Ask the Author

[Threddy]

Ok, Thanks Mark.

The person that is going to help my mum sort this out has gone on holiday for the week but expect an email soo after.

Ed

 

[Threddy]

Unfortunately Mark, they want an adult author in the library first, and will consider you later on if it is successful. I tried to persuade them that adults read your books but unfortunately to no avail.

 

[Mark Robson]

Unfortunately Mark, they want an adult author in the library first, and will consider you later on if it is successful. I tried to persuade them that adults read your books but unfortunately to no avail.

Thanks for trying, Threddy. Much appreciated.

 

[Writers Blocked]

Here's a question I wanted to ask at your book signing, but (and wait for the irony considering my writing delusions) I couldn't find the words.

Do you have any regrets about being a genre writer? Have you ever written anything other than fantasy, and do you think you'd be able to sell it to a publisher if you did?

I don't know if this is the sort of question I should be asking, so please feel free to ignore me, but it just seems wrong to me that authors seem to have the least freedom in their art which is at odds with the liberating nature of writing.

 

[Mark Robson]

Sorry Writers Blocked, it took me a while to notice this.

No, I have no regrets about being a genre writer. I've always loved fantasy (particularly heroic fantasy) so I have no problems with being branded this way. I've only written one story outside of this genre, which was the short SF story published in the anthology, Time Pieces.

I have ideas for books in other genres. Whether I ever get them published - who knows? It will certainly be more difficult to get something published in a different field to the one I'm known for. More importantly I'd have to get the time to write them first! Life is pretty busy.

 

[Writers Blocked]

Hi Mark, thanks for replying. After I wrote it I was instantly concerned that it wasn't the sort of thing you should ask a writer.

Of course, now that you've been so polite, I simply HAVE to ask the follow-up question(s).

Other than science fiction and fantasy, what genres do you enjoy reading most?

Yeah, unfortunately I have a million questions in me

 

[Mark Robson]

No problem, Writers Blocked. That is what this thread is all about, after all.

What genres do I like, well it would be easier to tell you what I don't like! I'm not a fan of the biography genre, nor do I read much on sports, personal well-being or gardening! However, I'll have a go at most things. I read a smattering of books from all over the bookshop shelves, but definitely tend towards fiction rather than non-fiction. I don't read so much horror, but I like thrillers, historical fiction, spy stories, murder/mysteries, have never really explored the crime shelves, (but wouldn't rule them out) ... basically if it's been recommended and it looks interesting, I'll normally be willing to give it a go. It's finding time for all these books that's difficult.

 

[zombiehop]

I realise it's a rather trivial question compared to previous ones, but I've always wondered how you pronounced Femke's name? It's been a source of great debate between myself and my friend. Is it said Fem-kee, or is it just as if it was written 'Femk'?
As said before, I realise it's rather odd - and possibly extremely stupid. Anyone else here ever wondered, or is it just us not realising the obvious?

 

[Mark Robson]

Hi Zombiehop and welcome to Chronicles. Femke is actually a Dutch name and so, rather like in German, you pronounce all the letters. Fem-ker is the correct pronounciation, but does it really matter? I've heard lots of variations, but each can be correct to the individual reader. I first heard the name when I signed a book for someone called Femke in a bookshop in Cheltenham. I asked her if she would mind me calling one of my characters by that name ... and now she has her own series.

She is who she is to you.

 

[AlexM]

Hey Mark, I was wondering if the Imperial series [not sure what its called, saw it at the library] is the only series you've written? if it isn't, and you have others. Which series do you think is best to read first?

Also, at the school I attend there is a poster in our library of your book Imperial Traitor. And thats in Australia!

 

[Threddy]

Mark, have you ever worked out the Flesch-Kinkaid Grade Level for any of your books? I would be interested to know to see if my book should be aimed at the same level as yours.

Ed - Threddy

 

[Threddy]

Hey Mark, I was wondering if the Imperial series is the only series you've written? If it isn't, and you have others. Which series do you think is best to read first?

Mark has written 3 series.

Darkweaver Legacy - 4 Books
Imperial Trilogy - 3 Books - Surprisingly, lol
Dragon Orb - 4 Books [Only 2(technically 1) published so far]

Doesn't really matter which order you read. In my opinion, the Imperial book sare the best, but I feel they make more sense if you read the Darkweaver Legacy first.

Ed - Threddy

(P.s Would have let Mark answer but I thought this may slip through the net as it's at the end of the page)

 

[Mark Robson]

Hey Mark, I was wondering if the Imperial series [not sure what its called, saw it at the library] is the only series you've written? if it isn't, and you have others. Which series do you think is best to read first?

Also, at the school I attend there is a poster in our library of your book Imperial Traitor. And thats in Australia!

My thanks to Threddy for answering the question. I had missed it - sorry. If you want to read the stories in true Chronological sequence, then The Darkweaver Legacy is the first series to read - or the Dragon Orb series, as this is the start of something totally different to my previous work.

Thanks for posting. It's great to hear that my books have found their way to Australia.

 

[Threddy]

In answering the other question, this one has been missed.

Mark, have you ever worked out the Flesch-Kinkaid Grade Level for any of your books? I would be interested to know to see if my book should be aimed at the same level as yours.

Ed - Threddy

 

[Mark Robson]

No, Threddy. I've never worked that out. I'm not even sure I'd know where to start! I've heard of it, but I can't remember where. I've got a feeling that one of my word processor programmes used to work it out automatically, though I never used to pay any attention to it.

 

[Cosmo]

Hey Mark, don't know if you remember me, but i'm just dropping in to say i'm absolutely DELIGHTED to hear that you've released a new series of books. and i'll be sure to go and get them within the week, this news has just cheered me up a great deal.
Thaught i'd let you know.

 

[Mark Robson]

Glad to hear it, Cosmo. There's only two out so far, but I should finish writing the final book next week. Then I'll come up for air and be sociable again!

 

[Ell]

Hi Mark,

Just recently finished Shadow and Longfang, both very good reads, even if they're aimed at younger audiences. I really enjoyed the way you moved about between the characters minds more in Shadow compared to Firestorm, it gave it more pace and depth. And in Longfang when they're in the chase in Harkesis, I actually forgot for a second that it was you who had written the Imperial series and hoped against hope that it would be written as well. Then I remembered that you were one and the same, relaxed into it and was glad to be reminded of Femke and Shalidar's cat and mouse games. In fact I may well re-read them now. Of course, some of the best bits are when you go into descriptions of flying and how it feels. I'm looking forward to the final installment.

I know it's more S&S than you but I was just wondering whether you knew when the competition results might be posted.

Thanks for all of your series.

 

[Mark Robson]

Hi Mark,


I know it's more S&S than you but I was just wondering whether you knew when the competition results might be posted.

Thanks for all of your series.

Thanks very much for your post, Ell. I shall chase up the competition results this week - I've been so busy that it had totally slipped my mind. I've got some updating to do on other areas of my website as well.

I'm really glad that you have enjoyed the middle of the Dragon Orb series, too. It's never easy to get middle books to be satisfying, as you have to leave all the big confrontations to the end of the series - at least that's the way it feels. I've really enjoyed writing these books and am planning a very wide-reaching series next that will see dragons messing with our history all over the world. Should be fun!

 

[Ell]

I look forward to it! Presumably in the same world as the dragon orbs? I do get a certain kind of enjoyment from novels that could exist within our world. And the more extreme yet explainable, the better.

I do have to say, even though I know you’re not so keen to talk about the Darkweaver legacy, that I think ‘First sword’ along with ‘The forging of the sword’ were my two favourites of that set. I’d have to say you seem to have a knack for getting the middle books exciting.

I would have hoped you would have had a well deserved rest after finishing the dragon orbs (apart from my selfish inner self that hopes monsters would lock you up and force you to produce novels constantly) but I guess there’s no rest for the wicked and the brilliant. I’m looking forward to Aurora.