A Mark Edwards Discussion- Pre Questions & Answers with a Signed Book Offer > Likes and Comments
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https://www.markedwardsauthor.com/about/This is Mark Edwards own website.
For your information, some great books.
Some of my favourites are
(to read)
We've also added his book The Wasp Trap as a second BOTM for March. I'm looking forward to reading this one.
Maybe I should mention that Mark Edwards has kindly agreed to give a signed paperback of The Wasp Trap for the best question.Good Luck
https://www.instagram.com/p/DQRwPoLDDid/A Christmas Magpie
A short story
and the 4th in the The Magpies series.
“Smart, propulsive and peppered with devilishly clever red herrings.” New York Times
Summer 1999. Will joins five other idealistic graduates working for an eccentric psychology professor. They’re going to launch a website to change online dating forever. No-one expects it to end in tragedy.
Twenty-five years later, Will gets an invitation: a dinner party. A chance to see the old gang again. But as soon as he arrives, something doesn’t seem right. There’s an unexpected guest. The hosts are clearly keeping a secret. And on the way in, Will is sure he heard crying.
Everyone has something to hide about what really happened that summer.
But only one of them is willing to kill to find the truth…
**Download Mark’s special Reading Group Guide to The Wasp Trap complete with discussion points, playlists, a menu and ‘Psychopath quiz’**
“I loved this brilliant, edgy, character driven thriller with a passion. So clever and fresh with a wild and incredibly satisfying twist at the end.” Lisa Jewell
‘Tense, artful and satisfying‘ Louise Candlish
‘Highly entertaining…kept me guessing to the very last page’ Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond
‘The most gripping book I’ve read in ages’ William Shaw
HelloToday on Book Bub The Wasp Trap is on a special for 99p.
Hi Mark. We're glad you agreed to a Q&A session. I read both The Magpies and The Wasp Trap and enjoyed both.I thought it was time to get a few pre-questions down. I have more for the day of Q&A.
1.) What influenced you to focus on writing psychological thrillers?
2.) Is there a particular scene of passage you're incredibly proud of in either of the two books we read in March and April?
3.) Is there a genre/ sub-genre that you haven't tried but would like to?
4.) Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
That's all for now. I'll have more questions later.
Please join in today, as Mark will join in throughout the day to answer questions. I will be adding mine later.
Hi Mark. I have more questions (continued from my earlier message).5. What is the most difficult part of your writing process?
6. What types of books do you read for fun? Genres, specific authors?
7. Have you ever made any surprising discoveries during your writing process of your books?
8. Do you show anyone your work in progress or wait until you've finished it?
That's all for now.
Well my first few questions.Especially a question for The Wasp Trap
1/With the main characters, do you know each role for each character before you start, or build the characters as you go.
2/ Before you start, have you made a decision on the villain/villains of a book
3/Could you name a few of your favourite books and authors.
4/ Have you traveled to destinations where your books take place
5/ What are the places you have enjoyed the most.
6/ Do you have a favourite of your own books
7/ Any other author you would like to join with to write a book
8/What is your favourite genre to read yourself
Our apologies.Mark has not arrived for his Q and A.
I have contacted him, I am sure he will join us soon.
So Sorry !
Really sorry to have missed this yesterday. I had some personal stuff going on. Hopefully it's not too late for me to answer your questions. I'll paste them and answer them one by one:1.) What influenced you to focus on writing psychological thrillers?
I feel into accidentally. When I wrote The Magpies I thought I was writing a horror novel, but then looking around at similar books I realised it was a psychological thriller. From that point on I didn't look back. I had found my genre!
2.) Is there a particular scene of passage you're incredibly proud of in either of the two books we read in March and April?
I love the 1999 sections in The Wasp Trap. I particularly like the scene when the characters are sitting around trying to think of a name for their website. It allowed me to use humour, mixed with nostalgia for what it's like to be young and in love during a hot summer.
3.) Is there a genre/ sub-genre that you haven't tried but would like to?
I'd love to write something post-apocalyptic but am waiting to have a great idea.
4.) Have you read anything that made you think differently about fiction?
Reading the translated Haruki Murakami novels in my twenties made me realise that language could be very simple and 'plain' while still powerful and effective. My style is partially based on that.
5. What is the most difficult part of your writing process?The first draft. I love editing and redrafting; whipping the book into shape. It's also a challenge not to repeat myself after writing so many books!
6. What types of books do you read for fun? Genres, specific authors?
I love psych thrillers (eg Lisa Jewell) but also enjoy literary fiction like Sally Rooney and Donna Tartt. I love a good dystopian/post-apocalyptic thriller too, like Station 11.
7. Have you ever made any surprising discoveries during your writing process of your books?
All the time! I am constantly surprising myself. I don't usually come up with the twists until I write them.
8. Do you show anyone your work in progress or wait until you've finished it?
No I would be too ashamed to show anyone until they are a little bit edited and polished!
1/With the main characters, do you know each role for each character before you start, or build the characters as you go.With The Wasp Trap, I figured out their roles before I started. I needed them all to be very different. There are so many characters that it was important they were distinct and all had a particular role to play.
2/ Before you start, have you made a decision on the villain/villains of a book
It depends - sometimes the villain is obvious from the start, like Fiona in The Psychopath Next Door. Sometimes I don't decide who the baddie is until I'm halfway through the book.
3/Could you name a few of your favourite books and authors.
The Secret History, Donna Tartt. American Psycho, Bret Easton Ellis. The Passage, Justin Cronin. Conversations With Friends, Sally Rooney. The Guest, Emma Cline. Into the Darkest Corner, Elizabeth Haynes.
4/ Have you traveled to destinations where your books take place
Yes, for example I went to N California and Oregon to research No Place to Run, and Iceland for Keep Her Secret. I also visited Applecross in Scotland, where my next book, One of the Family, is set.
5/ What are the places you have enjoyed the most.
New York City for The House Guest. Although I loved Iceland too.
6/ Do you have a favourite of your own books
The Wasp Trap and Here To Stay
7/ Any other author you would like to join with to write a book
I co-write six novels with Louise Voss so if I was going to co-write again it would be with her because we had a great working relationship.
8/What is your favourite genre to read yourself
See above - I like a real mix. The only genre I never read is fantasy, but maybe I should try it!
Thanks, Mark, for answering my questions. I appreciate it. By the way, if you ever do write a post-apocalyptic novel, I'll want to read it. I have a feeling it would be unique.
We will be adding his book The Wasp Trap on our BOTM in March.
But ahead of this as members we can have discussions on his many successful and top selling books, with over 5 million sales.
Mark Edwards is a best-selling English author known for his psychological thrillers, with over five million copies sold worldwide.
Biography
Mark Edwards was born on November 4, 1970, in Kent, England. He grew up in Hastings, East Sussex, and attended Rye College. He graduated from Staffordshire University in 1993 with a degree in sociology. Before becoming a full-time writer, Edwards held various jobs, including working in the civil service, customer service for a rail franchise, and as an English teacher in Tokyo, Japan.
Edwards made his debut as a solo author with the psychological thriller The Magpies in 2013, which quickly became a bestseller and established him as a prominent figure in the genre. He has since published numerous novels, including Here to Stay, Follow You Home, and The Psychopath Next Door. His works often explore themes of ordinary people facing terrifying situations, drawing inspiration from authors like Stephen King and Ruth Rendell.
He has also collaborated with fellow author Louise Voss, co-authoring six books, including Killing Cupid and Catch Your Death. His writing is characterized by its suspenseful plots and relatable characters, making his books popular among readers of thrillers.
Edwards has said he is a fan of American authors such as Stephen King, who have shaped the kind of stories he likes to tell: "Extraordinary, often scary, things happening to ordinary people." The works of both Harlan Coben and Linwood Barclay influenced Edwards when he wrote No Place to Run