Tevun-Krus #13 - TeslaPunk

Author Spotlight: @MadMikeMarsbergen

 Roughly seven months ago, I found myself reading a PM from a guy with a ridiculously long screen name, and a funny little picture here on Wattpad. He wanted to write for TK. We, of course, told him, Go Ahead. This guy was @MadMikeMarsbergen, and seven months later, he's been one of our go-to authors for original shorts that are sassy and crass, inventive, and will leave you gripping your side and scratching your head. We thought it only appropriate that he be this month's Author Spotlight. It is with much excitement and anticipatroy delight that I give you this original gem: A sit down with TK's own, @MadMikeMarsbergen. 

Mike, if you had to describe yourself in one word, what words wouldn't you use?

Hmmm, I'd like to think 'douchebag' wouldn't be used to describe me, but I suppose that's a matter of perspective. How about 'honest', 'caring'—no, no, those are two words I would use. 'Muscular', 'drug-addict', 'devil-worshipper', 'blind' (though I do wear glasses). I'm not a 'harpoon' or a 'mountain', nor am I 'evil'. 

I'd say that I'm not a lot of things. So, basically, if you can think of a word, chances are that it does not describe me. There. That about sums things up.  

What was your nickname at school?

Jack Scallywag. The Human Trombone. Shapeshifter. Damian Firefeet. Chameleon. Crazyhorse. Ironlungs.

Okay, those are all phony. I didn't really have a nickname, in the classic sense—like calling the skinny guy 'Skeletor', or the tech-freak 'Gizmo'. I was just called 'Mike', which, if you didn't know, is short for Michael. That's my name. I suppose it's possible I did have a nickname, but perhaps I just wasn't privy to it. Jeeze, I'd hate to know what it was...

Oh, not really a nickname, but a friend did say that I was 'the effing funniest guy in the world'—substitute 'effing' with a vulgar F-word of your choice.

When you were a young Padawan, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Numerous things. A scientist, a doctor, a veterinarian, a war-veteran, an astronaut, the Leader of the World... That last one is a lie. Speaking of lying, a lawyer. You know, the whole gamut of careers that get hammered into our heads by our parents when we're young. I sort of came back down from my hot-air-balloon ride of big dreams and wanted to be a writer—oops!

What is your favourite quote?

There are a couple by Terry Pratchett that immediately come to mind: 

"Susan hated Literature. She'd much prefer to read a good book."; and "Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself."

I also quite enjoy this quote by Hunter S. Thompson:

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

Other than writing, what hobbies do you have?

I love to read, obviously, and listen to music. I don't really mix music and reading or music and writing, like I know some people do. I find it hard to focus on both activities at one time. My brain wants to just do one or the other: analyze the words or analyze the music. I used to play guitar but I haven't really felt the urge to pick it back up. Most of my strings broke and I never took it in to get the strings put back on, so I sort of lost interest. I do a little painting, every once in a blue moon. Haven't done that in a while, though, because all my brushes are covered in dried paint.