outline
EP 485 - On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this solo episode Mark reads Chapter 5 (The Beautiful Mess: On Failure, Mistakes, and the Gift of Getting It Wrong) from his book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, and shares 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. Links of Interest: (Use code STARKDIRECT at checkout to save $4.00. Patrons, check the post on Patreon.com/starkreflections...
info_outline
EP 484 - Serializing a Novel on Substack with Matty Dalrymple
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark talks to Matty Dalrymple about her recent experience serializing a never-before-published new novel on Substack. Prior to the main content, Mark welcomes new patrons, 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 the interview, Mark and Matty talk about: How long Matty has been a writer, a podcaster, and a consultant to indie authors The 52 days Matty has been experimenting with serialization...
info_outline
EP 483 - Author Branding with Jessica Sorentino
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
Mark interviews Jessica Sorentino, an author brand strategist with more than a decade of experience helping writers and thought leaders connect with their audiences in meaningful, lasting ways. Prior to the main content, 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 the interview, Mark and Jessica talk about: What an author's brand is and how to determine what that brand is A technique of visualizing a...
info_outline
EP 482 - Outlining for Novelists Who Don't Outline with Paul Austin Ardoin
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Paul Austin Ardoin about his new book OUTLINING FOR NOVELISTS WHO DON'T OUTLINE. Prior to the interview Mark shares a person update and a word from this episode's sponsors. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . In the interview Mark and Paul talk about: Paul's previous non-fiction book for writers FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES Mark's offer of gifting 3 copies of FROM ZERO TO FOUR FIGURES by buying them from Paul and/or a local bookshop for listeners based...
info_outline
EP 481 - Becoming A Creative Luminary with Voice Actor Laura Holley
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Laura Holley, a Utah-based voice actor and speculative fiction writer whose passion for storytelling began with her first stage performance at seven years old. Prior to the main content, 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 the interview, Mark and Laura talk about: Laura getting into theatre in the second grade and the first role that she played The power of playing a...
info_outline
EP 480 - Rambling Reflections From The Road: Returning From Camping & Vitamin N
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark shares a solo reflection recording pm his return from a couple of nights spent camping on the shores of Lake Huron at Point Farms Provincial Park. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief personal update (which includes a segment from Joanna Penn's latest episode of The Creative Penn Podcast) and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . In his reflection Mark considers the idea of the value of nature/simplicity when recharging. He asks...
info_outline
EP 479 - The Keyboard Is My Favorite Fidget Toy with Premee Mohamed
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this episode Mark interviews Premee Mohamed, a Nebula, World Fantasy, Ignyte, Locus, and Aurora award-winning Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author based in Edmonton, Alberta. 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 with Suzy Vadori. In this weekly show, Suzy brings you writing techniques, best practices, motivation, inspirational stories from real live authors out there making it in the world, and actionable advice that can help you turn that book...
info_outline
EP 478 - Stark Realities Excerpt: The Pinocchio Problem
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
This episode features an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Mark's book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs To Know About The Business of Writing and Publishing. The chapter is called "The Pinocchio Problem." Prior to the main content Mark shares a brief personal update and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by the book STARK REALITIES: Stacked-up Lessons Every Writer Needs To Know About The Business of Writing and Publishing. The Truth About Building a Writing Career With No Sugarcoating, Just Real Talk. The Honest, practical guide that every writer...
info_outline
EP 477 - Rambling Reflections From The Road to StokerCon
Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
In this solo episode recorded while driving between Waterloo, Ontario and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on his way to attending StokerCon, a horror writer conference, Mark shares some reflections on his dual life as an author-supporting industry representative and a horror author. This episode is sponsored by Author Nation, being held in Las Vegas Nov 13 through 14, 2026 Learn more about Author Nation and register at . Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) The introductory, end,...
info_outlineIn this episode Mark interviews author and artist Tanya Hales.
Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, 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 the interview Mark and Tanya talk about:
- When Tanya and Mark first met: at Superstars Writing Seminars
- The sketch that Tanya made of Mark at SSWS when he was speaking there
- Identifying herself as equal parts author and illustrator
- The value of CREATING EXPERIENCES with people
- How long Tanya has been creating art and how her mother was instrumental in getting her into art
- The "nature-based" element and love of animals that are recurring in Tanya's art
- Writing novels in spiral-ring notebooks by the time of Fifth Grade
- The first time Tanya put her art out into the world at the age of sixteen
- Handy and helpful resources available to Tanya in her high school
- The "Doodle Dudes" that Tanya had created back then
- Doing a lot more digital art lately for logistical parental reasons
- How one of Tanya's skills is being able to adapt to new things relatively easily
- Being in different modes, such as writing, editing, art
- Various Kickstarter projects Tanya has done and is currently doing
- The Animal Magica Coloring Books Tanya has created
- Why Tanya thinks that it's evitable that she creates the way she does
- The first full-length novel in the Animal Magica universe
- The first cozy fantasy novel that Tanya recently released
After the interview Mark reflections on passion and creating experiences.
Links of Interest:
- Tanya Hales Website
- Tanya's Substack Article: "It Was Inevitable"
- Tanya's "Go, Writer, Go" - Humorous Parody Book for Writers Kickstarter
- Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%)
- Buy Mark a Coffee
- Patreon for Stark Reflections
- Mark's YouTube channel
- ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)
- Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)
- An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries
- The Relaxed Author
- Publishing Pitfalls for Authors
- An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores
- Wide for the Win
- Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books
- The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles
- Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard
- Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
- I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises
When Tanya Hales was a baby, she enjoyed books by chewing them to pieces before eventually moving on to the higher art of reading. Tanya splits her time between her work as a writer, an illustrator, and a mother, all of which she loves intensely. She now lives in Utah with her husband and four children, illustrating coloring books, writing YA fantasy, making cute stickers, and daydreaming constantly about imaginary worlds.
Tanya is the creator of YA epic fantasy as well as the Animal Magica fantasy coloring book series, books made in collaboration with dozens of other authors who contributed beautiful short stores to pair with the art.
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