Ask the Author: Martin White
Answered Questions (10)
Martin White
Well, yes it seems you can. Though I did ask the above question yesterday and it only appeared in my notifications today. In a way I suppose that's quite good as I could have conversations with myself - but then have a whole night to sleep on any queries before I have to come up with some sort of answer or resolution. Nice speed of working - one problem a day - my brain could cope with that...
Martin White
There's actually a short essay at the end of the book to explain it - but the idea of Club Medusa came from a few different sources - if I spoke about them all there would be spoilers! The whole format for the adventure was based on the many amazing nights Ive had out with friends in Edinburgh's Old Town, either out drinking or playing music in bands there. Having also worked there in and around the nightclubs and bars I know how quickly a night out can go from being the most fun you've ever had to being your worst nightmare. Club Med is based on one of those nights out that end up at the farthest end of the horrific scale.
Martin White
Anything can fire off ideas - from obvious stuff like movies and books (I don't steal stuff but do sometimes think, 'Ooh, I wonder what would happen if that worked differently?') - to things people say and places I visit. I love the architecture, history and the vibe of Edinburgh's Old Town so I often like to wander around there to see what ideas crop up. Sometimes I just sit and look at a blank page with nothing - then I start to write and stuff just happens. There's no science to it. Coffee is often involved though.
Martin White
Currently writing the first sequel to Club Medusa - I have another one loosely planned and am refusing to think of any more in the series though I think it could be inevitable as I'm enjoying writing the characters so much. I also have a young adult horror/fantasy novella in second draft based in my home village - and a full occult themed crime thriller planned and plotted. I also have a project in finishing off a book my brother wrote shortly before he died which I'll need to polish up before it goes out (under his name). Lots to keep me going!
Martin White
Write like the clappers, take your time to find your own voice knowing it probably won't be much like your favourite author's - be honest about your own efforts, don't ever get discouraged even though people will probably try and don't give up however high the mountain is. Be very skeptical of all the 'quick fix self publishing help' courses out there and keep on reading as much as you can. And use a laptop - then if everyone at home is doing their best to disturb you its easy to escape - you can even go out somewhere and work elsewhere. Something I've only discovered recently...
Martin White
Stretching my imagination and making awesome movies in my head with all the best actors, scenes and special effects - with a budget of zero.
Martin White
I don't really get writers block as such but I do have spells where I can't work things out. I just keep on writing even if I think it's rubbish as eventually something will fall into place.
Martin White
There's no more electricity and they've had enough of being badmouthed so all the police have been disbanded. The rich and entitled are arming themselves - what do you do?
Martin White
I read a lot of scary stuff so I'm not sure I'd want to go half the places I read about! Having said that though I'd love to explore the abyss in the cupboard that Mark Z Danielewski created in House of leaves - I'd just have to take a really long bit of rope. Another place I'd love to see would be inside the Fugue in Clive Barker's Weaveworld. A lot of good magic in there and I think a place of great beauty. Just don't annoy any of it.
Martin White
Quite a few if I can actually get the time to read any of them! Currently reading Complete Darkness by Matt Adcock and Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk but Ive also downloaded Imajica by Clive Barker on the Kindle - that's quite a size of a book so might take me a while to get through. I also have Bruce Dickinsons Biography to read, one of the Dexter books and it's been a while since I read any Poe, so that's what I'm aiming to finish before the end of the year.
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