Ask the Author: Mark Allen Smith
Answered Questions (14)
Mark Allen Smith
Jim...
This is Mark Allen Smith. What a wonderful message to see first thing in the morning! I hope you realize how compelling it is for an author (me!) to get a note from someone who clearly has connected with a character/books he/she created -- and I am grateful for your attention and appreciation.
To your question --- I can't say whether Geiger will show up in another novel. I have been working for quite some time on a long, intricate serious literary novel (as they say) -- which I should be finishing in the next few months. Then I will decide what comes next. Another Geiger book? Perhaps. Hard to say now.
Again - I deeply appreciate your time and connection to Geiger and the books.
Be well.
Mark
This is Mark Allen Smith. What a wonderful message to see first thing in the morning! I hope you realize how compelling it is for an author (me!) to get a note from someone who clearly has connected with a character/books he/she created -- and I am grateful for your attention and appreciation.
To your question --- I can't say whether Geiger will show up in another novel. I have been working for quite some time on a long, intricate serious literary novel (as they say) -- which I should be finishing in the next few months. Then I will decide what comes next. Another Geiger book? Perhaps. Hard to say now.
Again - I deeply appreciate your time and connection to Geiger and the books.
Be well.
Mark
Mark Allen Smith
Iris...
It's Mark Allen Smith. I realized i may have missed your message and not responded. If so, I apologize. Sorry to report that THE CONFESSOR was not recorded on audio. It's a long story - but there were issues between the publisher and myself about getting an audio version done---and it didn't happen.
But again --- thanks very much for your interest and your love for Geiger. Hope you are well. Geiger sends his best.
Mark
It's Mark Allen Smith. I realized i may have missed your message and not responded. If so, I apologize. Sorry to report that THE CONFESSOR was not recorded on audio. It's a long story - but there were issues between the publisher and myself about getting an audio version done---and it didn't happen.
But again --- thanks very much for your interest and your love for Geiger. Hope you are well. Geiger sends his best.
Mark
Mark Allen Smith
Elaine...
You are very kind. It's always moving to receive a heartfelt note like yours. Right now I am close to finishing a new book - which is not about Geiger. As for future Geiger books - I honestly don't know if I will write about him again. But -- just in case you didn't know - there are TWO Geiger books, THE INQUISITOR & THE CONFESSOR.
Again - thanks so very much for your thoughts and caring.
Mark
You are very kind. It's always moving to receive a heartfelt note like yours. Right now I am close to finishing a new book - which is not about Geiger. As for future Geiger books - I honestly don't know if I will write about him again. But -- just in case you didn't know - there are TWO Geiger books, THE INQUISITOR & THE CONFESSOR.
Again - thanks so very much for your thoughts and caring.
Mark
Mark Allen Smith
Judyth... You are very kind. Right now I am working on a long literary novel very different from the Geiger books. I can't really tell you that when I'm done I will turn back to Geiger for another installment. I have so many other stories I am passionate about telling. So we'll just have to wait and see. But --- I can tell you that there is continued interest in THE INQUISITOR and THE CONFESSOR as a 'long-form' episodic TV series - on someplace like HBO or NETFLIX or SHOWTIME, and my agents/producers continue to work toward the deal that makes the most sense creatively. I hope you are well. I thank you again for your thoughts. Mark
Mark Allen Smith
Maria...
You are very kind - and I appreciate your interest.
Right now - I continue to work on a long literary novel...while Geiger enjoys himself somewhere - hopefully near a beautiful beach.
There has been, and still is, interest in the books in Hollywood. Right now we are talking with some folks who want to make it into a premium-cable series. I have actually already written the pilot episode script.
As far as another Geiger book in the future, it's hard to say. I expect if there was a series it would make it more likely I would write a third book. We'll see.
Again --- thank you for your kind words.
Be well
Mark
You are very kind - and I appreciate your interest.
Right now - I continue to work on a long literary novel...while Geiger enjoys himself somewhere - hopefully near a beautiful beach.
There has been, and still is, interest in the books in Hollywood. Right now we are talking with some folks who want to make it into a premium-cable series. I have actually already written the pilot episode script.
As far as another Geiger book in the future, it's hard to say. I expect if there was a series it would make it more likely I would write a third book. We'll see.
Again --- thank you for your kind words.
Be well
Mark
Mark Allen Smith
Hi...
Good to hear from you - and sorry I 'ruined' your vacation - and glad you enjoyed the book(s).
Re: Geiger...
He's on vacation, too - at least for a while. After THE CONFESSOR I began writing a 'serious literary' novel, as they say - and I'm still at it. Among other things, it is a novel within a novel --- so it's going to be long - 500 to 600 pages is my guess...and I'm past the halfway mark. It's titled CALLIOPE.
Thanks for checking in, and hope you enjoy THE CONFESSOR.
Be well
MAS
Good to hear from you - and sorry I 'ruined' your vacation - and glad you enjoyed the book(s).
Re: Geiger...
He's on vacation, too - at least for a while. After THE CONFESSOR I began writing a 'serious literary' novel, as they say - and I'm still at it. Among other things, it is a novel within a novel --- so it's going to be long - 500 to 600 pages is my guess...and I'm past the halfway mark. It's titled CALLIOPE.
Thanks for checking in, and hope you enjoy THE CONFESSOR.
Be well
MAS
Mark Allen Smith
Ktharina...
First, let me thank you for your kind words. Whenever I hear that I have made a connection with a reader, it is a special and satisfying feeling.
To your question about writing...
I have been writing since I was six or seven years old, so it is something for me that has become a natural behavior - almost like breathing and sleeping. With THE INQUISITOR, I did have to make a leap of faith with the book, because of its difficult subject and because of Geiger's nature -- but I just took a deep breath and dove into it.
To your question about advice...
You used the word 'dare'... I think that is a wonderful choice of words. What do you have to worry about or fear?! Not a thing. Starting to write is like beginning a quest - exciting, thrilling, challenging. Everything about it is positive. So just go ahead and 'dare' to write. It's like starting an adventure - discovering things about yourself and your dreams and imagination. There will be no one looking over your shoulder, no one grading you or passing judgement. You can make as many starts and stops as you want. If you get stuck, then let things sit for a while and then jump back in.
Create a schedule for yourself, to help you get going and stay going. Pick a time of day, your 'writing time' - and sit down each day and see what happens. It may help if you try creating an 'outline' first - your story in simple 'beats' - so you get a sense of the shape of things. But as simplistic as it may sound, the only way to begin writing something---is to start writing. If you hit dead-ends, then you back up and try another direction. But the joys will outweigh the frustrations.
Good luck.
Mark
First, let me thank you for your kind words. Whenever I hear that I have made a connection with a reader, it is a special and satisfying feeling.
To your question about writing...
I have been writing since I was six or seven years old, so it is something for me that has become a natural behavior - almost like breathing and sleeping. With THE INQUISITOR, I did have to make a leap of faith with the book, because of its difficult subject and because of Geiger's nature -- but I just took a deep breath and dove into it.
To your question about advice...
You used the word 'dare'... I think that is a wonderful choice of words. What do you have to worry about or fear?! Not a thing. Starting to write is like beginning a quest - exciting, thrilling, challenging. Everything about it is positive. So just go ahead and 'dare' to write. It's like starting an adventure - discovering things about yourself and your dreams and imagination. There will be no one looking over your shoulder, no one grading you or passing judgement. You can make as many starts and stops as you want. If you get stuck, then let things sit for a while and then jump back in.
Create a schedule for yourself, to help you get going and stay going. Pick a time of day, your 'writing time' - and sit down each day and see what happens. It may help if you try creating an 'outline' first - your story in simple 'beats' - so you get a sense of the shape of things. But as simplistic as it may sound, the only way to begin writing something---is to start writing. If you hit dead-ends, then you back up and try another direction. But the joys will outweigh the frustrations.
Good luck.
Mark
Mark Allen Smith
For the book I'm writing now ----
Fifteen years ago I was sitting on my porch looking out at the Hudson River, not really thinking about anything - and this image came alive in my head - a man stuck chest-high in mud in a cave, alone. That's it. I thought - 'What the hell is that about?' It stayed with me for all those years, and then last year I decided to see where it could go...
Fifteen years ago I was sitting on my porch looking out at the Hudson River, not really thinking about anything - and this image came alive in my head - a man stuck chest-high in mud in a cave, alone. That's it. I thought - 'What the hell is that about?' It stayed with me for all those years, and then last year I decided to see where it could go...
Mark Allen Smith
Anything and everything can be inspiration for me.
A newspaper article, a story someone relates to me, or the constant flood of images and ideas that have popped into my head out of nowhere since I was a tiny kid. The truth is -- I have always been stunned, shocked and fascinated by the things people do - and why they do them - so I'm never at a loss for inspiration.
A newspaper article, a story someone relates to me, or the constant flood of images and ideas that have popped into my head out of nowhere since I was a tiny kid. The truth is -- I have always been stunned, shocked and fascinated by the things people do - and why they do them - so I'm never at a loss for inspiration.
Mark Allen Smith
I'm writing a long, serious literary novel - a tragicomedy about an novelist who discovers he has a terminal disease, six months to live...and makes it his quest to write one more book before he dies. The only problem is - life keeps getting in the way.
Mark Allen Smith
Don't read too many books by 'experts' on how to write a novel...or a best-seller. Sit down and see what comes out of you, find out what YOUR voice is without trying to follow someone's 'rules for success.'
And don't read fiction while you're writing fiction!
And don't read fiction while you're writing fiction!
Mark Allen Smith
There is an addictive freedom that goes with the job - whether you're making a lot of money at it or a struggling writer trying to get in the game. You're alone in the room at that desk with your laptop or pen and paper or typewriter --- and you're free to create whatever and whoever you want.
Like the writer character in my work-in-progress novel says ---
It's the closest man can get to feeling like God.
Like the writer character in my work-in-progress novel says ---
It's the closest man can get to feeling like God.
Mark Allen Smith
I turn to my electrical piano and start playing. It's like a musical washing machine and cleans my head out. Works every time!
Mark Allen Smith
First --- thank you for those kind words. I'm not sure readers know how supportive it is for a writer to know he/she hit a spot in them, connected with them.
As to Geiger... he's on vacation. I'm halfway through a new book, a long literary novel about religion and science and joy and sex and death and why writers write, with a big cast of characters. I think/hope it's funny and tragic and thoughtful.
Nice to meet you, Absynthe.
Mark
As to Geiger... he's on vacation. I'm halfway through a new book, a long literary novel about religion and science and joy and sex and death and why writers write, with a big cast of characters. I think/hope it's funny and tragic and thoughtful.
Nice to meet you, Absynthe.
Mark
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