547 episodes

Join author and screenwriter Mark Stay with coach and entrepreneur Mark Desvaux, as they discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and challenge themselves and you to write, market and self-published a bestselling book in just one year. Each week, they are guided by and interview million-selling, chart-topping authors, publishers on the inside, editors, agents, social media specialists, and many more big names who play a part in the bestseller process. From the writing to marketing, plotting to publishing, learn the secrets to help you write your way to the top of the charts.

The Bestseller Experiment Bestseller Experiment

    • Arts
    • 4.9 • 57 Ratings

Join author and screenwriter Mark Stay with coach and entrepreneur Mark Desvaux, as they discover the secrets to writing a bestseller and challenge themselves and you to write, market and self-published a bestselling book in just one year. Each week, they are guided by and interview million-selling, chart-topping authors, publishers on the inside, editors, agents, social media specialists, and many more big names who play a part in the bestseller process. From the writing to marketing, plotting to publishing, learn the secrets to help you write your way to the top of the charts.

    EP514: Defying the Odds with Sherrilyn Kenyon

    EP514: Defying the Odds with Sherrilyn Kenyon

    Sherrilyn Kenyon’s first book was published when she was still in college, since then she has had more than 80 novels on the New York Times list, and more than 70 million books in print. We talk to Sherrilyn about her rise from childhood poverty to eBook pioneer and a bestselling phenomenon.

    • 1 hr 35 min
    EP513: Ask the Editor with Emad Akhtar

    EP513: Ask the Editor with Emad Akhtar

    Editor Emad Akhtar has worked with authors like Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin and Justin Cronin and was kind enough to join our show and answer our listeners’ questions!

    • 57 min
    EP512: Steve Cavanagh – Author on the verge of a massive breakthrough

    EP512: Steve Cavanagh – Author on the verge of a massive breakthrough

    Steve Cavanagh is the author of the Eddie Flynn legal thrillers The Defence, The Plea, The Liar and now, with his new book Thirteen, he is on the verge of a bestselling breakthrough. Steve brings his legal expertise to his writing and creates compelling characters and nail-biting thrillers, and co-presents the Two Crime Writers And A Microphone podcast… Which we’re not going to plug on the show. No way.

    • 36 min
    EP511: Into The Woods With John Yorke

    EP511: Into The Woods With John Yorke

    John Yorke is one of the world’s leading lights in the art of storytelling. As former head of Channel Four Drama, Controller of BBC Drama Production and head of Company Pictures, he has worked on shows like Shameless, Life On Mars, and the UK’s most popular soap opera EastEnders. He is also the author of Into The Woods, one of our favourite books on the craft of storytelling.

    • 55 min
    EP510: Gareth L Powell – How to sing a space opera

    EP510: Gareth L Powell – How to sing a space opera

    Gareth L Powell is one of the most generous authors on social media and a font of writing wisdom. He’s also the award-winning author of the Ack-Ack Macaque trilogy, his short stories have appeared in Interzone, Clarkesworld, and The Year’s Best Science Fiction, and he has written for The Guardian, The Irish Times, 2000AD and SFX. With his new book Embers of War he has returned to his love of space opera. We discussed apes, outlining, and answered a few listener questions…

    • 35 min
    EP509: Joanne Harris | Chocolat & Sheds

    EP509: Joanne Harris | Chocolat & Sheds

    Best known for her novel Chocolat, which sold well over a million copies and was made into a movie starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, Joanne has written over twenty books, including Runemarks and Gospel of Loki, which were based on Norse legend. We spoke with her about writing, aspiration and sheds.

    • 55 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
57 Ratings

57 Ratings

CatrinBlair ,

Super helpful

Among my top five writing and publishing podcast plus I like the way the two Marks giggle!

Athena intheDAKS ,

Inspirational

I have been going through the episodes from the beginning and find this an essential resource. It’s also great fun.

Alexstrath1 ,

Mark & Mark are your gurus

Mark and Mark treat the publishing journey as it should be - an experiment to try everything you can and learn from those who have made it work. Thank you!

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