• Ivy Ngeow: The Mistakes Make You | Mark Stay's Creative Differences
    Aug 27 2026

    Award-winning author Ivy Ngeow returns with a page-turning thriller In Safe Hands. We discuss:

    Why books are like buildings
    How art is built on observation
    Why we shouldn't fear our mistakes and much more!

    LINKS
    https://writengeow.com

    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://markstaywrites.com/

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    52 min
  • Tim Sullivan: Organic Red Herrings | Mark Stay's Creative Differences
    Jul 31 2026

    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...

    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://markstaywrites.com/

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    53 min
  • Plotting for Writers who don't Plot... A Green Room special with Paul Austin Ardoin
    Jul 27 2026

    A bonus episode with special guest Paul Austin Ardoin. Paul is the author of Fenway Stevenson Mysteries and he joined me and Green Room members to discuss his brilliant new nonfiction book, Outlining for Novelists who don't Outline, which is packed with tips for pantser writers who want more control over their story without losing their voice.

    We discuss:
    If you can you pants a mystery
    Creating vivid characters
    Coping with disappearing sidekicks and much more!

    This is the sort of stuff that we discuss in my online writing group The Green Room all the time and I'm planning on having more special guests in the future. You can join today! There's more about the Green Room here... https://markstaywrites.com/the-green-room/

    LINKS
    Paul's website: https://paulaustinardoin.com
    Outlining for Novelists who don't Outline: https://paulaustinardoin.com/products/outlining-for-novelists-who-dont-outline
    Bestseller Experiment Ben Aaronovitch episode: https://bestsellerexperiment.com/ep22-ben-aaronovitch-great-bollocking/


    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://markstaywrites.com/

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    58 min
  • Elwood Flynn: I'm a Nice Person | Mark Stay's Creative Differences ep 25
    Jul 2 2026

    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!

    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/

    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://markstaywrites.com/

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    1 ora e 10 min
  • Michael S Jackson: Leaving Gifts for my Future Self | Mark Stay's Creative Differences ep24
    Jun 2 2026

    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!

    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

    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/

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    1 ora e 15 min
  • Karen Storey: I Get This Build Up of Excitement | Mark Stay's Creative Differences ep23
    May 5 2026

    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!


    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

    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://markstaywrites.com/

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    58 min
  • Kathleen Whyman: Bring Your Imagination | Mark Stay's Creative Differences Ep22
    Apr 3 2026

    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!

    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

    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://markstaywrites.com/

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    1 ora e 2 min
  • Julie Wassmer: Libraries have a Special Meaning for me | Creative Differences LIVE
    Mar 24 2026

    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)

    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/

    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://markstaywrites.com/

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    1 ora e 5 min