Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing
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)
Episodes
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 book
- The 70 books Darcy has written in the past 13 years
- The number of different illustrators Darcy has worked with over the years
- The Moments in Science picture books Darcy has written with along with the specific illustrator w...
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 Reflections
- Substack Article: Eight Years, 452 Episodes, and One Simple Truth
- Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%)
- Buy Mark a Coffee
- Patreon for Stark Reflections
- Mark's YouTube channel
- ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link)
- Mark's Stark Refle...
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 Readers
- Draft2Digital Self Publishing Insiders - Jan 1, 2026 Episode (YouTube)
- Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%)
- Buy Mark a Coffee
- Patreon for Stark Reflections
- Mark's YouTube channel
- ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate l...
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 ...
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 ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
Read moreIn 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.
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 person...
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 Su...
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 epis...
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.
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. U...
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...
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 Canada
- The uniqueness of New England compared to the rest of the United States
- How Canada is one of the hardest countries to emigrate into
- Not having ever gotten American citizenship
- The oppression and fear of being a queer transgender person, particularly in the US
- How it's vir...
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 a...
In this episode Mark interviews Joshua Smyser and Alex Hale of Blue Feathered Quill Publishing.
Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcome a new patron (S.K. Randolph), offers a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.
This episode's sponsor:
In this solo episode, Mark reflects on the power that writers bring to a divided world.
Prior to the reflection, Mark shares a word about this episode's sponsor.
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...
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