1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 Mark interviews Marie Lynne Desrochers about her new memoir SHAKEN AWAKE: A Memoir on Identity and Connection. Prior to the interview, Mark shares a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor. This episode is sponsored by Toronto Indie Author Conference, taking place in Toronto, ON in April 2026. In the interview, Mark and Marie Lynne talk about: Marie's background in the corporate world marketing and how that ties in to storytelling The startling event of receiving a message via Facebook from a man who introduced himself as Marie's father and how that lead to this memoir The moment when you start wondering who you thought you've been your whole life Marie's book SHAKEN AWAKE: A MEMOIR ON IDENTITY AND CONNECTION which is being released in English first in March 2026, and then will be released in French in June (both written by Marie who is bilingual) How the table of contents for the book seemed to emerge dynamically near the beginning of the project The exploration of identity and the various different identities that each individual wears The value of sitting in different seats during the experience of writing a memoir like this How the cover and the title for this book came to be The way when you first become aware of something you see it everywhere The ritual and importance of the kintsugi bowl from Japanese culture The fear that still sits with Marie in the process of releasing this story to the world When editors have conflicting views/perspectives on a book and how that can mean it's going to be a really good book - and the importance that not everyone is going to like it, or even believe it Supernatural guidance that Marie received that helped answer the question of why she was writing this book Deciding not to try to go to a publisher, but going to Author Nation instead to connect with people and learn how to get the book out there herself The triple crown of being a successful author that includes needing to have mentors, to know what you're doing, and to have an accountability buddy Advice Marie would offer to a writer beginning on their journey The confidence about trusting emergence Doing a book launch at a local gallery and the power of that collaboration The distinctly different title for the French version of the book And more... After the interview Mark reflects on a number of things that came up during the interview. Links of Interest: Marie Lynne Desrocher's Website Manuscript Report (Mark's affiliate link - use MARK10 to save 10%) Buy Mark a Coffee Patreon for Stark Reflections Mark's YouTube channel ElevenLabs (AI Voice Generation - Affiliate link) Mark's Stark Reflections on Writing &amp;amp; Publishing Newsletter (Signup) An Author's Guide to Working With Bookstores and Libraries The Relaxed Author Buy eBook Direct Buy Audiobook Direct Publishing Pitfalls for Authors An Author's Guide to Working with Libraries &amp;amp; Bookstores Wide for the Win Mark's Canadian Werewolf Books This Time Around (Short Story) A Canadian Werewolf in New York Stowe Away (Novella) Fear and Longing in Los Angeles Fright Nights, Big City Lover's Moon Hex and the City Only Monsters in the Building Once Bitten (Novella) The Canadian Mounted: A Trivia Guide to Planes, Trains and Automobiles Yippee Ki-Yay Motherf*cker: A Trivia Guide to Die Hard Merry Christmas! Shitter Was Full!: A Trivia Guide to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation I Think It's A Sign That The Pun Also Rises &amp;nbsp; Marie Lynne Desrochers is a Montreal-based author, speaker, director and former banking executive whose 30-year career spanned marketing, entrepreneurship, and advising global leaders. She now explores truth, identity, and connection through narrative nonfiction. Her memoir, Shaken Awake: A Memoir on Identity and Connection (March 19, 2026), weaves a powerful family discovery with a deeper reflection on how unexpected truths reshape who we are—and how we love. &amp;nbsp; The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of&amp;nbsp;www.incompetech.com&amp;nbsp;and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By&amp;nbsp;Attribution 3.0 Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing http://markleslie.libsyn.com/website <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/40717085/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/item/40717085