This Week's Guest Author - Mark Iles
Young: Hello Mark! Nice of you to drop by for a chat on my weekly blog. How are you?
Mark Iles (M.I.): Thank you for having me over. It's nice to connect with you again, Young.
Young: Your resume you send is impressive. It reads;
Mark works at Southampton University but was bought up in Slough, England, where he used to read up to three paperbacks a day. At the age of 17 he joined the Royal Navy as a radio operator and says he’s so lucky to have seen so much of the world. While always interested in writing he began to do so more seriously following his experiences during the Falklands War, in which he served aboard HMS Invincible. His short stories have been published in a wide variety of media and he has also written prolifically about the martial arts for magazines such as Combat and Martial Arts Illustrated.
Passing his MA in Professional Writing with Falmouth University he went on to complete Diplomas in Copywriting, and Proofreading, and now also works part time as a copywriter and Editor as well as writing features and fiction. While writing in all genres Mark’s fiction is primarily SF, fantasy and horror.
Appearing in several anthologies, including Auguries, Escape Velocity, Write to Fight and Monk Punk, his novel ‘A Pride of Lions’ is the first instalment in the Darkening Stars series. Book 2, ‘The Cull of Lions’ is now out and Mark is now working on the third instalment ‘Roar of Lions’. More recently his short story collection, ‘Falling from Grace & Others’, has been released for Kindle.
M.I.: ‘The Cull of Lions’, the second istallment of ‘A Pride of Lions’ is recently published by Solstice Publishing.
Young: How exciting. Can you give our readers a synopsis of 'A Pride of Lions’ first installment, Darkening Stars?
M.I.: Of course, I'll be happy to. 
A Pride of Lions
(synopsis)
When Selena Dillon is caught in an assassination attempt on her planets ruler, she finds herself sentenced to 25 years servitude in mankind’s most feared military force, the Penal Regiments. Much to her surprise she enjoys the harsh military life and is quickly selected for officer training.
But something’s wrong, worlds are falling silent. There’s no cry for help and no warning, just a sudden eerie silence. When a flotilla of ships is despatched to investigate they exit hyperspace to find themselves facing a massive alien armada. Outnumbered and outgunned the flotilla fight a rearguard action, allowing one of their number to slip away and warn mankind.
As worlds fall in battle, and man’s fleets are decimated, Selena is selected to lead a team of the Penal Regiments most battle-hardened veterans, in a last ditch attempt to destroy the aliens’ home world. If she fails then mankind is doomed. But little does Selena know what fate has in store for her, that one of her crew is a psychopathic killer and a second the husband of one of his victims.
Can she hold her team together, get them to their target and succeed in the attack? Selena knows that if she fails then there will be nothing at all left to go home to. 
Young: Thank You Mark. Where can readers connect with you?
M.I.: Please visit my various social media sites:
Website: www.markiles.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/welcometoearth
LinkedIn: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/mark-iles/33/67a/822
Facebook Author’s Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mark-Iles/279162705557698
Blog: http://markiles.co.uk/the-blog
Young: Can we have the books retail sites where readers can purchase them?
M.I.: Sure;
A Pride of Lions: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pride-Lions-Darkening-Skies/dp/149425445X
The Cull of Lions: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cull-Lions-Darkening-Stars-Book-ebook/dp/B00LG74IGS
My other works can be found on my Amazon author’s page:
Amazon Authors Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Iles/e/B004YZBP3I/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
Incidentally, Cull, just had a great review on Amazing Stories: http://amazingstoriesmag.com/2014/11/review-pride-lions-mark-iles/
Young: Do you have anything else you'll like to tell my readers?
M.I.: I’m often asked why I write and the answer is very simple, books have always fascinated me. Having gone through countless novels as a child I found myself engrossed in the wonderful worlds of Science Fiction, fantasy and horror. It’s their ‘what if’ factor that really hooks me.
For instance, ‘what if’ that monster under your bed really exists, and if you discovered you had magical powers would you use them for good or evil? One day I have no doubt we’ll travel to other planets and star systems, just imagine what we might find there! Throughout history mankind has always been beset by war and I there’s no reason why the future will be any different. So, what happens when finally we meet (and I have no doubt that one day we will) an alien race; will we end up in conflict with them and if so how would it end – or could we even end such a war if we couldn’t communicate with them?
Even now, thinking these thing through, ideas are tumbling through my mind, which – believe it or not – is extremely frustrating, because there’s always the urge to write them down and so a story begins. If you don’t do so then those tales tap away at you at your consciousness, like a branch against a window on a cold and stormy night. I’ve said many times that I’m unsure whether being a writer is a gift or a curse, for it affects so many areas of my life. An example here is that I rarely watch television and have only done so a couple of times in five years. People I speak to think that odd, but I’d rather sit and decant these tales whirling around in my mind than anything else. Besides, what authors say is true when they’re asked ‘how do you become a writer?’ The answer is simple. You write, and keep on writing until you find something that you like. But that’s when that the really hard work begins, for you then have to find an agent or editor who likes it too.
Young: Thank you Mark for your insights. Nice having you on my blog. Best Wishes to all your many endevours. Hope to see you again soon.
M.I.: Thank You, Young for having me. Best Wishes to you too. 
