Episodios

  • EP 454 - Finding Surprising Success Publishing Kids' Books with Darcy Pattison

    EP 454 - Finding Surprising Success Publishing Kids' Books with Darcy Pattison
    Jan 9 2026
    Mark interviews award-winning author Darcy Pattison about publishing childrens' books. In their conversation, Mark and Darcy talk about: Darcy's background on getting into being an author of children's bookThe 70 books Darcy has written in the past 13 yearsThe number of different illustrators Darcy has worked with over the yearsThe Moments in Science picture books Darcy has written with along with the specific illustrator who has worked on a dozen of those titles with herThe books for authors Darcy is releasing in January 2026 that collect details about the current state of publishing for children's booksThe challenge of doing layout for a children's picture bookThe importance of an author being clear on their own definition of successHow children's book authors can find the right illustrator and/or designerHow Darcy fulfills orders online for her booksGetting her books into education distributors (Follett, etc - Follett can order their books through Ingram)The EPIC app and how Darcy earns money from itThe various reviews Darcy gets, including paid Kirkus reviews (which are important)Who you are writing for versus who you are selling to when it comes to kids booksFiction VS Non-FictionThe importance/difference of being good at illustration versus being good at text (or even layout)The challenge of scaling up things like school visitsThe benefit of finding places that will sell a kids' book in bulkAnd more... After the interview Mark reflects on the unique element of the two audiences for childrens' books, as well as the efficient business mind-set Darcy adopted in her approach to how to grow a more scaleable author business. Links of Interest: Indie Kids Books Mims House Books 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 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 VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises 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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    49 m
  • EP 453 - Celebrating Eight Years, 452 Episodes and One Simple Truth

    EP 453 - Celebrating Eight Years, 452 Episodes and One Simple Truth
    Jan 5 2026
    Mark reflects on the anniversary of the first episode of this podcast, which took place on Jan 5, 2018. Links of Interest: EP 001 - New Year, New ReflectionsSubstack Article: Eight Years, 452 Episodes, and One Simple TruthManuscript 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 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 VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises 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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    21 m
  • EP 452 - Accounting for Murphy's Law when Setting Realistic Goals

    EP 452 - Accounting for Murphy's Law when Setting Realistic Goals
    Jan 2 2026
    In this solo episode Mark outlines a dozen tips to consider when setting realistic goals. Links of Interest: EP 451 - Tales from the Backburnder: A Pair of Messages to ReadersDraft2Digital Self Publishing Insiders - Jan 1, 2026 Episode (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 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 VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises 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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    45 m
  • EP 451 - Messages to Readers

    EP 451 - Messages to Readers
    Dec 26 2025
    In this solo episode Mark shares a couple of recent messages to readers in the hopes that it inspired other authors with ideas of the types of things that their readers might find interesting. The two examples are: 1) Mark's introduction to his recent collection of stupid dad jokes (and how that can tie to the use of making the local community the "hero" or "focus" 2) Mark's recent author newsletter with a gift for readers and the story that updates recent changes to an ongoing series he's writing Links of Interest: 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 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 VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises 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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    34 m
  • EP 450 - The Life of a Mercenary Writer with Jarrett Mazza

    EP 450 - The Life of a Mercenary Writer with Jarrett Mazza
    Dec 19 2025
    Mark interviews Jarrett Mazza about his action/thriller novels and his mercenary-style approach to writing. 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 Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and Jarrett talk about: Jarrett's origins and how he got into writingStarting off writing comic books and short storiesHow Jarrett considers himself a "mercenary" writerJarrett's love of fiction within the action genreGetting in contact with action/thriller writers that Jarrett enjoyedBeing published by Rough Edges Press and the changes Jarrett rode when they got bought by another publisherWriting every day even if there's nothing to write aboutJarrett's early AM morning writing routine before the work day beginsThe Doormen series and what it's about (Roadhouse meets John Wick)Jarrett's interest in tackling and creating elevated action narrativesRoadhouse 1989 VS Roadhouse 2024Advice Jarrett would give writersWhat Jarrett is working on nowAnd more... After the interview Mark reflects on Jarrett's dedication and commitment to writing, and also some of the advice that he shared. Links of Interest: Jarrett Mazza's WebsiteEP 449 - The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come"EP 448 - When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" TimesManuscript 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 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 VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises 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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    55 m
  • EP 449 - The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come"

    EP 449 - The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come"
    Dec 15 2025
    In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This is be Part 2 of a two-part series of episodes. (See Part 1) Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, comments from recent episodes, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link. Links of Interest: Article: The Myth of "Upload Your Book And They Will Come": Why PATIENCE AND PRACTICE matter just as much for self-published authorsArticle: When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times: Why PATIENCE and PRACTICE are two of the hallmarks of publishing successEP 446 - The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. BarkerEP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey BalsaraManuscript 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 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 VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises 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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    47 m
  • EP 448 - When Your Writing Gets Rejected A Gazillion Times

    EP 448 - When Your Writing Gets Rejected A Gazillion Times
    Dec 12 2025
    In this solo episode, Mark reads from an article that he recently shared on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Substack page. This will be Part 1 of a two-part series of episodes. Prior to the main content of this episode, Mark shares a personal update, a comment from a recent episode, and a word from this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by The 7 P's of Publishing Success by Mark Leslie Lefebvre, which you can download in eBook and/or Audiobook format for free at this link. Links of Interest: Article: When Your Writing Gets Rejected "A Gazillion" Times: Why PATIENCE and PRACTICE are two of the hallmarks of publishing successEP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey BalsaraManuscript 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 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 VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises 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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    29 m
  • EP 447 - The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. Barker

    EP 447 - The Future of Hybrid Publishing with J.D. Barker
    Dec 5 2025
    Mark interviews J.D. Barker about his writing and publishing journey and his many collaborations over the years, including with James Patterson, and the unique publishing and distribution collaboration with Simon & Schuster that combines the best of the self-publishing and the traditional publishing worlds. 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 Manuscript Report. Use code MARK10 at checkout and save 10% off your own personalized report. In their interview, Mark and J.D. talk about: How JD was always interested in writing including a little business endeavor he had when he was youngBeing told by his mother that writing is a fantastic hobby, but you have to get a "real job" - and following her adviceThe main day job he had, which he hated, and coming home at night to writeHow the first two decades he'd been writing he did ghost writing and did book-doctor sort of workHaving written six different books that hit the New York Times bestseller list but had other people's names on the coverJD's wife coming up with a plan to get him to writing for himselfHow putting his feet to the coals was what JD really neededWhat it was like writing on his ownThe value that JD recognizes in the 20 years of writing other peoples' booksHaving Asperger's which often involves mimicking other people (which JD could do on paper, continuing to write in another person's voice)How ghostwriting for celebrities/NYT Bestselling authors can be very lucrativeWhat it was like co-authoring with James PattersonBeing the only guy who has ever gotten James Patterson to "pants" a novel, but how Patterson convinced him to outline, which he now does for certain projectsWhat a typical work-day looks like for JDMaking a change in terms of what time of day JD does interviewsWorking with a virtual assistant and the various PR agencies JD works withSwitching over to paying for PR a la carte rather than a monthly retainerSelling more than half a million copies of his first self-published book, which caught the attention of agentsThat "taste" of being an indie author which mean a loss of freedomCreating his own unique path within publishing that's a blend of self-publishing and traditional publishing modelsThe imprint JD has with Simon & Schuster - Hampton Creek PressHow JD has done a number of recent co-authored titles under his imprint by paying the co-authors up front in a work-for-hire manner, which removes the complexity of paying royaltiesThe way JD can pay it forward by helping the mentor the co-authors that he is working onWhy JD gave away a skid of hardcover books at Reader Nation in VegasAdvice JD has about authors who are constantly "chasing each other"The unique marketing JD created for his book SOMETHING I KEEP UPSTAIRS that involved an overnight stay in a real haunted houseWhat James Patterson did to get his book ALONG CAME A SPIDER onto the New York Times bestseller listAnd more... After the interview Mark reflects on a few of the things from the conversation that have inspired him in different ways. Links of Interest: J.D. Barker's WebsiteEP 445 - Overcoming The Self Sabotage From Buried Trauma with Andrea Torrey BalsaraManuscript 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 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 VacationI Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises J.D. Barker (Jonathan Dylan Barker) is an international bestselling American author whose work has been broadly described as suspense thrillers, often incorporating elements of horror, crime, mystery, science fiction, and the supernatural. 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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    57 m
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