Tracy Buchanan on her Biggest Mistake

This month’s special guest bestselling author Tracy Buchanan reveals her biggest mistake in her career…

TRANSCRIPT

MARK: So what’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made in your writing career?

TRACY: I think not being consistent and maybe pivoting too much sometimes. So, because I’m savvy I’m very aware of being careful with what publishers I’m with. I’ve learned that publishers are pretty much the same. A lot of publishers are the same. As in they’re great. A lot of publishers are great. And at the end of the day, you’re the one who’s in control. So they are helping you in a way. They’re almost like a freelancer for you. So staying with publishers, you know, I think there’s… it’s important to have that consistency. So I probably have, when I’ve been offered opportunities, jumped around a little bit too much. So, I think that’s, that’s something… I wouldn’t say it’s the biggest mistake I’ve made, but , you know, just being a bit more consistent.

Tracy Buchanan: Writing and Walks

This month’s special guest Tracy Buchanan reveals how her dog inspires her creativity…

TRANSCRIPT:

MARK: What small thing has made a big difference to your creative process?

TRACY: Oh, having a dog in my office. A small thing: it’s walks. I know that sounds really… Going out for walks when I get stuck on something or trying to come up with ideas. And that’s what my dog — my dog assistant is snoring at the moment — comes in. So that’s that is a small thing for me, because if I’m sat there and I cannot figure out this plot hole, if I go out into nature, walk around… It untangles. So I’d always recommend that to anyone: going out for walks.

LISTEN TO THE WHOLE PODCAST

Or watch the whole interview on Youtube…

Join Sarah Pinborough on the Creative Differences Livestream

Join me with bestselling author Sarah Pinborough on the livestream that looks at the little things that make a big difference to the creative process.

Sarah Pinborough is an award-winning and New York Times, Sunday Times, and internationally bestselling author and screenwriter who is published in over 30 territories worldwide. Having published more than 25 novels across various genres, her recent books include Behind Her Eyes, now a smash-hit Netflix limited series; 13 Minutes that’s she’s developing with Carnival/NBC, The Death House that she’s adapted herself for Compelling Pictures, and her most recent book Insomnia which she adapted herself and is now streaming on Paramount+
And she’s hilarious, wise and has a lovely dog called Ted.
Do please join us live as you’ll have the opportunity to ask Sarah questions on the night (and just before her big America tour!). 

It’s going to be so much fun. Put that date in your diaries now… 

Monday 12th May 8pm BST.

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

Or join us on Youtube…

Tracy Buchanan on the Creative Differences Podcast: “Celebrate the Good Stuff!”

Tracy Buchanan is the bestselling author of the Dr Vanessa Marwood thrillers and she runs one of the best author groups on Facebook and is a brilliant advocate for authors.

We discuss:
Which comes first: research or plot?
If authors can still earn a living from writing
Growing maggots for research purposes
And much more!

Edit by Kai Newton
Production assistance by Emily Stay
Jingle by Dom Currie

My apologies for the quality of my mic for this episode. I had a dodgy connection and sound a wee bit toppy!

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Or watch it on Youtube…

LINKS
TRACY’S WEBSITE: http://www.tracy-buchanan.com
THE SAVVY WRITERS’ SNUG FB GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/savvywriterssnug/

THE GREEN ROOM: https://ko-fi.com/markstaywriter/tiers

KINGDOM COME DELIVERANCE 2: https://kingdomcomerpg.com/
ASSASSIN’S CREED SHADOWS: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/game/assassins-creed/shadows
LANA DEL RAY: https://youtu.be/nDYY3nJ7a0s?si=CWI1sTc_iFAnErWq
CARELESS PEOPLE BY SARA WYNN-WILLIAMS: https://amzn.to/4lYWT9J (Amazon affiliate link: I earn money if you click/buy using this)
SUPREMACY BY PARMY OLSEN: https://amzn.to/4lUgrfn (Amazon affiliate link: I earn money if you click/buy using this)
CONCLAVE: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conclave_(film)
THE LAST OF US: https://www.hbo.com/the-last-of-us
ANDOR: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andor_(TV_series)
WRITING FOR LOVE AND/OR MONEY BY FRANK D GILROY: https://amzn.to/42VdzWT
SAMANTHA FISH, SWEET SOUTHERN SOUNDS: https://youtu.be/3rhUFAdfEjA?si=tuzMbqt3YwOxREmX

THE BESTSELLER EXPERIMENT EPISODE WITH ENTERTAINMENT LAWYERS ON COPYRIGHT/LYRICS ETC: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep32-legal-eagles/

COME AND MEET MARK STAY IN MAY 2025 AT:
MAIDSTONE 4TH MAY: https://www.creedconventions.com/event/maidstone-comic-con/
BEYOND THE BOOK FESTIVAL, BRIGHTON: https://www.beyondthebookfestival.org
READING 11TH MAY: https://www.creedconventions.com/event/reading-comic-con/
TONBRIDGE 18TH MAY: https://strikingevents.com/tonbridge/
MCM COMIC CON LONDON 23-25 MAY: https://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/en-us/guests/guest-profile.html?gtID=362260&guest-name=Mark-Stay
HATFIELD 31ST MAY: https://strikingevents.com/hatfield/

Maidstone Comic Con This Sunday

If you’re in and around Maidstone, Kent this Sunday 4th May I’ll be selling and signing m’books at the Maidstone comic con (click on the image for more details)…

I’m going to be at comic cons all over the south east this year. For more details visit my events diary…

EVENTS DIARY

My Writing Process on the Real Writing Process Podcast

I had a great time talking to Tom Pepperdine about my writing process in great depth. This gets very nerdy, very quickly. This is an excellent podcast for writers, so do check out the backlist, too…

The Real Writing Process of James Goodhand – The Real Writing Process

Tom Pepperdine interviews author, James Goodhand, about his writing process. James explains how important human psychology is to his books, why inspiration doesn't always equate to quality, and the great advice he got from his childhood drum teacher.James's Instagram is here: https://www.instagram.com/james.goodhand/And you can find more information about previous episodes of this podcast on the following links:https://bsky.app/profile/realwritingpro.bsky.socialhttps://www.threads.net/@realwritingprohttps://www.instagram.com/realwritingpro
  1. The Real Writing Process of James Goodhand
  2. The Real Writing Process of Caitlin Rozakis
  3. The Real Writing Process of Mark Stay
  4. The Real Writing Process of Eliza Chan
  5. The Real Writing Process of M. R. Carey

Tracy Buchanan on the Creative Differences Livestream Tonight!

Join me with bestselling author Tracy Buchanan on the livestream that looks at the little things that make a big differences to writers.

Tracy Buchanan on the Creative Differences Livestream

The Corn Bride by Mark Stay

Waterstones link thingy Dear reader, you are cordially invited to the strangest wedding of the year . . . It’s May 1941, and the war is in full swing…

The Corn Bride by Mark Stay

Talking Star Wars of the Fifty Years of Shit Robots Podcast

I was honoured to be asked to be a guest on the latest episode of the splendid Fifty Years of Shit Robots podcast. `The hosts, Matt and Stephen, have been running a special series on the original Star Wars movie, and — being a bit of a nerd — I had to correct them on a couple of points. This got so annoying for them that they invited me on the podcast and it soon turned into a kind of therapy session for me. Have a listen wherever you get your podcasts…

Which Mark Stay Am I?

There are two authors named Mark Stay on Amazon and Goodreads. Which one am I?

TRANSCRIPT

Hello folks, I’m Mark Stay… Or am I?

If you pop on to Amazon or Goodreads you’ll see that there are two authors with the name Mark Stay. It’s not much bothered me before, but the other day I noticed that the other Mark Stay had a one-star review for their latest novel, On the Leaden Shore, and I thought I’d have a look and I discovered that the poor guy had received a not great review because he wasn’t me… That hardly seems fair on the other Mark, so, to be clear, this is me: if there’s magic and witches and, occasionally robots and spaceships, it’s probably me.

This other Mark is from the suburban Midwest of the USA and in his bio says he comes from a large religious family and he does seem to write about supernatural stuff, but from a Christian perspective. Here are his books… 

Me? Well, I’m from London and no fan of religion so I guess that makes me the Anti-Mark Stay.

So, once again (and this time, demonstrated via the medium of these socks that my daughter bought me a few Christmases ago): dragons and wizards and shit: me.

Christian stuff: that’s the other Mark.

Me…

Not me…

Me…

Not me…

I hope that’s clear. Always read the author bio. And happy reading.