Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Perspectives and reflections on the writing and publishing life. Mark Leslie Lefebvre, a writer, bookseller, digital publishing advocate, professional speaker, and publishing consultant explores inclusive and collaborative opportunities for writers and book publishing professionals via interviews, discussions, and reflections about the industry. (Mark's personal website is www.markleslie.ca)

EP 445 - Overcoming The Self-Sabotage from Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara 11/21/2025

EP 445 - Overcoming The Self-Sabotage from Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey Balsara 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 up from her subconscious Being told the importance of writing her own stories, which led to taking some writing classes How writing became a way for Andrea to express things that she was not otherwise able to express and the way it led her into a space where she could become fully creative When the memory of the terrible trauma came back to Andrea and struggling with wondering if it really truly happened How it's almost easiest to allow yourself to go crazy than to think that you "were evil" or just making this all up Not avoiding the darkness in her Young Adult books The love that Andrea has for the teenage girl that she was How hard it is for a person hurting and going through such trauma just taking that next step Finding herself within the character of a story of hope and finding the light in the darkness Recognizing that yes, horrible things happen in this world, but many gifts are also given to help get through it The "heroes journey" of making one's life satisfying saying "this is not where my story ends" Andrea's novel THE GREAT AND THE SMALL and how it explores what it takes to enable the rise of dictatorship via very small personal compromises that a person can make along the way The value in looking for the light, looking for the hope, and the importance of people being the change in Andrea's novel Believing in the capacity and the necessity to unite, and that the search for truth is a human right and responsibility that lies within each of us The "10 Steps to Inner Peace" that helped Andrea through the darkness (and which is available for anyone to read via a download on her website How evil itself isn't a thing, it's the absence of love The way that we can be that "leaven" in the bread The studies that have shown that sending love to a plant can help it thrive (and vice-versa when sending negative energy) And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few elements of the Andrea's message that resonated with him. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Andrea Torrey Balsara is an award-winning children's and young adult author/illustrator, as well as an energy medicine practitioner and mental wellness and creativity coach. Her passion is to inspire joy through storytelling and energy healing, helping people-of-all-ages to walk “the Hero’s Journey” in real life. She writes and illustrates for young children under her full name, Andrea Torrey Balsara, and for young adults under A.T. Balsara. Andrea is also a painter, an avid amateur explorer of quantum physics, and a keen environmentalist. She advocates for the humane treatment of animals and regularly volunteers at a donkey sanctuary where she uses energy medicine to help previously neglected and abused animals regain their health and vitality. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/39130685

EP 444 - Book Marketing Made Easy with Manuscript Report 11/14/2025

EP 444 - Book Marketing Made Easy with Manuscript Report Mark interviews Florin Bulgarov, co-founder of Manuscript Report. 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 Florin talk about: Florin's background with a PhD in A.I. and how he ended up evolving into creating the toolset of Manuscript Report How Manuscript Report was initially created as an assessment tool for publishers when going through their slush piles What assets Manuscript Report offers for authors to use in their marketing strategy approaches The additional assets from the reports including the visual pie-chart of the genre split/breakdown as well as the themes and the tropes associated from the manuscript The social media posts, blog posts, and book bible assets that authors can request in a higher level report The fact that Manuscript Report does not store the manuscript and does not train any AI on their manuscript. Within 30 days all traces of the author's manuscript is deleted from their servers How the system is optimized to run for one book at a time and the 1 million word limit on manuscripts run into Manuscript Report The "Narrative Crossroads" suggestions that an author might be able to use in a quick pitch/log line for the book An author who did A/B testing with her own written ads and the Manuscript Report ads and was able to reduce her cost by half and increase her sales by 60% An example of a report using Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray How Manuscript Report is a Swiss Army Knife for marketing And more... Links of Interest: (with visual walk-thru) EP 443 - EP 442 - EP 441 - EP 438 - EP 437 - EP 429 - Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders: (YouTube) (Mark's affiliate link) (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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/39035415

EP 443 - Strategies for Short Fiction 11/11/2025

EP 442 - Dear Writer You Still Need To Quit with Becca Syme 11/07/2025

EP 442 - Dear Writer You Still Need To Quit with Becca Syme Mark interviews Becca Syme about her latest project, about the journey she has been on since she launched her first Dear Writer, You Need to Quit book, and the various fiction titles she has written. Prior to the interview, Mark explains that he is at Author Nation in Vegas and that his introduction and post interview reflection were generated by ElevenLabs. Then his digital voice clone from ElevenLabs 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 their interview, Mark and Becca talk about: How it has been an extremely long year since Becca was last on the Stark Reflections Podcast Becca's long-time aversion to marketing and how she has decided to approach it The Kickstarter that Becca has launched and the various prizes she is offering for each of the tour stops The prize that Stark Reflections listeners can win just by listening and entering their name How Becca is trying to make each stop on the podcast guest tour different by focusing on different tips and ideas with every episode Mark's idea on how he deals with Kickstarters where international shipping isn't an option The limited number of vinyl albums that will be available through Becca's Kickstarter How the publishing industry has changed dramatically since 2017 when Becca's first "Dear Writer, You Need to Quit" book came out The cheeky thought that Becca was considering for her latest book with using the popular F-word expletive How long Becca's Kickstarter will be running Trying to spend more time on her fiction writing, but struggling with how much she loves collaborating with and helping other writers The positive impact of dating another writer where they can motivate one another to get more writing done How Becca had never intended to build a business as a coach and a non-fiction writer The two other pen names that Becca writes under for different series and genres. Mystery written as R.L. Syme. Paranormal Romance (written with a co-author) written as Cameron Reece. Urban fantasy under the name: Macy Dixon The recent "work vacation" that Becca took which helped enable some solid research for her writing Becca's reminder that under different pen names and genres, a writer will usually have a uniquely different voice The specific playlists that Becca has for each one of her pen names and genres and the very separate personas she embraces when writing each The comment Mark made that led Becca over to checking out his Clifton Strengths to confirm her suspicion How Becca is a real "sense of place" writer who connects emotionally with the physical space and the connection to the earth, the mountains, etc After the interview, Mark reflects on the idea of wanting to help writers, and how that often leads to one's own writing taking a back seat. Links of Interest: - Enter that you listened to Becca's interview on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Podcast (Mark's affiliate link) (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Becca Syme (MATL) is a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach and has individually coached more than 6000 authors at all levels. She is the author of the Quitbooks for Writers series and the popular Write Better-Faster course, and the host of the Quitcast for Writers podcast and YouTube channel. She also writes mystery novels and lives on one of the thousand lakes in Minnesota. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38937445

EP 441 - A Bookstore for Indie Authors with Donovan Scherer 10/31/2025

EP 441 - A Bookstore for Indie Authors with Donovan Scherer Mark interviews artist, author, and indie bookstore owner Donovan Scherer about his writing, his art, and his store in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin. Prior to the interview, Mark welcomes new patrons, shares recent comments, 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 their interview, Mark and Donovan talk about: Donovan background as an illustrator creating various characters, and then eventually moving on to writing middle grade chapter books Never really learning about how to sell books online, but rather through in person events like comic book conventions The popularity of the ZomBeans (zombies) Donovan has drawn, including unique caricatures of his patrons The idea of working on a "talking flowchart" to help understand what people gravitate towards How Donovan has been doing local markets for 15 years -- since 2010 The regular festivals Donovan has started running in the parking lot across the street from his store Acquiring the Studio Moonfall 400 square foot store in 2019 What Donovan carries in his store How Donovan acquired ten pallets of books from a library that was wanting to move them Half of what Donovan sells in his own store being his own work -- meaning that his average margin is much higher than most other bookstores The CUT THE LINE promo where authors can get their books featured in the store and via the store's socials by providing 8 copies of their book to Studio Moonfall And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the incredible effort and unique approach to creating his own store in order to ensure his work was available in a brick and mortar space. He also talks about the various margins that are typical for bookstores and how Donovan has navigated that with some ingenius moves. Mark also shares a special offer for patrons related to the CUT THE LINE promotion Donovan has in place. Links of Interest: EP 440 - Mark's Substack Article: (Mark's affiliate link) (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Donovan Scherer is an author and illustrator creating worlds of adventure with a sense of humor and a little bit of dread that everything will go terribly, terribly wrong. In 2009, he started the Fear & Sunshine series of middle-grade illustrated novels and began his work in book publishing. Along with developing more of his own series across novels, comics, video games, and animation, he also works with independent authors to help bring their stories to life. In 2019, he opened the Studio Moonfall in downtown Kenosha, Wisconsin - an art studio and bookstore featuring his endlessly increasing body of work and highlighting other local and independent authors and artists. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38857405

EP 440 - Behind the Scenes of The Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty Dalrymple 10/24/2025

EP 440 - Behind the Scenes of The Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty Dalrymple In this episode Mark talks with Matty Dalrymple, co-author of the book The Podcast Guest Playbook which was released earlier in 2025. Prior to the interview, Mark shares recent comments, a brief 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 their interview, Mark and Matty talk about: Something that Stark Reflections listeners might not know about Matty related to getting her private pilot license Having worked aviation into at least two of her novels The phrase that goes along with the very intentional passing of the manuscript from one co-author to another How long Matty has been running The Indy Author Podcast The genesis of the book PODCASTING GUEST PLAYBOOK that Matty and Mark co-authored The underlying importance of connections that can happen through direct conversation between two people, but also among people who listen to that conversation (such as in a podcast) An anecdote from meeting an author at ALA (American Library Association) who thought they'd met Mark in person before because they'd heard him as a guest on someone else's podcast Wanting it to be a mutually beneficial relationship when making those connections A reminder about the old Storygraph tool that showed a visual representation of how books were linked (Back in 2007 this was a visual search tool where book covers appeared as thumbnails and “connections” between books (via “customers who bought this also bought this”) were drawn as lines. Some of the unique connections that happened when both Mark and Matty were at ALA in Philadelphia in the summer of 2025 An example of how Damon Courtney of Bookfunnel is a great podcast guest who is more interested in providing value to all listeners rather than someone who is solely trying to sell his product How indirect opportunities can be better than a sudden spike in book sales The offer that Matty has for authors to help do a short interview for them to demonstrate their skills as a interview guest A special offer for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast to get a free coaching session from Matty with her pod-pro coaching An example of a guest who was very reluctant to provide valuable information in an interview (ie, being far more interested in selling something) The value of having a service mindset over a selling mindset Making sure that you're pitching to the right podcast in the right way at the right time Advice Matty would offer to authors And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few different things, including the rise of the sophistication of the spammy author connection and service requests that arrive in his email a half dozen times a day. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38767445

EP 439 - Rambling Reflections From The Road to Can-Con 10/17/2025

EP 438 - A Personal Conversation with Malorie Cooper 10/14/2025

EP 438 - A Personal Conversation with Malorie Cooper Mark has a personal conversation with Malorie Cooper. In this episode they talk about: The reason she and her family moved from Boston, MA and back to Canada The uniqueness of New England compared to the rest of the United States How Canada is one of the hardest countries to emigrate into Not having ever gotten American citizenship The oppression and fear of being a queer transgender person, particularly in the US How it's virtually impossible for people who aren't oppressed to understand what it's like Losing half her fan base and friends when she transitioned into the person she was always born to be How when you life authentically and vulnerably, people will actually be attracted to you Living in a judgement-free zone/bubble Feeling unsafe for the first time after she came out as Malorie How coming out as trans is likely the hardest thing a person will ever do -- but, in addition to having a child, one of the most rewarding things Mal ever did The recurring theme of "found family" in Mal's novels And more... After the conversation Mark reflects on the idea of priviledge he has in not having to be fearful when walking alone outside after dark (for example) about "found family" and the importance of connecting with others who understand you where you are. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least). Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she’s shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions. She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals. In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38583625

EP 437 - Nerding Out Over History, Science, and Maps with Malorie Cooper 10/10/2025

EP 437 - Nerding Out Over History, Science, and Maps with Malorie Cooper Mark interviews Malorie Cooper, who writes under the name M.D. Cooper, about the various things that fascinate and inspire her writing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a brief 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 their interview, Mark and Malorie talk about: Meeting up in New Brunswick in the spring at a writer's conference Mal's passion about writing science-fiction and nerding out about science and history concepts Mal working with her wife Jill on The Writing Wives - designed to help authors better market their books Some misperceptions that authors have, such as "I'm not good at Facebook Ads" Mal always being curious about everything, and getting story inspiration from looking at maps How her fascination with maps led to mapping software for space maps, and an evolution into a sci-fi writer Malorie's introduction to science fiction through the books of Anne McCaffrey How maps can inform and inspire science fiction stories The various struggles that Mal likes to tackle in stories she writes Passion for history and looking at the US Naval build immediately after Pearl Harbor The frustration Mal often has in much of science-fiction and fantasy where the world's aren't "big" enough How Mal writes without having a story bible about the universes she has created and writes in The way Malorie divides her time up between writing and working with authors for The Writing Wives The long pause in writing new science fiction stories that happened shortly after 2020 Thinking back to 2016 when Mal's writing really started to take off (how the money being earned from that was better than the full-time employment work as a software developer) The time when Mal was writing for about 14 to 16 hours a day, with her wife Jill creating a "protective bubble" around her so she could focus on writing The experience of having two people on Patreon who have, for eight years, given Mal $50 a month The power (and sense of accomplishment) that comes when you get to "the end" Advice Mal would give to other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the challenge of moving from part-time to full-time writer, as well as the heart-warming fact that there are those out there who resonate with a creator's works and step up to support them in heart-warming ways. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) Malorie Cooper is a science fiction author and creator of the Aeon 14 universe. She has written over one hundred books and plans to write another hundred more (at least). Having built her career using advertising to spread awareness of her books, she’s shifted focus to helping other authors get a leg up through paid ads on a variety of platforms, as well as optimizing their product page with a focus on increasing conversions. She and her wife now run The Writing Wives, which helps dozens of authors a month reach their marketing goals. In addition to storytelling and writing, Malorie loves playing games of any sort, gardening, and woodworking. She shares her home with a wife who also writes, an entrepreneurial teenaged daughter, and far more cats than are strictly necessary. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38544480

EP 436 - Artisan Publishing with Blue Feathered Quill 10/03/2025

EP 436 - Artisan Publishing with Blue Feathered Quill In this episode Mark interviews Joshua Smyser and Alex Hale of Blue Feathered Quill Publishing. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcome a new patron (), offers 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 their interview, Mark, Alex, and Joshua talk about: Alex's background growing up an avid reader and someone who wrote music and stories, and then going back to school for linguistics in 2020, then later, the Masters of Publishing program at Western Colorado University Being a fan of writing poetry as well as poetry put to music Coming to the realization that he enjoyed helping other writers with getting their work ready for publication more than he enjoyed writing The first book that Blue Feathered Quill published (a sweet-romance with a darker twist): Eth: A Novel Joshua also having a background in music (taking mandolin lessons) as well as being an avid reader as a young person as well as pursuing the writing/publishing route when he was a youth Getting a degree in education and starting a teaching career, and then returning to thinking about the world of books and publishing Joining up with Alex on BFQ as a way to move into publishing and learning more about editing and cover design The story Josh sold to the "Cupids" anthology that was published by Western Colorado University The origin of the publishing name Blue Feathered Quill The cross-country trip with a life-long friend that Alex made several years back The idea of building a publishing company with a cohort of writers, editors, and other creative people who could help one another out in different ways A look at the process they take when an author approaches them The second book that they released on April 29, 2025: THE TALE OF JIRAIYA THE GALLANT (a classic Japanese story from the 1800's which is a bit of a precursor to Manga) and Joshua's passion for bringing this book into existance How well their first book was already selling when it was first released in the spring of 2025 How authors who are interested in working with BFQ can reach out to them Advice that Alex and Josh would like to relay to authors as well as those thinking of starting a publishing company And more... After the interview Mark reflects on how they are running this company with passion and integrity, with a goal to work collaboratively with authors. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38454485

EP 435 - The Power of Writers in a Divided World 09/25/2025

EP 434 - Held Over Passion Projects with John Gaspard 09/18/2025

EP 434 - Held Over Passion Projects with John Gaspard Mark interviews John Gaspard about his book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER. Prior to the interview Mark shares 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 John talk about: John's appreciation for the honesty of the podcast and one of his favorite episodes, and why he liked it John's background and the two different cozy mystery series that he has written and published The Eli Mark's "Behind the Page" podcast that John uses to share behind-the-scenes and brilliantly market the books in audio and other formats A person with a PhD in "shuffling cards" who was a guest on John's podcast How John approached his deep love and affection for the 1971 movie HAROLD AND MAUDE The Minneapolis theatre (Westgate) that helped make this movie a cult classic How John couldn't have written this book 20 years ago John's Popcorn Principals books The book HELD OVER: HAROLD AND MAUDE AT THE WESTGATE THEATER John's philosophy of "I'm writing for me." A bit of the history of the Westgate Theater The approach to his writing and recognizing that most of the books are likely not to earn much more than making back the initial money invested into them Deciding which researched bits made it into the book How Scrivener was a helpful tool in the writing of the book and various research elements The design company that John worked with on this book The Kickstarter that John ran related to this book and what it did for him (beyond earning a bit of up front money to help with funding the expensive project Working with Bookvault on the production of this book Advice John would offer to writers who haven't yet pursued that passion project And more... After the interview Mark reflects on passion projects, networking and connecting with other writers, and the advice to pause/hesitate Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) John Gaspard is author of the Eli Marks mystery series and the Como Lake Players mystery series. He also has several other stand-alone novels, including “The Greyhound of the Baskervilles,” “A Christmas Carl,” “The Sword & Mr. Stone” and “The Ripperologists.” He hosts: "Behind the Page: The Eli Marks Podcast." In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, those books made more than the films. John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several greyhounds, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38258320

EP 433 - Affordable Multi-Voice Audiobook Narration from Spoken with Phil Marshall 09/12/2025

EP 433 - Affordable Multi-Voice Audiobook Narration from Spoken with Phil Marshall In this episode Mark interviews Phil Marshall, the author of the recently released science fiction novel Taming the Perilous Skies and the founder of Spoken, a platform that removes numerous audiobook production barriers for indie authors and small publishers. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments, a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by (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. In the interview, Mark and Phil talk about: Phil's background with Conversa Being trained as a surgeon and then switching to product development and technology The novel (TAMING THE PERILOUS SKIES) that was baking in his head since 2021 Distributing 130 copies of his novel to early readers at a recent WorldCon The market info of "Dan Brown meets Andy Weir" How the novel and Spoken itself were both inspired by the same thing An explanation of what Spoken is and how it addresses Phil's desire for multi-cast narration Multi-voice narration being a speciality of Spoken Why Phil is releasing the novel in multi-cast narration via Spoken for free in chapter by chapter installments Spoken having just completed a full year of beta release and is now available as a fully available product A bit of a walk-thru of how Spoken breaks out different character voices in an automated manner How ElevenLabs and Hume are the two partners Spoken uses for their character and narrator voices The costs involved in producing these audio books How there is no cost for listeners who want to check out how things sound on Spoken Phil's message to authors who are nervous/anxious about A.I. And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a couple of things related to the conversation. Links of Interest: Kobo Writing Life Podcast EP 78 (March 2017) - SPA Girls Podcast Episode 517 (with Mark) (Mark's affiliate link) Phil Marshall Bio: I build technologies, organizations, and stories that imagine a fantastic future. From my theory of persistence, which sits at the heart of my sci-fi writing, to pioneering conversational AI that transformed the relationships between doctors and patients, to creating groundbreaking tools that are transforming the relationship between authors and their readers, I thrive at the intersection of imagination and execution. My current project is Spoken, bringing authors and readers together around great audio stories that are made possible by technology. Before Spoken, I co-founded Conversa, a platform that connected patients and care teams using conversational AI. Along the way, I’ve built technologies that span personalization (WebMD), collaborative movie-making (JumperCut), ontology-driven knowledge graphs (OntoLogic.ai), and concept-based health record threading (WellMed). 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38199070

EP 432 - Creativity, Connection, and Community with Police Officer and Author A.L. Wahdel 09/05/2025

EP 432 - Creativity, Connection, and Community with Police Officer and Author A.L. Wahdel Mark interviews A.L. Wahdel, a crime thriller writer brings Toronto’s soul to life in his fiction. They talk about his new book TOO DARK FOR THE LIGHT, about his writing, about police work, and about the importance of community, connection, and creativity.\ Prior to the interview, Mark shares 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 Lance talk about: Lance's 20 years of experience in the police force and how he had planned on a completely different career path by studying media arts and graphic design How people usually ask police officers if they're seen any crazy stuff, but rarely ask if they've seen amazing things The power of community and connecting and communicating with people "Always be in a constant state of create." A philosophy that drives Lance in his life and writing How any time a person creates something it's a gift to the world and the universe Lance's earliest experience writing lyrics and music Being a huge comic fan, Batman in particular The revelation of "write what you know" in creating his first novel TO DARK FOR THE LIGHT Finding his writing community via numerous podcasts, YouTube, and other online resources Establishing a virtual "mastermind" from the shared writing resources Deciding to set his novel in Toronto, Ontario, Canada instead of choosing a "more popular" major US city Using Toronto's iconic skyline on the cover to ensure the setting for the book was clear Debating over whether or not to begin with Water Kascade's origin story The tricky balance of writing an authentic police procedural novel (ie, ignoring those tedious long boring periods of time in the day to day life of law enforcement) The training of always being alert and aware as a police officer and how that benefits Lance as a writer Some of the things that authors get wrong related to police work The integrity involved in releasing the book under the pseudonym A.L. Wahdel so as not to take advantage of his role and employer Advice Lance would offer to other authors And more . . . After the interview Mark shares a few reflections about the desire to help others and the value of creativity in giving to the world. Links of Interest: A.L. Wahdel on Substack: (Draft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders) (Mark's affiliate link) EP 430 - A.L. Wahdel is an exciting new storyteller in the crime thriller genre, blending gripping suspense with a powerful narrative. A.L. Wahdel writes with energy about the city that shaped his identity. With an unwavering love for its style and complexity, he brings Toronto’s soul to life in every story. Choosing his birthplace as the canvas for his crime series was an intentional act—to honour its essence, celebrate its dynamism, and share the stories that only a true Torontonian writer could tell 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38105200

EP 431 - An Interview with Writer, Producer, and Celebrity Publicist William J Bruce III 08/28/2025

EP 431 - An Interview with Writer, Producer, and Celebrity Publicist William J Bruce III Mark interviews writer, producer, and celebrity publicist William J Bruce III. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, comments, 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 William talk about: The weird series of events that led William into his current career Meeting a film producer on the day of a school evacuation How a lot of William's work is done online and behind the scenes The importance of doing due diligence as a publicist to make sure the interviewee doesn't get "trapped" by the host/interviewer The memoir that William wrote and why he wrote it because of a really low point in his life Looking at your life and your faith when in a dark place after having made a grave mistake The novel that William is currently working on How people can be heartless when it comes to talking about celebrities The story behind how William is publishing his novel That negative voice whenever you're trying something new And more... After the interview Mark reflects on that feeling of self-doubt as well as the perspective of heroes and villians and good and evil. Links of Interest: (Sunday August 31, 2025) - Reedsy Virtual Event (Mark's affiliate link) EP 430 - William J Bruce III is a writer, producer and celebrity publicist. As a publicist he has worked with Shawn Harper of the NFL and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of the WWE during Ted’s peak in Google Trends. As executive producer to the compilation album Bridge Wars, he brought together artists such as F.E.R.N (Capitol Records artist produced by DukeDaGod of The Diplomats), and Mahogany Jones (four-time Champion of BET’s “Freestyle Friday’s”). Later in 2016 William became the executive producer and host of the Aussie Osbourne Show. The show featured in-depth interviews with celebrities such as Mike Mullane (former NASA astronaut), Alveda King (niece of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the daughter of civil rights activist A.D. King), and Charlene Li (Harvard magna cum laude graduate and NY Times bestselling author). His writing has landed him cover stories with former Victoria Secret model Kylie Bisutti, P.O.D front man Sonny Sandoval and the "Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase of WWE. William's work in film and his ability to hone the craft of writing assisted him in his role of script revisionist for the Eric Roberts film In the Blink of an Eye. The author of the memoir Penholder, William has also written the introduction to the 150th Anniversary Edition of Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Currently William is completing a novel called "Hate"(working title). 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/38000205

EP 430 - Rambling Reflections From A Lemons To Lemonade Road Trip 08/22/2025

EP 429 - A Post-Mortem on Co-Hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards with Liz May Anderson 08/14/2025

EP 429 - A Post-Mortem on Co-Hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards with Liz May Anderson This episode features a campfire chat with Mark's partner Liz Anderson about co-hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards livestream on Sunday August 10, 2025. In the interview, Mark and Liz talk about: The background of co-hosting the Aurora Awards over the years Working on a pandemic parody music video on a whim within about 24 hours as a bit of an escape The trepidation and challenge of working on something that one is not as familiar about The level of commitment and interest within the speculative fiction community How much time and creative energy people have poured themselves into the creative work they do The privilege of being able to highlight these creators and their achievements A history of the themes Mark and Liz have used for their Aurora opening shtick bits over the years The "Last Minute Production" branding that Liz has long adapted Leveraging the mixture of talent/skill in singing when working on a project together (how Mark sings with far more passion than ability How Liz and Mark have been pushing themselves every year The challenge of offering constructive feedback to someone you are close to The importance of just getting it done when you're completing a task with a tight deadline Considering that "first draft" of something that's created in order to get to the next level Getting the thing "out of your head" to keep things moving The different approaches Mark and Liz have when it comes to putting content into the world Liz's experience having never fallen flat on her face when creating content completely at the last minute Advice about stepping into an environment where you're not as familiar with the landscapeould give to writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the way Liz described the staff and students at her school. The introduction and concluding reflection were performed by Mark's digital AI voice clone from ElevenLabs. Links of Interest: (Livestreamed on Aug 10, 2025) Previous Years Auroras Opening Shtick Clips ("If I Had $1000000" Parody) (Graduating and Getting Married) (Teaching Liz about Sci-Fi) (Last Minute Host/Co-host) Mark and Liz Parody Videos (Mark's affiliate link) (Sunday Aug 10 at 5 PM Eastern) The Opening Schtick Bits from previous Aurora Awards 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/37826280

EP 428 - The "Author Versus AI" Project with Alison McBain 08/08/2025

EP 428 - The "Author Versus AI" Project with Alison McBain Mark interviews Canadian author Alison McBain about her "Author Versus AI" project, her life in writing, and more. Prior to the interview, Mark shares 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 Alison talk about: The various roles that Alison has played in the creative arts Wanting to be a writer since she was young and her first written story created when she was 4 years old Thinking that one day she would be a teacher or a professor, but never actually taking that path Alison's very first published piece of writing The early days of writing that involved mailing manuscripts out and then waiting for a response Alison's first book, The Rose Queen, which is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast The many awards that Alison has won The creative team you have working with you whenever you publish with a traditional publisher The magazine (ScribesMICRO - which features stories and poems of no more than 100 words) that Alison started with a few other editors during the pandemic Being surprised at how popular this magazine was and the new 100-word story award that they recent started The thrill of helping discover and publish newer writers in this magazine Deciding how Alison could, as one human, try to take on AI by writing a book a week for a full year Completing 8 months of the challenge with a total of 34 books The more than 2 dozen books that Alison has ghost-written How Alison writes in numerous genres with a spirit of "why not try it all?" The preparation Alison had to do in order to write those 34 novels so effectively during her challenge Advise Alison would offer to authors who are thinking of doing a similar type of writing challenge Having a writing space that's outside the house Balancing writing with family life What Alison has recently been working on The coaching that Alison offers to other writers and how it can be like being a parent Advice Alison would give to writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that came up in their conversation. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) (Sunday Aug 10 at 5 PM Eastern) The Opening Schtick Bits from previous Aurora Awards Alison McBain’s human-created novels are the recipients of over 13 awards, including the Foreword INDIES. Her latest novella Dual took home 3rd place in the 3-Day Novel Contest. When not writing for herself, she’s a ghostwriter who has penned over two dozen books for clients, as well as an award-winning editor who has worked with both celebrity and NY Times-bestselling authors. In 2024, she pursued a project called “Author Versus AI,” where she wrote a book a week, using NO AI at all (34 books total). When not writing, Ms. McBain is the associate editor for the magazine ScribesMICRO and draws all over the walls of her house with the enthusiastic help of her kids. She lives in Alberta, Canada. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/37729640

EP 427 - A Tale of Two Mountains: An Uphill Climb, Rain, Exhaustion, And Rainbows 07/31/2025

EP 426 - Getting YOUR Book Into Bookstores and Libraries 07/25/2025

EP 425 - Escaping the Self-Publishing Rapid Release Rat Race with Johnny B. Truant 07/18/2025

EP 425 - Escaping the Self-Publishing Rapid Release Rat Race with Johnny B. Truant In this episode Mark speaks to author Johnny B. Truant about THE ARTISAN AUTHOR. 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 Johnny talk about: Johnny's return to this podcast (with neither of them being able to remember how many episodes he'd been on previously). Technically, this is his fourth time. Two previous episodes were interviews, and the other was Johnny's brief guest reflection spot in Episode 300 Why Johnny's new book THE ARTISAN AUTHOR is a much-anticipated and needed book in the industry A definition of what it means to be an artisan author, which is kind of the opposite of being a "rapid release, Kindle-only eBook" author The importance of taking away that stress-cycle of having to pump out so many books as a single prescription "how to do it" answer Remembering an important thing that, just like there is no single "the way" neither is being an artisan author The paradigm shift and mindset change that is required as a fundamental starting point How readers outside of the eBook/Kindle-only marketplace aren't as focused on lower price points and are okay with higher prices The reality of the publishing landscape in terms of the books being sold and money being earned The misinterpretation of the book Johnny and Sean Platt released years ago called WRITE, PUBLISH, REPEAT How there are two kinds of writers. The type who approach the business as trying to solve a puzzle and the type who approach it as a way of telling a story that they really want to share How a call of "go slow and make art" is not nearly as sexy as a "solution" The experience of driving off to meet a couple of long-term fans to sign and sell directly to them Connections and humanity being a key element of the artisan author experience The value of authentic connection, regardless of whether or not it's in person or online That powerful experience Johnny had doing one of his first major live book signing events as an author at Author Nation in Vegas and how that led to doing a lot more in person events The ability to adapt to a customer based on their reactions in person Look at it as connections, and then if sales happen . . . great! Being really generous with your time and attention Some of the logistics of doing an in person book signing A couple of unexpected and amusing anecdotes from selling books in person The Kickstarter that Johnny is doing for this book, which runs July 15 through Aug 14 (johnnybtruant.com/artisan) The additional "continuum of education" that Johnny is including in this Kickstarter (Artisan University) The importance of authors entering into things with conscious decisions rather than just blindly following the generic advice they've found And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few specific points from the discussion. Links of Interest: EP 424 - EP 322 - EP 302 - EP 300 - (Mark's affiliate link) Johnny B. Truant is one of indie publishing’s early authorities, having created and co-hosted the original Self Publishing Podcast with Sean Platt and David Wright. He is also the author of the indie cornerstone guide Write. Publish. Repeat, and hosted the Smarter Artist Summit author conference in Austin, Texas from 2015-2018 with the same two partners. On the fiction side, Johnny is the bestselling author of Fat Vampire, adapted by The SyFy Network as Reginald the Vampire. His other books include Pretty Killer, Gore Point, Invasion, The Beam, Dead City, Unicorn Western, and over 100 other titles across many genres. Originally from Ohio, Johnny and his family now live in Austin, Texas where he's finally surrounded by creative types as weird as he is. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/37451795

EP 424 - Passion From Between and Beyond The Pages with Jessica Rampersad 07/10/2025

EP 424 - Passion From Between and Beyond The Pages with Jessica Rampersad Mark interviews Jessica Rampersad AKA JessBeyondThePages, an expert experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing who helps authors and brands elevate their online presence. 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 Jessica talk about: Jessica being a reader her entire life and how she has fallen in and out of love with it because of the workload from school Doing research based on a fictional character in a Lauren Asher novel and then deciding upon that as a career path Some of the misconceptions that authors have when it comes to social media How the various social media platforms prefer specific types of content Ideas on things that really resonate with readers that authors can share on social media The services that Jess offers to authors and her willingness to be flexible and learn/try new things that authors are interested in doing The types of books that Jessica typically reads and works on (mystery, romance, thriller) as well as the master list she sends out to other readers The challenge of Mark's various brands along with the fact "MarkLeslie" was already taken on a lot of social media when he arrived How Trope Maps are often the way Jess starts working with an author on their branding for their books The importance of a positive and collaborative partnership between an author and their PAs How valuable giving recognition or giving thanks is, and the positive impression that can make And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on the value of sharing your passion instead of focusing on sales. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) Jessica Rampersad's bio. Hi, I'm Jessica! Experienced in social media management, content creation, and editing, I help authors and brands elevate their online presence. I specialize in building engaging digital communities, coordinating book launches, and crafting compelling content strategies. Passionate about storytelling, I work with authors at every stage (independent, traditional, debut, or seasoned) to amplify their voices and help them connect with audiences across platforms. You can find me on TikTok and Instagram at @jessbeyondthepages, and on YouTube at youtube.com/smileyrue. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/37369145

EP 423 - Dear Writer: The World Needs Your Writing Now More Than Ever 07/03/2025

EP 422 - Writing, Humor, and Teaching with Patrick MacPhee 06/27/2025

EP 422 - Writing, Humor, and Teaching with Patrick MacPhee 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 way The impact on the mind and imagination when reading something really slowly How when you're a kid you play in a specific way when experiencing new things Seeing speculative fiction as having that additional special spice that enhances a regular dish The five-book epic fantasy series that Patrick mapped out years ago (and which he recently finished writing book one of) Being influenced and inspired by Neal Stephenson's writing Patrick's Writers of the Future Award-winning story "Thirty Minutes or it's a Paradox" How the inspiration for this short story came from something Patrick was intimately aware of as a teacher Some of the previous stories that Patrick has had published in semi-pro magazines How Patrick learned about Writers of the Future and some of his submission history with the contest Getting the call from Joni about Patrick's finalist position in the contest Patrick's thoughts about the experience being in Hollywood and seeing the rendition of his story illustrated by Cam Collins How Patrick got into teaching and an important thing that he learned in that vocation - What Patrick is going to be doing next Advice for other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things he discussed with Patrick. Links of Interest: (Mark's affiliate link) In addition to being a writer, Patrick MacPhee considers himself very luck to spend the past twenty years helping young people become better versions of themselves in his role as a teacher. He has learned that almost every part of the curriculum has room for a little humor — sometimes a lot of humor. We talk about that as well as his writing, and what inspired him to write the Writers of the Future Award-Winning story “Thirty Minutes or It’s a Paradox.” 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/37171410

EP 421 - Some Publishing Pitfalls 06/19/2025

EP 420 - Artist and Author Collaboration with JJ McFaull 06/12/2025

EP 420 - Artist and Author Collaboration with JJ McFaull 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 organization CANSCAPE (Canadian Society of Children's Authors, Illustrators and Performers) which is a great resource for creators The title for his book which incites the right questions in people Seeing pumpkins left on the curb after Halloween, which is what inspired the story Collaborating with his father James and working as an author/illustrator duo under the name JJ McFaull (JJ being short for Jacob and James) How Jacob's father has been an illustrator his entire life The origin of how the book got conceived and published An important design element Jacob would recommend for children's book authors to consider Some of the challenges with the quality of POD children's books ordered from Amazon Selling books at in person fairs and other locales How having the book tied in to a specific holiday (Halloween) can be really beneficial How farmers markets were a great place for Jacob to set up for selling his books in person The way that having a pre-illustrated book on submission to a publisher can actually work against an author A little bit about the YA book that Jacob is working on right now The Christmas themed picture book that JJ McFaull will be releasing in the fall of 2025 Advice Jacob would offer to other writers And more... After the interview Mark reflects on the unique father-and-son collaboration as well as on the importance of recognizing where additional talent needs to be brought in on a project. Links of Interest: The Indy Author Podcast - (Mark's affiliate link) JJ McFaull is the author/illustrator of Where Pumpkins Go After Halloween, a debut picture book released in September 2024. Under the pen name JJ McFaull, Jacob (the author) and James (his father and illustrator) combine their passions for storytelling and art to create memorable books for young readers. The second book in their holiday series is scheduled to release this fall. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/36977620

EP 419 - Seeing The Beauty with Artist, Photographer, Graphic Designer, and Music Aficionado Stephan Gaydos 06/06/2025

EP 418 - Giving Away A Million Copies of Your Book With DC Gomez 05/30/2025

EP 418 - Giving Away A Million Copies of Your Book With DC Gomez 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 DC's spiritual director who suggested that DC write a book and how it was finally the spark that she needed "Causing trouble" for 30 years Her first novel being Death's Intern Adapting elements that she learned in screenwriting into crafting a novel Writing within a large universe that's interconnected The origin of the story "Cursed by Fur: A Little Red Riding Hood Retelling" How it's different to connect with characters at different stages in their lives The reasoning behind giving away a million copies of Death's Intern with no strings attached Constantine the talking cat character who has taken over DC's Instagram as well as her end of month newsletter Why DC defines herself as a "serial hobbyist" The blast that DC has doing in person events Advice that DC would give to writers And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few things about their conversation. Links of Interest: (Author Website) (Universal Book Link) (co-authored with Matty Dalrymple) (Mark's affiliate link) D. C. Gomez is a fast-talking, extra-quirky Dominican with a dark sense of humor. A long time ago, she used to enjoy long walks at the park and long days under the sun. Unfortunately, due to a mysterious condition, she is now allergic to those pesky UV rays. Rumor has it that her true nature is coming out and her vampirism is now showing. But don’t fear my friend, she doesn’t bite (much…). 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/36769240

EP 417 - Embracing Your Passion for Creativity with Artist and Author C L Fors 05/23/2025

EP 417 - Embracing Your Passion for Creativity with Artist and Author C L Fors 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 as both a writer and an illustrator every quarter since 2016 How Cherrie can be creative in both writing and illustrating based on the same spark of inspiration. Sometimes it comes out first as a story and then later as an illustration, sometimes vice versa The process of how illustrator winners of Writers and Illustrators of the Future are "teamed up" with a writer winner Cherrie's four-book epic science fiction series - which is a story about people re-claiming self-determination The graphic novel Cherrie is working on which, at first, she wasn't sure what medium it was going to emerge into How a lot of the skills that Cherrie initially learned about art was self-taught, before she received more formal instruction Learning the right time to make that creative jump as a creator How when she is in the midst of the process of creating, regardless of whether it is writing or art, Cherrie feels most alive Taking a step back to understand if she's taking realistic stock of her time and energy The challenge of getting sucked in to social media Ensuring that you're not being too hard on yourself How Cherrie cannot remember a time when she was not doing both art and writing Publishing her first work (a magazine that had her stories, poetry and art) and selling copies of it door-to-door when she was 9 years old in order to earn money to make a purchase Getting her Masters in Publishing at Western Colorado University and continuing the program in Genre fiction to get her MFA Seeing and representing herself as BOTH a writer and an illustrator Using C L Fors for both her art and her writing Learning that she has to "go with the flow" and use the time she has to approach her various tasks as an author, an illustrator, a wife, and a mother Advice that Cherrie would give her younger self How rejection is just a lesson What is next for Cherrie And more . . . After the interview Mark reflects on a few things that were discussed including Cherrie's advice on continuing to do something once you find the thing that you love. Links of Interest: (co-authored with Matty Dalrymple) (Mark's affiliate link) CL Fors lives and breathes stories in multiple mediums: the written word, illustration in watercolor, acrylic, digital, and ink, and the creation of custom jewelry and other artifacts of story. She is an artist with a myriad of interests and experiences that inform and flavor her writing and illustrating. A multipotentialite, mother, author, and adventurer, CL is a science and science-fiction enthusiast with a passion for research based sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and speculative fiction in general. She has at various times in her life been a film actor, military intelligence linguist in the Arabic language, a doula, childbirth educator, and student midwife for birthing, as well as a bellydancer. Cherrie and her husband, Jason P. Crawford, founded the indie publishing house Epitome Press and together bring the work of talented authors out of the brambles and into the light of day. CL’s debut novel, Progeny is the first installment of the Primogenitor series.The second installment, Breach of Mars is available on Amazon as are the third and fourth books in the series, Crowning of Mars and Futures of Mars. 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 /episode/index/show/markleslie/id/36688840

EP 416 - The Irony of a Woefully Inadequate Imposter Syndrome 05/16/2025

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

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