Categories
Fiction Author

Mark Barry Interview – Fiction Author

Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Eternal Curse, and today I have a treat to share. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Wiz- oh I mean, Mark Barry. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down.

Amazon Author Page

Toi Thomas: Hi there Mark! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.

Mark: Hi Toi, lovely to be here and thank you for inviting me.

Toi Thomas: So tell me, who is Mark Barry?

Mark: I am a multi-genre author (the clever name for contemporary fiction). I have written nine novels, seven of which are currently in print. My latest book is a gangster thriller set in the UK called Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals, which is difficult to acronymise. It is currently my best seller in the US.

Two of my books sell respectably. I live in the UK (Midlands) and have one son, Matt, on the brink of University. I am the co-designer of the popular reluctant reader project, Brilliant Books.

I also write anthology fillers (and I mean that genuinely – when an anthology doesn’t fill, out comes my helpful friend) under the name Stefan Xerxes.

Toi Thomas: Well Mark, I can already tell we are going to have good time today. Your title may be hard to acronymise, but at least it’s one that sticks with you.

Toi Thomas: Now before we dive into your special message today, let’s get to know you, the person inside the author.

Toi Thomas: Who is so you and why?

Mark: When I was a kid, I was often compared to Roger The Dodger, a character from the British comic, the Beano. Roger would do anything to avoid chores and schoolwork. In his room was stored a book of dodges with every single excuse known to humankind. He was my favourite character and I spent most of my youth coming up with great dodges. Well, up till I was thirty seven, actually. Kids stop the dodges in their tracks, Toi!

Toi Thomas: I’m sure they do Mark. I don’t have children of my own, but my nieces and nephews always seem to find ways of putting me to work.

Toi Thomas: Though I think I have a pretty good idea, tell me; what makes you geek out?

Wikipedia

Mark: I’m a huge comic collector. I’ve been collecting since I was ten. I collect Batman, Master of Kung Fu, Black Panther, Swamp Thing, Green Lantern/Green Arrow, Flash and all that stuff. I somehow managed to buy 96-150 of X-Men in NM at cover price, so that’s why I’m not going to publish my address online any time soon. Love comics.

Toi Thomas: blink blink OOO, what! 😮

I don’t blame you Mark. With a stash like that you can’t be too careful. Though I still keep up to date with all the characters I love to follow, my collecting days have taken a back seat to my writing interest, though I haven’t completely abandoned them and never will.

Toi Thomas: If comics are your thing, it makes me wonder; what was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

1958, Goodreads

Mark: Lord of the Flies by William Golding. What a terrific book and suitable for all ages. Piggy’s fate is an allegory which has never been equalled. I also read Lord of the Rings as a kid and since then, have never read another fantasy book. Why bother? How can that be equalled?

Toi Thomas: Starting on a brief tangent here, I love how we say the same things in the same language and yet they are not spelled the same. This always tickles me whenever I interview someone from the other side of the pond…

Now as for Lord of the Flies, it scared me as a kid, but I guess that’s the point. I don’t think enough of the newest generations have read it and thus society has suffered. Oh and it would be quite a feat to outshine Lord of the Rings.

Toi Thomas: In terms of interviews, whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Wikipedia

Mark: Jim Starlin, the comics genius. He invented so many great characters, particularly Warlock (my favourite of  all time), Thanos, Drax the Destroyer, Gamora (the deadliest woman in the whole  galaxy) and Pip the Troll – unfairly airbrushed out of Marvel history – a degenerate smuggler and criminal. I’d talk about his seventies work, which is unparalleled. Along with Don McGregor, who wrote the seminal, novelesque “Panther”s  Rage”, Starlin revolutionised comics and laid the groundwork for writers like Alan Moore and Frank Miller a decade later.

Toi Thomas: Geez Mark, are you trying to make my head explode. All your comic knowledge is just too cool for me. I’d heard of Pip before but didn’t know much about him, plus no visual sprang to mind. I think it would be cool to attend a comic book apprenticeship to learn from greats like him, just how to write and draw characters and stories the way they do. But now I’m getting off topic.

Toi Thomas: Now that we know a little more about you, the person, let’s learn about you the author, and dive into your special message.

Toi Thomas: So whacha got for me today?

Mark: Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals. This link contains everything a reader may like to know about my book. It’s a gangster story set in the Midlands of the UK.

Toi Thomas: All I can say it wow! Please if you are reading this, check out Mark’s link. You’ll be so glad you did.

Toi Thomas: You covered this already a little, but tell me anyway. Who’s starring is this 2 dimensional script read of Once Upon A Time In The City Of Criminals?

Mark: Terry Valentine is a loser. A bum and an ex-con who finds himself driving an escort to meet her tricks. He’s fat, washed up and addicted to designer drugs.

Chloe, is the escort, half his age, impossibly beautiful, amoral and bisexual, whose motives for doing the “job” are unclear.

Neville Gant is her boss. A manipulative, cunning and Machiavellian pimp who Terry hates from schooldays.

The other main character is the city itself – and the people who live in it.

Toi Thomas: Simply based on the characters, I can tell this isn’t a story for “the masses”, but that’s not to say there isn’t a huge audience for this. It’s like those people who say they “love” comic books and then rant about the violence in a Deadpool or Sin City Comic. There’s an audience for imaginative grit like this. Nice.

Toi Thomas: Tell me, what’s so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?

Mark: There is nothing like this out there. Whether that’s a good thing or not is another matter. It’s partly written in British slang, with Cormac McCarthy lack of “speech marks”. Indie tends to be very conformist and genre-led and I like to try new stuff.

This is a thriller, a romance, and a look at the world in which we live and a commentary on the relationship between the rich and the poor in the UK. Early reviews are positive. It is also an extraordinarily fast read – essential in today’s day and age.

Toi Thomas: What is this British slang you speak of? That’s enough right there to entice me. I’m always curious about what I call “how the real people of a nation actually speak.” I like to try new things as well, but am afraid I tend to chicken out…I keep trying though.

Toi Thomas: Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

Mark: I write straight onto the computer. I sometimes lay out my books in a little Hardy-esque notebook, but mostly not. It’s all in my head. I write in my living room (I live alone) in a small apartment (one day, Toi, one day!). I used to smoke sixty a day, especially at my desk, but now I nibble (and not carrots either). I work from November to March and read from April to September. I cannot read the work of others and write at the same time. I write one book a year. That’s a sustainable figure. I like writing in candlelight. I listen to all sorts – currently seventies disco music, the soundtrack to my latest work.

Toi Thomas: So not quite the fabulous life of a well-to-do bachelor, but not too shabby either. Cutting back on smoking must at least feel good. Have you considered dipping carrots into sweet dark chocolate? They it’s the milk chocolate that’s really bad for you. Oh, but wait…you write one book a year! You must be doing something right. Eat and smoke whatever you want. 😀

Toi Thomas: When you have time to reflect on things, what author(s) do you feel have most influenced your writing? Why or how?

Wikipedia

Mark: Martin Amis. No question. The greatest writer produced in these islands ever and I have considered that question for two decades. Money, London Fields and House of Meetings are unparalleled. I can never write like him, but I am inspired by his ideas and functional structures. I don’t follow 101 blogs or #writetips and neither does Amis. Otherwise, we’d all be writing the same book, Toi!

Toi Thomas: Thank you Mark for saying that. I admit that as a continually developing writing I do check out writing tips from time to time, but sometime I must put my foot down and say no. I don’t want to read cookie cutter books and I don’t want to write them either. I love your unique and unquestionable style and want to develop my own someday.

Toi Thomas: Sorry for my fight-the-system rant. Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

Mark: What’s the full SP

Wikipedia

Toi Thomas: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Mark: The Man Who Would Be King by John Huston. Based on the Rudyard Kipling story and starring Michael Caine and Sean Connery. It has me in floods of tears every time. A fantastic film.

Toi Thomas: You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve gotten this answer and I still haven’t watched this movie. I need to step up and experience this for myself.

Toi Thomas: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

Wikipedia

Mark: I listen to Black Sabbath and Judas Priest and all that early heavy metal. I like Deftones and Slayer from later on. I like the Sex Pistols and The Ruts. Loud and fast. I also like (and this may come across as weird) seventies disco music (not sure why) like McFadden and Whitehead, Aint No Stopping Us Now. This music makes me happy. I’m not a fan of modern music at all, -who’s Kanye West/Lady Gaga? – but, then, I’m not supposed to be, am I? When I get merry, I listen to The Beatles – surely the best ever, Toi?

Toi Thomas: Don’t feel too bad. I find that people either love or hate disco; there’s only a few of us in between who just like it and appreciate it. As a child of the hip-hop generation, even I am struggling to embrace modern music. I keep thinking that it will get better and rejoice whenever I find a rare gem that doesn’t bring out my rage… You can’t beat the Beetles.

Toi Thomas: Now let’s play zombie urban survivor. What 3 things do you need to survive a black-out in Central Park the day zombies attack?

Mark: I’d love it, get rid of all that pent up, modern day, grumpy old man rage. I need a pump action shotgun with unlimited ammo, a machete for the up close and personal melee and a Dark Knight Returns Joker Tee Shirt.

Toi Thomas: You’ve covered all the bases: your uniform and two battle tactics. Bring on the zombies.

Toi Thomas: Let’s wind down a bit. What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Mark: Hanging around with my son in the last eighteen years. They were special times I’ll never have again – unless I meet a reasonably presentable and visually challenged thirty year old any time soon.

Toi Thomas: I adore answers like this. This is the reason I love to interview people. Spending time with your son is the joy of life. Who knows, someone special may coming along and you can doing all again.

Toi Thomas: Last question of the day; here we go.

Toi Thomas: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

Mark: I hope people wake up to climate change and that the Asians and Brazilians stop chopping down the forests – the two are connected. #Ilovecostarica Our children deserve it.

Toi Thomas: You make a good point. I believe there are quite a few dots that need to be connected in order for the world to change, but someone has to first recognize that there might be a connection.

Toi Thomas: Thank you so much Mark for spending time with me today.

Mark: Love it, Toi. Thank you for inviting me around the ToiBox. I’m off out to look for zombies!

Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Mark Barry, check out these great links:

News Blog: Green Wizard Publishing

Interview Blog: The Wizard’s Cauldron

Twitter: @Greenwizard62

US Amazon Author Central: Mark Barry

This has been a

interviewpic-toibox

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Fiction Author Virtual Book Tours

Diamond Ryan Interview @uplandpublish- Red Stick Diaries: Virtual Book Tour

Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Eternal Curse, and today I have a treat to share. A while back, I had the pleasure to interview a wonderful author named, Diamond Ryan. A good time was truly had by all, and here’s how it went down.

DiamondRyanToi Thomas: Hi there Diamond! It’s so awesome to have you here at the ToiBox Blog. I’m excited to learn more about you and your work.

Diamond: Hi Toi. Happy to be here.

Toi Thomas: So tell me, who is Diamond Ryan?

Diamond: I am a previously published author. Red Stick Diaries is my seventh. My writing career began in my early years of high school, but it would be many years later before becoming published.

Toi Thomas: I think most writers start out pretty early; I know I did. For me though, I never knew I wanted to become an author. Seems like you knew back then.

Toi Thomas: Well before we dive into your special message today, let’s get to know you, the person inside the author.

Toi Thomas: Who is so you and why?

Kitt as Catwoman in Batman, Wikipedia

Diamond: Many people have compared my looks to the beautiful and talented Eartha Kitt, whom I am a huge fan of. In my youth, I wondered how someone could see any familiarity, and thought it was a bad thing to be compared to someone older. It is only through living have I learned the appreciation for her talent and the legacy she leaves behind.

Toi Thomas: When I was younger I didn’t like being compared to other people either, but it’s what we as humans do. We compare. Our minds look back through our database of knowledge to help us understand the things around us. Sorry for the nerd rant. I like being compared now, just to see what people come up with…Oh and I do see a resemblance.

Toi Thomas: What makes you geek out?

Diamond: Learning new things. I love research and development and expressing myself through art.

Toi Thomas: I too enjoy learning new things as long as it’s not something being forced on me. I’m not really an artistically talented person, but do I enjoy torturing canvases with my paint brush. I have a feeling that you are not only artistically talented, but probably master multiple mediums.

Toi Thomas: What was your favorite book or story, pre-teen years?

Diamond: I didn’t have a single favorite…  but I loved reading the leather bound Reader’s Digest short stories. Those tales, took me places.

Toi Thomas: My dad loves Reader’s Digest, and he used to read them too me as a kid.

Toi Thomas: In terms of interviews, whose brain are you just itching to scratch?

Diamond: I would love to sit down with Morgan Freeman, I am and have been impressed with his mind.

Toi Thomas: Good answer. I’m sure Morgan Freeman would have some good stories and lessons to share.

Toi Thomas: Now that we know a little more about you, the person, let’s learn about you, the author, and dive into your special message.

Toi Thomas: So whacha got for me today?

Diamond: RED STICK DIARIES is a 5 book miniseries about the near death escapes of a heroine, and the political struggles of surviving within the confines of the law… when those serving the law are the most guilty.

Toi Thomas: Oh, a miniseries. That’s cool. I guess it would be like reading a serial all at once or a graphic novel, without the pictures of course.

Toi Thomas: So who’s starring is this 2 dimensional script read of Red Stick Diaries?

Diamond: The main characters are one female heroine of determined strengths, and a male counterpart who seeks his own meted out revenge and justice and the chaos that ensues at the loss of that power and control.

Toi Thomas: One woman and one man- I have a feeling this will be  love hate relationship.

Toi Thomas: What’s so special about this story that’s going to reel in the readers?

Diamond: This is a fictional story… based on a true experience. One in which familiar realities turn dark and gruesome right before your eyes. The most frightening reality discovered within is, that all you believed could be shattered with the realization that we all are vulnerable. And at any given time… could become the next victims.

Toi Thomas: Honing in on universal truths is harder than people might realize, but you’ve captured one. Everyone is vulnerable to some degree, which is something anyone can relation to. Well done.

Toi Thomas: Past, present, future, is there a rhyme or reason to your writing?

Diamond: I write from a spiritual place within. Moved to moods of the characters, and I divest myself within them.

Toi Thomas: Well, so you’re an emotional writer. I’m afraid I’m a bit technical until the story’s complete. Then I look back and see what’s there. I like that you let the characters take control. I bet it makes for quite a bit of drama.

Toi Thomas: What author(s) has most influenced your writing? Why or how?

Wikipedia

Diamond: Terry McMillian, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes… to name a few. I love the fact that they write with such poetic freedoms and honesty.

Toi Thomas: I enjoy getting caught up words that take me to far off lands and tell magical stories, but sometimes you need a serving of realism. These authors make even the harshest reality bearable and poetic.

Toi Thomas: Now this is where the questions get a little kooky; are you ready?

Diamond: YISI! Yeah, I said it.

Toi Thomas: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Wikipedia

Diamond: Actually… Red Stick Diaries… when it becomes one! [laughs]. Hmm, great question… the rest of my life? Shawshank Redemption. But my list goes on from there.

Toi Thomas: Yeah, that’s a good one; so hard to turn away from…Hey, you could ask Morgan Freeman about his experience on the set of this film. 😉

Toi Thomas: When the soundtrack of your life is playing in your head, what songs express your glee and what songs bring out your rage?

Diamond: Glee: Waiting On The World To Change by John Meyer.

Rage: ….I’ll have to get back with you on that… I don’t really have one. But it saddens me every time I re-visit a song I wrote for 911. “The Day The Angels Cried”

Toi Thomas: Of course you write songs too. I bet “The Day The Angels Cried” is a lovely, if not meaningful song.

Toi Thomas: Let’s play zombie urban survivor. What 3 things do you need to survive a black-out in Central Park the day zombies attack?

Diamond: Vin Diesel, The Roc, and… LLCool J … I just figure they’ll always be prepared.

*The latter to repopulate the world, you know in case we’re the last two survivors. [chuckles].

Toi Thomas: Hmm, well I think you covered that one.

Toi Thomas: What’s the most fun experience you’ve ever had, to date?

Diamond: Asking the captain if I could relieve the helm of a USS Destroyer…and he let me! #nonenlisted!

Toi Thomas: That’s pretty cool, though I don’t think I could it. Just the idea of having all that power and responsibility for even a second would be too much. My fear; your fun.  

Toi Thomas: Last question of the day; here we go.

Toi Thomas: Not that you can see into the future, but in your opinion, what does the future hold?

Diamond: I believe as much as I desire. I expect to continue writing books and leaving deep impressions in the sand for future generations.

Toi Thomas: What a positive outlook to have. I wish you all the best.

Toi Thomas: Thank you so much Diamond for spending time with me today.

Diamond: You’re welcome. It was fun.

Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. For more from Diamond Ryan, check out these great links:

Website: DiamondRyan.com

Facebook: Personal Profile | Author Page

Purchase link for Red Stick Diaries: Amazon.com

This has been a

interviewpic-toibox

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Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

Categories
Book-Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Elley Arden Interview @elleywrites- Running Interference: Virtual Book Tour & #Giveaway

Greetings readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors and welcome to The ToiBox of Words. I’m your host Toi Thomas, author of Eternal Curse, and today I’m sharing a special interview with author, Elley Arden, about her fiction book entitled, Running Interference. Enjoy!

Where did the idea for Running Interference: Cleveland Clash 1 come from?

During revisions for Heal My Heart: Kemmons Bros. Baseball 3, my editor expressed much love for a secondary character, Tanya Martin, who played women’s full-tackle football. I jokingly made a note in the margin that I would be willing to write an entire series based on these women football players. My editor jumped all over that.

What genre is this book and why did you choose to make it so?

The book is a short contemporary romance. I like setting my characters in today’s world, where there is so much color and flexibility. I write shorter (50,000-60,000 words) because I’m a busy reader who often doesn’t get to finish longer books. I like to read short romances that pack as much punch as possible, so that’s what I write.

What would you say is the overall message or the theme of this book?

The overall message was captured best by my publishers when they came up with this for marketing materials: Who says tough isn’t sexy? I love the idea that women are stepping into traditional male roles and rocking them while still maintaining the beauty and allure they’re noted for. It’s empowering to know we no longer have to pick one or the other.

Tell me about the experience of writing this book; how long did it take.

It took about two months to write this book. It took another month to edit and revise. I’m blessed to have a sports medicine doctor husband who was once a team physician for a women’s football team, so I picked his brain endlessly. I wrote this book during the NFL’s domestic violence explosion, so that was interesting. There were many times when I wondered if I was writing a football book at the wrong time.

Tell me about the main storyline within this book.

NFL MVP Cam Simmons comes home to convince his mother to move to Boston with him, but while he’s there, he bumps into his high school friend/crush, Tanya Martin, who has run into trouble with debt collectors at her father’s gym. They ban together to keep the gym, a neighborhood staple, from foreclosing. But banning together brings a whole lot more than they bargained for.

Who is the protagonist of this story?

Tanya Martin is the main character of Running Interference. She’s fiercely loyal and strong. She’s also guarded with her heart, having seen too many people in her life messed up by divorce. She’s a protector on the football field and off, always anticipating the next threat so she can thwart it. Like I said, she’s fierce.

Who is your favorite character in this book?

Wild child Jillian Bell, the heroine’s roommate, and the Cleveland Clash’s star wide receiver is my favorite character. Even though she’s a secondary character, she really stands out to me. She has a sleeve of tattoos, one of which is rather alarming, and I adore her for it. I’m hoping other readers will gravitate towards her big personality and fun-loving spirit, because she’s the heroine in the second Clash book, Crossing the Line.

Are there elements of your personality or life experiences in this book?

There’s one element of this book that is highly personal and on purpose: the location, Cleveland. I was born and raised a Cleveland Browns fan, so I’ve lived through many disappointments. When I knew I was writing about a football team, I knew it was going to be a Cleveland team, because I desperately wanted a Cleveland football team to win a championship.

What is one thing from this book you wish was real or could happen to you?

I’d love to participate in a bachelor auction. It would be hilarious Of course, I’m happily married, so I wouldn’t be bidding on anyone, but I would pay to see the shenanigans.

Let’s say your book is being turned into a feature length film; quick- cast the main two characters and pick a theme song or score.

Cam Simmons, would be played by Morris Chestnut. For the heroine, I love the strength and humor of Queen Latifah, and the sass of NeNe Leakes, but Tanya Martin appeared in my head looking more like Serayah McNeill, from Empire, or Chaley Rose, from Nashville. The song would be Eminem’s Lose Yourself.

Do you have any special plans for this book in the near or far future?

The second book in the series, Crossing the Line, releases in May. I’m happy to build on this world and give other characters their own HEA. I’m hoping at some point the entire series will be bundled into a box set, but that’s up to my publisher.

Okay readers, bloggers, geeks, and authors, that’s all for today. Be sure to follow this blog to see who will be visiting next time. To obtain your copy of Running Interference, please visit the links provided.

Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Google | Kobo

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This has been a

interviewpic-toibox

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Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords