Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

EP 436 - Artisan Publishing with Blue Feathered Quill

Oct 3, 2025

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In this episode Mark interviews Joshua Smyser and Alex Hale of Blue Feathered Quill Publishing.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, welcome a new patron (S.K. Randolph), offers a personal update, and a word about this episode's sponsor.

This episode's sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by an affiliate link to Manuscript Report. Use code MARK5 at checkout and save $5.00 off your own personalized report.

In their interview, Mark, Alex, and Joshua talk about:

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
Being a fan of writing poetry as well as poetry put to music
Coming to the realization that he enjoyed helping other writers with getting their work ready for publication more than he enjoyed writing
The first book that Blue Feathered Quill published (a sweet-romance with a darker twist): Eth: A Novel
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
Getting a degree in education and starting a teaching career, and then returning to thinking about the world of books and publishing
Joining up with Alex on BFQ as a way to move into publishing and learning more about editing and cover design
The story Josh sold to the "Cupids" anthology that was published by Western Colorado University
The origin of the publishing name Blue Feathered Quill
The cross-country trip with a life-long friend that Alex made several years back
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
A look at the process they take when an author approaches them
The second book that they released on April 29, 2025: THE TALE OF JIRAIYA THE GALLANT (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
How well their first book was already selling when it was first released in the spring of 2025
How authors who are interested in working with BFQ can reach out to them
Advice that Alex and Josh would like to relay to authors as well as those thinking of starting a publishing company
And more...

After the interview Mark reflects on how they are running this company with passion and integrity, with a goal to work collaboratively with authors.

Links of Interest:

The introductory, end, and bumper music for this podcast (“Laser Groove”) was composed and produced by Kevin MacLeod of www.incompetech.com and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0