10 Questions with Mark Reefe
Where did you get the concept for the Road to Jericho?
The idea came to me quiet suddenly. I was driving to work and it bubbled up in the back of my brain. I wanted to write a story about someone who, through one selfless act, gained the attention and wrath of an evil power. I also liked the idea of someone blessed (or cursed depending on your point of view) with the ability to see into someone’s soul.
If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would have to be something simple and inspiring, maybe something from my childhood by C.S. Lewis. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was my favorite of his Narnia books. The idea of getting on a ship and heading out into the unknown has always appealed to me.
Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
With The Road to Jericho I just started writing. The first twenty or so pages almost seemed to write themselves. After that, the plot unfolded in my head as I commuted back and forth to work (it’s a long drive). I would jot down what I had thought up on my drive and the story slowly came to light chapter by chapter. That way I always found myself a couple chapters ahead in the story based on my notes.
What current writing projects are you working on?
Well, I just finished the first draft of the next book. It picks up where The Road to Jericho ends and is part of a planned trilogy. I have some friends doing a beta read of it now and I am anxiously awaiting their input. The title is El Sendero, but that may change. I also have a short story on the Goat Man I submitted to my publisher for consideration in an upcoming anthology on urban legends.
What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
There is nothing like a good back and forth between characters. I enjoy dialogue arising from unusual or extraordinary circumstances. I find that if you put the right characters in a compelling predicament the dialogue becomes spontaneous and almost writes itself.
What made you start writing?
I have been writing on and off since I was a child. The first “story” I wrote was a module for Dungeons and Dragons. Yes, I am a nerd, and no, it didn’t get published. Since then, I have gone through cycles of intermittent writing. I would write for a couple years, then put the pen and paper down to focus on the job, the kids, the house, etc., etc. But I always got the itch and found myself returning to it. That’s how I knew I was meant to be a writer, I just kept coming back to it over and over.
Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I write what interests me and I have never been in a position where I decided not to write something because I considered it off limits. That said, there are some things that I believe I would have difficulty writing about, anything involving hurting children would be a problem for me.
What is your best quality as a writer?
My imagination has helped me throughout my writing and is the only reason I was able to finish The Road to Jericho. I found that I was able to “write out” entire chapters in my head while commuting. I watched the story or scene unfold in my head and then wrote it down later.
If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
Wow, that’s a tough one, there are so many authors I admire and would be thrilled to work with. Perhaps Frank Peretti, the whole spiritual warfare concept has always intrigued me and would be a great fit with some of the projects I am working on.
If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
Bruce Lee (just because he is Bruce Lee), Dean Martin ( he would be in charge of the drinks), Stan Lee (one of the greatest writers in my opinion), Gene Wilder (as Willy Wonka – he had an evil wit I loved), and Madeline Kahn (the perfect combination of humor and beauty).
The idea came to me quiet suddenly. I was driving to work and it bubbled up in the back of my brain. I wanted to write a story about someone who, through one selfless act, gained the attention and wrath of an evil power. I also liked the idea of someone blessed (or cursed depending on your point of view) with the ability to see into someone’s soul.
If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
It would have to be something simple and inspiring, maybe something from my childhood by C.S. Lewis. The Voyage of the Dawn Treader was my favorite of his Narnia books. The idea of getting on a ship and heading out into the unknown has always appealed to me.
Do you outline prior to writing your story, or do you work out the plot as you write?
With The Road to Jericho I just started writing. The first twenty or so pages almost seemed to write themselves. After that, the plot unfolded in my head as I commuted back and forth to work (it’s a long drive). I would jot down what I had thought up on my drive and the story slowly came to light chapter by chapter. That way I always found myself a couple chapters ahead in the story based on my notes.
What current writing projects are you working on?
Well, I just finished the first draft of the next book. It picks up where The Road to Jericho ends and is part of a planned trilogy. I have some friends doing a beta read of it now and I am anxiously awaiting their input. The title is El Sendero, but that may change. I also have a short story on the Goat Man I submitted to my publisher for consideration in an upcoming anthology on urban legends.
What type of scenes do you most enjoy writing?
There is nothing like a good back and forth between characters. I enjoy dialogue arising from unusual or extraordinary circumstances. I find that if you put the right characters in a compelling predicament the dialogue becomes spontaneous and almost writes itself.
What made you start writing?
I have been writing on and off since I was a child. The first “story” I wrote was a module for Dungeons and Dragons. Yes, I am a nerd, and no, it didn’t get published. Since then, I have gone through cycles of intermittent writing. I would write for a couple years, then put the pen and paper down to focus on the job, the kids, the house, etc., etc. But I always got the itch and found myself returning to it. That’s how I knew I was meant to be a writer, I just kept coming back to it over and over.
Is there any subject that is off limits for you as a writer?
I write what interests me and I have never been in a position where I decided not to write something because I considered it off limits. That said, there are some things that I believe I would have difficulty writing about, anything involving hurting children would be a problem for me.
What is your best quality as a writer?
My imagination has helped me throughout my writing and is the only reason I was able to finish The Road to Jericho. I found that I was able to “write out” entire chapters in my head while commuting. I watched the story or scene unfold in my head and then wrote it down later.
If you could pick one other author to collaborate with on a novel or story, living or dead, who would it be?
Wow, that’s a tough one, there are so many authors I admire and would be thrilled to work with. Perhaps Frank Peretti, the whole spiritual warfare concept has always intrigued me and would be a great fit with some of the projects I am working on.
If you could invite five people to a dinner party (alive or dead, real or fictional) who would you invite?
Bruce Lee (just because he is Bruce Lee), Dean Martin ( he would be in charge of the drinks), Stan Lee (one of the greatest writers in my opinion), Gene Wilder (as Willy Wonka – he had an evil wit I loved), and Madeline Kahn (the perfect combination of humor and beauty).
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