Martyn Ellington and Steven Stiefel are trans-Atlantic writing partners who blend British and American sensibilities in their collaborative works. Through their production company MESS Productions, they create multi-format content spanning novels, TV scripts, and podcasts, with their international bestseller “Tomorrow’s Flight” showcasing their ability to craft compelling cross-cultural narratives.
Martyn Ellington is the author of five published novels, including “The End of Everything,” “Devolution of a Species,” and the “Thirstonfield Halt” series.
Steven Stiefel is a veteran of script development, having analyzed over 1,500 scripts and books. He’s the co-author of “Making Rumours” about Fleetwood Mac’s iconic album.
In this episode:
- The dynamics of international co-writing partnerships
- Adapting stories across different mediums (TV, podcasts, novels)
- Managing cultural differences in writing for global audiences
- The process of working with beta readers
- Strategies for successful independent publishing
- Navigating Kindle Unlimited and promotional strategies
- The evolution of traditional vs. independent publishing
- Building a hybrid publishing company
Resources mentioned:
- Tomorrow’s Flight: https://www.amazon.com/Tomorrows-Flight-M-Ellington/dp/0578938510
- The Harvesting: https://www.amazon.com/Harvesting-Martyn-Ellington/dp/1907463410
- MESS Publishing Imprint: https://www.mess-books.com/more-information
- Gardner’s and Ingram’s Distribution: https://www.ingramspark.com/how-it-works/distribute
Book Recommendations:
- The Fog by James Herbert (Martyn’s pick): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fog-James-Herbert/dp/1509865454
- The Aspern Papers by Henry James (Steven’s pick): https://www.amazon.com/Aspern-Papers-Stories-Oxford-Classics/dp/0199538557
Connect with Martyn & Steven:
- MESS Productions: www.mess-flicks.com
- Tomorrow’s Flight: www.tomorrowsflight.com
- Martyn’s Website: www.martynellington.com
- Martyn’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyn-ellington-b4ab22171/
- Martyn’s Twitter: @martynellington
- Steven’s Twitter: @stevestiefel
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- @teddyagsmith
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