Creative Differences podcast – Mark Stay Writes

Tim Sullivan: Organic Red Herrings | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences

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…

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

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://markstaywrit

Elwood Flynn: I’m a Nice Person | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences ep 25

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!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

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/

Michael S Jackson: Leaving Gifts for my Future Self | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences ep24

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!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

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

Karen Storey: I Get This Build Up of Excitement | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences ep23

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!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

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

Kathleen Whyman: Bring Your Imagination | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences Ep22

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!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

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:

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/

Julie Wassmer: Libraries have a Special Meaning for me | Creative Differences LIVE

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)

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube (best choice for the horsey bit)…

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/

Jeremy Szal: I Grew Up With The Book | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences ep20

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!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

LINKS

Jeremy’s website
Tickets for the live show with Julie Wassmer

Ghost of Yotei
Stardew Valley
Attack on Titan
Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Marty Supreme
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky (this is an affiliate link and I can earn commission if you use it)
Strength of the Few by James Islington (this is an affiliate link and I can earn commission if you use it)
Beastars (manga) (this is an affiliate link and I can earn commission if you use it)
Mono (band)
Sigur Ros (band)
Oasis (band)
Small Prophets
SPECTATORS BY Brian K Vaughan and artist 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/

Ellis Blackwood: I Hate Plotting | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences Ep19

Ellis Blackwood is the author of the brilliant Samuel Pepys Mysteries, and also had a previous career writing about his love of Doctor Who, David Bowie, and he once made a very strange video with me on Youtube (we were young and needed the money)…

WE ALSO DISCUSS…

Rapid Publishing & Series arcs

Historical accuracy versus story

And why he hates plotting (but does it anyway)…

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

LINKS

Ellis Blackwood’s books

Dalek, I Loved You video

The End of Gods Unboxing Video

Public Service Broadcasting

Ben Elton (this is an affiliate link, so I earn money if you buy using this)

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/

Join me and JULIE WASSMER for a LIVE recording of the podcast

As part of the Escalate Arts Literature Festival, I’m going to be interviewing bestselling author and screenwriter JULIE WASSMER at the Staines Library Hub on Saturday 14th March, 2026 from 3-4pm… and we’re recording it for the Creative Differences podcast! And you can join us live!

Julie wrote for Eastenders for over 20 years and is the author of Whitstable Pearl mysteries, which is now a hit TV series starring Kerry Godliman, and I can tell you from past experience that Julie is a brilliant guest, so generous with advice and very funny: you don’t want to miss this!

Join us in person…

BOOK TICKETS HERE

Caimh McDonnell: Notice When You’re Doing Your Best Writing | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences Ep 18

Caimh McDonnell is the author of the Bunny McGarry trilogy (not a trilogy) and the Stranger Times series (definitely a series) and his latest RING THE BELLS is one of my favourite books of the year.

In this festive special, we discuss:
How travel triggers story ideas
The value of short stories
Why calling something a trilogy is a bad idea
And why it’s crucial to take note of when you’re writing good stuff, and much more!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

LINKS
Caimh’s website

Pre-Order The End of Gods paperback

Joe Abercrombie backlist
Down Cemetery Road
Raye: Where is my husband?
Scriptnotes book
Death by Lightning
Wish You Were Here 50th Anniversary

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

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