Mark Leslie Lefebvre's Blog

Mark interviews Meaghan Smith about the new children’s book IT SNOWED that she wrote and illustrated, which was inspired by her popular holiday song of the same name. This Juno-Award winning singer-songwriter shares her many creative passions for music, writing, and art.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares 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 Meaghan talk about:

The origin of Meaghan’s song “It Snowed” and how quickly it came together once the inspiration struck her on wanting a seasonal holiday song for people who might not celebrate ChristmasOne of Meaghan’s favorite things about the snowHow this song has gone on to become one of her most popular songs and now it’s a picture bookStudying animation at Sheridan College and the ongoing art that Meaghan has been creating all of her lifeThe voice recording for an animation project in a studio in college that led to others recognizing her singing voice and an eventual career as a musicianMeghan’s experience in “if you just show up” and try something, things can have a way of working outPainting in the hotel rooms and green rooms while traveling as a musician as a way to alleviate her anxietyThe additional stationery line that Meghan has which includes greeting cardsHow the manager of Woozles bookstore in Halifax asked Meaghan if she ever considered writing a bookGetting better at accepting things without needing them to be perfectThe “grumpy little cat” who is present throughout Meaghan’s IT SNOWED bookHow snow can be such an interesting substance and the way Meaghan wanted to capture all the magic of it in her bookHow the book follows the lyrics of Meaghan’s song, but also goes through the entire day for the kids in the storyThe way snow can make us all feel like kids againMeghan’s current bread-and-butter writing custom songs for people The Christmas concert Meaghan is doing Dec 19th and 20th in HalifaxThe second book Meaghan is working on for Nimbus based on a song she wrote for her baby when he was still inside her bodyHow Meaghan divides up her work day and the various creative forms of expression that she exercisesAnd more . . .

After the interview Mark reflects on Meaghan’s multiple creative outlets and the various ways that authors, artists, poets, musicians can give a gift to the world born from their inspiration and passion.

Links of Interest:

Meaghan Smith (Website)It Snowed (Picture Book)Meaghan Smith: The Holiday Show (2025 – Halifax, NS)Friday Night Tickets (Fri Dec 19, 2025)Saturday Matinee Tickets (Sat Dec 20, 2025)Meaghan’s OUR SONG“Wonder Woman” – An example of an OUR SONG written and performed by Meaghan Smith and Jason Mingo inspired by Liz AndersonWoozles Bookstore (Halifax, NS)EP 146 – Finding Yourself in Our Song by Meaghan SmithManuscript 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 AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

Meaghan Smith is a JUNO Award-winning musician, visual artist, and storyteller whose creative life bridges the worlds of music and fine art.

Born in London, Ontario—known as The Forest City—Meaghan grew up drawing and exploring the woods and fields near her home. Her love of art led her to study classical animation at Sheridan College, later working as a storyboard artist before shifting her focus to music. That leap brought her to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she now lives with her husBand, producer and songwriter Jason Mingo, and their two sons.

Over the past 20 years, Meaghan has built a multifaceted creative career. As a musician signed to Warner Brothers Records, she toured internationally, sharing stages with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Tracy Chapman, Ron Sexsmith, and k.d. lang. Her debut album The Cricket’s Orchestra earned her the 2011 JUNO Award for Best New Artist, multiple East Coast Music Awards, and a Polaris Prize nomination. Her song Mirror, from her sophomore album Have a Heart, was a semifinalist in the International Songwriting Competition.

Today, Meaghan continues to release collections of music characterized by her sweetly smoky vocals and vintage pop sensibility. Her songs have appeared widely across film and television—on platforms ranging from Netflix to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Through her company Our Song, she and Jason write and produce custom songs for individuals and special occasions, helping others tell their stories through music.

While her music career flourished, Meaghan also found her way back to visual art. On tour, she began painting tiny oil portraits of the forest animals she missed from home—foxes in fedoras, bears in flower crowns, fish in monocles—each one nestled in a miniature vintage frame she found in antique shops along the way. What began as a creative escape in hotel rooms and green rooms evolved into her acclaimed Miniature Art Show, with over 500 original paintings sold worldwide and exhibits in galleries such as Galerie d’Art Charlevoix in Quebec.

Using oils on heavyweight paper, Meaghan’s paintings capture the personality and soul of her subjects with vivid detail and a playful sense of nostalgia. Her art celebrates the small wonders of the natural world and invites viewers to see beauty in the quiet, whimsical corners of life.

In addition to her paintings, Meaghan owns and operates M. Kind Papersmith, a small stationery studio based out of her home in Halifax. The line focuses on locally printed, hand-folded greeting cards designed to help people stay in touch and spread a little kindness through the mail. Each card reflects her signature warmth and attention to detail, combining her love of illustration with her belief that connection matters.

Meaghan recently signed a publishing deal with Nimbus Publishing, the renowned East Coast publisher, for her holiday hit It Snowed. Having created the illustrations herself in coloured pencil, she now proudly adds published author and illustrator to her creative credits. Though she has illustrated works for other authors, It Snowed marks the first book she has both written and illustrated from her own material.

Alongside her art and music, Meaghan leads Creativity Through Songwriting Workshops, coaching others to unlock their creative potential through the songwriting process.

Now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Meaghan continues to paint, write, and make music—working to incorporate creativity, family, and an ever-evolving artistic life that celebrates imagination in all its forms.

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

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.

I THINK IT’S A SIGN THAT THE PUN ALSO RISES 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 onThe sabotage that kept creeping up from her subconsciousBeing told the importance of writing her own stories, which led to taking some writing classesHow 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 creativeWhen the memory of the terrible trauma came back to Andrea and struggling with wondering if it really truly happenedHow it’s almost easiest to allow yourself to go crazy than to think that you “were evil” or just making this all upNot avoiding the darkness in her Young Adult booksThe love that Andrea has for the teenage girl that she wasHow hard it is for a person hurting and going through such trauma just taking that next stepFinding herself within the character of a story of hope and finding the light in the darknessRecognizing that yes, horrible things happen in this world, but many gifts are also given to help get through itThe “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 wayThe value in looking for the light, looking for the hope, and the importance of people being the change in Andrea’s novelBelieving 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 usThe “10 Steps to Inner Peace” that helped Andrea through the darkness (and which is available for anyone to read via a download on her websiteHow evil itself isn’t a thing, it’s the absence of loveThe way that we can be that “leaven” in the breadThe 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:

Andrea Torrey Balsara’s WebsiteInstagramLink to Andrea’s TEN STEPS TO INNER PEACE PDF downloadManuscript Report (Mark’s affiliate link)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 AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

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 www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

Episode Description

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 Manuscript Report. 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 ReportHow Manuscript Report was initially created as an assessment tool for publishers when going through their slush pilesWhat assets Manuscript Report offers for authors to use in their marketing strategy approachesThe 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 manuscriptThe social media posts, blog posts, and book bible assets that authors can request in a higher level reportThe 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 serversHow the system is optimized to run for one book at a time and the 1 million word limit on manuscripts run into Manuscript ReportThe “Narrative Crossroads” suggestions that an author might be able to use in a quick pitch/log line for the bookAn 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 GrayHow Manuscript Report is a Swiss Army Knife for marketingAnd more…

After the interview Mark shares his thoughts about the cool new tools available as well as the new structure and pricing for the reports since this interview was conducted in August 2025. He also reminds listeners of the new promo code of MARK10 that can save them 10% off.

Links of Interest:

YouTube Video of Interview (with visual walk-thru)EP 443 – Strategies for Short FictionEP 442 – Writer You Still Need to Quit with Becca SymeEP 441 – A Bookstore for Indie Authors with Donovan SchererEP 438 – A Personal Conversation with Malorie CooperEP 437 – Nerding Out Over History, Science, and Maps with Malorie CooperEP 429 – A Post-Mortem on Co-Hosting the 2025 Aurora Awards with Liz May AndersonDraft2Digital Self-Publishing Insiders: What to Quit, What to Keep, and What to Question with Becca Syme (YouTube)Manuscript Report (Mark’s affiliate link)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 AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

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

This bonus episode of the Stark Reflections Podcast is a recording of a Nov 10, 2025 live chat that Mark did with Matty Dalrymple and Angelique Fawns talking about strategies for short fiction.

The conversation was based on content from Mark and Matty’s 2nd Edition release of Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income & Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction and Angelique’s Writing and Selling Short Stories with Angelique Fawns Substack.

Links of Interest:

Strategies for Short Fiction (YouTube)Author Level Up – Michael La Ronn’s YouTube ChannelEP 440 – Behind the Scenes of the Podcast Guest Playbook with Matty DalrympleEP 382 – From Page to Platform with Matty Dalrymple and M.L. RonnEP 306 – Finding Short Fiction Markets with Angelique FawnsManuscript Report (Mark’s affiliate link)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 AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

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

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 Manuscript Report. 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 PodcastBecca’s long-time aversion to marketing and how she has decided to approach itThe Kickstarter that Becca has launched and the various prizes she is offering for each of the tour stopsThe prize that Stark Reflections listeners can win just by listening and entering their nameHow Becca is trying to make each stop on the podcast guest tour different by focusing on different tips and ideas with every episodeMark’s idea on how he deals with Kickstarters where international shipping isn’t an optionThe limited number of vinyl albums that will be available through Becca’s KickstarterHow the publishing industry has changed dramatically since 2017 when Becca’s first “Dear Writer, You Need to Quit” book came outThe cheeky thought that Becca was considering for her latest book with using the popular F-word expletiveHow long Becca’s Kickstarter will be runningTrying to spend more time on her fiction writing, but struggling with how much she loves collaborating with and helping other writersThe positive impact of dating another writer where they can motivate one another to get more writing doneHow Becca had never intended to build a business as a coach and a non-fiction writerThe 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 DixonThe recent “work vacation” that Becca took which helped enable some solid research for her writingBecca’s reminder that under different pen names and genres, a writer will usually have a uniquely different voiceThe specific playlists that Becca has for each one of her pen names and genres and the very separate personas she embraces when writing eachThe comment Mark made that led Becca over to checking out his Clifton Strengths to confirm her suspicionHow 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:

Becca Syme’s Better-Faster AcademyBetter-Faster Academcy LINKSBetter Faster Academy TOUR STOP GAME – Enter that you listened to Becca’s interview on the Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing PodcastManuscript 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 AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

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 www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

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 ingenious 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 MoonfallAuthor Submissions PageGet Your Book into Studio Moonfall (Patron Offer)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 AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

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 Manuscript Report. 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 licenseHaving worked aviation into at least two of her novelsThe phrase that goes along with the very intentional passing of the manuscript from one co-author to anotherHow long Matty has been running The Indy Author PodcastThe genesis of the book PODCASTING GUEST PLAYBOOK that Matty and Mark co-authoredThe 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 podcastWanting it to be a mutually beneficial relationship when making those connectionsA 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 2025An 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 productHow indirect opportunities can be better than a sudden spike in book salesThe offer that Matty has for authors to help do a short interview for them to demonstrate their skills as a interview guestA special offer for patrons of the Stark Reflections Podcast to get a free coaching session from Matty with her pod-pro coachingAn 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 mindsetMaking sure that you’re pitching to the right podcast in the right way at the right timeAdvice Matty would offer to authorsAnd 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:

The Indy AuthorThe Podcast Guest PlaybookMatty’s POD PRO Consulting (Patron link to access offer)EP 439 – Rambling Reflections from the Road to Can-ConManuscript 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 AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

Matty Dalrymple educates and advocates for writers as The Indy Author. She is the host and producer of hundreds of episodes of The Indy Author Podcast and serves as the Campaigns Manager for the Alliance of Independent Authors. She is the author of the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Lizzy Ballard Thrillers.

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

On his drive to Ottawa, Ontario for the annual Can-Con (Ottawa’s Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Literature Convention), Mark reflects on his experience with that conference from it’s initial inception in the early 1990s along with its evolution.

He also reflects on the importance of CanCon in general (Canadian Content regulations) and how it has played and continues to play an important role for Canadian musicians, artists, performers, and writers.

This episode is sponsored by the 2nd Edition of the book TAKING THE SHORT TACK: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction which is co-authored by Mark and Matty Dalrymple and was released this week in October 2025

Links of Interest:

Can-Con (Ottawa Conference)Terry Fallis WebsiteEP 328 – Reflections on A New Season with Terry FallisEP 029 – Terry Fallis on Writing With Authenticity, Humor, and PassionThe Littlest HoboMr. DressupThe Polka Dot DoorManuscript Report (Mark’s affiliate link)Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

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

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 CanadaThe uniqueness of New England compared to the rest of the United StatesHow Canada is one of the hardest countries to emigrate intoNot having ever gotten American citizenshipThe oppression and fear of being a queer transgender person, particularly in the USHow it’s virtually impossible for people who aren’t oppressed to understand what it’s likeLosing half her fan base and friends when she transitioned into the person she was always born to beHow when you life authentically and vulnerably, people will actually be attracted to youLiving in a judgement-free zone/bubbleFeeling unsafe for the first time after she came out as MalorieHow 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 didThe recurring theme of “found family” in Mal’s novelsAnd 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:

Malorie Cooper / M.D. Cooper WebsiteThe Writing WivesManuscript Report (Mark’s affiliate link)Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

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 www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

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 Manuscript Report. 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 conferenceMal’s passion about writing science-fiction and nerding out about science and history conceptsMal working with her wife Jill on The Writing Wives – designed to help authors better market their booksSome 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 mapsHow her fascination with maps led to mapping software for space maps, and an evolution into a sci-fi writerMalorie’s introduction to science fiction through the books of Anne McCaffreyHow maps can inform and inspire science fiction storiesThe various struggles that Mal likes to tackle in stories she writesPassion for history and looking at the US Naval build immediately after Pearl HarborThe frustration Mal often has in much of science-fiction and fantasy where the world’s aren’t “big” enoughHow Mal writes without having a story bible about the universes she has created and writes inThe way Malorie divides her time up between writing and working with authors for The Writing WivesThe long pause in writing new science fiction stories that happened shortly after 2020Thinking 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 writingThe experience of having two people on Patreon who have, for eight years, given Mal $50 a monthThe power (and sense of accomplishment) that comes when you get to “the end”Advice Mal would give to other writersAnd 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:

Malorie Cooper / M.D. Cooper WebsiteThe Writing WivesEP 195 – Help! I’m An Author! With Malorie Cooper (June 4, 2021)Manuscript Report (Mark’s affiliate link)Buy Mark a CoffeePatreon for Stark ReflectionsMark’s YouTube channelMark’s Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)An Author’s Guide to Working With Bookstores and LibrariesThe Relaxed AuthorBuy eBook DirectBuy Audiobook DirectPublishing Pitfalls for AuthorsAn Author’s Guide to Working with Libraries & BookstoresWide for the WinMark’s Canadian Werewolf BooksThis 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 BuildingThe 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

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 www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0