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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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Mark Leslie Lefebvre is a multi-faceted author, publishing industry consultant, and book industry veteran who has significantly shaped the indie publishing landscape. As one of the key architects behind Kobo Writing Life, the self-publishing platform for Kobo (Amazon's primary competitor), Mark helped create what many consider the most user-friendly author dashboard in the industry. His diverse writing portfolio spans horror fiction, urban fantasy, true ghost stories, and essential guides for writers including "Wide for the Win" and "Kill It on Kobo." With over 40 years of writing experience and deep expertise in both traditional and independent publishing, Mark provides invaluable insights into global book distribution, platform strategy, and the business side of authorship.
In this episode:
- Mark's journey from teenage horror writer to publishing industry consultant
- The creation and development of Kobo Writing Life as Amazon's competitor
- Why "going wide" beyond Amazon opens up global opportunities for authors
- How Kobo's international reach differs from Amazon's geographical limitations
- Strategic pricing decisions: when Amazon's 70% royalty isn't actually 70%
- The psychology behind free book promotions and why most free downloads never get read
- Why KDP Select exclusivity might be limiting your earning potential
- International sales opportunities through Kobo's global retailer partnerships
- Effective marketing strategies that focus on reader value over direct sales
- The three pillars of author success: persistence, patience, and practice
- Finding and serving your niche audience rather than trying to appeal to everyone
- Daily writing routine strategies for busy authors with day jobs
Resources mentioned:
Book recommendation:
- "The Business of Being a Writer" by Jane Friedman
Connect with Mark Leslie Lefebvre:
- Website: https://markleslie.ca/
- https://books2read.com/markleslie
- https://books2read.com/markleslielefebvre
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/markleslie
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/markleslielefebvre
Connect with Teddy Smith:
- @teddyagsmith
- Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
- Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
- Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
- Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
- Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/
Discover More with Our Curated Starter Packs: https://teddyagsmith.com/starter-packs/
Chapters
1. Introduction to the show and Mark Leslie Lefebvre (00:00:00)
2. Mark's early writing experiences (00:01:14)
3. Mark's first published work and rejections (00:02:35)
4. Discussion of Mark's horror writing (00:03:28)
5. Mark's Canadian Werewolf series (00:04:31)
6. Mark's writing process and routine (00:09:11)
7. Collaboration with editors during writing (00:11:35)
8. Mark's approach to non-fiction writing (00:15:06)
9. Introduction to Kobo and its place in the market (00:25:21)
10. Kobo Writing Life platform (00:28:59)
11. Publishing on multiple platforms (00:32:36)
12. Explanation of Kobo Writing Life (00:34:45)
13. Effective marketing tactics for authors (00:40:10)
14. Book recommendation for writers (00:47:05)
133 episodes
