Maria Savva's Blog - Posts Tagged "metallic-dreams"

I am very happy to be introducing you to my guest today. I met Mark Rice through Goodreads. As soon as I saw the cover of his book I knew I had to read it. As many of you already know, I am a heavy metal fan, so how could I not read this book? I had high expectations of Metallic Dreams and it definitely lived up to my expectations. It's a brilliant novel, a perfect gift for the metal fan in your life. It's one of the funniest books I've ever read, too. I almost laughed out loud while reading it in public, a couple of times.

You have the chance to win a print copy of Metallic Dreams, and can choose whether it is signed by the author! In fact, Mark has very generously offered to give away two copies of his book. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this blog post, or simply 'Like' the post. Two lucky winners will be picked at random on the 30th November 2011.




A word of warning: This is an adult book and not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

Mark kindly agree to answer a few interview questions I sent him:


Your bio on your Lulu page, states that you started writing at the age of 5. Firstly, that’s quite impressive, is it true? If so, have you kept any of your earlier stories or do you remember what they were about?

It's absolutely true, yes. I grew up in a house with no TV. My father believed that staring at television diminished creativity. The house was full of books, music and musical instruments. My Dad taught me to read (music and words) before I started primary school. We spent endless hours - both at home and in the local library - reading and writing. At the time, I thought the lack of TV at home was a harsh measure, but with hindsight I wouldn't change it, as I learned to love music and literature. My early writing fell mainly into two categories: poems (especially acrostic poems, which I had a real fondness for) or stories involving frogs, witches and trees (which were/are three of my favourite things).



I even made a tree-shaped cover for one of these early stories, and sellotaped various types of bark onto the empty spaces on each page. It was a child's literary equivalent of a concept album, I guess. My mother still has that book. She reckons it's the best thing I've ever written!

Is there a particular author, or book, that inspired you to start writing?

The poetry of Robert Burns has been a presence in my life since early childhood, once again thanks to my father, who was an aficionado of Burns and knew most of his poetry off by heart. Burns's masterful use of language, rhythm and rhyme instilled in me a love of the Scots dialect and inspired me to write poetry. His Magnum Opus, Tam O' Shanter, was partly responsible for my childhood obsession with witches (which I've never fully recovered from - witches still find their way into my writing). As far as prose goes, Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy blew my mind with its seamless blend of the profound and the preposterous. At his best, Adams was creativity and cleverness run amok. More than any other author, Douglas Adams inspired me to write novels. So blame him!

Do you have an tips for someone who is considering self-publishing their own book?

Do it. New novelists could wait for years on literary agents finding them a publishing deal. In the meantime, their manuscripts will be a low priority to the agencies acting on their behalf. Self-publishing is easier than ever before, especially with the advent of e-books, so there's no excuse for sitting around waiting on responses from agents and publishers. Start the ball rolling by yourself. If your self-published book becomes a success, established publishing houses will approach you anyway. One thing I'd say is don't ever publish a first draft. My rule is to spend at least as much time editing a piece of work as writing it. This ensures that only polished material goes to print. It also provides priceless editing experience. Another vital skill for writers is marketing their work. Don't wait until your book is published before learning the ins and outs of online marketing. Begin promoting your book before it's published. If you have a well-written blog with followers, that's an excellent start, as those followers will be likely to read your book when it's released.

Your debut novel, Metallic Dreams, is as the title suggests, about heavy metal music. What was the first metal gig you attended, and what are your memories of that gig?


Iron Maiden at Glasgow Apollo, on The Beast on the Road tour in 1982. I was in primary six at the time. Initially, my Mum and Dad had doubts about me going to a metal gig on my own, especially on the mean streets of Glasgow. When my friend David (who was three years older) bought a ticket, my parents became happier about the whole thing, as I wouldn't be going alone. I remember every detail. The support band, The Rods, were so good live that Dave and I didn't think Iron Maiden could possibly top their performance. Then Maiden hit the Apollo stage and blew the roof off the place. I knew their songs inside out, but was used to hearing them in darkened rooms. Seeing those same songs performed live by musical icons clad in spandex, denim. leather and studs was a whole different experience. The wall of sound was vast. The band members' manes of hair billowed under stage lights as they wandered through clouds of dry ice. Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, Maiden's giant mascot Eddie (famous from their album covers) lumbered onto the stage. Beaming at each other, Dave and I shared a telepathic moment, thinking, 'Now this is living!'



One of the questions the rock journalist in your novel asks the band members is ‘What would you change about Heavy Metal?’ What would your answer be to that?

I'd allow gig-goers to carry electric cattle prods into concerts, for the purpose of zapping voltage into anyone who farts during the performance. My friend Darran is a prime example of why I'd introduce this change. More times than I care to remember, Darran has let loose an evil mist during a gig, sending everyone within a ten-foot radius into a state of panic. The most disturbing thing about this is that he enjoys it. If I'd had my electric cattle prod on those occasions, he'd have learned his lesson long ago and would be more considerate as a result. I'd have zapped that deviant grin right off his face.

As for metal music, I'd leave it alone, as it's developing fine by itself without any intervention, spreading out into an ever-expanding number of subgenres, all of which have artistic merit. Lyrically, I'd clean up the shabby grammar and questionable poetics that are a little too prevalent. That'd be my only change.


Do you have a favourite Heavy metal band? If so, what is it about their music that you love?

My all-time favourite band is the AC/DC line-up of Bon Scott (vocals), Angus Young (lead guitar), Malcolm Young (rhythm guitar), Cliff Williams (bass) and Phil Rudd (drums). Their live album If You Want Blood (You've Got It) - recorded at Glasgow Apollo - has been my favourite album since I first heard it at age eleven. The energy level is off the scale, the songs are anthemic, Bon's vocals are flawless and the guitar riffs can strip wallpaper.






Of currently existing line-ups, my favourite two bands are from Finland - Insomnium and Amorphis. They both have a stunning ability to blend extreme heaviness with poignant melodies, as well as writing beautiful lyrics influenced by their country's folklore. I should also mention Nimbatus, a musical project which is the brainchild of one genius, Marco Jodocy, who plays guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, strings and various other instruments, all to an astonishingly high standard; the result sounds like a heavy metal orchestra, yet it's all the work of one man.


Without giving any of the story away, a couple of taboo/controversial topics are explored in Metallic Dreams, were you ever worried about how people would react to the said content?

No. I don't believe in censoring my art or walking on eggshells. I think the best way for a writer to shine light on a particular prejudice isn't to preach against it (which can annoy readers), but to create storylines - often shocking ones - which highlight the futility of that prejudice, leaving readers to draw their own conclusions. It worked for Aesop with his fables all those centuries ago, and it still works today.

There are five members of Transcend Everything, the metal band in Metallic Dreams, with very different personalities. Were any of them based on people you know and/or famous band members?

All five band members were based on people I know and grew up with. The names have been (slightly) changed to protect the guilty.


It is said that writers put a lot of their own soul into their fiction work. How autobiographical is the book?

That's a loaded question if ever I saw one! The early chapters are much more autobiographical than the later ones. As for which events actually happened, I'm not telling!


How long did it take to write Metallic Dreams?

One year to write then two years to edit and polish.

As well as Metallic Dreams, you have a story featured in an anthology A Blended Bouquet. Can you tell us a little bit more about how that anthology came about, and a bit about your featured story?





Five years ago I was lucky enough to become part of Writers Inc, which was started by author/playwright Drew Campbell back in the '90s. Based in East Kilbride (the town in which I grew up), the group includes writers from a variety of disciplines: authors, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, songwriters and short-story writers. Writers Inc had already published two anthologies when I joined, with a third on the horizon. After I'd been part of the group for three years, the elusive third anthology showed no sign of becoming a reality. In fact, it had become a bone of contention within the group, with arguments exploding over whether or not it should be themed or free-form. Realising that this non-existent book was causing chaos among the group, I stepped up to the plate, took over as chairperson (by vote, I should stress, not by force!) and offered to edit, compile and publish the anthology. All I needed from the other members was their submissions and - as if by magic - I'd make the anthology appear. The others liked this idea. Submissions arrived thick and fast. My story, Revelation Was Wrong, tells the tale of a drunken Scottish prophet who claims to be a descendant of Nostradamus. It's a light-hearted piece of social commentary infused with a healthy dose of preposterousness. The idea for Tam, the unlikely prophet who foretold that the end of the world would be heralded by the 'Buckfast Apocalypse', came to me out of the air one day. In my mind's eye I saw Tam, knew him, so I figured I should tell his story. I'd long been fascinated by tales of the Brahan Seer (Coinneach Odhar), Scotland's answer to Nostradamus. This fascination probably played a subconscious role in inspiring Revelation Was Wrong. A strange thing happened with regards to the anthology: James Pettigrew and I both submitted poems called Homecoming, each with very different subject matter. His dealt with the desecration of Scotland's wild places, while mine told the true story of taking my father's ashes to his home, the Isle of Lewis. At first, we thought that one of us would have to change the title of his poem. Then we realised that 2009 - the year of the anthology's publication - was the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, and events to celebrate this milestone were being marketed under the banner Homecoming Scotland. James and I looked at each other and smiled, realising that the Universe had somehow lined up these serendipitous events. As a tribute to Burns, James and I left the titles of our poems unchanged. My Homecoming opens the anthology and James's Homecoming closes it in style.


Are the rumours true, did you sell your soul to the devil in exchange for literary prowess? After reading Metallic Dreams, I am left wondering...

Auld Nick and I are acquainted, but we're neither friends nor enemies.


Who are your favourite authors and what is it about their writing that you like?

Douglas Adams blows my mind with his cleverness, creativity and humour. Salman Rushdie's command of descriptive prose is out of this world, as is his ability to weave myriad story strands into a coherent, interconnected whole. Markus Zusak's writing - especially in The Book Thief - has immaculate delicacy and tenderness. By succeeding without pandering to literary trends, Irvine Welsh opened the floodgates and showed that it was possible for a Scottish author to be fearless, funny and authentic. Tom Bryan, under whose strict tutelage I learned a lot, is a master of saying more with less; Tom taught me the importance of relentless editing. Kevin MacNeil is a force of nature whose writing is shaped by a poet's soul and a wonderful Hebridean heart. The heavy metal legend Zodiac Mindwarp (who writes books under his real name, Mark Manning) is monumentally creative and side-splittingly funny. And Bill Drummond...well, everything he does is pure art.


Is there a book you own that you’ve read more than once?

There are several. One that might surprise some people is The Bible, which I read cover to cover countless times while still at primary school. I've read all the Douglas Adams books multiple times. I liked Raymond E. Feist's Faerie Tale enough to read it twice. Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings is another one that's been read multiple times. There are loads of others too, but these are the ones that spring to mind.


What was the last book you read?

The Silver Mist by Martin Treanor. The main character, Eve, moved me to tears more than once. Set in Northern Ireland during the '70s, the story - especially the dialogue - has gorgeous Irish warmth. A beautifully written novel.


Are you reading a book at the moment?

Gods Without Men by Hari Kunzru. Rather impressive.


What do you think of ebooks?

As a writer, I love them. As a reader, I prefer the tactile experience of handling a paperback.

How important are reviews for you as a writer?

Very important. They influence potential buyers and - in extreme cases - can affect the way a writer perceives his/her work. Writers, like other artists, tend to be sensitive souls who can take negative reviews personally. It's an amazing feeling to know that a story has made an emotional connection with a reader. It's always heartening to hear that a story I've created has resonated with a reader. I'm also happy to read constructive criticism...if it's justified. The only review that ever riled me was by a wannabe literary critic who started out by saying, 'I'm a music critic, not a book critic.' He should have left it at that, as what followed was incoherent, immature and peppered with grammatical mistakes such as misconjugated verbs. His voice was that of a pseudo-superior smartarse, yet he had trouble correctly constructing a sentence. I did the unthinkable for a writer: I posted a comprehensive rebuttal of the entire 'review', ripping it to shreds, pointing out every grammatical error, highlighting his absolute failure to perceive message/humour in the story, and advising him to stick to his day job and leave literary criticism to those equipped to do it properly. So yes, reviews - whether glowing or scathing - have an impact.


How did you choose the cover for Metallic Dreams?

I had various ideas in mind, one of which was a pentalpha (pentagram) in blood, as that symbol and substance are integral to the story. The artist David Gurrea had created the exact pentalpha I'd envisioned, red blood on a white canvas. (Albums by Venom and Bathory had featured the pentalpha and goat's head, but the goat/Devil head David Gurrea created was a million times more menacing, right down to the way one eye was half shut, creating the impression that the beast was glaring out at the viewer.) I contacted David, who was happy for me to use his artwork. A fiddly job ensued: using Photoshop to remove every single drop of spattered blood from the white canvas, then superimposing them onto the book cover I'd created.


What are you working on now?

My second novel, which is set on the Isle of Lewis, in Scotland's remote Outer Hebrides. I won't reveal more than that just now, as I don't want to jinx it. I'm also working on a few poems, a couple of short stories and one not-so-short story (about witchcraft in Scotland). See what I mean about those witches? They always find a way into my work. While researching the story, I accessed the University of Edinburgh's 'Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Database', which is the most comprehensive record of the witch trials that happened here. I discovered that four members of my family, all on my mother's side, were tried as witches. Worryingly, but not surprisingly, there is no record of what happened to them after the trial. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what that means. Perhaps that's why witches have always been in my consciousness: maybe I could sense that ancestors had suffered inhuman treatment after being accused of witchcraft.

Where can people buy your book?

Lulu

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Smashwords


Do you have your own website or blog where people can read more about your work?

Facebook

Thanks for answering my questions, Mark and for the great giveaway!

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Remember, all you have to do to enter the competition is leave a comment here, or simply 'Like' the post. Good luck!

Mark is a charming and friendly author and is here on Goodreads, so don't forget to add him as a friend!

As many of you already know, I am running a series on my blog where each month I will pick one of my favourite indie books to recommend.

Here are my picks so far:

January: historical romance
February: murder/mystery
March: humour
April: supernatural/suspense

This month will be slightly different, as I will be recommending 5 books that all have a similar theme.

I read a lot of books that have been inspired in some way by music. I am quite obsessed with music :) I don't necessarily seek out books to read that have music as a theme but somehow I end up reading a lot of them. I have read many outstanding books by indie writers recently that have musical themes, so I thought it would make sense to recommend them together.

Firstly, I would like to recommend Metallic Dreams by Mark Rice



This one is simply a must read if you're a heavy metal or rock fan. This is one of my all time favourite books. The humour is wonderful and will have you laughing out loud. I'd recommend it to any music fan actually. Of course, this book can only be read by those with an open mind as there is some controversial content that may offend if taken out of context. One for the over 18s.

Here's the review I wrote when I read the book:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It's about a young man, Spark, who always dreamt of becoming a big name in heavy metal music. In his late teens he was part of a band 'Blood Brothers' who went their separate ways before they could make it into the big time. Some years later, Spark has a life changing experience and as a consequence he becomes determined to put his old band back together and live his dream. His belief is that the band will become successful, and he doesn't want to live his life in a dead end job when his passion lies in music. At its core, Metallic Dreams is about finding the courage to follow your dream, no matter how difficult it might seem to be. It is also about the power of love. It is indie fiction at its best, breaking out of the boundaries set by genre, and experimenting with new and exciting ways to write a story. It is extremely funny; hilarious in parts. I almost laughed out loud in public a few times whilst reading it. It does contain some controversial topics and taboo subjects, but those topics are skillfully woven into the story making them a realistic portrayal of very vivid characters' lives and experiences. This book is very original and entertaining. I would recommend Metallic Dreams to music fans, especially rock and heavy metal fans, as you will find much to relate to in the book. Due to some of the content in this book I would say it is only suitable for over 18s. I am looking forward to more books by this talented writer.

If you'd like to find out a bit more about the book, and the fabulous writer, here's a link to a recent radio interview where he talks about his writing journey and reads an excerpt from the book: Melissa Craig and Charity Parkerson Show. It's a very entertaining interview. (I was honoured to have been mentioned by the author in this interview!)


The next book, I would like to recommend is 33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream. by Bill See



Bill was the lead singer of the '80s rock band Divine Weeks, and this book is a memoir. It is a diary of a 33 day tour by the band. It's in essence a book about following your dream.

Here's my review:

‘It’s not about the having and the getting, it’s about the being and becoming.’

The story of a 33 day tour by the band Divine Weeks. Bill See, the author, was the lead singer of the L.A. band who enjoyed some notoriety in the ‘80s.
In this memoir, See has collected together journal entries and memories to create much more than just a tour diary. He documents the tour with a great descriptive narrative that really captures the moment and brings his memories to life. He also talks about his own dysfunctional home life, which in some ways spurred him on to chase his dream.

See is a talented writer, who is able to impart wisdom and knowledge through his prose.

I enjoyed reading about the band’s progression from an unknown group who played only weekday gigs in their home town, to a successful band touring nationwide. But this is not just a story about the band’s journey, it’s also about the individual band members’ personal journeys along the way. See’s introspective and thought-provoking prose make the book a compulsive and insightful read.
We follow the band on their first real tour, across the US and Canada in 1987, where they play small venues, often to a handful of people. But the band’s passion is such that they are determined to do anything to reach their dream of one day becoming real rock stars. They survive with hardly any money and sleep in a van and cheap hotels, or even on friends’ floors. There is a lot of humour sprinkled throughout the book which makes it an enjoyable read. I liked the fact that the author has included photographs of memorable parts of the tour and his life in the book. It gives an extra dimension to the story.

As well as being an enthralling tour diary, this book deals with such subjects as family life, alcoholism, racism, dysfunctional families, relationships, friendship, loyalty, and the power of dreams.
Divine Weeks’s story is an inspirational one that shows what someone can achieve if they follow their dream. The author captures the essence of the book best, when he says: ‘This book is for everyone who’s stood at their crossroads with a dream screaming inside wondering whether to choose the road that goes off the map or fold up their tent and head back home.’

Highly recommended.

The great thing about this book is that it is about a real band with real music. After reading the book, I looked up some of their music on YouTube and really like it. That makes the book extra special. Here's a link to the book trailer that also includes clips of their music. 33 Days Book Trailer

Bill See has an exceptional gift for writing and getting his message across. He comes across as very wise; a true artist.
33 Days is another must read for music fans, and for anyone who has ever had a dream. It's one of those books that stays with you long after you've read it. A permanent favourite.

Thirdly, I am recommending a wonderful novel, B-Sides and Broken Hearts by Caryn Rose



This one had me hooked from the start. I could relate to the main character, a music lover to whom music is like a lifeline.

Here's the review I wrote when I read the book:

B-Sides and Broken Hearts is the story of 37 year-old Lisa, who is finding it hard coming to terms with the death of Joey Ramone, one of her favourite musicians. His death forces her to think about her life and she finds that she is not happy. Her relationship with the predictable, Ian, is not the type of relationship she had envisaged for herself when she was young. The death of Joey Ramone leads to a torrent of emails from Lisa’s music-loving friends, and puts her back in touch with Jake, the singer with a successful band, Blue Electric. Lisa had been there with Jake and the rest of the band right from the start when they were unknown and penniless. She watched them grow into a band that could fill arenas. However, for the past 5 years her relationship with the band has been overshadowed by the fact that her boyfriend shows little interest in getting to know them. From the outside, all of Lisa’s friends have always thought she should have ended up with Jake. None of her friends like Ian. After Joey Ramone’s death, when Ian fails to understand why she is so upset, Lisa makes the decision to visit her old friends in LA. She packs some belongings, mainly CDs for the journey, and drives all night to revisit her past. Lisa goes on a journey in this novel, to find the person she really is. After a tragic relationship when she was younger, she had lost her way. Will her old friends in LA help her reconnect with the real Lisa?

This book is about dreams, friends, love, relationships, and above all it is about music and how music can have a profound influence on our lives.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt that the world had ended because their favourite band split up, anyone who obsessively waited for new albums to be released by their favourite bands and spent their last pennies on gigs and records, anyone who has ever screamed the lyrics to their favourite songs while driving in their car... This is a book for dreamers, and reaffirms the importance of believing in your dreams, and following your heart.
It is well written and engaging. I found myself feeling sad when I knew that the story would soon end. The ending is poignant and uplifting at the same time. This is a must read for music lovers.


This is a novel but reads almost like a memoir. Again it's a must read for music lovers. I found it hard to put down, and really wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters.

The next book I'm recommending is by wonderfully talented musician and writer, who is also very friendly and supportive of fellow artists.

Pixels of Young Mueller by Jerry Schwartz is a coming of age story about a boy who always dreamed of becoming a rock star.





It's about how life can get in the way of our dreams. In a similar way to B-Sides and Broken Hearts, it reads almost like a memoir. And, like 33 Days, it has the added bonus of being based on an actual band. Jerry is the lead singer/musician behind the band The Jerrys whose music is mentioned in the book. Here's a link to the band website: The Jerrys

Here's my review:

"My life is a movie in which the main character spends his life running from one dumb job to another" Klaus Mueller.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a breath of fresh air in respect of the honesty of the lead character's thoughts within the pages. At times I was questioning whether this is in fact a memoir or a fictional story, and perhaps the author would like us to wonder about that.
Klaus Mueller is a young boy when we meet him, he has dreams of becoming a rock star. This entertaining story is written in chapters relating to different stages of Mueller's life as he grows from a boy to a man, becomes a husband and a father.
Anyone who has ever wanted to break free from the confines of a 9-5 job will relate to young Mueller; anyone who has ever dreamed to making a living from their artistic endeavours will also relate; anyone who has ever loved music to such a degree that it became all encompassing will relate; and anyone who has just stopped to look around and questioned that there must be more to life than the life they are living will relate to this young man's story. I think that just about covers everyone.
This is a story of an ordinary man who does not live blindly but questions everything around him. It's an entertaining look at life. I found myself agreeing with a lot of the character's opinions about things, and I could relate to the struggles of an artist trying to fit into 'normal' routine existence.
Well written, insightful and thought provoking, with some laugh-out-loud moments, I would recommend this book to everyone. It's also almost a social history book, as notorious events from the past 5 decades are scattered throughout the story. Anyone who grew up in the '60s or '70s will no doubt enjoy this trip down memory lane.

Finally, I'd like to recommend Ladies and Gentlemen...The Redeemers by Michael Scott Miller.

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Here's my review:

This is a wonderful book, well written and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers, tells the story of Bert Ingram, a once successful music rep who worked for a major record company. Now facing middle-age, he finds himself destitute with nothing to show for the years he spent following his dream and the passion he has for music and spotting great talent. His former colleagues have given up on him and he seems destined to spend the rest of his life as an outcast. Bert has something to prove, so he makes it his mission to find raw talent among the down and outs in San Francisco; the musicians who play music on the streets. He has already set his sights on a singer he has spotted at Montgomery Street BART Station. We follow Bert as he tries to put together a band of musicians and lead them to super stardom, to prove to his former associates that he is still a major player.

The characters are introduced by the author in individual chapters, where we learn about their backgrounds and lives. Although they are all quite different, they are brought together by one man who has seen something in them. Bert Ingram prides himself on being able to spot talent when he sees it. I liked the interaction between the band members and between Bert and the individuals in the band. It is a very realistic portrayal of a band and all of the behind the scenes aspects of that. I recently read an excellent memoir about the life of a touring band 33 Days by Bill See, and I was reminded of certain parts of that book when I was reading Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers.

The story of The Redeemers teaches us that everyone can learn something from another person, no matter who that person is. It also shows that it is possible for people of different social classes and backgrounds to come together and get along with each other when ignorance and prejudice are set aside.

Ladies and Gentlemen... The Redeemers, reminds us that following our dreams is important, and listening to those who have experience is an important part of the journey.

Highly recommended. A book that music fans will love.

I love the characters in this book, they are so realistic. It's fiction, but you would be mistaken for thinking that the author is writing about real people, real band members. Another book that music lovers will enjoy.

Well, that's all for now. I hope you'll try the books.

Look out for next month's pick!

I Interviewed Mark Rice last year after reading his novel, Metallic Dreams. Here's a link to that interview for those of you who missed it: http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_...

Metallic Dreams blends two of my favourite things, music and words. It's also a very funny book. I love Mark's writing style, so I was very excited to hear he had a new release, a short story, Revelation Was Wrong.

After reading that very entertaining story, I was keen to invite Mark back to my blog for a chat about the book.





In your novel, Metallic Dreams, you based many of the characters on people you know. Your latest release is a short story 'Revelation Was Wrong'. There is an eccentric character Tam who predicts the end of the world. Is he based on anyone you know, or entirely fictional?

Tam the Bammus is purely fictitious. He came to me one night, fully formed in glorious detail: a gift from the literary gods.

What are your views on prophecies? Do you think it's possible to predict the future? Have you ever had any premonitions yourself?

I grew up listening to my father’s stories of Coinneach Odhar, the Brahan Seer, who was Scotland’s answer to Nostradamus. Coinneach’s prophecies were much more specific than those of Nostradamus, which tended to be vague. Many of the Brahan Seer’s predictions about Scotland came to pass, just as Orwell’s description of a Big-Brother state in 1984 is eerily close to what surveillance-obsessed modern society has become. Were these just two incisive men who observed their cultures and made educated guesses about the future, or were visions channelled into their minds from elsewhere? That’s a question I find fascinating. My view: the future is a blank page and we write on it with every one of our actions, no matter how small. I’ve never had any bad premonitions, but I have experienced vivid déja vu many times.

An alien appears in Revelation Was Wrong. I won't ask if he is based on anyone you know lol, but feel free to answer that if you do actually know aliens. My question is, do you think there is life on other planets?

The alien isn’t based on anyone I know, although many of my friends could easily be mistaken for extraterrestrial lifeforms. As for life on other planets, I’m certain of its existence. Bacteria have been found in meteorites and also outside the Earth’s atmosphere. If bacteria are hurtling around in space, it would be preposterous to think that other forms of life aren’t out there too. I started a short story based on a (fictional) conflict between the organisation SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and two primary-school geniuses. I can’t say any more about that without giving away the surprise, but it’s on the back burner for now anyway. I’ve always thought it one of the biggest examples of closed-minded human ignorance to believe that we are the only sentient beings in the Universe. (I’ve found animals to be more sentient than most humans.) I’d bet my entire music collection that there’s intelligent life outside our planet.

I don't think it's giving too much away to say that your main character Uriel is faced with a dilemma, to either stay on earth and risk being killed, or go to a different planet. He wants to take certain things with him that are close to his heart. If you had to leave earth in similar circumstances and could take three things with you, what would they be?

I presume by ‘things’ you mean inanimate rather than living ones. If I had to leave Earth and couldn’t take any living beings with me, I’d take: (1) a laminated photo of my cowgirl Deena Rae; (2) my kilt of MacLeod ancient tartan; (3) some of my rabbit Fluff’s fur.

I'm interested as to how the idea for Revelation Was Wrong was inspired, and how long did it take to write?

The idea was sparked by an experience I had three summers ago. On an unusually hot day for Scotland, in the middle of summer, I decided to walk to my local corner shop for an ice lolly. I had noticed a big chest freezer in the shop, so I figured it must contain a selection of icy things. On this day - to my horror - I discovered that it was a deep fridge full of Buckfast: a super-high-caffeine-content tonic wine which is implicated in most of Scotland’s violent crimes. (It turns regular garden-variety neds into amped-up maniacs.) Sweating like a racehorse, I asked the shop owner where the ice lollies were. He replied that he didn’t sell ice lollies, as no one in the area wanted them; they wanted Buckfast. He then tried and failed to sell me a chilled bottle of Buckie (also known as Wreck-the-Hoose Juice, Commotion Lotion, Devil’s Water and Vino Tonic Supersonic). I told him exactly what I thought of his no-ice-lolly policy and ruminated that the whole area was going to Hell in a handbasket. While wandering home, I realised with absolute clarity that if the Apocalypse were to come to the west of Scotland, Buckfast would be involved. After that, it was easy. The story came out in a stream-of-consciousness flow that lasted three days and nights. Tam dropped out of the sky to take his rightful place as the unlikely hero of the tale. This year, I spent a couple of weeks revamping the text and three weeks creating the book cover with 3D modelling software.

You are currently writing a sequel to Metallic Dreams, which I am very much looking forward to reading. Can you tell us anything about it yet, or is it still at the top secret stage?

It’s very much at the top-secret stage. I have a GREAT title for it and a GREAT opening line, but it’d ruin the surprise if I unveiled them now. The band’s ability to court controversy and fall into trouble is in no way diminished. Quite the opposite. For example, while touring India they manage to make a host of cultural gaffes as well as breaking several laws.

Have you been to any good gigs recently?

Aye, I went to see Steel Panther, which was the most fun gig I’ve experienced: excellent musicianship, good songs, wet-your-pants-funny lyrics and band members who are natural entertainers. Thin Lizzy was a good one too, earlier in the year. Most recently, I saw Paradise Lost and Insomnium, two of my favourite bands, play in King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.

What's the most recent CD or mp3 album you've bought?

Ready as Hell by Jim Dandy (legendary frontman of Black Oak Arkansas). I’d been waiting decades for it to be released on CD, and it finally was. For anyone who thinks that Axl Rose has a unique voice, think again; go listen to the early Black Oak Arkansas albums and it becomes very clear whom the G ‘n’ R frontman modelled his vocal style on: ‘Big’ Jim Dandy Mangrum.

You recently enrolled your debut novel, Metallic Dreams, into the KDP Select programme on Amazon. KDP Select is a bit of a controversial subject amongst authors. Some think it's great because it increases the visibility of our books on Amazon when we give them away free. Others say that by giving our books away free we are in effect making it harder for authors to ever sell any copies of their books. After all, with so many free books out there, why would anyone ever have to buy a book? What are your thoughts on these issues? Can you tell us a little bit about your decision to enroll your book into the programme and whether you would recommend it to fellow authors.

I would recommend it to fellow authors once they’ve launched a book, gathered some momentum and received some good reviews. For me, the KDP promotion was a huge springboard that took Metallic Dreams to a wider audience. It hit #1 in both of its Amazon categories during the promotion and stayed at the top of one category for over a week. The knock-on effect in terms of sales and visibility has been considerable. It’s unlikely that my novel would have been at #1 in any paid category without the free promotion to launch it up the rankings in the first place. I know that there are people who don’t (or rarely) buy books, as so many free ones are available. I can only speak from my perspective: while I’m happy to like, tag, tweet and download free books to help other authors, I only read what I truly want to read. If this means shelling out some cash, I knuckle down and do it (which, as a stingy Scotsman, hurts like Hell). For example, last year I spent a small fortune on True Norwegian Black Metal, a huge limited-edition hardback full-colour glossy photobook by Peter Beste. Worth every penny. If a book’s quality is good enough, people will buy it, regardless of price. That should be a mantra for all authors: refine, polish and make your work perfect, then people will buy.

To help with promotion of your novel, you have appeared on internet radio shows. What is your experience of taking part in that type of promotion and have you gained new readers directly as a result of that? Would you recommend it to other authors?

Yes, I gained new readers as a result of appearing on the Charity Parkerson and Melissa Craig show. Yes, I would recommend it to other authors. Hurl yourself onto the show and don’t be afraid to put foot in mouth, as those gaffes end up being the most entertaining bits. For example, when I said to Charity, on air, “I reckon everyone you know is a pervert,” I rapidly realised that I know her mother and several other authors who might not take that as a compliment. My frantic attempt to dig myself out of that hole was one of the funniest parts of the show.

Do you have any other news you'd like to share with your readers?



The anthology A Blended Bouquet by my writers’ group – Writers Inc – is finally available on Kindle, just three years after the paperback came out! I was having some niggly formatting issues and eventually surrendered to a professional at eBookBuilders. The finished product looks perfect. My witchcraft-themed shortish story (about 20,000 words) is moving along. It has taken far too long, as I’ve been juggling so many things, but I’m almost happy with most of it. It’s also worth mentioning that I’m currently reading and enjoying your novel The Dream, Maria.

Thank you, Maria, for another cracking interview. Excellent questions, as always. I look forward to your new novel.

Thank you, Mark, for being a charming guest. I'm glad to hear you are enjoying The Dream

Last week, I was interviewed by Mark Rice (author of Metallic Dreams), and Deena Rae Schoenfeldt of eBookBuilders, on their Internet radio show, Bluebonnets, Bagpipes & Books!

We talked about my upcoming novel, Haunted, which I hope to release on Hallowe'en. We also talked about my experience with the Amazon KDP Select Programme. The show was fun to do.

You can listen to the podcast here: Bluebonnets, Bagpipes & Books

I hope you enjoy it!

Deena and Mark created their radio show so that they could discuss the ins and outs of the publishing industry with those in the know.

If you're on Facebook, you can keep up to date with the show here: http://www.facebook.com/Bluebonnets.B...

You can also follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BBandBPodcast