Ask the Author: Mark Leslie
Answered Questions (11)
Mark Leslie
When people told Samantha that she had her Daddy's eyes they rarely knew how literally true those words were. Sure, she inherited the man's good looks, charm, and his steely blue eyes; but she also actually possessed the man's orbs, having first dug them out with a spoon and then keeping them in a small jar of formaldehyde in her room.
Mark Leslie
Gee, do I only get to pick one? Because, depending on the mood, I'm sure I'd love to go hang out in Stan Lee's Marvel Universe version of New York City just for the chance of catching Spider-Man swinging about between the skyscrapers there.
Of course, in a completely different mood, I'd be curious to visit Piers Anthony's Xanth world, if only to enjoy, up close, the ridiculously painful puns that still make me laugh (especially now that I'm a Dad and bad jokes are an expected part of my repartee)
But that, of course, is just the beginning. I mean, who wouldn't want to follow Harry Potter and his friends along at Hogwarts or visit Diagon Alley? Or, to visit an entirely different type of school, the Jedi Training academy from the Young Jedi Knights series by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta?
I suppose, with those being just the tip of the iceberg of great places to visit, I'm delighted with the thrill and wonder of being able to continually put myself into the worlds of so many amazing writers.
Of course, in a completely different mood, I'd be curious to visit Piers Anthony's Xanth world, if only to enjoy, up close, the ridiculously painful puns that still make me laugh (especially now that I'm a Dad and bad jokes are an expected part of my repartee)
But that, of course, is just the beginning. I mean, who wouldn't want to follow Harry Potter and his friends along at Hogwarts or visit Diagon Alley? Or, to visit an entirely different type of school, the Jedi Training academy from the Young Jedi Knights series by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta?
I suppose, with those being just the tip of the iceberg of great places to visit, I'm delighted with the thrill and wonder of being able to continually put myself into the worlds of so many amazing writers.
Mark Leslie
What a fascinating question. And an intriguing one to answer.
I suppose I have already used one or more "mysteries" from my own life that made their way into a plot for a book, and I can imagine continuing to do more as I continue to write. (There is, after all, no shortage of inspiration)
My novel EVASION, for example, was inspired by the fact that I kept "seeing" my father for many months well after he had died on an operating room table. I recognize this is a phenomenon that other people have reported happening, but I kept musing on my belief I had actually seen him and so the novel's premise was born on just that. A man sees his father a few months after he has died and starts investigating the man's alleged death.
One of my favorite short stories "Browsers" (appears in ONE HAND SCREAMING and re-printed in ACTIVE READER) was inspired by my visit to an odd little bookstore on my very first visit to Hamilton, Ontario. The bookstore itself seemed to be "alive" and "growing" while I was exploring the inside of it; providing me plenty of intrigue and inspiration. Later, I couldn't find that same bookshop again. So, naturally, I had to explore that in a story.
Other mysteries that I'll likely explore from my own life involve the fact that I was adopted. In real life, I have already found my birth parents and birth family, but the mystery involved in adoption or of not knowing one's birth lineage can make for many different types of intriguing storylines. So plenty of fruit for interesting mysteries there.
I suppose I have already used one or more "mysteries" from my own life that made their way into a plot for a book, and I can imagine continuing to do more as I continue to write. (There is, after all, no shortage of inspiration)
My novel EVASION, for example, was inspired by the fact that I kept "seeing" my father for many months well after he had died on an operating room table. I recognize this is a phenomenon that other people have reported happening, but I kept musing on my belief I had actually seen him and so the novel's premise was born on just that. A man sees his father a few months after he has died and starts investigating the man's alleged death.
One of my favorite short stories "Browsers" (appears in ONE HAND SCREAMING and re-printed in ACTIVE READER) was inspired by my visit to an odd little bookstore on my very first visit to Hamilton, Ontario. The bookstore itself seemed to be "alive" and "growing" while I was exploring the inside of it; providing me plenty of intrigue and inspiration. Later, I couldn't find that same bookshop again. So, naturally, I had to explore that in a story.
Other mysteries that I'll likely explore from my own life involve the fact that I was adopted. In real life, I have already found my birth parents and birth family, but the mystery involved in adoption or of not knowing one's birth lineage can make for many different types of intriguing storylines. So plenty of fruit for interesting mysteries there.
Mark Leslie
Aw gee, do I have to only go with one?
I have always been fond of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson (selecting a couple from my earliest days of reading - comic books made me an avid reader) Their relationship was an interesting one from the very first "frame" when MJ walked into Peter's life; I adore the complex changing relationship they had, how they parted, and how, years later, they returned together. and how MJ revealed she knew Peter's secret identity and THAT was why she left, thinking she was unable to deal with it. Their coming back together and their marriage signified an important change in Parker's life and brought with it a unique and interesting growth.
I have always been fond of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson (selecting a couple from my earliest days of reading - comic books made me an avid reader) Their relationship was an interesting one from the very first "frame" when MJ walked into Peter's life; I adore the complex changing relationship they had, how they parted, and how, years later, they returned together. and how MJ revealed she knew Peter's secret identity and THAT was why she left, thinking she was unable to deal with it. Their coming back together and their marriage signified an important change in Parker's life and brought with it a unique and interesting growth.
Mark Leslie
Thanks so much, Sharon. Hope you enjoy. (FYI, it should be in stock at local bookstores - and the local Hamilton Public Library has copies)
While I'm not involved in any of the local Haunted Hamilton events, I have long been a fan of both the wonderful folks who run them. I'll provide links so you can check out the great fun. Much of the inspiration for writing the book came from going on their ghost walks and chatting with them about their investigations.
Spooky Steph heads up the great Haunted Hamilton group: http://www.haunted-hamilton.com/
And Daniel runs the Ghost Walks group: http://www.ghostwalks.com/
While I'm not involved in any of the local Haunted Hamilton events, I have long been a fan of both the wonderful folks who run them. I'll provide links so you can check out the great fun. Much of the inspiration for writing the book came from going on their ghost walks and chatting with them about their investigations.
Spooky Steph heads up the great Haunted Hamilton group: http://www.haunted-hamilton.com/
And Daniel runs the Ghost Walks group: http://www.ghostwalks.com/
Mark Leslie
Hearing from somebody who was moved, inspired, informed, intrigued by something that you wrote.
Mark Leslie
I don't believe in writer's block and therefore it doesn't believe in me.
I heard a writer say that other professionals don't not work because they have "[insert job role here] block" - and I quite like that. Imagine a pilot saying they are not inspired to fly today, a waiter not inspired to serve tables, or a plumber not inspired to respond to a service request. Okay,perhaps a plumber might be one of those professions where a "block" is something that creates more work. ;)
If you're a writer, you write. If you're having issues on a particular piece of writing (and sure, call it "being blocked"), work on something else, another writing project, some other tasks. Writing begets more writing, sometimes that's all it takes to "break" whatever you believe is blocking you.
I heard a writer say that other professionals don't not work because they have "[insert job role here] block" - and I quite like that. Imagine a pilot saying they are not inspired to fly today, a waiter not inspired to serve tables, or a plumber not inspired to respond to a service request. Okay,perhaps a plumber might be one of those professions where a "block" is something that creates more work. ;)
If you're a writer, you write. If you're having issues on a particular piece of writing (and sure, call it "being blocked"), work on something else, another writing project, some other tasks. Writing begets more writing, sometimes that's all it takes to "break" whatever you believe is blocking you.
Mark Leslie
Keep writing. Do your best to finish stories that you start. So many talented writers stop mid-way through a project and never get a chance to feel the satisfaction of completing something.
Don't worry if the first draft sucks. That's what a second draft is for. Just get the story out; then worry about fixing it, revising it, tweaking it later.
Don't worry about marketing or selling or anything other than writing the best possible thing you can -- by that I mean a story that is true to you and to the type of story/writing you would like to read yourself. Don't worry if it's something that everyone will love - worry if it's something YOU'D like to read. And write it.
Success in writing takes three P's - Patience, Persistence and Practice. (Have I mentioned that you should keep writing?)
Don't worry if the first draft sucks. That's what a second draft is for. Just get the story out; then worry about fixing it, revising it, tweaking it later.
Don't worry about marketing or selling or anything other than writing the best possible thing you can -- by that I mean a story that is true to you and to the type of story/writing you would like to read yourself. Don't worry if it's something that everyone will love - worry if it's something YOU'D like to read. And write it.
Success in writing takes three P's - Patience, Persistence and Practice. (Have I mentioned that you should keep writing?)
Mark Leslie
[UPDATED June 2, 2016] I just turned in a book I have co-authored with Rhonda Parrish called HAUNTED HOSPITAL: Eerie tales from Hospitals, Asylums and other Institutions and I'm doing the final edits for a novel called A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK as well as an anthology I'm editing in the Fiction River anthology series called "EDITOR'S CHOICE"
Mark Leslie
This answer might seem like avoidance, but everything inspires me to write. Stories, characters, settings, situations are everywhere - virtually everything I encounter every single day gets filed somewhere for potential use in stories. So, inspiration for stories are always there. If I never got another idea again, I'd still have a lifetime of stories to write. The key is making the time to sit down and actually write.
Mark Leslie
My novella EVASION came from an odd thing that happened shortly after my father had died. I kept seeing him everywhere; or, at least, people who I thought were my father. I suppose, because I wanted him to still be alive, I was seeing what I was hoping for. But then the thought occurred to me - what it one of those people I'd thought just looked like him was actually him? What if he was alive? And how could that be, since he died on an operating room table and I saw his dead body. The basis for EVASION attempts to answer that question in the guise of Scott Desmond looking into his father's death and uncovering secrets so tightly kept that, as he gets close to finding the answer, "they" are trying to kill him to keep it a secret.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more