EP 329 - Laws of Tenacity with Eriq La Salle

<p>Mark interviews actor/director/producer/writer Eriq La Salle about his latest novel LAWS OF ANNIHILATION and his life-long passion for storytelling.</p> <p>Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.</p> <p>  </p> <center><img alt="This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is findawayvoiceslogo.png" src="https://starkreflections.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/findawayvoiceslogo.png" /></center> <p>You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.</p> <p>In their conversation, Mark and Eriq talk about:</p> <ul> <li>How Eriq had always wanted to be a writer</li> <li>Joining the high school drama club in junior high with the idea that they'd be able to put on the plays that he would write</li> <li>Being told by the drama teacher that he had to audition, and how that started the "acting bug" that took him through a multi-decade career acting, directing, and producing</li> <li>The way the author desire resurfaced about a dozen years ago</li> <li>The prequel story to <em>The Martyr Maker</em> series (which appears in the end of LAWS OF DEPRAVITY) and why Eriq wrote it</li> <li>The concept behind <em>The Martyr Maker</em> franchise</li> <li>Loving movies and television and being inspired by the storytelling conventions there</li> <li>The way each of the three main characters leads a little bit more in the first three books in the series</li> <li>Eriq's work as Executive Producer for several years on <em>Chicago PD</em></li> <li>Directing and Executive Producing Dick Wolf's first show launched into streaming on Amazon Prime</li> <li>A minor character in the series (known as "The African") who was fashioned after the Luca Brasi character in <em>The Godfather</em> and who will return in a later book in the series</li> <li>How it took 10 years to find a publisher, and Eriq's DIY experience self-publishing</li> <li>The importance of understanding and participating in the grass-roots style marketing as an author</li> <li>Having to do a lot of marketing work even when you're with a larger publisher</li> <li>The way that the status of "celebrity" can sometimes work against you</li> <li>Eriq's respect for each medium and how to re-think, and re-learn in his unique roles within them</li> <li>The importance of humbling yourself</li> <li>How the marketing person that Eriq had hired and worked with eventually became his agent</li> <li>Feeling that he is a better writer of fiction novels than of screenplays, despite his years of experience as an actor, director, and producer</li> <li>The intention cinematic writing that Eriq did when crafting <em>The Martyr Maker</em> series</li> <li>Enjoying collecting "useless trivia" and how that can aid in the research aspect of writing a novel</li> <li>Giving credit to the technical advisors Eriq has worked with on shows like <em>ER</em> and <em>Chicago PD</em></li> <li>The various first readers that Eriq works with</li> <li>Being an old fashioned paper book reader</li> <li>Eriq's great respect for librarians</li> <li>The delightful feeling of seeing your book in various bookstores of all sizes, including indie bookstores, big box stores, and airport bookstores</li> <li>Doing several events in New York for the week the book is launching, including a special "On the Couch with Eriq La Salle"</li> <li>The importance of listening to the messaging</li> <li>The understanding that "we are blue collar artists"</li> <li>Advice Eriq would offer to writers who are working at it and haven't yet found their success</li> <li>And more . . .</li> </ul> <p>After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things Eriq talked about, as well as a subtle, but important way Eriq spoke about the "team" he works with as an author.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Links of Interest:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="http://iameriqlasalle.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Eriq La Salle's Website</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/eriqlasalle/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Eriq on Instagram</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LawsOfDepravityThriller">Eriq on Facebook</a></li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/eriqlasalle23" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Eriq on Twitter</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@eriqlasalleauthor" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Eriq on TikTok</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://www.iameriqlasalle.com/books" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Eriq La Salle's Books</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sourcebooks.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Sourcebooks</a></li> <li><a href="https://youtu.be/uV-UhtvJ4Mw?si=-mqqAVlslP0uSTSh" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Video of The Interview with Eriq</a> (YouTube)</li> <li>EP 328 - <a href="https://starkreflections.ca/2023/10/13/episode-328-reflecting-on-a-new-season-with-terry-fallis/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Reflecting on a New Season with Terry Fallis</a></li> <li>EP 327 - <a href="https://starkreflections.ca/2023/10/10/episode-writing-the-shadow-with-joanna-penn/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Writing the Shadow with Joanna Penn</a></li> <li>EP 326 - <a href="https://starkreflections.ca/2023/10/06/episode-326-rebranding-and-relaunching-with-e-l-williams/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Rebranding and Relaunching with E.L. Williams</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.pd13.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Port Dover: Friday the 13th</a></li> <li>Best Book Ever Podcast <ul> <li>EP 154 - <a href="https://bestbookever.libsyn.com/154-mark-lefebvre-on-the-best-laid-plans-by-terry-fallis" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mark Leslie Lefebvre on "The Best Laid Plans" by Terry Fallis</a></li> <li>EP 155 - <a href="https://bestbookever.libsyn.com/155-canada-palooza-with-mark-lefebvre" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Canada-Palooza with Mark Leslie Lefebvre</a></li> </ul> </li> <li>Best Book Ever Pod</li> <li><a href="https://starkreflections.ca/2023/09/29/episode-325-reflecting-back-3-things-that-are-wrong-with-indie-publishing/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mark's YouTube Channel</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/markleslie" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Buy Mark a Coffee</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.panoramaproject.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Patreon for Stark Reflections</a></li> <li><a href="https://juliewroteabook.com/category/podcast-all/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Best Book Ever Podcast</a></li> <li><a href="https://loversmoon.ca" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Lovers Moon Podcast</a></li> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/relaxedauthor/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Relaxed Author</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://payhip.com/b/w7Gg1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Buy eBook Direct</a></li> <li><a href="https://payhip.com/b/QK4ks" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Buy Audiobook Direct</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/b/publishingpitfalls" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Publishing Pitfalls for Authors</a></li> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/b/workingwithlibrariesandbookstores" rel="noopener" target="_blank">An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries & Bookstores</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.panoramaproject.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Wide for the Win</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.panoramaproject.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.panoramaproject.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">This Time Around (Short Story)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.panoramaproject.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">A Canadian Werewolf in New York</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.panoramaproject.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Stowe Away (Novella)</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.panoramaproject.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Fear and Longing in Los Angeles</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.panoramaproject.org" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Fright Nights, Big City</a></li> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/loversmoon" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Lover's Moon</a></li> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/hexandcity" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Hex and the City</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/b/thecanadianmounted" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles</a></li> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/diehardtrivia" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Actor/director/producer <strong>Eriq La Salle</strong> is best known to worldwide television audiences for his award-winning portrayal of the commanding Dr. Peter Benton on the critically acclaimed and history-making medical drama <em>ER</em>. Educated at Juilliard and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, his credits range from Broadway to film roles opposite Eddie Murphy in <em>Coming to America</em> and Robin Williams in <em>One Hour Photo</em> and Hugh Jackman in <em>Logan</em>. La Salle has maintained a prolific acting career while at the same time working steadily as a director, taking the helm for HBO, Showtime, NBC, Fox and CBS. He remains a valued member of the Dick Wolf Entertainment camp after 4 years as Executive Producer and director on <em>Chicago PD</em> in addition to directing episodes of <em>Law & Order</em>, and <em>Law and Order Organized Crime</em>.</p> <p>As a writer, La Salle is the author of several critically acclaimed thrillers published in 2022 and 2023-<strong><em>Laws of Depravity</em></strong>, <strong><em>Laws of Wrath</em></strong>, and <strong><em>Laws of Annihilation</em></strong>. He has also written an episode of <em>The Twilight Zone</em> which made WGA's list of 101 Best Written TV Series. He lives in Los Angeles, California.</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-text-color has-background has-dark-gray-background-color has-dark-gray-color" /> <p><em>The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast ("Laser Groove") was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of <a href="https://incompetech.com/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">www.incompetech.com</a></em> <em>and is Licensed under</em> Creative Commons: By <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">Attribution 3.0</a></p> <p> </p>