Stark Reflections on Writing and Publishing

EP 329 - Laws of Tenacity with Eriq La Salle

Oct 19, 2023

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Mark interviews actor/director/producer/writer Eriq La Salle about his latest novel LAWS OF ANNIHILATION and his life-long passion for storytelling.

Prior to the interview, Mark shares comments from recent episodes, thanks Patrons, provides a personal update, and shares a word about this episode's sponsor.

You can learn more about how you can get your audiobooks distributed to retailers and library systems around the world at starkreflections.ca/Findaway.

In their conversation, Mark and Eriq talk about:

How Eriq had always wanted to be a writer
Joining the high school drama club in junior high with the idea that they'd be able to put on the plays that he would write
Being told by the drama teacher that he had to audition, and how that started the "acting bug" that took him through a multi-decade career acting, directing, and producing
The way the author desire resurfaced about a dozen years ago
The prequel story to The Martyr Maker series (which appears in the end of LAWS OF DEPRAVITY) and why Eriq wrote it
The concept behind The Martyr Maker franchise
Loving movies and television and being inspired by the storytelling conventions there
The way each of the three main characters leads a little bit more in the first three books in the series
Eriq's work as Executive Producer for several years on Chicago PD
Directing and Executive Producing Dick Wolf's first show launched into streaming on Amazon Prime
A minor character in the series (known as "The African") who was fashioned after the Luca Brasi character in The Godfather and who will return in a later book in the series
How it took 10 years to find a publisher, and Eriq's DIY experience self-publishing
The importance of understanding and participating in the grass-roots style marketing as an author
Having to do a lot of marketing work even when you're with a larger publisher
The way that the status of "celebrity" can sometimes work against you
Eriq's respect for each medium and how to re-think, and re-learn in his unique roles within them
The importance of humbling yourself
How the marketing person that Eriq had hired and worked with eventually became his agent
Feeling that he is a better writer of fiction novels than of screenplays, despite his years of experience as an actor, director, and producer
The intention cinematic writing that Eriq did when crafting The Martyr Maker series
Enjoying collecting "useless trivia" and how that can aid in the research aspect of writing a novel
Giving credit to the technical advisors Eriq has worked with on shows like ER and Chicago PD
The various first readers that Eriq works with
Being an old fashioned paper book reader
Eriq's great respect for librarians
The delightful feeling of seeing your book in various bookstores of all sizes, including indie bookstores, big box stores, and airport bookstores
Doing several events in New York for the week the book is launching, including a special "On the Couch with Eriq La Salle"
The importance of listening to the messaging
The understanding that "we are blue collar artists"
Advice Eriq would offer to writers who are working at it and haven't yet found their success
And more . . .

After the interview, Mark reflects on a few of the things Eriq talked about, as well as a subtle, but important way Eriq spoke about the "team" he works with as an author.

Links of Interest:

Actor/director/producer Eriq La Salle is best known to worldwide television audiences for his award-winning portrayal of the commanding Dr. Peter Benton on the critically acclaimed and history-making medical drama ER. Educated at Juilliard and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, his credits range from Broadway to film roles opposite Eddie Murphy in Coming to America and Robin Williams in One Hour Photo and Hugh Jackman in Logan. La Salle has maintained a prolific acting career while at the same time working steadily as a director, taking the helm for HBO, Showtime, NBC, Fox and CBS. He remains a valued member of the Dick Wolf Entertainment camp after 4 years as Executive Producer and director on Chicago PD in addition to directing episodes of Law & Order, and Law and Order Organized Crime.

As a writer, La Salle is the author of several critically acclaimed thrillers published in 2022 and 2023-Laws of Depravity, Laws of Wrath, and Laws of Annihilation. He has also written an episode of The Twilight Zone which made WGA’s list of 101 Best Written TV Series. He lives in Los Angeles, California.

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