Ask the Author: Mark Stary
Answered Questions (3)
Mark Stary
The Coconut Rebellion was written on a dare from my daughter, who is of the opinion that men in white coats would turn up if I accepted her challenge. Seeing as they call me their Mad Professor anyway, I figured what the heck.
The story came about from sitting on my small back yard deck with my daughter, talking about our favourite stories over a cup of tea. I said that my favourite stories are ones about something useless or someone who is a misfit,who turns out to be the exact opposite. 'Oh really, Dad? Well here's a challenge then. Come up with your own story.' She sips her tea and adds, 'Something useless then ... come on...'
So I reply, 'Gee I don't know sweetie. You know...Useless. Like an ashtray on a motorbike or a fish out water.'
A fish out of water ...
Hmm ...
The story was thrashed out in two minutes. Daughter walks away, mumbling about white coats and funny-farm fathers. I had to agree, had a chuckle and forgot about the story. I was currently writing a historical thriller at the time and during writing a very heart-wrenching scene, images of fish in coconuts sailing about going, 'Arrr!' kept popping into my head. This got worse over the next few days. In the end I had to give in and put aside the serious writing and start 'The Coconut Rebellion.'
The story came about from sitting on my small back yard deck with my daughter, talking about our favourite stories over a cup of tea. I said that my favourite stories are ones about something useless or someone who is a misfit,who turns out to be the exact opposite. 'Oh really, Dad? Well here's a challenge then. Come up with your own story.' She sips her tea and adds, 'Something useless then ... come on...'
So I reply, 'Gee I don't know sweetie. You know...Useless. Like an ashtray on a motorbike or a fish out water.'
A fish out of water ...
Hmm ...
The story was thrashed out in two minutes. Daughter walks away, mumbling about white coats and funny-farm fathers. I had to agree, had a chuckle and forgot about the story. I was currently writing a historical thriller at the time and during writing a very heart-wrenching scene, images of fish in coconuts sailing about going, 'Arrr!' kept popping into my head. This got worse over the next few days. In the end I had to give in and put aside the serious writing and start 'The Coconut Rebellion.'
Mark Stary
I have so many projects going on at one time that when the dreaded writer's block strikes, I move onto another story. Not sure this would work for some, but for me it really helps to let my imagination move to another story. Then suddenly, an idea pops into my head to cure the block and away I go!
Mark Stary
Currently working on a mid teens book called, 'The Goblin Prank.' This follows father Alan Dwyer and his two kids to the fabled Goblin Forest in New Zealand. Alan loves a prank but the Goblin Forest is not the place to joke around. Alan's prank goes horribly wrong and he unleashes terrible forces of evil. To save his kids from a fate worse than death, he must first save himself from his own past.
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