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Artwork for Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Mark Leslie Lefebvre
Writing
Self-Publishing
Publishing
Publishing Industry
Creativity
Kickstarter
Book Marketing
Empathy
Marketing Strategies
Mental Health
Art
Writing Community
Superstars Writing Seminars
Authors
Imposter Syndrome
Libraries
Indie Publishing
Manuscript Report
Author Branding
Author Earnings

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)

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Artwork for Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Latest Episodes

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 Manuscrip... more

YouTube

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 ... more

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... more

YouTube

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 r... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

Jessica Sorrentino
Author branding insider and expert, branding consultant for writers
Open Book/Open Book Open Book Substack
Episode: EP 483 - Author Branding with Jessica Sorentino
Paul Austin Ardoin
USA Today bestselling author
Self-published author with multiple series
Episode: EP 482 - Outlining for Novelists Who Don't Outline with Paul Austin Ardoin
Laura Holley
Utah-based voice actor and speculative fiction author
Episode: EP 481 - Becoming A Creative Luminary with Voice Actor Laura Holley
Premme Mohamed
Indo-Caribbean scientist and speculative fiction author
Independent/Various publishers mentioned
Episode: EP 479 - The Keyboard Is My Favorite Fidget Toy with Premee Mohamed
Patty McGee
Nationally recognized literary consultant, speaker, educator
Not Your Granny's Grammar; corwin.com (publisher)
Episode: EP 476 - Not Your Granny's Grammar with Patty McGee
Jeff Elkins
Author and Dialogue Doctor, specializing in writing emotion and craft
The Dialogue Doctor
Episode: EP 475 - Writing Emotions and Making the Reader Feel with Jeff Elkins
Colleen Anderson
Writer of horror, speculative fiction, and poetry
Colleen Anderson (author)
Episode: EP 474 - Horror and Speculative Fiction and Poetry with Colleen Anderson
Donn King
Author and speaker focusing on authentic communication and caregiving through writing
The Alignment Show, author of Devotionals for Caregivers
Episode: EP 473 - Creativity and Devotionals for Caregivers Who Don't Need Another Inspirational Slogan with Donn King
Orna Ross
Award-winning novelist, poet, creative catalyst, founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors
Alliance of Independent Authors
Episode: EP 472 - Going All In On Substack with Orna Ross

Host

Mark Leslie Lefebvre
Host of Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 50 ratings
  • One of the best mentors in the biz

    If you haven’t discovered Mark Leslie yet I can’t recommend this podcast highly enough

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Raingirl51
    Canada6 months ago
  • Awesome

    Always useful, frequently inspiring, occasionally freaking amazing. This podcast goes beyond just sharing information, Mark lets us into his world for a few minutes, and I frequently come back just a little changed. It’s not your average podcast experience! Thank you, Mark!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cheryel H.
    United States8 months ago
  • Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

    The post-election episode was so very appreciated, especially coming from a white male. I really needed this tonight, thank you. ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Albertparrot
    United States2 years ago
  • Awesome!

    Inspiration in the dark hours of indie publishing. Thanks!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mutant Lord: The Mutant Epoch
    Canada2 years ago
  • Lots of insite from an industry expert

    Mark's got a lot of experience in the publishing industry, and has so much common sense for indie authors.

    If you want to sell your books to readers all over the world, in online and brick-and-mortar bookstores OR even libraries, Mark should be your goto expert!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roland Denzel
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Honest discussions about industry realities and pricing
Great mix of craft and business strategy for writers
Thoughtful, practical insights for indie authors and publishers

Top Books Podcasts

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The Book ClubGoalhanger
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Myths and LegendsJason Weiser, Carissa Weiser, Nextpod
Fantasy Fangirls
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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

EP 481 - Becoming A Creative Luminary with Voice Actor Laura Holley
Q: What advice would you give to writers who are looking to hire a voice actor to do audio?
Look for someone with solid acting experience and the ability to convey character through voice, not just reading. Check samples, understand their background, and confirm who handles editing and mastering as part of the project.
EP 482 - Outlining for Novelists Who Don't Outline with Paul Austin Ardoin
Q: Could you explain for people who aren't familiar with this concept, what's the time loop mystery idea and how outlining helped you make it work?
Paul describes how a time loop premise requires careful plotting to ensure clues reveal themselves in a coherent order, and how a structured outline helped align character arcs, clues, and the sleuth's actions, allowing him to pants the bulk of the story while keeping the crucial beats intact.
EP 476 - Not Your Granny's Grammar with Patty McGee
Q: So is this approach something that a writer like me can embrace without memorizing grammar terms?
Yes. Patty emphasizes practical, experience-based learning with manipulatives and a three-bucket model that focuses on how grammar functions in real writing, not on memorizing terms; the goal is fluency and confidence.
EP 473 - Creativity and Devotionals for Caregivers Who Don't Need Another Inspirational Slogan with Donn King
Q: Donn, can you let my listeners know where they can hear from you, where they can check out your books?
Mark asks where listeners can find Donn King's work and resources; Donn provides donnking.com and donnking.com/books, plus SUBSTAC at donnking.com/kc as a landing path to his work.
EP 472 - Going All In On Substack with Orna Ross
Q: Orna, where can people find you online on all the socials, but where on Substack can people find you online?
Orna can be found at ornoross.com or simply Orna Ross on Substack.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on the realities of writing, publishing, and indie storytelling, with a consistent emphasis on practical craft, author branding, and career strategies for indie and transitioning authors. Episodes commonly feature seasoned writers, editors, publicists, and industry advocates who share actionable tips on writing craft, editing processes, marketing foundations, and sustainable publishing paths across traditional and indie routes. Noteworthy angles include how to build direct-to-reader platforms, craft authentic author brands, and navigate events, sponsorships, and community building in a rapidly changing book market. The format often blends storytelling, business insight, and real-world examples, making it especially useful ... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
2. Wish I'd Known Then: a Podcast for Self Published Indie Writers
3. The Indy Author Podcast
4. Self Publishing Insiders
5. The BookFunnel Podcast

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this podcast launched 9 years ago and published 488 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Jessica Sorrentino
2. Paul Austin Ardoin
3. Laura Holley
4. Premme Mohamed
5. Patty McGee
6. Jeff Elkins
7. Colleen Anderson
8. Donn King

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