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Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

De : Mark Leslie Lefebvre
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 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)Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License Art
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  • EP 474 - Horror and Speculative Fiction and Poetry with Colleen Anderson

    EP 474 - Horror and Speculative Fiction and Poetry with Colleen Anderson
    May 14 2026
    In this episode Mark interviews Canadian writer Colleen Anderson about writing horror and speculative fiction and poetry as well as non-fiction articles. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, 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 AuthorNation.live. In the interview, Mark and Colleen talk about: How they've known each other mostly onlineColleen's editing of the Tesseracts Seventeen anthology which Mark had a story inThe Canadian horror anthology that Mark and Colleen Anderson are going to be which is coming in December 2026Colleen's forthcoming poetry collection (TO THE LAST ION) and the poetry collection she published last yearHow Colleen uses such things as an instance of alien abduction and body horror in one of her poems to illustrate societal observations about things like the way we do body modifications or live within a world of stereotypesThe prevalence of body horror lately and how it's often about a loss of controlA look at universal monsters in a recent article Colleen wroteA definition of what body horror is, and a discussion of the Bram Stoker Award winning novel Queen of TeethThe days of paper manuscript submissions and the logistics involved in thatThe open mic workshop that takes place at places like StokerCon for speculative and horror poetryHow Colleen decides what format an idea is going to takePutting in her "poet brain" instead of her "fiction writer brain" in some instancesThe methods Colleen uses to find markets to submit her writing to and how some of them workFinding and applying for various grants for writers/artists/creativesAdvice Colleen would offer to writers wanting to submit their writing to various marketsColleen's first experience doing a live readingSome of the conferences Colleen is going to be attending in the next little whileWhere people can find Colleen online After the interview Mark reflects on the value of writing and submitting short pieces and the potential earning. He also talks about CanCon and the way different music/sounds can stir up emotions and deep memories and even things like Canadian pride. Links of Interest: Colleen Anderson's Website/BlogNov 2, 2025 Episode of The Creative Penn Podcast (Creating While Caring with Donn King)Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%)Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsMark's YouTube channelElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed Author Buy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover's MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingOnce Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises Colleen Anderson has been widely published across eight countries, with works appearing in publications such as Weird Tales, Cemetery Dance, Amazing, and Shadow Atlas. Rhysling Award winner for "Machine (r)Evolution" and a two-time winner of the SFPA's dwarf poetry contest, she has been nominated for Pushcart, Elgin, Rhysling, and Dwarf Stars Awards. She is a Canada Council, BC Arts Council and Ladies of Horror Fiction grant recipient. Her poetry collections include The Lore of Inscrutable Dreams, I Dreamed a World, Weird Worlds, and Vellum Leaves and Lettered Skins as well as two fiction collections A Body of Work and Embers Amongst the Fallen. Colleen freelances as an editor, and has served on the SFPA executive, as well as British Fantasy Award and Stoker juries. She lives in Vancouver, BC where she searches for mermaids. 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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    59 min
  • EP 473 - Creativity and Devotionals for Caregivers Who Don't Need Another Inspirational Slogan with Donn King

    EP 473 - Creativity and Devotionals for Caregivers Who Don't Need Another Inspirational Slogan with Donn King
    May 8 2026
    Mark interviews Donn King about his new book ANCHORED FOR THE STORM, about caregiving, and about creativity. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, 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 AuthorNation.live. In the interview, Mark and Donn talk about: The difference between goals and missionsHow Donn has always been a writer of some sort and how that will always be the thing that stays even when he cuts other things backWriter's Block versus when the well runs dryUnderstanding how not being true to yourself can be something that leads to depressionThinking of yourself not as a speaker or a writer, but an expert in a particular field and which you can share those things through speaking and writingThe recent passing away of Donn's severely disabled daughter Hanna and the 24-hour required care she had neededDonn's preferred 2 to 3 hours of uninterrupted time for writing . . . and how being unable to do that suggested to him that he could NOT write. And how that all changed when he found ways to get writing done in much smaller chunks, like 5 minute slotsHow there are currently roughly 50 million unpaid caregivers in the US today and yet how they can feel so aloneRe-examining what it means to creative even for those who are writers or artistsBeing able to serve your person by taking care of yourselfHow when you are a caregiver you are in constant crisis without any indication that it will ever endHow Donn has been grieving as a parent for over numerous decadesDonn's book of devotionals for caregivers who don't need another inspirational slogan, ANCHORED FOR THE STORMThe question of "why do bad things happen to good people" and how it relates to the concept of a dog watching a human rushing about in their daily life without being able to comprehend what the human is doing and why the human is doing itThe generic and stereotypical things people can say when addressing someone else's lossThe value of not feeling alone and how that can help people drawing strength from one anotherThe Andy Weir novel PROJECT HAIL MARY and the recent movie adaptationThe Warren Buffett story about the idea of giving up things you really want to do in order to achieve the most important things that you want to doBeing aware of how Donn lost his "best-earning years"Mark's recent "Publishing Wide But Shallow" talkDonn knowing how to do a proper book launch, but not having the capability of getting those things doneAdvice Donn would offer to others who are in a care-giving situationWhat to say when you're not sure what to sayAnd more... After the interview Mark reflects on the value in connecting (even when that interview either wasn't recorded or wasn't "used" for anything other than a personal connection with someone else, on the incredible power writers have to ensure someone else out there doesn't feel alone, and the importance of being honest when you're not sure what to say to someone in a delicate situation. Links of Interest: Donn King's Website Anchored for the StormCreating While Caring King's Chronicles (Substack)Pint and Portal Podcast: Find Success Beyond Amazon (YouTube)Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%)Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsMark's YouTube channelElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed Author Buy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover's MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingOnce Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises Donn King is an author and speaker who has spent years helping writers and speakers connect with audiences in authentic ways. Donn's books and podcast, The Alignment Show, explore how to live in courageous alignment with your values. He blends a warm, slightly playful style while still grounding his work in credibility. His goal is to prove that words, when used with honesty, heart, and craft, can shift lives. 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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    1 h et 22 min
  • EP 472 - Going All In On Substack with Orna Ross

    EP 472 - Going All In On Substack with Orna Ross
    Apr 30 2026
    Mark interviews Orna Ross, an award-winning novelist, poet, creative catalyst, and founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors about her recent move towards focusing all her social media energy on Substack. Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episode, a personal update, 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 AuthorNation.live. In the interview, Mark and Orna talk about: That one time in London at a Kobo device launch event when Mark and Orna were hanging out togetherOrna's background as a writer, a poet, and a freelance journalistHer experience in both self-publishing and traditional publishingThe origin of wanting to create something to help support authors who were self-publishing, and the 2012 launch of ALLI (Alliance of Independent Authors) at London Book FairThe connection one of Orna's multi-book writing projects has to do with Irish poet W.B. YeatsOrna's experience with deciding to go "all in" with SubstackOne of the best things about Substack, which is how "everything" can be there (blog, socials, "patrons," serialization of a novel, poetry, self-development for creativists)How on Substack you can segment what goes out to different peopleOrna's recommendation for authors considering not doing it the way she did it, but instead picking a single lane and staying in itThe main mistake Orna sees a lot of authors making on SubstackHow Substack is completely different than everyplace else on social mediaThe difference between notes and posts on SubstackThe visibility of analytics of what's working, who is interacting with what, etcAdvice Orna would give to writers related to "meaning and purpose" as well as understanding our valueAnd more... After the interview Mark reflects on the idea of simplicity in execution, creating things that are "unmistakeable human" and how Orna describes herself as a "Creative Catalyst." Links of Interest: Orna Ross's WebsiteOrna Ross on SubstackManuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%)Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsMark's YouTube channelElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed Author Buy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story)A Canadian Werewolf in New YorkStowe Away (Novella)Fear and Longing in Los AngelesFright Nights, Big CityLover's MoonHex and the CityOnly Monsters in the BuildingOnce Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and AutomobilesYippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die HardMerry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises Orna Ross is an award-winning novelist, poet, creative catalyst, and founder of the Alliance of Independent Authors 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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    1 h et 3 min
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