EP 436 - Artisan Publishing with Blue Feathered Quill

<p>In this episode Mark interviews Joshua Smyser and Alex Hale of Blue Feathered Quill Publishing.</p> <p>Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcome a new patron (<a href="https://www.skrandolph.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">S.K. Randolph</a>), offers a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.</p> <p>This episode's sponsor:</p> <p><a href="https://manuscriptreport.com?atp=mark" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="248" src="https://assets.libsyn.com/show/110600/ManuscriptReport_Banner.jpg" width="615" /></a></p> <p>This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to <a href="https://manuscriptreport.com?atp=mark" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Manuscript Report</a>. Use code <strong>MARK5</strong> at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.</p> <p>In their interview, Mark, Alex, and Joshua talk about:</p> <ul> <li>Alex's background growing up an avid reader and someone who wrote music and stories, and then going back to school for linguistics in 2020, then later, the Masters of Publishing program at Western Colorado University</li> <li>Being a fan of writing poetry as well as poetry put to music</li> <li>Coming to the realization that he enjoyed helping other writers with getting their work ready for publication more than he enjoyed writing</li> <li>The first book that Blue Feathered Quill published (a sweet-romance with a darker twist): <strong>Eth: A Novel</strong></li> <li>Joshua also having a background in music (taking mandolin lessons) as well as being an avid reader as a young person as well as pursuing the writing/publishing route when he was a youth</li> <li>Getting a degree in education and starting a teaching career, and then returning to thinking about the world of books and publishing</li> <li>Joining up with Alex on BFQ as a way to move into publishing and learning more about editing and cover design</li> <li>The story Josh sold to the "Cupids" anthology that was published by Western Colorado University</li> <li>The origin of the publishing name Blue Feathered Quill</li> <li>The cross-country trip with a life-long friend that Alex made several years back</li> <li>The idea of building a publishing company with a cohort of writers, editors, and other creative people who could help one another out in different ways</li> <li>A look at the process they take when an author approaches them</li> <li>The second book that they released on April 29, 2025: <strong>THE TALE OF JIRAIYA THE GALLANT</strong> (a classic Japanese story from the 1800's which is a bit of a precursor to Manga) and Joshua's passion for bringing this book into existance</li> <li>How well their first book was already selling when it was first released in the spring of 2025</li> <li>How authors who are interested in working with BFQ can reach out to them</li> <li>Advice that Alex and Josh would like to relay to authors as well as those thinking of starting a publishing company</li> <li>And more...</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>After the interview Mark reflects on how they are running this company with passion and integrity, with a goal to work collaboratively with authors.</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Links of Interest:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.bfqpub.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Blue Feathered Quill Publishing</a></li> <li><a href="https://manuscriptreport.com/?atp=mark" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Manuscript Report</a> (Mark's affiliate link)</li> <li><a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/markleslie">Buy Mark a Coffee</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.patreon.com/starkreflections" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Patreon for Stark Reflections</a></li> <li><a href="https://youtube.com/markleslielefebvre" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mark's YouTube channel</a></li> <li><a href="http://eepurl.com/dHJhK1" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing & Publishing Newsletter (Signup)</a></li> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/workingwithlibrariesandbookstores" rel="noopener" target="_blank">An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries</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> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/onlymonstersinthebuilding" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Only Monsters in the Building</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> <li><a href="https://books2read.com/christmasvacation" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation</a></li> </ul> <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>