How long have you been living on England’s south-east coast?
I moved down here with my wife in autumn of 2018. We used to live in the next county, Kent, which is where I grew up but I much prefer it down here next to sea. It's good for the brain!
What was your childhood like? Tell us your fondest memory.
Pretty average, I guess. I have a younger brother, and we had some fun times back then. One of my fondest memories though was when I once came home from school and my parents had bought me a present. "Look behind the sofa, Mark," Mum said. They'd bought me the fastest ship in the galaxy: The Millennium Falcon. It was the early eighties and Star Wars was a huge part of my childhood.
What is one thing that you, as a horror author, would never write about?
I'd never harm animals. Ever. One of my favourite stories "Dust Devils" published in Tale from the Lake Volume 4 by Crystal Lake Publishing involved a whole tonne of weird stuff. Where all kinds of bad things happened to the characters, except for a pet rabbit called Dennis.
How do you make sure to draw readers into your stories?
It's all about the hook. That first sentence, or at the very least the first paragraph. I try to grab the reader from the very start. For instance, my next novel has the first line: "More than one hundred and fifty years after he drowned, Sydney could still taste seawater."
Who inspired the character of shy accountant Anne in the novella, "Hell Cat of the Holt"?
Good question! I guess she's a combination of both me and my wife. The story stems from when her cat goes missing and we follow her search. Again, remember how I never harm animals in my fiction? Despite what the title of the book suggests, this book doesn't harm a single hair on any cat's head. Where as humans...
What inspired the story of your book, Monster Double Feature (a duo of abominations)?
The book contains two stories: River of Nine Tails and Reanimation Channel. The blurb? A British traveller desperate to escape his past finds himself at the heart of a Vietnamese legend, and learns why the Mekong Delta is known as “River of Nine Tails.” And a regular parcel collection from a neighbour becomes a descent into terror through the online game, “Reanimation Channel.”
Inspiration for the first story came from my round-the-world travels and the second was my own curiosity in the dark web.
How has been your experience of being a driving instructor?
It tests the patience, that's for sure!
What made you change your career paths As Spotlight Operator?
Ha! That wasn't a career - I did in fact do that to fuel my cocaine habit ... only joking. Seriously though, it was for a bit of extra cash. Besides, standing and pointing a massive light on a tripod at someone wailing Elvis tunes is enough to do your head in. I only did that half a dozen times.
Being a laboratory technician, how did you ensure your workspace didn't become contaminated?
I'm aware that the term "lab technician" suggests something glamorous, but trust me it's not. It was to do with inks and coatings for the print industry. But, who's to say my workspace didn't ever become contaminated? Getting ink all over the place? You can be as clean and methodical as anyone in the lab, and there'd always be a smudge somewhere. And you'd think "How?!"
What have you learned over the years having seen over 50 short stories feature in magazines and anthologies?
That it's impossible to please everyone. The reader can be an incredibly picky creature. Myself included!
What were your favorite techniques used daily as a baker?
Being sneaky enough to taste what we baked. Heard of the phrase "A baker's dozen"? Bake thirteen just in case one burns or collapses or whatever... Nah. If something's gonna go wrong with that tray of goods, it'll be the whole lot that can't be sold. So, a baker's dozen means the thirteenth is for the baker to eat.
How does it feel to become the author of the best-selling Shadow Fabric mythos?
Seeing that it was my debut to gain that label, it came as a mighty shock. And it's great that it's still doing well, as are the subsequent stories in the mythos, and I still have readers demanding more.
Who supported you to come into the field of acting?
I've been buddies with fellow author Matt Shaw for several years now and I nabbed a role in his directorial debut film, Monster. He supported me. And it was fun being a human birthday cake.
What is the toughest criticism you've ever received as an author and how did you take it?
Disregarding the dumbest 3-star review I ever received on Amazon that said "Not read yet" I honestly don't think anything particularly tough has been said. Even my low ratings have been positive in some respect.
When did you first join AllAuthor and did you join as a free or pro-member first? What are your thoughts on this website?
One part of being a writer is the marketing side of things. Sure, I can Photoshop stuff and have done in the past, but leaping into being a pro-member on this site has allowed me to take a step back and actually write more. So a big thanks goes to you!
