Southern Gothic Novelist & Festival Founder Mark Mustian on the Armenian Genocide, Freak Shows & Word of South | Ep. S2E2

What happens when a municipal attorney runs for city commissioner, writes internationally bestselling novels, and then builds one of the most unique literary festivals in America — all at the same time? You get Mark Mustian.In this episode of Spirits in the Material World, Sean Blankenship sits down with Tallahassee-based author, attorney, and festival founder Mark Mustian for a wide-ranging conversation about storytelling, Southern culture, the courage to be different, and what it really takes to finish a book — or build something nobody else has ever tried.📖 In this episode we cover:00:00 - Introduction & Mark's multifaceted life08:00 - Keith Richards, the Rolling Stones & the Delta Blues connection11:00 - Mark's first novel: a Black woman who claims to be Christ returned15:00 - Growing up Southern Baptist, becoming Lutheran & writing about faith20:00 - The Gendarme: the Armenian Genocide told from a Turkish soldier's perspective28:00 - Traveling to Turkey & Syria to research the book31:00 - Boy With Wings: freak shows, the Depression-era South & what it means to be different40:00 - Meeting "Short E Dangerously" — a real-life sideshow performer44:00 - The publishing world: big five vs. indie publishers & the marketing reality52:00 - Word of South Festival: how a rainy first weekend launched a 12-year tradition53:00 - Muscle Shoals tribute, Violent Femmes, Flaming Lips & Earth Wind & Fire57:00 - Sponsors, budgets & the future of the festival01:00:00 - The common thread through it all: it's okay to be different(Update timestamps to match your actual episode)🎙️ About Spirits in the Material World:A Memphis-based MidSouth podcast exploring Southern culture, music, business, and the stories that shape our communities. Hosted by Sean Blankenship, produced by Pairaces Studio.🔗 Listen everywhere:🟢 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4oOvZO6tiuPA68r5m2ZfGJ🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/spirits-in-the-material-world-a-midsouth/id1803956926💜 iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-spirits-in-the-material-wo-302669565📲 Follow the show:▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@spiritsinthematerialworldcast#SouthernGothic #ArmenianGenocide #MemphisMusic #MidSouth #WordOfSouth #LiteraryFestival #SouthernCulture #HistoricalFiction #FreakShow #IndiePublishing #TallahasseeFL #SpiritsInTheMaterialWorld #SouthernStorytelling #BookPodcast #MusicAndLiterature