Spy Vs. Spook series Mark & Quinn discussion
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Talk to Tinnean
Trisha wrote: "Have questions for Tinnean? This is the place to ask them! Tinnean has kindly said I could open this thread so you can ask her anything about her boys. The next post will be hers and she can post i..."Thanks very much, Trisha. :-)
Hello, sibs, and thanks so much for stopping by. If you have any questions about Mark or Quinn or any of the characters who live in the Spy vs. Spook universe, please feel free to ask. I'm usually online every day, and I'll answer ASAP.
One brief note: I originally wrote this as a birthday gift for a friend in 2002, which is why most of the events touch on that time period.
So ask away! :-D
Hello*waves*
First of all, thank you for Mark&Quinn, Theo&Wills!
My question is: Mark, my favorite character... How he was created? In long and detailed way, before the book, or out of nowhere, inspiration put him in your head exactly as he is?
Hi, Bookwatcher! Thank you! :-)Mark Vincent actually started life as a character in fanfiction. Back in the day, I used to write JAG fanfic, but by 2007, I wanted to reach a broader audience. (JAG might have had a decent fan base, but the characters I wrote, Clark Palmer and Clayton Webb, were secondary and as a pairing didn't have much of a following.) Once I decided to post the series to an online archive, (CRVBoy) I made the characters original. The stories were expanded, and when I decided to try to get them published, they were expanded again. For instance, the first chapter in Houseboat on the Nile, Just Another New Year’s Eve, was totally new and had never appeared anywhere prior to this.
Mark always was a snarky character who knew he was the best at what he did and had no problem informing everyone of that fact. He had no patience with those who didn't meet his standards, and the only person who could keep him under control—who he had any respect for—was The Boss. But then, as you know from the first book, Mark became intrigued by Quinn and over the course of the Spy vs. Spook books (there was a reason the first book was Houseboat. Mark was also a big believer in deny, deny, deny when it came to a certain spook from the CIA. ;-) ) came to realize here was a man who was not only his equal but someone he could care for.
One last thing for now: Mark sees himself as a loner, but he has devoted friends: the rent boys, Pierre de Becque, Femme, the men who raised him, and of course, Quinn, although with Quinn it goes far beyond that. If Mark gives his loyalty, it will be forever. (Neat tie-in with the title of the last Spy vs. Spook, and totally unintentional!)
Hi Tinnean,I was wondering if we will get a book from Wills' pov? I know you have the shorts on the website, but will there be a book too? While Mark is my absolute favorite character, I have to admit Wills comes in a very close second. I'd love to see a full book from his side of things.
Alicia wrote: "Hi Tinnean,I was wondering if we will get a book from Wills' pov? I know you have the shorts on the website, but will there be a book too? While Mark is my absolute favorite character, I have to a..."
Hi Alicia,
I'm so glad you like Mark and Wills. They're a couple of my favorites, but I have to say that: I'm their mom. ;-)
I hadn't planned to do a book from Wills' POV, especially since at this point I have quite a few other stories on the backburner, but let me give this some thought. If he's willing to talk... well, we'll see.
Tinnean wrote: "One last thing for now: Mark sees himself as a loner, but he has devoted friends: the rent boys, Pierre de Becque, Femme, the men who raised him, and of course, Quinn, although with Quinn it goes far beyond that. If Mark gives his loyalty, it will be forever. (Neat tie-in with the title of the last Spy vs. Spook, and totally unintentional!) ."thank you for the answer :)
Yes, he consider himself a loner but I notice he has many friends... It's a pity he don't have family :(
I forgot to say, I'm Brazilian, so I was surprise when I read about Mark knowing Portuguese :)
I was über excited about it. Lol.
Why this language? I mean, why put his stepfather that speak Portuguese? It's something you want to add for a specific reason?
Bookwatcher wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "One last thing for now: Mark sees himself as a loner, but he has devoted friends: the rent boys, Pierre de Becque, Femme, the men who raised him, and of course, Quinn, although with..."Actually, he does have family, his Uncle Steve, Aunt Lilly, and numerous cousins and second cousins. As a matter of fact, do you remember the cousin at the funeral who thought Mark had nice eyes, and who Mark thought might be gay? He turns up in a short I hope to post for Christmas in July. ;-)
Do you know, I can't remember the exact reason why I chose to make Jose Ramos, Tio Ze, Portuguese. *headdesk* Although I might have watched a TV show that had Portuguese fishermen sailing out of Gloucester, Massachusetts for that episode. Since Mark's mother tended to travel around, it seemed feasible.
You're from Brazil?! Now I'm uber excited. May I pick your brain for the language? I'm working on another story right now that takes place in Brazil, along the Amazon, and a couple of the characters speak Portuguese. :-)
Will we ever find out who kept parking in front of the house ?
Jack wrote: "Will we ever find out who kept parking in front of the house ?"I just realized, since I'm posting the Sidebars on my site, I can do a short that would explain that! (I'd told DSP, and it turned out to be too much of a pain trying to convince them it could work.) (that happened a lot with Foolish Me, which surprised me, since it didn't have much underage sex. Finally I just threw up my hands and said, sure, whatever you say.)This might be another Sidebar. Maybe when Wills and Theo bring Baby Bear home from the hospital. :-D
Jack wrote: "And who was the Archangel Michael ?"Y'know, I was thinking about doing a short from Charlemagne's POV. Or maybe from the Archangel's POV? Something else to think about. ;-)
*doing a happy dance right now*PLEASE...PLEASE...PLEASE !!!!
I'm a slave to your writing. And quite unhappy when I don't get a fix of it.
-Jack
Tinnean wrote: "Jack wrote: "Will we ever find out who kept parking in front of the house ?"(I'd told DSP, and it turned out to be too much of a pain trying to convince them it could work.) "
The fools
Tinnean wrote: "Bookwatcher wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "One last thing for now: Mark sees himself as a loner, but he has devoted friends: the rent boys, Pierre de Becque, Femme, the men who raised him, and of course,..."Lol
Yay! Of course I can help you with the Portughese. Just PM me when you need it and we exchange emails :))). Portughese from Brazil is slightly different from Portughese from Portugal. I would be happy taking a look in anything you need to your characters.
I was curious if you add this specific language to the book for a personal reason :)
True, he has family. I didn't said it well, I mean family close to him, like Quinn has (his mother, someone he always talk to).
Yay! A short!! :))
Jack wrote: "*doing a happy dance right now*PLEASE...PLEASE...PLEASE !!!!
I'm a slave to your writing. And quite unhappy when I don't get a fix of it.
-Jack"
Thanks, Jack! I hope I can get this latest out soon. Not only am I waiting for my editor to get back to me, but I'm biting my nails regarding the "gay vampire story." It's ten weeks, two days since I subbed it. Usually that means there's a really good chance it will be accepted, but since Dreamspinner turned down Mark and Quinn, I'm a nervous wreck.
So many stories, so little time! Unless Charlemagne or his Michael keeps it short, they'll have to stay on the back burner. Wait until Charlemagne learns that Wills' grandparents have a Great Dane they named Charlemagne. ;-)
Jack wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Jack wrote: "Will we ever find out who kept parking in front of the house ?"(I'd told DSP, and it turned out to be too much of a pain trying to convince them it could work.) "
T..."
Even though it's their sandbox, and they're in the business to make money, I have to agree with you. To tell the truth, trying to satisfy them about Foolish Me really wore me out. This is why I've decided never to sub underage or a serial like Spy vs. Spook to them again. (It felt like they were snubbing readers who enjoyed Mark and Quinn in order to attract possible new readers, and frankly, that got on my last nerve.)
Okay, this is me being pissy. I'm sorry. :-\
Carole wrote: "I agree with Jack! The fools! LOL"Thank you, Carole. This means a great deal to me.
Hi Tinnean.I really love Mark&Quinn. I'm from Milan and I really like how the restaurant that you created is like a character.
Yours is one of my favorite series and after the e-book I also bought the paperbook because I like to see my favorite books in the display case, so I was wondering how the fourth book will be available: only e-book o with the paperbook version?
Thank You and Good Job with Quinn's book.
Bookwatcher wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Bookwatcher wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "One last thing for now: Mark sees himself as a loner, but he has devoted friends: the rent boys, Pierre de Becque, Femme, the men who raised him..."Ah. So the Brazilian would be Portughese? Thank you! I've tried to keep it to a minimum, since the MC doesn't speak the language, but I have sim, senhor, and also filho da puta. That last is from the baddie. Oh, and heart's desire? I originally had it Desejo do Coracao. This is for the MC's boat, and I hope it's not too different, because he nicknamed it Josie.
You're right, Mark didn't have a close biological family, which is sad, but now he's got Quinn and Portia, and he'll kill to keep them in his life. :-)
Laura wrote: "Hi Tinnean.I really love Mark&Quinn. I'm from Milan and I really like how the restaurant that you created is like a character.
Yours is one of my favorite series and after the e-book I also bough..."
Hi Laura,
Thank you! I'm pleased to know you love Mark and Quinn. I've been writing them in one form or another since 2002, and that means a lot to me.
Raphael's was fun to create. I just wish I'd thought to have it established in the late 50s. Then it could have been Nigel and Portia's place too.
About the paperback: I like to have that on my bookshelf as well. I should be able to have them available through Createspace. When I know more, I'll post here, but I definitely want it to be available to my readers.
Thank you again, Laura. And here's hoping Quinn cooperates. :-)
Tinnean wrote: "Bookwatcher wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Bookwatcher wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "One last thing for now: Mark sees himself as a loner, but he has devoted friends: the rent boys, Pierre de Becque, Femme, t..."Yes, "Desejo do coração" is correct (with ç and ~ above the letter "a") but I must said I never heard someone calling a beloved like that. Lol. The phrase is correct :)
Bookwatcher wrote: "Yes, "Desejo do coração" is correct (with ç and ~ above the letter "a") but I must said I never heard someone calling a beloved like that. Lol. The phrase is correct :)"Excellent! I've made the changes in the manuscript. (This is what David renames his boat.) Thank you so much! :-D
Bookwatcher wrote: ":Dgreat name to a boat :)))"
The Josie is a sweetheart. She takes David back to hi heart's desire. ;-)
I love this series and I'm so glad that you're going to continue Mark and Quinn's story! I can't wait to read more, this is one of my favorite rereads!
Shantel wrote: "I love this series and I'm so glad that you're going to continue Mark and Quinn's story! I can't wait to read more, this is one of my favorite rereads!"Thank you, Shantel! I'm really pleased to hear that. :-) Now if the editor would just get back to me...
I'm sorry..excuse me..elbowing my way in..pardon..because I'm just a very selfish reader. I just really want to know when can I expect more Mark & Quinn action. My apologies if this has already been addressed. Thank you.
Bookwatcher wrote: "Hello*waves*
First of all, thank you for Mark&Quinn, Theo&Wills!
My question is: Mark, my favorite character... How he was created? In long and detailed way, before the book, or out of nowhere, i..."
Team Mark!
Was it Dreamspinner that picked up this series?
Smith wrote: "I'm sorry..excuse me..elbowing my way in..pardon..because I'm just a very selfish reader. I just really want to know when can I expect more Mark & Quinn action. My apologies if this has already bee..."No problem, Smith. I'm hoping If You're Going Through Hell, Keep Going will be out either the end of this month or the beginning of June. (I'd hoped for earlier this month, but that's a wash. ::sigh:: )
Thanks for asking.
So glad to hear that the next book is "coming out"soon! Can't wait to read it, I need a Vincent/Mann fix!
Stephen wrote: "So glad to hear that the next book is "coming out"soon! Can't wait to read it, I need a Vincent/Mann fix!"Thanks, Stephen. I'm getting a little impatient myself. If I haven't heard anything by tomorrow, I'll send the editor an email to see what's cooking.
I read Mark's Birthday short, when did he have a son? It had to be before Quinn since he's in graduate school right?
Shantel wrote: "I read Mark's Birthday short, when did he have a son? It had to be before Quinn since he's in graduate school right?"Do you remember the Kid in Black Coffee,the next to the last chapter of Not My Spook!? We learn that he's actually Mark's son. His story is the last in the series, Complications. And more than that I really shouldn't say. ;-)
Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "I read Mark's Birthday short, when did he have a son? It had to be before Quinn since he's in graduate school right?"Do you remember the Kid in Black Coffee,the next to the last c..."
OMG I do totally remember him!! I can't wait to read that, that's awesome!
Shantel wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "I read Mark's Birthday short, when did he have a son? It had to be before Quinn since he's in graduate school right?"Do you remember the Kid in Black Coffee,the ne..."
Yes! *cough* Thank you. I got a little carried away when I wrote the birthday story, but I had so much fun with it. Once the series is finished, maybe I'll go back and see what Mark does for Quinn's birthday. ;-)
Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "I read Mark's Birthday short, when did he have a son? It had to be before Quinn since he's in graduate school right?"Do you remember the Kid in Bla..."
I think I missed the birthday story somehow... Where do I find it?
Stephen wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "I read Mark's Birthday short, when did he have a son? It had to be before Quinn since he's in graduate school right?"Do you remembe..."
Under the spin-off section click the online stories and there's a link there for all the short stories, Mark's birthday is the last one I think.
Shantel wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "I read Mark's Birthday short, when did he have a son? It had to be before Quinn since he's in graduate school right?"..."Sorry for my lack of knowledge... But what spinoff section are we talking about?
Stephen wrote: "Shantel wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "I read Mark's Birthday short, when did he have a son? It had to be before Quinn since he's in graduat..."It's fine, I found it while I was looking through the group threads. If you hit the link at the top it shows you all the threads in the group and it's in there, but here's the link. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Shantel wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Shantel wrote: "Stephen wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "Tinnean wrote: "Shantel wrote: "I read Mark's Birthday short, when did he have a son? It had to be before Quinn since..."Thank you Shantel...now I'm all caught up!
Really enjoyed Mark & Quinn's books, though I read Theo & Wills first, I was glad to find more with the Spy vs Spook stories and am looking forward to future stories.
Just re-reading Houseboat on the Nile - i know the books were set in 2002 after 9/11; SSTs are mentioned several times, what are they? Stupid question, but been bugging me :-)
Anyway, loved them all.
Carol wrote: "Really enjoyed Mark & Quinn's books, though I read Theo & Wills first, I was glad to find more with the Spy vs Spook stories and am looking forward to future stories.
Just re-reading Houseboat on..."
Hi Carol! No such thing as a stupid question. :-) SSTs are Super Sonic Transports, jets with those pointy noses. They were so fast they could almost arrive before they left. ;-) SSTs used to fly directly over the house where I grew up, which was on Runway 22 of JFK, so that was a bit of nostalgia for me.
I'm so pleased to hear you've enjoyed the series. Right now I'm working on the edits for Book 4, and I hope to get them back to my editor some time today.
Thanks Tinnean! Really looking forward to Bk 4.
Carol wrote: "Thanks Tinnean! Really looking forward to Bk 4.":-D
Is the new book still coming out this month or has it changed?
Shantel wrote: "Is the new book still coming out this month or has it changed?"It's out! http://fanstore.myawesomefans.com/ind...
Just scroll down. \0/
Thank you for this, Tinnean. :D