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 Manuscript Report. 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 booksNever really learning about how to sell books online, but rather through in person events like comic book conventionsThe popularity of the ZomBeans (zombies) Donovan has drawn, including unique caricatures of his patronsThe idea of working on a "talking flowchart" to help understand what people gravitate towardsHow Donovan has been doing local markets for 15 years -- since 2010The regular festivals Donovan has started running in the parking lot across the street from his storeAcquiring the Studio Moonfall 400 square foot store in 2019What Donovan carries in his storeHow Donovan acquired ten pallets of books from a library that was wanting to move themHalf of what Donovan sells in his own store being his own work -- meaning that his average margin is much higher than most other bookstoresThe 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 MoonfallAnd 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: Donovan Scherer: Adventures in Art & MadnessStudio Moonfall Author Submissions Page EP 440 - Behind the Scenes of the Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty DalrympleMark's Substack Article: When the Math for an Author Event Doesn't Add UpManuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link)Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)Mark's YouTube channelMark'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 Building 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 Vacation 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 www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
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