Horror Author Mark Towse #Interview
Mark Towse Interview
1. Congratulations on your debut novel release Face the Music! Can you please tell us a little about this collection?
Thanks. Hell, I love talking about my work! Face The Music is a collection of 23 old-school style horror stories ranging in length from 500-6,000 words. I say old-school because a lot of these stories pack a twist, one that I hope the reader doesn’t see coming (and according to the exceptional feedback, they don’t). The art of the twist seems to be something long forgotten. I used to love the jolt of being thrown in a different direction, mouth hanging open, and a feeling of being cheated, in awe at how the writer had weaved a new path without me even noticing. The stories cover everything from cults, remote places, anxiety, grief, murder, morality, and all have the underlying thread that sooner or later, someone is going to have to face the music. I can’t promise happy endings with these stories, and I don’t apologise for that – there is no room in horror for empathy.
2. Without giving away spoilers, what was your favorite story in this collection and why?
Many are special to me in terms of the great feedback I have received from readers, but I have to say my personal favourite is ‘Wing and a Prayer’. It’s the weirdest out of the bunch with definite tones of ‘The Wicker Man’. I love putting readers in a strange place with no idea what is happening or why it’s happening — that is for me to know and them to find out. Immersing myself in such a world was fun, and I was quite sad to leave it. I love cults, crows, strange places – what’s not to like?
3. Let’s pretend one story from your collection is made into a movie. Which one and who plays the leads?
I have two in mind that I think would make for an exceptional movie. The Paperboy is terrifying, and I would have a field day casting the old people from Newhaven Crescent – perhaps the likes of Robert De Niro, Maggie Smith, Billy Crystal, Judi Dench, Christopher Plummer. Oh wow, that would be so much fun. Also, I would have to revert to ‘Wing and a Prayer’ again. I’m not sure who I would cast for this, but a young Nicholas Cage would have been perfect.
4. From your Amazon page, you say “I like old-school stories with a twist, but they seem to be a dying breed. I want to resurrect them.” What are some examples of old-school stories that you enjoy?
The Interlopers - Saki. The Lottery – Shirley Jackson. There’s also a recent film by M. Night Shyamalan called ‘The Visit’ that aligns with my style and twisted sense of humour perfectly. It plays on the idiosyncrasies of the old in a very sinister fashion, and I dig that. I loved Hitchcock growing up, 'The Twilight Zone,' and there was also a British TV show called ‘Tales of the Unexpected’ that I couldn't get enough of.
5. You’ve had enormous success in the short story world with publications in many big-name magazines such as Flash Fiction Magazine, ParABnormal, and Suspense Magazine. What tips would you give a newbie writer trying to get a short story published?
Persistence. It’s been said before, but without it, you'll get nowhere fast. When I first started this journey just over two years ago, I sent my stories to an array of magazines, and used to get frustrated when the rejections came back, but it’s as though I had to go on that journey first to be able to get rid of all the bile that was in my head and to get down to the good stuff. Practice is key in perfecting structure, grammar, style—you can’t put pen to paper after a 30-year gap and expect to write a masterpiece. I still have so much to learn, but it’s going in the right direction. I would say don’t take on too much advice in the beginning, just write, and write as though you’ve never written before. Oh, and don’t write what you think people want to read, write what you want to read. Have fun with it.
6. This is my favorite question for authors. Pretend the FBI has taken control of your computer and searches your internet history. We all know authors have, um, questionable search histories. What will the FBI find on your computer that is “for a story?”
How long does it take for a body to dissolve in acid? Would a mole eat human flesh if that was the only source of food? Are the effects of morphine immediate? What do eyes taste like? And these are just the tame ones.
7. Who is your favorite author and why?
My favourite author as a child/teenager was Stephen King. I consumed as much of his stuff as possible. I don’t really have a favourite author now and prefer to open myself to all sorts of styles. I do love the work of Christopher Wilson. I tend not to read a lot of horror as would prefer my style not to be influenced by others.
8. What’s next for you? Any projects you can discuss?
I will continue to write short stories for the time being as I just bloody love it. People keep asking when I’m going to write a novel, and I’m not sure I ever will. I’ve got some crackers in the ‘to be sent’ pile. I’ve just finished editing a new story called ‘Crawl Space’ that I’m excited to get out there, and also just finished a draft for a story about the exploration of fear, yet to be named. I’ve written 91 stories to date, but there are many more simmering away.
9. Where can people find you online?
10. Last chance! Anything else you’d like to say?
Always. Look out for my forthcoming story ‘Devil’s Ink’ in the forthcoming ‘Midnight in the Pentagram’ anthology from Silver Shamrock Publishing (August). This one is a career highlight to date as I share the pages with the likes of Graham Masterton, Chad Lutzke, James Newman, Todd Kiesling, Catherine Cavendish, Brian Keene, and Willie Meikle to name a few. My story ‘The Taste of Bourbon’ will feature in Love Letters to Poe. ‘Candy Man’ is to be featured in the anthology from Soteira Press, ‘A Monster Told Me Bedtime Stories’. There are so many to mention. Erm, ‘Old Times’ in the anthology ‘The Half That You See’ anthology from Dark Ink Press (early next year). Check out my stuff on The No Sleep Podcast and The Grey Rooms. Incidentally, I have at least 4 stories in production for Season 3 of The Grey Rooms so watch out for them. There is so much going on. Great fun! Thanks so much for allowing me to waffle. Mark
Mark Towse
