NEWS & EVENTS

NEWS & UPDATES OPTIONS

1) Subscribe to the Mark Leslie Newsletter (For Readers) or Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing Newsletter (for Writers) or (even easier, and also for Writers) follow Stark Reflections on Substack.

2) Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing. Podcast – weekly podcast about the business of writing & publishing, which includes personal updates. Substack – weekly reflections on the business of writing and publishing (often with personal flavor sprinkled throughout) Substack – weekly reflections usually on a single topic from either a shorter podcast reflection or something relative to Mark’s consulting and personal life.

3) Follow Mark on Instagram or check out his YouTube channel, or his Author Facebook Page. (He’s rarely on Twitter or TikTok)

NEWSROOM

  • Mark is finalizing the work on Ghosts of the Great Lakes which will be published by Wolsak & Wynn in the fall of 2026. We would like to acknowledge funding support from the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario for their generous support for this project.
  • Mark is also researching and soliciting stories and insights for a few forthcoming books. If you have an interesting story to share that can help in the research, please use the appropriate form:
  • Spirits Untapped: Haunted Bars and Breweries
  • Ghostly Gananoque
  • Weird Waterloo
  • Haunted Objects

Forthcoming Appearances

  • Sept 25, 26, 2027 – (Sudbury, ON) – CreatureCon
  • Oct 3, 2026 – 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Kitchener, ON) – Booktoberfest. Gaukel Block (44 Gaukel Street), Kitchener, ON
  • Oct 9, 10, 11 – (Virtual) – Wide for the Win Summit 2026
  • Oct 13, 2026 – BOOK RELEASE – Ghost Stories of the Great Lakes
  • Oct 16 & 17, 2026 – (Burlington, ON) – dReadCon
  • Oct 21, 2026 – (Kitchener, ON) – Haunted Histories of Ontario with Mark Leslie (An interactive presentation of ghostly stories from across Mark Leslie’s published works, including his latest release, Ghost Stories of the Great Lakes.)
  • Oct 22, 2026 – (Waterloo, ON) – Local Author Showcase. Main Library. 35 Albert Street, Waterloo, ON
  • Oct 23 to 25, 2026 – (Niagara Falls, ON) – Frightmare in the Falls (At the Zelpha Comics booth)
  • Oct 26, 2026 – (Burlington, ON) – Ghost Stories of the Great Lakes event
  • Oct 30, 2026 – 10:00 PM – (Radio/Podcast) – Into the Parabnormal with Jeremy Scott
  • Nov 2026 – Release of A BOOK IN HAND
  • Nov 10 to 13, 2026 – (Las Vegas, NV) – Speaker at Author Nation
  • Nov 13, 14, 2026, 2026 – (Las Vegas, NV) – Author at Reader Nation

2027

  • Jan 30, 2027 – (Burlington, ON) – Author appearance at Indigo Mapleview
  • Feb 4 to 7, 2027 – Superstars Writing Seminars
  • April 4, 2027 (18:30 to 21:30 GMT) – Virtual Workshop – The History Quill – Reaching Your Readers Offline: Libraries, Bookstores, and Virtual Distribution (Part 2 of a series: “Reaching Your Readers Offline”)
  • April 8, 2027 – (Los Angeles, CA) – Writers of the Future Awards Gala (Attending Writer Judge)
  • April, 16, 17, 18, 2027 – (Toronto, ON) – TIAC – Toronto Indie Author Con
  • May 8, 2027 – (Grand Rapids, MI) – Speaking at Grand Rapids Region Writers Group
  • June 10, 11, 12, 13, 2027 – (Pittsburg, PA) – StokerCon (Horror Writers Association)
  • Aug 26, 27, 28, 29, 2027 – (Calgary, AB) – When Words Collide
  • Sept 2, to 6, 2027 – (Montreal, QC) – World Con Montreal
  • Oct 30, 2027 – (Burlington, ON) – Indigo Mapleview

Previous appearances, interviews, talks on radio, television, podcasts, publications, etc.

2026

2025

2024

Previous Events – 2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

CHCH Morning Live Appearance Talking About Haunted Hospitals – Oct 2017

OLDER MEDIA LINKS/APPEARANCES

A Super Brief History of Publishing. Clip from a keynote given at Writers of the Future in Los Angeles, 2014 (Approx 2 mins)

Reflections on Digital Publishing – Interview Clips from Ontario Writers Conference (2013) -(Approx 4 mins)

“Getting Publishing with Mark Leslie” – (The Writing Show Podcast) 

11 Episodes from Oct 9, 2006 to June 3, 2010 – Following the progress of the early part of the first draft of A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK

http://www.writingshow.com/articles/reality_shows/indexes/seriesindexML.html

This is an excellent series to listen to if you are a writer who has been struggling to get that first book finished. It might help you see that you’re not the only one who has suffered and struggled. It’s tough and it’s a lot of work, and sometimes it takes a lot of effort to overcome the things that prevent you from finishing that book. (And you can see, in the 4+ years that these episodes span, I found virtually every excuse in the book)