What inspired you
to become an author?
At its core, nothing more than
a desire to tell a story, and to tell it the way I want to. It’s not unusual
for me to get to the end of a book or film and, even if I enjoyed them, be
thinking to myself “I would’ve done it differently”. When it comes to vampires,
in particular, I often wonder how books or films could be done differently and
I often have a few ideas. But everyone’s a critic, right? So instead of just
saying “I think I could do better”, I set out to do better... or at least to do differently.
I’m not saying I’ve succeeded,
but I’ll always try. I guess that’s both an inspiration and a driving force.
Do you have a
specific writing style?
I hope I do, but I wouldn’t be
able to describe it. Stephen King once asked his editor if he should write
another book under a new pen name (this was way after Richard Bachman), to
which his editor said, simply, there would be no point. King’s style is so
“King” that people would instantly cotton on. Is that a good thing or bad
thing? In King’s case it’s good, for his style obviously works. It could
equally be perceived as a bad thing, however, if people get bored of a style.
Of the stories I’ve
written—published and unpublished—I write in both first and third person. I
don’t use as many metaphors as I would like to (or at least I feel like I
don’t), but I’m aware that I’m a sucker for detail and I enjoy setting up
scenes in their entirety.
But although I’ve been writing
stories for years, I’m still only at the beginning of my writing career. I can
see my writing getting better from one piece to the next, and with that my
style is undoubtedly evolving, too.
What books/authors
have influenced your life?
“The Beach” by Alex Garland
has certainly influenced my life. It is arguably the book that made me read a
lot more and thus help me on my author’s journey. But I wouldn’t be surprised
if it, on a subconscious level, was a factor in my decision to start travelling
and look for adventure. It was only recently, actually, that I visited Thailand
for a second time and finally went to Ko Phi Phi Lee where the movie was
filmed.
I would have to say Bram
Stoker has influenced my life, before I even knew it. I’ve always been
fascinated by myths and folklore, but with a focus on vampires which probably
started with this little known character called “Dracula” (even though he was
by no means the first vampire, as we all know).
What book are you
reading now?
I am currently reading “The
Dark Light of Day” by my fellow Booktrope author TM Frazier. I have literally
just begun, having just finished another Dean Koontz.
What books are in
your to read pile?
Hmm. Y’know, I don’t really
have a “to read” pile. I kind of pick up whatever’s closest to hand. I have
books waiting to be read, some purchased years ago. I’ll get round to them, but
after finishing every book I judge my mood (and laziness) before picking the
next. I try to keep a Koontz lying around, though, for he’s my saviour. If I
ever find myself struggling to get to the end of something, I just think
“finish this and then I’ll read Koontz”. He never lets me down.
What is your
current “work in progress” or upcoming projects?
I am currently writing the
second book in the Cruentus Saga, the follow up to “No Shelter from Darkness”.
It is a planned five-book saga. Once book two is done I’ll then think about
whether to dive straight into book three or take a break from that world to
start another.
Is there anything
you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Of course: to write well. In
conversation people often ask if I find it hard to write. My answer is always
the same, “No, I find it really easy to write. But I find it really difficult
to write well.” Like all authors, I guess, I am my own worst critic. I’ll write
a sentence, read it back, think it’s crap and rewrite. I’ll do it again and
again, but I’ll always be able to find some way to make it better, ever fearful
that if someone else read it they’d think it was rubbish.
Who is your
favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
As you may have twigged by
now, Dean Koontz is arguably my favourite author (and it was only recently when
I read another book of his extensive catalogue that I realised how much of an
influence he is). He just has such an amazing way with words. He can make you
laugh in the midst of the most harrowing scene without breaking the atmosphere.
He uses a hell of a lot of metaphors which I would love to be able to do, but
something that has clearly rubbed off on me a bit is his attention to detail.
He can write pages setting up a scene or describing a minute’s worth of action,
yet it’s never boring.
Do you have to
travel much to do research for your books?
If I had the money I would
certainly do more travelling for research purposes. Fortunately, for NSFD the
vast majority of it is set in London. The specific area is real and I spent
quite a bit of time walking around and initially I did some location scouting.
But with the book also being set in the past, most of the research was of the
time as opposed to the place.
Future books in the series,
however, are based all over the world. In fact, I’m looking forward to visiting
Spain (again) and Gibraltar to get an appreciation of them for book two. And
looking forward to books three through five, lets just say I hope books one and
two do well so I can afford to visit all the countries required.
Who designed the
cover of your latest book?
I worked closely with the
talented Greg Simanson on the cover of NSFD. I had a specific image in mind for
the cover, requiring more location scouting and some photo shoots before
handing the material over to Greg for him make it look good.
So Much to Write
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No Shelter From Darkness
The Cruentus Saga
Book One
Mark D. Evans
Genre: Paranormal, Horror
Publisher: Booktrope
ISBN: 978-1620151396
ASIN: B00D5C9IJ4
Number of pages: 304
Cover Artist: Greg Simanson
Book Description:
“Her hands began to shake as she looked down wide-eyed at the blood-soaked cotton that covered her.”
London emerges from the Blitz, and every corner of the city bears the scars. In the East End—a corner fairing worse than most—thirteen year-old Beth Wade endures this new way of life with her adoptive family. She also suffers the prejudice against her appearance, an abiding loneliness and now the trials of adolescence. But with this new burden comes a persisting fatigue and an unquenchable thirst that ultimately steals her into unconsciousness . . .
What happens next is the start of something Beth will fear more than the war itself. She begins to change in ways that can’t be explained by her coming-of-age, none more frightening than her need to consume blood. The family who took her in and the former best friend who’s taken refuge in their house can never know. Aware of the danger she poses to everyone around her, Beth has never felt more alone. But someone else knows Beth’s secret . . . someone who understands just how different she really is. He alone can decrypt her past and explain her future. But he’s been sworn to destroy her kind, and as Beth grows ever more dangerous, he’s forced to take sides.
Can Beth keep all of the secrets? Can she trust a man sworn to kill her? And can she stop the vampire within from taking her humanity?
About the Author:
MARK D. EVANS was born near London, England. He graduated university with a degree in something not even remotely connected with writing and went on to become a successful consultant. Then he threw it all away to chase his dream of being an author, via a considerable amount of travelling. Today, his life largely resembles that of a nomad, and he can currently be found typing away in a tiny flat in north London, sustained by coffee.
He is the author of two short stories, one of which made it into a Kindle Top Ten.
His latest work is his debut novel, No Shelter from Darkness, which is the first book in his series, The Cruentus Saga.
Visit Mark online:
Twitter: @TheMarkDEvans
a Rafflecopter giveaway
2 comments:
thank you for the giveaway
And yet another book to add to my must read list. Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy!
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