Mark Stay's Creative Differences

Author and illustrator Poppy T Perry tells us how her debut, Dead Real, was partly inspired by one of her children asking the all important question, "If not now, Mummy, when?" Get inspired and get writing with a fab episode where we discuss...

• How breaking rules helps you develop your voice

Using zines to promote your books
And the joys of being a 5am writer (no, really!)

LINKS
Poppy's website https://www.poppytperry.com

Our previous episodes with GB Ralph and Mike Shackle...
https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/2024/12/02/episode-4-with-mike-shackle/
https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/2024/12/12/episode-5-with-gb-ralph-share-the-excitment/ 

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Award-winning author Ivy Ngeow returns with a page-turning thriller In Safe Hands. We discuss:

Why books are like buildings
How art is built on observation
Why we shouldn't fear our mistakes and much more!

LINKS
https://writengeow.com

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Tim Sullivan, author of the bestselling DS George Cross series talks about his latest book The Tailor, his extraordinary career in film, TV and crime fiction...

WE DISCUSS
Writing outside of your own experience
The importance of titles and why character is king
And how to write a whodunnit without knowing who did it...

LINKS
Tim's Website: https://timsullivan.co.uk
In the Can: https://timsullivan.co.uk/about/in-the-can/
Green Room with Paul Austin Ardoin: https://youtu.be/-Ylor2NWo1k?si=NQaal4nu2AafT0G4 

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

A bonus episode with special guest Paul Austin Ardoin. Paul is the author of Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and he joined me and Green Room members to discuss his brilliant new nonfiction book, Outlining for Novelists who don't Outline, which is packed with tips for pantser writers who want more control over their story without losing their voice.

We discuss:
If you can you pants a mystery
Creating vivid characters
Coping with disappearing sidekicks and much more!

This is the sort of stuff that we discuss in my online writing group The Green Room all the time and I'm planning on having more special guests in the future. You can join today! There's more about the Green Room here... https://markstaywrites.com/the-green-room/

LINKS
Paul's website: https://paulaustinardoin.com 
Outlining for Novelists who don't Outline: https://paulaustinardoin.com/products/outlining-for-novelists-who-dont-outline 
Bestseller Experiment Ben Aaronovitch episode: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep22-ben-aaronovitch-great-bollocking/  

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Elwood Flynn, author of Pulp Western Hot Lead, insists that he doesn't know where the brutal violence in his books comes from and that he's a perfectly nice person really.

WE DISCUSS:
Launching a new series with multiple formats including a gift box set
How he once wrote a book in a day
And how being a fan of Westerns can be politically challenging...
And much more!

LINKS

Elwood Flynn https://elwoodflynn.com
How Andrew wrote a novel in a day: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep384-andrew-chapman-how-to-write-a-bestseller-in-a-day/
Joe Hill on the Bestseller Experiment https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep19-joe-hill/ 

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Michael S Jackson, author of the epic Ringlander fantasy series, reveals how he lets the first draft storytelling flow in order to leave himself material that he can use in edits and rewrites. He also shares details of his new Kickstarter campaign!

WE DISCUSS:
The balance between story, magic and worldbuilding
The importance of cover art and creating beautiful books
And the important of the Rubik's Cube to his state of mind...
And much more!

LINKS
Michael's website: https://mjackson.co.uk/ 
Michael's Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mikestepjack/ringlander-the-path-and-the-way-tome-edition/
Michael's Author Interviews: https://authorinterviews.co.uk
The Miro app: https://miro.com
Modern Family: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Family
Karnivool: https://www.karnivool.com
This is How You Lose The Time War - by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone (this is an affiliate link and I earn pennies if you order using this link): https://amzn.to/4amdYGk
Widow’s Bay on Apple TV: https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/widows-bay/umc.cmc.1zzly0vah46bnvnwf0qkrjhh2
King Sorrow by Joe Hill (another affiliate link): https://amzn.to/4a8yREV
Unwelcome on Netflix! https://www.netflix.com/title/81552865
Craig Mazin's How To Write a Movie talk... https://youtu.be/i27IKil-LXw?si=jpYDSH2xSlQ1CO3m

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Karen Storey, award-winning author of the brilliant debut novel THE APPROVAL OF SHEEP, reveals how her stories let her know when they're ready to be written.

WE DISCUSS:
A brilliant tip for writing award-winning short stories
Why you need to get a website and newsletter right now
And why her cat gets more fan mail that she does...

And much more!

LINKS
Karen's website: https://karenstoreyauthor.com 
The Law of Consequences short story collection: https://books2read.com/b/mvzrW2
Quite Ugly One Morning (I earn commission if you purchase using this link): https://amzn.to/3OMLiit
Raye: https://rayeofficial.com

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Kathleen Whyman, author of the MOTHER OF ALL COMEBACKS, reveals how her brilliantly funny novels are a combination of real life, invention and her imagination...

WE DISCUSS:
Receiving her first publisher rejection, aged 10!
How an encounter in the loo led to her debut
Balancing writing with marketing and PR...
And much more!

LINKS
Kathleen's website 

Kathleen's Unboxing Video
The Julie Wassmer episode

The Amazon links below are affiliate links and I earn commission if you buy with them...
Zippo by Richard Cave
Shrinking
The Other Bennet Sister
Don't Make Me Laugh by Julia Raeside
Pixie by Jill Dawson
Qualityland by Marc-Uwe Kling
Katherine Priddy, These Frightening Machines

A huge thanks to Emily Stay-Newton for production assistance, to Kai Stay-Newton for the edit, and Dominic Currie for the jingle.

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

I speak to Julie Wassmer, author of the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries and screenwriter on shows like Eastenders in a special episode, recorded LIVE at the Staines Library Hub as part of the Escalate Arts Festival.

We Discuss:
How Julie's TV experience affected the Whitstable Pearl Mysteries
Using dictation and writing by hand
The role that libraries played in Julie's writing journey
And much more!
(And there's a lovely bit with some horsies)

LINKS
https://juliewassmer.com

A huge thanks to Emily Stay-Newton for production assistance, to Kai Stay-Newton for the edit, and Dominic Currie for the jingle.

And a very special thank you to the team at the Staines Library Hub, Susan Dinmore at Surrey Arts and everyone who came to the recording on the day.

Support the show:

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there’s more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Jeremy Szal tells us how he has grown as a writer while creating the Common Trilogy, an epic space opera with 'messy, difficult emotional conflicts'.

WE ALSO DISCUSS:

Tips for writing short stories
And his experiences of Worldcon in China
And much more!

LINKS:

Jeremy's website: https://jeremyszal.com
Tickets for the live show with Julie Wassmer: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/escalate-arts-literature-festival-mark-stays-creative-differences-podcast-tickets-1980991706521?


Ghost of Yotei: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_of_Yōtei
Stardew Valley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardew_Valley
Attack on Titan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Titan_(TV_series)
Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Knight_of_the_Seven_Kingdoms_(TV_series)
Marty Supreme: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marty_Supreme
Avatar: Fire and Ash: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar:_Fire_and_Ash
Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky: https://amzn.to/3N6BcYI (this is an affiliate link and I can earn commission if you use it)
Strength of the Few by James Islington: https://amzn.to/4ue7cLo (this is an affiliate link and I can earn commission if you use it)
Beastars (manga): https://amzn.to/4uh3xMX (this is an affiliate link and I can earn commission if you use it)
Mono (band): https://www.monoofjapan.com
Sigur Ros (band) https://sigurros.com
Oasis (band): https://www.oasisinet.com
Small Prophets: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Prophets
Spectators by Brian K Vaughan and artist Niko Henrichon: https://okcomics.co.uk/products/spectators-hardcover-by-brian-k-vaughan-and-niko-henrichon

A huge thanks to Emily Stay-Newton for production assistance, to Kai Stay-Newton for the edit, and Dominic Currie for the jingle.

Support the show:

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there’s more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/

Support the show

Thanks to:

Dom Currie for the jingle

Emily Stay-Newton and Kai Stay-Newton for the edit

Visit https://markstaycreativedifferences.com/
Join The Green Room: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers
Buy my books here: https://witchesofwoodville.com/#bookshop
And there's more about me at: https://markstaywrites.com/