This promises to be fun! I’ll be chatting to Ben Aaronovitch about Stone Sky at the actual British Library on 30th March. Get your tickets here.
Me, Ben Aaronovitch, British Library, 30th March…
Tag: how to write a novel
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…
Who Am I, anyway…?
Who is this Mark Stay person, anyway? A quick hello/introduction to any news followers after that libraries vid went a bit popular…
Authors Get Money When You Use the Library
Did you know that every time someone borrows a book from a library in the UK or Ireland that the author gets money?! Guess who just got his PLR statement!
A Quick Tour of My Notebooks
Here’s a tour of my “live” notebooks…
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!
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.
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/
Gavin G Smith: Know Your Own Worth | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences Episode 17
Gavin G Smith writes gripping science fiction and his latest is ALIEN CULT, a terrific murder mystery noir set in the ALIENS universe.
We Discuss:
Writing for other people’s IP, including games and film novelisations
The crucial difference between a consistent universe and fan service
Why he might enjoy research too much
And why it’s more important than ever for authors to value their work…
Or watch it on Youtube…
LINKS
Gavin’s website
Pre-Order The End of Gods paperback
Mark’s comic con playlist
WHAT’S GIVING US JOY
Baldur’s Gate 3
Where Eagles Dare
Bond
Paddington
The Holiday
Die Hard
Young Sherlock Holmes
Roofworld: (I earn commission if you buy via this link)
A huge thanks to Emily Stay-Newton for production assistance, to Kai Stay-Newton for the edit, and Dominic Currie for the va-jingle.
Support the show:
Caimh McDonnell Christmas Special on the Creative Differences Livestream
Join me and Caimh McDonnell! Top bloke and bestselling author of the Bunny McGarry series and the Stranger Times series, of which RING THE BELLS is the latest (and I loved it!) He even looks like Santa! It’s going to be a very special live show…
Join us live: THURSDAY 18TH DECEMBER, 8PM GMT.
Or join us on Youtube…
Jeevani Charika: Doing Funky Things | Mark Stay’s Creative Differences Episode 16
Jeevani Charika writes award nominated romantic women’s fiction and romcoms. She’s written books on how to write romcoms, and sustaining a career as a writer and she also has an amazing YouTube channel teaching authors how to use Canva to make marketing graphics. Her latest book How Can I Resist You is out now!
We Discuss:
What she’s learned from her love of Korean dramas
How ‘writing tighter’ has been good for her prose style
How oversleeping led to a breakthrough in her career
Why she enjoys doing funky things with Canva and much more…
Or watch on Youtube…
LINKS
Jeevani’s website: http://www.rhodabaxter.com
Jeevani’s Canva Tips Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/@jeevanicharika
Jeevani’s Substack: https://substack.com/@canvatips4author
What’s Giving Us Joy…
A Merry Little Ex-mas (Netflix): https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81735104
T Kingfisher’s books with the Paladins (I earn commission if you click on this link): https://amzn.to/49ZV358
A Mind of My Own, Kathy Burke (I earn commission if you click on this link): https://amzn.to/4ovrNGJ
Cole Haddon’s 5am Storytalk: https://colehaddon.substack.com
50 Years of Shit Robots: https://shows.acast.com/fifty-years-of-shit-robots
Film Stories: https://filmstories.co.uk/category/podcast/
Pluribus: https://tv.apple.com/gb/show/pluribus/umc.cmc.37axgovs2yozlyh3c2cmwzlza
A huge thanks to Emily for production assistance, to Kai 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/
Gavin G Smith on the Creative Differences Livestream
Gavin Smith is the author and co/author of 14 books, a couple of novellas and multiple short stories. His books include (but are not limited to) Veteran and its sequel War in Heaven, the Age of Scorpio Trilogy, the Bastard Legion Series and Spec Ops Z. As well as having written for Black Library, Gavin wrote the novelisation of the Sony Pictures Bloodshot movie and Marvel’s Original Sin series.
Within the games industry he has worked with Yoozoo, Ubisoft, DPS Games and CCP. In addition, he has optioned several film scripts.
And his new book ALIEN CULT is murder mystery noir set in the ALIENS universe and I can’t wait to discuss it with him!
Join us live: TUESDAY 9TH DECEMBER, 8PM GMT
Or on Youtube…
Mark Stay Writes 