Question and Answer session with Lee Mather, author of The Green Man
Lee Mather, author of horror novella The Green Man, is here for a question and answer session!
Lee is 32 and lives near Manchester in the UK. He likes anything that doesn't involve work. Books, Sport, Music, TV, Films, Sleep. He is good in a pub quiz. Lee has been writing for a couple of years now, and enjoys writing horror and dark fantasy.
Can you tell readers about your story, The Green Man?
The Green Man is a story about the discovery of faith. It centres on a man trying to come to terms with a tragic event in his past. Family is a central theme, particularly the relationship between parents and children. It has supernatural elements but is aimed at being more thought provoking than out-and-out scary. There are still one or two chills in there though.
What inspired this story?
I think there's something about my relationship with my mother in this story. I adapted elements to suit the plot but I remember how she used to tease me by telling me how she met a little green man when I was just a boy. This used to wind me up a lot! But I think, in essence, I was inspired by the concept of how the people we care about are most capable of provoking emotion, of bringing out the very best and the very worst in us.
Are you writing anything at the moment?
Yes I'm midway through First Kiss, Last Breath which is a coming of age story about a teenage artist suffering from depression. A few nasty things are happening to him and he is starting to doubt his sanity. Then he meets a girl and things begin to improve, but to be with her, he (literally) needs to overcome his demon(s). Hopefully it will be well received!
I've also drafted a short titled Masks, which is a 'Twillight-Zone' esque horror, that features, erm, some masks. I won't finalise this though until I'm happy with First Kiss, Last Breath.
Who are your favourite authors and why?
There are lots of authors I like, mainly the usual horror and fantasy suspects. In terms of new (ish) writers I tout Joe Hill and John Ajvide Lindqvist, the former because of his wit and intelligence, and the latter because of the depth of feeling he creates with his characters. In terms of some one off books that people might enjoy reading, then the zombie romance Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion is original, gentle and funny, and Bareback by Kit Whitfield is an interesting take on the werewolf genre, particularly for anyone who works in the UK Civil Service.
What do you find particularly challenging about the writing process?
Marketing. Grr. I would just rather write. Submissions and rejections. Double Grr. What the bloody hell do these people know about good writing anyway! Just kidding! I guess it's hard to put so much care into something and then send it out in the world for a potential kicking. I haven't got a clue what I'll do when I have kids. I'll be a nervous wreck.
What do you consider good writing?
I want to care. I want to think. I want to be challenged. I think good writing is when you don't want the experience to stop, when you can't read the pages in front of you quickly enough.
What are your plans for the future?
To keep plugging away. I'm writing short stories and novelette sized pieces currently and I want to do this for the next year or so before I attempt a novel. My work is starting to get noticed and I feel at the moment like I'm learning all the time. I have some interesting concepts ready to develop, enough to keep me busy for a while.
There are a lot of good writers out there in a similar position to me who don't write professionally but would love to. It's obvious to me that a lot of hard work, a lot of courage, and a fair portion of luck are required for someone to make a living out of writing fiction, but having said that, there are people out there doing it every day. So why not me?
Do you have any tips or advice for people out there who want to write?
Don't bother. That way there is less competition for me. Mua-ha-ha-ha!
Seriously, if you want to do it, then do it. But make sure it's for the right reasons. There'll only ever be one Stephen King. The thing that brings me back to the keyboard, above anything, is that I love the writing itself. It's a real buzz to craft something that reads well and that others enjoy.
Where can people find out more about you and your work?
My official website is www.leemather.org.uk
I often share my delusions through my blog at: http:\\leemather.livejournal.com
I am also on Facebook and I currently have a particularly disturbing profile picture that should encourage you to look me up and add me to your collection of cyber-friends…
