In this solo episode, Mark talks openly about the anxiety, frustration, and darkness that took over as he was trying to prepare for this week's episode.

It's an unscripted talk through the things circling his mind, and how he is trying to deal with them.

Prior to his introspective rambling, he pauses to share a word from this episode's sponsor.

This episode is sponsored by Findaway Voices.

You can learn more about how you can get your work distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

It's not uncommon for writers and creative people to feel a darkness begin to descend over their emotions, to dance and mingle with anxiety and an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

Mark tries to talk through those feelings and how he is trying to face them.

He does talk about a book he is currently listening to as a re-read: Neil Peart's Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to my Life and Times and the "end of day" treat that has become as part of a mental health/physical activity regimen.

Links of Interest:

• Mental Health Services Canada
• Depression Hotline
• Mental Help Dot Net
• Suicide Prevention Helpline
• The Relaxed Author
• The Relaxed Author Survey (Only Open until July 1, 2021)
• Best Book Ever Podcast
  • Season 1 Ep 9 - Mark talking about EARTH ABIDES
• Neil Peart - Traveling Music
• Patreon for Stark Reflections
• Wide for the Win
• Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books
  • This Time Around (Short Story)
  • A Canadian Werewolf in New York
  • Stowe Away (Novella)
  • Fear and Longing in Los Angeles
  • Fright Nights, Big City

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