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This Thursday, September 4th, the Round Table welcomes horror author and director of Kobo Writing Life Mark Leslie.
Mark is a writer, editor and bookseller who was born and grew up in the Greater Sudbury Region, spent many years in Ottawa and currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario.
THE WRITER
It started with stick figure cartoons when he was really young, but Mark’s passion for writing really began in public school when he would turn ANY opportunity for creative writing assignments and homework into epic tales and adventures. He started to get “serious” about being a storyteller and hammered out his first “novel” on an Underwood typewriter when he was 13 years old. That novel, an epic fantasy adventure (inspired by D&D characters) was epicly forgettable, but a good exercise and learning experience. Since then Mark has written hundreds of thousands more words and has been writing (and continually learning how to be a better writer) for more than three decades.
Mark’s first published story was a short YA humour tale that was released in 1992, the year he graduated from Carleton University. From that point on, most of Mark’s writing fell into the “Twilight Zone” camp of fiction – most closely associated with horror, but also including elements of science fiction and fantasy. His first published horror story “Phantom Mitch” appeared in Wicked Mystic magazine in October of 1993 and received honourable mention in The Year’s Best Fantasty & Horror #7 (Datlow & Windling). Since then, Mark has had dozens of speculative stories published in various magazines and anthologies including Stardust (edited by Julie E. Czerneda), Bound for Evil (edited by Tom English), Bluffs (edited by Lawrence Steven) and Fear of the Dark (edited by Maria Cavicchiolo & Jason Rolfe). In 2004, Mark collected some of his previously published works in One Hand Screaming. In 2006, he edited North of Infinity II, an anthology of speculative stories for Mosaic Press. In 2009 Mark editedCampus Chills, a themed anthology featuring horror tales set on colleges & universities across Canada. And in 2013, Mark edited Tesseracts 16:Parnassus Unbound in the fall of 2012.
Mark’s non-fiction “true ghost stories” book out from Dundurn Press entitledHaunted Hamilton: The Ghosts of Dundurn Castle & Other Steeltown Shivers is available in Hamilton at Bryan Prince Bookseller (Westdale),McMaster University Bookstore as well as Epic Books (Locke Street) among other fine bookstores and shops in the Hamilton area. (AlsoChapters/Indigo and Amazon or search your favourite indie bookstore viaIndieBound) You can also get the eBook from Kobo and other eBook retailers.
In September 2013, Mark’s book Spooky Sudbury: True Tales of the Eerie & Unexplained (co-authored with Jenny Jelen) was released from Dundurn and coming in the fall of 2014 is Tomes of Terror: Haunted Bookstores and Libraries.
Mark’s novel I, Death (which began life in 2006 as a serialized novella rolled out on a blog) is forthcoming in late 2014 from Atomic Fez.
BOOKSELLER
From 1993 until 2006 Mark worked for Indigo Books and Music, Inc.(previously known as Chapters; and prior to that known as Coles) in various roles and regions. He started as a part-time bookseller at Coles on Sparks Street in Ottawa, then worked within The Book Company stores at Carlingwood Mall and Bank & Slater. He moved to Hamilton in 1997 and worked at Chapters in Ancaster as a Product Manager. In 1999 he took the role of Database Quality Manager for Chapters Online and spent 7 years learning the ins and outs of metadata, industry standards and SQL relational database systems.
In August of 2006, Mark’s booksellin
g career took an academic twist as he moved on to become the Book Operations Manager working at Titles – McMaster University’s bookstore, which turned 75 years old the year he joined.
In September of 2006, after 5 wonder years at McMaster and successfully implementing an Espresso Book Machine into the Titles bookstore (under the “Titles on Demand” logo) Mark moved on to new challenges which included consulting work within the book industry, where he also regularly haunted the University of Toronto Bookstore, assisting them with their growing Espresso Book Machine and Print on Demand business.
In October 2011 Mark followed a passion that began as he toiled in the POD realm and became Director of Self Publishing & Author Relations for Kobo, a global ebook retailer that originated in and still operates its head office out of Toronto, ON Canada. He was the driving force behind the creation of Kobo Writing Life, a DIY portal for authors and small publishers to get their works published to Kobo’s global catalog.
BOOK NERD
Mark is a past-president of Canadian Booksellers Association and sat on the board of directors for BookNet Canada from 2008 until 2014. As an active member
of the book industry (both as a bookseller and writer), Mark continues to speak at conferences, conventions and workshops about books, writing, publishing, the use of Print-on-Demand technology, such as the Espresso Book Machine – McMaster’s campus bookstore was the second location in Canada to acquire this technology, and the steady rise of self-publishing.
Apart from being published in numerous publications (under the name Mark Leslie), as well as having works occasionally appearing on his mother’s refrigerator door, (under the name Mark Lefebvre), Mark occasionally writes reviews, conducts interviews and previously edited the non fiction content of Northern Fusion magazine (under the name Mark Leslie Lefebvre). When he’s not playing around with his three given names, he can usually be found wandering, awestruck through bookstores or libraries.
Check out Mark’s books HERE.
Sign up for Kobo Writing Life HERE.
Looking forward to this. Mark is a great guest.
Hi all : )
So does the video show up here later.. or do I have to watch on Youtube or something?
CarlyLKennedy Eventually they’ll post it and you’ll just have to refresh the page
who has the lefever?
kevinmichael3 I do!
kevinmichael3 As long as I don’t have to pronounce it. Then I have it! 🙂
kevinmichael3 I have the lefever
CarlyLKennedy It’ll happen at some point. Welcome.
writerwade kevinmichael3 Le – FEV (but let off slow on the V, and maybe a slight roll of the tongue)
Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 Do you need more cowbell?
It looked like we were going to be able to start on time today, UNTIL Kevin said ‘I’m psyched to start on time.” So if tech issues hit right and left, blame Kevin. 🙂
Trish McCallan Who else would we blame?
Oh good, you starting late means I can finish making dinner.
Trish McCallan Don’t we always? 😉
Bryan Cohen No salmonella for this guy. The joke is on you, SPRT.
Bryan Cohen What are you making?
xgranville Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 Ah, so it’s going to be one of THOSE podcasts…
jlward Some mediterranean scramble. It’s delish.
CateMorgan xgranville Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 Yeah, this podcast has a distinct maple syrup flavor that only Canada can provide.
xgranville CateMorgan Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 I knew something was sticky…
Refresh now.
xgranville CateMorgan Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 Damn, now I want waffles
Demelza Carlton xgranville CateMorgan Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 In Canada, we put waffles ON our pancakes.
Hey everyone.
PatrickStemp Hey Patrick. Ontario represent! Yeee boi!
WHUT starting on time? Hurrah!
I’MMMM HEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEE! Bitches!
PatrickStemp Hi Patrick
JayChastain Holy shit even Jay is on time, what the fuck is happening?!?!
Mimi Strong And HUZZAH, even. 😀
xgranville JayChastain THE END IS NIGH
Mark is sexy!
JayChastain xgranville AND THE NIGH IS JOOSE!
xgranville JayChastain *falls into alternate universe*
JayChastain I am not a bitch. I’m a lady.
It’s my first live SPRT. Do I win anything?
…do I lose anything?
Holy shit. When did Mark become such a badass? Looks like he knows a thing or two about motorcycles all of a sudden.
CarlyLKennedy JayChastain It’s ok. You’ll get there someday. 😀
Bryan Cohen Mine too!
Bryan Cohen You win the internet. You lose your innocence.
xgranville Bryan Cohen Welcome to the dirty club. We are all ashamed.
CarlyLKennedy Great! Glad to not be alone :).
xgranville I can live with that.
JayChastain xgranville Yay! I love shame. Or, I love doing shameful things. I don’t have much shame.
Bryan Cohen CarlyLKennedy Welcome 🙂
xgranville Bryan Cohen And… sanity?
Bryan Cohen Welcome Bryan. Hope you’ll stick around for our afterparty.
Bryan Cohen Carl will tell you what you lose. Don’t worry ;-0
I can’t wait until Kevin disappears into the shadows. It’s when he takes his clothes off, you know
PatrickStemp Bryan Cohen CarlyLKennedy Thanks, Patrick!
xgranville PatrickStemp Two days straight, no rain. Summer is finally here. Whoop – there it goes again.
Mimi Strong xgranville Bryan Cohen That’s episode two. Sorry Mimi, you’re doomed.
JayChastain I can see a shirt. It’s still early, though.
Mimi Strong xgranville Totally overrated anyway.
Carl Sinclair Thanks nemesis. Will do.
How many of you are on Wattpad?
Question for the Peanut Gallery: does anyone know if you can upload to Apple via Smashwords with outside links in your ebook? One of my freebies kept getting rejected by Apple for outside links. It’s vera annoying.
Mimi Strong JayChastain Yeah. He’s a little shy in the light. He doesn’t get brave until he can safely watch us while us not knowing he’s naked. What a freak.
writerwade I tried it.
writerwade I’m on.
writerwade Not yet, but I’m YA so I should probably try.
Bryan Cohen Carl Sinclair I love this idea of Carl’s Moriarty. What a battle may unfold.
CateMorgan I suppose if you put Apple links in your Smashword book… but then there would be Apple links in all of your books on other platforms too. Unless I’m off base here.
Bryan Cohen writerwade May as well. It’s mainly a teen girl audience.
xgranville Bryan Cohen Carl Sinclair I’m currently scheming in the corner.
The sort twitter robot told us to hit 500 comments. DO YOUR PART and we all get a prize…a topless show
Bryan Cohen People have gotta have their newsletter and website links in their ebooks on Apple, right? One would think. (Sorry, non-Apple/Mac person here.)
CateMorgan They seem to crack down on Amazon links for sure. Perhaps they don’t like some of the email list companies too.
This podcast is brought to you by Carl Sinclair and his can of Pepsi.
Carl Sinclair sellout
Carl Sinclair I emailed you some amazing questions.
JayChastain That robot did.
Carl Sinclair *throws Coke can*
Mimi Strong Carl Sinclair I just saw…
Mimi Strong Carl Sinclair Too good for the comments?
Carl Sinclair Tell us how you’ve used Pepsi and how it’s helped you to sell more books. That’s what the OTHER podcasts do.
Bryan Cohen You win our undying gratitude and lose your mind….I guess you’ll have to decide if the trade off is worthwhile. 🙂
How….how….how late am I. Did I miss the internet?
JayChastain Mimi Strong Carl Sinclair So good you don’t even wanna know.
Bryan Cohen Carl Sinclair Pepsi does help quite a bit. It gives me the “pep” I need.
michelleread Michelle!
Trish McCallan I’ve traded more for less ;).
michelleread Hi MIchelle!
Carl Sinclair michelleread Carl!
Carl Sinclair Sold! I’ll take 20 cases. Where do I put in your affiliate link?
CarlyLKennedy michelleread AHHH!!! It’s Carly from Twitter!!
michelleread You may have missed the internet but I was there and it was dumb. Hey!
xgranville JayChastain Mimi Strong Carl Sinclair It was 95% filler, like the best books. <3
xgranville Demelza Carlton CateMorgan Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 And bacon.
We have new people! Hi Bryan Cohen >.<
xgranville JayChastain Mimi Strong Carl Sinclair And 5% butt jokes.
michelleread Hey Michelle!
michelleread Hey there you.
xgranville michelleread I sometimes burst into the room and say “I finished the internet!”
Mimi Strong xgranville JayChastain Carl Sinclair It all makes sense now. Good use of the Schwartz.
PatrickStemp michelleread Hey Patrick! Good to see you – long time no talk….oh wait. Not!
michelleread xgranville There were a lot of back alleys and weird side passages I had to take, but goddamn it, I made it!
Bryan Cohen michelleread Where did you come from? Do you have references? And two forms of photo ID?
Also Hi Trish McCallan and writerwade !
I posted a question on my FB wall yesterday about Kindle Unlimited, and was surprised by how many Kindle readers haven’t even tried it, aren’t interested. I found that reassuring – I think it’s a strong sub-market, but it’s not going to take over the world.
ZoeYorkWrites True
Bryan Cohen Mine too. Welcome!
How are all of you doing on Kobo? I’ve gotten a payment or two, and I’m hoping to do better going forward.
Kindle Unlimited is creating Armageddon right now. It’s the apocalypse for indie authors. If every reader out there is shouting hurrahs about how much money they’re saving, that money is coming from somewhere. It’s not magical money that dropped out of the sky.
Whatever individual authors feel, in their hearts, about competition in the marketplace and reader choices… well, taking a stand for your beliefs is a luxury. Dropping royalty cheques can be difficult to ignore. Ideals can bend.
How does Kobo choose those free first in series spots? I’ve filled out that form for Kelly and Ivan both but no joy. I sold 36K+ copies on Amazon last month but only 479 on Kobo. 🙁 So what’s the secret?!
CateMorgan Carl Sinclair Carl Sinclair cheats on Coke. I’m disappointed.
ZoeYorkWrites I think the library isn’t large enough for people to consider. Even if it is made up of the most popular current books and a good chunk of classic material, the true reader wants to have as many options as possible from what to choose from that week.
ZoeYorkWrites Well, your fans aren’t going to SAY on your FB wall that they’re looking into ways to spend less on books. LOL.
michelleread I’m Carl’s nemesis. I’m also the co-host of the Sell More Books Show podcast.
xgranville michelleread : )
RoxieRivera And can novellas be included, or only full length novels?
michelleread xgranville The Trash Heap has spoken! Nyah!
Ha! I see I posted while Trish McCallan was asking!
Mimi Strong I’m going to porn
Mimi Strong ZoeYorkWrites Personally, I don’t like the model and I know many who don’t as well. I don’t need another monthly bill.
Bryan Cohen michelleread Can you link me to it so I can watch it later?
What does it take to get traction with Kobo? I know most authors see Kobo as a big mystery on how it works. We went to number 1 in Contemporary, Paranormal and Historical Romance on Kobo but the sales didn’t seem to reflect that.
Mims Chuckles ZoeYorkWrites I think they did the math and realized KU wouldn’t save them money on books because the books they want to buy aren’t on there.
catebaylor Thanks :).
writerwade Mims Chuckles ZoeYorkWrites Yes, that was some of the feedback – $10 a month adds up.
JayChastain Mims Chuckles You yourself, Jay? If I see you on Pornhub I’m going to be very upset.
Bryan Cohen A payment or two here as well.
michelleread Sure, here you go: http://sellmorebooksshow.com/
JayChastain Mims Chuckles I’ll recommend a good place for waxing your b-hole.
Hello one and all
Mims Chuckles JayChastain Only if you’ve used it
Bryan Cohen michelleread High five – thank you 🙂
David Anson Hey David 🙂
JayChastain Mims Chuckles Used b-hole wax is unhygienic.
JayChastain Mims Chuckles Oh no, it can’t just be recommended based on business? It has to also be for pleasure?
michelleread Of course! 🙂
michelleread David Anson Hi Michelle. How are you tonight?
xgranville JayChastain Mims Chuckles I meant…only if you’ve used my b-hole, Strong
David Anson Hey David!
xgranville JayChastain Mims Chuckles I’ve started a review service at B-HoleWaxingRated.com
catebaylor Howdy!! Welcome to the smart people talky place 🙂
Mims Chuckles xgranville JayChastain Another great way to genre hop!
xgranville David Anson GWH! How are ya?
xgranville Mims Chuckles JayChastain I think we should change “Genre Hopping” to “HOLE HOPPING”…. it’s more catchy
xgranville Mims Chuckles JayChastain I’m glad we can all laugh while the ebook apocalypse is happening. 🙂
David Anson xgranville Good man, yet another day in the life of the Great White Hope
David Anson michelleread Sleepy but good, and I ate about fifteen fun size Snickers bars…how about yourself? Still reeling from birthday week?
Mims Chuckles xgranville JayChastain Have you been prepping? E-canned goods and e-guns?
michelleread David Anson sugar would put me right to sleep.
Bryan Cohen Cricket….cricket…..apparently everyone else makes LOADS of money on Kobo. #wemightbelosers
michelleread David Anson Snickers!! the best candy bar ever!!
writerwade michelleread David Anson agree!
CarlyLKennedy writerwade michelleread David Anson I also concur.
xgranville Mims Chuckles JayChastain I started a basement fight club. But I can’t talk about it, of course.
Bryan Cohen I only have a free book on there, so as far as payment goes…..it’s going great!
CarlyLKennedy michelleread David Anson Sugar makes me tired for about ten minutes then I’m wired.
writerwade michelleread David Anson THANK YOU! YES! They are!!! So satisfying….it’s like a whole meal AND a dessert. The end.
CarlyLKennedy michelleread David Anson Well then you need to eat more!
Mims Chuckles xgranville JayChastain I figured you for a combo Brat Pitt/Edward Norton type.
Mims Chuckles xgranville JayChastain I just realized MIMI is a doomsday now.. NICE. ONE OF US. ONE OF US. SATAN WANTS YOUR WAXED B-HOLE. ONE OF US.
xgranville Mims Chuckles JayChastain There’s cake. So much cake.
michelleread writerwade David Anson If you were a guy I’d marry you : )
CarlyLKennedy michelleread writerwade David Anson you could marry her anyway.
CarlyLKennedy michelleread writerwade David Anson I accept.
JayChastain Mims Chuckles xgranville We are doomed. I’m getting into quirky T-shirt designs!
michelleread CarlyLKennedy writerwade David Anson I’ll drink to that!
Bryan Cohen Kobo accounts for about 1% of my monthly income. I’ve had very little upward movement on Kobo. Downturn on BN too. But I’ve grown huge, huge amounts on iBooks this year and Amazon UK territories.
michelleread They don’t want to share their secrets!
Mims Chuckles JayChastain xgranville Mostly just Jay Chastain quotes.
xgranville Hahaha
xgranville michelleread CarlyLKennedy writerwade David Anson The SPRT twitter said we have to hit 500 comments. What happens if we don’t… does Carl tell us off?
xgranville michelleread CarlyLKennedy writerwade David Anson I knewwwwww Xavier was drinking already. Good on ya buddy.
CarlyLKennedy xgranville michelleread writerwade David Anson You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.
CarlyLKennedy xgranville michelleread writerwade David Anson In his accent yes.
michelleread xgranville CarlyLKennedy writerwade David Anson Gotta live up to my….good? name!
RoxieRivera Nice! iBooks is definitely on my list to focus on soon. I had some good iBooks traction through Smashwords in late 2012 early 2013 with my nonfiction writing prompts books.
michelleread CarlyLKennedy xgranville writerwade David Anson Oh my… nice accent that.
ZoeYorkWrites Mims Chuckles I dunno. I think what people say and what they do are different things. It’s like Canadian Netflix. There’s not very much on it, but it’s worth the monthly fee if we watch one or two Mark Ruffalo movies. MMMMM MARK RUFFALO
xgranville michelleread CarlyLKennedy writerwade David Anson You are nothing if not consistent.
CarlyLKennedy michelleread xgranville writerwade David Anson You’re a kiwi right?
Carl Sinclair CarlyLKennedy michelleread xgranville writerwade David Anson Yes but I left a long time ago. Talk all americanish now. : )
We better step things up if we’re gonna get to 500 comments.
CarlyLKennedy Carl Sinclair michelleread xgranville writerwade David Anson Yankified.
michelleread xgranville CarlyLKennedy writerwade David Anson Michelle is my favourite. It’s up to al of you to try take her spot.
Bryan Cohen We’re making good time though. Need more nonsense.
CarlyLKennedy Carl Sinclair michelleread xgranville writerwade David Anson Good girl. We can’t all have sexy accents. Some of us just have to be the ones who are mesmerized by them!
xgranville I can handle that. It’s all I can write.
David Anson Hey David.
CarlyLKennedy michelleread xgranville writerwade David Anson There should be an American Idol type competition.
PatrickStemp David Anson Patrick!!!
Bryan Cohen xgranville Just talk about poop and sex mistakes
SELF PUBLISHED GHETTO is my new T-shirt slogan!
Bryan Cohen xgranville My upcoming series of novels is called Dinosaur Noir, starring a cigarette smoking six foot tall lizard. Check and mate?
CarlyLKennedy michelleread xgranville writerwade David Anson Carly stole my LINE!!!!! No freaking way!!! It’s official. We’re dating. Later losers.
xgranville CarlyLKennedy michelleread writerwade David Anson Sorry Carly, I’m Michelle’s favourite.
Mims Chuckles We need a slang name
Carl Sinclair xgranville CarlyLKennedy michelleread writerwade David Anson But you can so quickly become her enemy haha
JayChastain Bryan Cohen xgranville I have a lot more poop mistakes than sex mistakes.
CarlyLKennedy michelleread xgranville writerwade David Anson I would try, but I’m to old 🙁
Bryan Cohen JayChastain xgranville Mine usually coincide
Carl Sinclair xgranville CarlyLKennedy michelleread writerwade David Anson Carl speaks the truth.
xgranville Haha, definitely. I’ve obviously got some work to do.
David Anson CarlyLKennedy michelleread xgranville writerwade I’m not talking because I’m getting huge cut outs and lag.
Bryan Cohen xgranville clearly
Carl Sinclair David Anson CarlyLKennedy michelleread xgranville writerwade You’re not talking because you want to watch me internet date Carly. Don’t lie.
Bryan Cohen xgranville Live to dream.
JayChastain Bryan Cohen xgranville Surprisingly, this is not harming my current gelato eating experience.
David Anson CarlyLKennedy michelleread xgranville writerwade No way! Flattery knows no bounds.
JayChastain Mims Chuckles I’ve always liked “Filthy Auto-Releaser”
xgranville Carl Sinclair CarlyLKennedy michelleread writerwade David Anson I have no enemies. Only people I pretend do not exist.
Bryan Cohen RoxieRivera I changed covers and added a second free book to my funnel and boom! Sales at iBooks went up 800+%. HOT DAMN! LOL. 😉
What Mark is saying is true. We Canadians are suckers for paying high prices for books, and just about anything, really. Preys on our natural instinct to be all nice and eh?
we would probably hit a higher comment count if the hosts paid attention to us. I feel so unloved. Me and my baby oil covered body
michelleread Carl Sinclair David Anson CarlyLKennedy xgranville writerwade No thank you. I am not into those kinda shenanigans.
xgranville Bryan Cohen This is the best thread.
JayChastain Holy shit you busted out the baby oil? What a night!
RoxieRivera Awesome! How does the two free funnel work?
Free – Free – Paid books OR is the second freebie somewhere else in the funnel
michelleread xgranville Bryan Cohen I like to think so.
xgranville JayChastain Shit’s getting’ Slippereh!
JayChastain Do you have an adult-size head and a baby body? Covered in oil? Or did you mean baby-oil-covered body?
JayChastain xgranville Slippery slope.
JayChastain xgranville Watch your footing!
@Mims Chuckles @JayChastain I MEANT WHAT I MEANT, STRONG
michelleread xgranville Carl Sinclair CarlyLKennedy writerwade David Anson That is so much worse haha. Shame from Michelle is worse than a death sentence!
xgranville But we get what we pay for. So our beer is real beer, not that 2% crap.
JayChastain I want to put a diaper on your little oily baby body!
PatrickStemp xgranville Yeah, but we pay out our ass for it! haha
xgranville michelleread Carl Sinclair CarlyLKennedy writerwade David Anson hahaha!!!! I’m so nice. Realllly. For real. Don’t give people the wrong idea!
Bryan Cohen RoxieRivera I have two funnels that look like this:
Her Russian Protector series: Free, 99 Cents, 2.99, 3.99-4.99 for the rest of the books
Fighting Connollys series: FREE, 2.99, 2.99
The two series are connected so I have a lot of crossover between both sets of books.
Mark said he sometimes helps out authors who ‘pay it forward’ when they are defending or helping authors when others aren’t. Does that mean he also puts the naughty authors on bad lists?
xgranville michelleread JayChastain How can we keep it going? More nonsensical. MORE NONSENSICAL!
What can Mark share about volume of sales and market-share? Anything? Is it all proprietary? If someone sells 100 books on Kobo on one day, where would they be on the bestseller charts?
CarlyLKennedy He also has “So Naughty They’re Nice” lists, as well as “So Nice They’re Naughty” lists.
CarlyLKennedy Funnily enough, that was one of my suggested questions. 🙂
JayChastain I’m paying attention. Mainly because I can’t speak.
Bryan Cohen xgranville michelleread JayChastain You were the king of England….now you’re the king of dying.
CarlyLKennedy You better not pout, you better not cry. Kobo Claus is coming to town.
RoxieRivera Bryan Cohen Roxie is smart. I really don’t have any better way to say it than that. I’ve been checking her out on Amazon (do not make this a dirty thread too….) and she amazes me!
Bryan Cohen CarlyLKennedy Check your postal codes, Santa Claus is Canadian, bitches.
xgranville Bryan Cohen michelleread JayChastain King
xgranville Bryan Cohen michelleread JayChastain Ring
xgranville Bryan Cohen michelleread JayChastain Bling
xgranville Bryan Cohen JayChastain Swing
xgranville Bryan Cohen JayChastain Puddles
michelleread xgranville Bryan Cohen JayChastain Schwing.
xgranville Bryan Cohen JayChastain Puppies
Bryan Cohen michelleread xgranville JayChastain Ohhh!!!!! I was gonna say that!
michelleread Bryan Cohen xgranville JayChastain Boom!
Bryan Cohen xgranville JayChastain For real though I’ve already said that today! I’d reached my limit.
Bryan Cohen michelleread xgranville JayChastain Oh snap! We doing spoken word poetry?
Bryan Cohen http://gph.is/XJJLbp
hello!
Mims Chuckles Yeah in real world numbers, not that Canadian nonsense.
RolandDenzel Hi Roland
RolandDenzel Hi : )
RolandDenzel Hey Roland! It was nice to meet you last week : )
RolandDenzel OMG it’s that guy who was on SPP!
Mark: how do books get chosen for that “front window” spot? Is there set criterion?
Bryan Cohen michelleread JayChastain I love marsupials…they wanna have soups with y’alls
xgranville Bryan Cohen michelleread JayChastain pffft…..laughed out loud.
xgranville Bryan Cohen michelleread JayChastain
Mock
Ing
Bird
Ing
michelleread RolandDenzel How come Roland gets to meet you and the rest of us don’t?
Carl Sinclair RolandDenzel Keep Roland, Roland, Roland, COME ON!
Bryan Cohen xgranville michelleread JayChastain Yeah!
michelleread Bryan Cohen xgranville JayChastain She gonna buy!
xgranville Carl Sinclair RolandDenzel LMAO
xgranville michelleread Bryan Cohen JayChastain Ah, so glad we’re on the same page :).
David Anson michelleread RolandDenzel I’m in the after party EVERY WEEK! (It’s really not that exciting as I do not speak.)
RolandDenzel Hey Roland
I’m sorry, but I’m still confused. Something about Rakuten? Is there an affiliate program for book bloggers right now, or is it coming maybe down the road?
Bryan Cohen xgranville michelleread JayChastain I request that you Facebook friend me immediately. The end.
michelleread David Anson RolandDenzel but you have a wonderful smile
michelleread David Anson RolandDenzel I”ll have to join the after party one of these days
JayChastain The hosts do pay attention to the comments. We’re just ignoring you specifically. I’m joking. Did you have a question that hasn’t been asked?
michelleread Bryan Cohen xgranville JayChastain Likewise. Share the nonsensical love! XZjƒ gbq’rv lx
;,nyzV dhsl;i dfhvbcd jksdvbafbSFDb
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Mark is always so polite!
writerwade michelleread David Anson RolandDenzel pfft.
David Anson Oh, Canada.
Not that I think book bloggers would necessarily jump at it… because people are set on using whatever devices they arleady have, but it does seem like more curatorial services are always needed. Perhaps Kobo could just do something by directly hiring book bloggers, like staff librarians. Like how a video store (remember those?) had staff picks.
xgranville michelleread Bryan Cohen JayChastain a;lsk djf;alskdjf;laskdjf owiekjadfoaihf
What are we, twelve tonight?!
michelleread Bryan Cohen xgranville JayChastain Done and done!
I’d love to see the equivalent of staff picks on Kobo! Like how Chapters has Heather’s Picks.
michelleread xgranville Bryan Cohen JayChastain I dunno, you’re the one playing copycat!
Mims Chuckles JayChastain kinky
Mims Chuckles I always love seeing those in the stores haha. What does ‘Heather’ pick this month?
xgranville Mims Chuckles It’s 1.5 maple leafs times celsius, then back into centimetres.
Are you going to talk about his skeleton guy? I saw loads of pictures on his site.
xgranville Mims Chuckles Usually sobfest books for book clubs.
xgranville Mims Chuckles And there’s your first curated page right there. “Sobfest Books You Pretend to Read for Book Club.”
xgranville michelleread Bryan Cohen JayChastain I know you are but what am I.
Mims Chuckles xgranville Oh right eh, but don’t forget about hockey puck conversion versus sap to syrup between-time.
I wish there was a BookBub type promotional email list that boosted Kobo sales. I haven’t had much traction from BookBubs on Kobo.
xgranville Mims Chuckles When you look at the page, a virus attacks your computer and gives you an Alice Munro short story that pops up when you least expect it.
Mims Chuckles xgranville At least it’s not just straight up Oprah. That woman needs to be stopped.
michelleread David Anson RolandDenzel Oh, it was exciting…
writerwade michelleread David Anson RolandDenzel thanks, Wade
Yup, there’s an HM Ward page featured on the front page right now! Yay Kobo, pro-manboobie.
Buff male chests.
ATTENTION: You can use my chest for now on. Only $100 per cover
Bryan Cohen Smells like money.
Bryan Cohen I’m with you. Love the hot guys.
JayChastain How long do you think it’ll cost to make back that advance? haha
Mims Chuckles Unless you are a BBM
Bryan Cohen Chest Male Buffs.
200 more comments!
Mims Chuckles I’m so relieved that the man boobs are acceptable on Kobo still.
xgranville Now that’s the new wave.
Carl Sinclair You relentless bastard!
Carl Sinclair LET’S GO INDIE SLACKERS!
JayChastain Carl Sinclair POOOOSTTTT!!!!
xgranville JayChastain Carl Sinclair SPRT, MAGGOTS! SPRT!
Got a little behind on the feed. I’ve never heard of Diane Capri but I LOVE Jack Reacher (reading book 19 now). Can’t wait to check her out.
My covers (well, cover) just has angsty teens. ANGST!
Is it appropriate to hit on a member of the show in these comments?
Carl Sinclair Here’s a comment: I won’t be in the after party tonight.
Bryan Cohen AAARRRGHHHH!!! My mom ate my homework!
CarlyLKennedy Better to apologize than ask for permission.
CarlyLKennedy Go ahead. Carl is use to it
Bryan Cohen love angst!
michelleread Carl Sinclair BOOOO
JayChastain xgranville Carl Sinclair I don’t like the look of your face, mirror!
JayChastain michelleread Carl Sinclair BOOOOOO to your face. Also Hi Jay 🙂
David Anson CarlyLKennedy He is huh? Well I wont give him an ego
xgranville JayChastain Carl Sinclair bahahaha!
JayChastain Mims Chuckles Big Beautiful Man? Well, get the 20 sales a day and you can be featured.
CarlyLKennedy Only if it’s Carl…so says Carl. 🙂
xgranville JayChastain Carl Sinclair I don’t like the look of your mirror, face!
Bryan Cohen xgranville And we’ll ride it until the end of days.
CarlyLKennedy David Anson HAHAHAHA to late
CarlyLKennedy Teens do too!
CarlyLKennedy David Anson too late. That ego can’t be stopped.
David Anson CarlyLKennedy You beat me it.
michelleread JayChastain Carl Sinclair BOOOOOOO!!!!! *throws dirty thongs at you*…. Hi Michelle…. 😀
xgranville Bryan Cohen Buff Male Chest Apocalypse.
jlward CarlyLKennedy David Anson Carl’s ego is of biblical proportions. Cats fear it.
JayChastain michelleread Carl Sinclair How many spare dirty thongs do you have in your arsenal, Chastain? I hope you’ve prepped a good dirty baker’s dozen.
xgranville jlward CarlyLKennedy David Anson Hey now… it’s only arrogance if it’s not true. In my case it is.
Alright, let’s get 70 comments out of this thread. Post the first word that comes to your mind.
xgranville jlward CarlyLKennedy David Anson Bigger than William Shatners?
Butts.
xgranville JayChastain michelleread Carl Sinclair Kevin and I share resources
Bryan Cohen xgranville Who knew the end of days would be so softcore.
Bryan Cohen Canadian
Bryan Cohen Boobies
CarlyLKennedy Bryan Cohen Jamiroquai.
kevinmichael3 is my hero …and lover
JayChastain kevinmichael3 That’s why you’re all lubed up and ready, huh, Chastain?
RoxieRivera Ah, that’s great. I listened to your interview here and I remember getting a lot out of it :).
When are we going to talk about Ayn Rand kevinmichael3 ?
David Anson xgranville jlward CarlyLKennedy Complete with random commas inserted into a sentence.
xgranville JayChastain kevinmichael3 INDEED
JayChastain Bryan Cohen Carl talked…
Now Carl can read his romance books in the bath!
JayChastain kevinmichael3 You’re juiced tonight, aren’t you, Jay?
CarlyLKennedy JayChastain Bryan Cohen took long enough
Ooh, nice H20 modeling!
CarlyLKennedy JayChastain Bryan Cohen You’re learning. Play your cards right and you’ll be his favorite by the end of this sentence.
CateMorgan SPRT with everyone in the tub!
jlward JayChastain kevinmichael3 Juicing so much I’ve stained several things
jlward JayChastain kevinmichael3 It’s pronounced JOOOOSE
Bryan Cohen CateMorgan Maybe with one of them
CarlyLKennedy Bryan Cohen CateMorgan He likes the way the jets make him feel
Bryan Cohen Complete with manscaped covers, of course. 😉
CateMorgan Bryan Cohen Carl Sinclair, this summer, in: Hawt Tub Sex Machine
xgranville jlward JayChastain kevinmichael3 I feel like Objectivism would be a perfect connection to the ebook apocalypse Mims Chuckles
xgranville CateMorgan Bryan Cohen Can think of a worse summer activity
This is taking forever to get to 500 comments…. I WANT THE TOPLESS SHOW
JayChastain shirt coming off!
JayChastain That’s what we get if they hit 500? haha
Does anyone know who let my fucking dogs out?
xgranville JayChastain GO WADE!
xgranville JayChastain I’m in!
JayChastain xgranville Take it to the Wade.
xgranville Woof. Woof woof.
CarlyLKennedy xgranville JayChastain I like this Carly chick.
CarlyLKennedy xgranville JayChastain I mean.. lady 🙂
JayChastain CarlyLKennedy xgranville You Texans.
xgranville It’s he sweet little old lady next door
David Anson xgranville Mrs. Robinson! I knew it! And to think I ate her prune squares last Canada Day.
xgranville David Anson Was that the day you got arrested for walking around naked?
David Anson xgranville I think that was Boxing Day.
Bryan Cohen David Anson xgranville When you’re right, you’re right Bryan. It twas Boxing Day. I lose track of time with the metric system conversion.
Can I pop into the after party for like fifteen minutes?
How can this be an hour? is it possible you started on time?
This was a great interview! 🙂
Then I REALLY have to go write
RolandDenzel They actually did, and it was mindblowing.
Barnaby Lives!
I want Mark to have me sit by him
CarlyLKennedy xgranville CateMorgan Bryan Cohen Unfortunately, it was the Summer of 69
JayChastain Life is like a box of chocolates…
lol interesting bunch. Oh Carl. We love you!
xgranville JayChastain it’s never as good as you hope
want afterparty? let me know here.
Night everyone!
JayChastain xgranville It’s actually a bag of AIDS.
kevinmichael3 Me Me.
kevinmichael3 Yes please
kevinmichael3 MEEEEEEEEE KEV!!!
David Anson Goodnight!
kevinmichael3 yes please
kevinmichael3 I’m in!
kevinmichael3 Send me an invite. I’ll join in if there isn’t too many peeps.
xgranville kevinmichael3 Are you being shy?
RolandDenzel xgranville kevinmichael3 Nah, I’m expecting me to come back to a full hangout after I have a smoke haha.
xgranville JayChastain EVERYONE HAS AIDS!
David Anson Good night David
xgranville RolandDenzel kevinmichael3 It sounds fun but I got to go meet my Dad! Maybe next week
403 comments….. ALMOST THERE… maybe they’ll give us a nip slip since we almost made it
AJ Vale He’s my favourite alright
CarlyLKennedy xgranville JayChastain Carly, where do I follow you?
Bryan Cohen RoxieRivera An hour is such a short time, and I know I glossed over a lot of what worked/didn’t work for me. I’m always available via email or my contact form or FB if something I mentioned during my interview wasn’t clear enough or properly explained. 🙂
kevinmichael3 – afterparty, please! 🙂
Afterparty:
Bryan Cohen, Demelza Carlton, Jay Chastain, Kevin Michael, Mark Leslie, Mimi Strong, Roland Denzel, Trish and Carl
Carl Sinclair I received no invite. I see how it is.
Got a little behind on the live feed – finally caught up – fantastic show tonight.
Carl Sinclair Had a great time, thanks for inviting me.
Bryan Cohen Carl Sinclair Nice to meet you Bryan!
PatrickStemp – Diane is a brilliant writer – we interviewed her for the Kobo Writing Life Podcast – link here: http://kobowritinglife.com/2014/08/25/kobo-writing-life-podcast-episode-021-with-diane-capri/
CarlyLKennedy – Barnaby is always delighted when people want to meet him. (And no, it’s not creepy that my skeleton has a pretend persona, is it?) 😉
Mims Chuckles – Here’s the affiliate link info I had mentioned. (It’s set up through another Rakuten company – Linkshare) http://www.kobo.com/affiliates?___store=ca-en&style=onestore
CateMorgan – Hoping this was answered for you as part of the interview. But it’s a combination of the merchandisers being made aware of it (with Shayna, the head KWL Merchandiser who works collaboratively with the global merchandising team, on behalf of indie authors publishing to Kobo through Kobo Writing Life) along with a whole slew of other factors. We are looking at ways, in 2015, for more authors to get the chance to get their title into a feature spot.
Mims Chuckles – There are so many complex factors that it’s impossible to predict. Trending on the Top 50 compared with category ranking – Top 50 is overall for 16 different territories (ie, Canada is not the same as US as UK, as AUS, as Germany, as France, etc, etc) – and if you’ve sold more books in a particular category in a particular time frame than anyone else, then you get to be #1. That could be 100 books in one category, it can be 10 books in another less-volume intense category. It could be 1000 in another. So there’s no one right and easy way to predict that. And, like that other place, the algorithms are dynamic and change — we ALL have to stay ahead of Ed Robertson, after all . . . . 😉
CarlyLKennedy – LOL – I’ve got to keep SOME secrets . . . but xgranville has a great idea with the naught/nice lists……
xgranville – I’m going through my “Marking Bad” phase – midlife crisis, stuff and all that. 😉
CarlyLKennedy – Insert blush here. 😉
PatrickStemp xgranville Demelza Carlton CateMorgan Carl Sinclair kevinmichael3 – Extra bacon! 🙂