Welcome To Mark Starlin Writes!

A place filled with humor, fiction, creativity, and wonder.

Don’t take my word for it:

“Mark Starlin's short stories are gems: diamonds and emeralds and rubies. I look forward to reading them every week and think you will, too.” - Bill Alder (Fiction by Bill Alder)

“Mark Starlin is one of my favorite writers on Substack. Consistently witty, his stories will brighten your day and give you the laugh you didn't know you needed.” - Justin Deming (Along The Hudson)

“Starlin has a goofy, childlike sense of humor, an odd way of looking out at the world, from the ridiculous to the thoughtful. He sits just right with me most of the time!” - Sharron Bassano (Leaves)

Here is what Mark Starlin Writes! includes:

Monday Morning Mark 

A short One Minute Wit humor story you can read in under a minute—delivered every Monday morning. A great way to start your week with a smile.

Mark Starlin Writes!

This is my primary newsletter, which houses all of my stories and sections. You can think of it as my Substack website. I love variety, and my writing encompasses many things. It is arranged into categories such as fiction, humor, comics, poetry, essays, etc. There are menus at the top of the home page to make it easy to find things that interest you.

Space Traveler Fargone • A serial space sitcom.

Space Traveler Fargone was a typical space freighter pilot until he posted some entertaining space logs about his side trips on SpaceBook. The splogs became so popular that his employer, Titanic Galactic Shipping, asked him to do them full-time. He got a raise, a brand new ship, and something he didn’t want—the big boss’s niece as co-pilot. Join Fargone and Emma on their adventures in this serial space sitcom. If they don’t strangle each other first.

Space Traveler Fargone is a fun, entertaining story with adventure, action, humor, romance, uncharted planets, space travel, aliens, silliness, drama, and whatever else I can imagine. This is a long-term project—space is a big place!

Baron Britpop Blastfurnace Series

This section contains the three books in the Baron Britpop Blastfurnace series. A tale of adventure, friendship, humor, romance, action, and much more. Free for everyone to read on the website.

Baron Britpop Blastfurnace is the story of a curious young blacksmith from The Austrian Netherlands named Britpop Blastfurnace. In a moment of inspiration, Britpop invents silent horseshoes and finds himself a Baron with an estate and wealth. Before settling down as a Baron, he decides to go on an adventure to France with his valet, Andelbert. The trip takes them across the ocean and back. Featuring historical characters, pirates, and plenty of adventure. 

Elise Boissonneau is the second novel in the Baron Britpop Blastfurnace series. It features the cast of the first book (plus some new characters) in more adventures. It is now complete and available to read.

Captain Peanut Butter is the third novel in the Baron Britpop Blastfurnace series. I am currently posting chapters as I write them. Join me and add your comments, questions, and suggestions.

Me?

[Going to third person, as authors inexplicably tend to do in bios.]

Mark Starlin is an internationally unknown writer who doesn’t have to worry about paying quarterly taxes on his writing income.

[I’m back.]

I am a musician by trade. I currently play in American Garage Band and teach guitar and bass. For forty years, music was my primary creative obsession. Then, in my 50s, I started writing and got hooked. I love them both too much now to choose only one, so I must split my time. I go with whichever one inspires me at the moment or needs my attention most.

Oddly, I can’t write with music playing. I also can’t play guitar while writing. I do all my writing on my Mac, while I do all my songwriting on paper (initially.)

I also occasionally create comics. I may not have the most productive or famous creative life, but I never get bored. And I love what I do. That’s a pretty good deal.

I am married (42 years) with three daughters and five grandsons. My wife has a cat who tolerates me as long as I pet him when he jumps up on the couch.

Paid or Free. Your choice

Mark Starlin Writes! features a “patron” paid option. No paywalls! If you appreciate my writing and want to encourage and support my writing efforts, you can become a paid subscriber (patron) and feel good about supporting writing you enjoy.

As a thank-you gift, paid subscribers can download PDF and ePub copies of the first two books in the Baron Britpop Blastfurnace series (plus the third when it is complete.) And music files for four of my recent original songs.

And, of course, my heartfelt thanks!

I will be genuinely grateful if you decide to support my writing. Whether you choose free or paid, I look forward to responding to your comments and questions.

All written by me and sent to you with loving care. 

Thanks.

Mark