5Qi-2

@MarkVictorYoung - 5Qi-2

Q1. What fictional character best describes you and why?

A. Somebody on Wattpad asked me which character in my novel "Once Were Friends" I was most like and I answered probably Pete the comic artist and reluctant office worker, but that's not a perfect description by any means. My next project actually features a character who is uncomfortably close to me, but it's not out, yet. From the work of another author, I can tell you that I identified a little too much with Walter Berglund from Jonathan Franzen's "Freedom." I feel his pain at balancing the need to provide for family with his ideological concerns.

Q2. How much research do you do for your books?

A. Whatever is needed. My first book required extensive knowledge of the architecture and history of Toronto. My second required a deep reading of a Shakespeare play. For my next novel, I had to research New York City, gun control laws in Pennsylvania, availability of knock-out drugs, and FBI procedures. It's just a part of the planning for any project and I usually enjoy it.

Q3. Why do you write?

A. That is a good question. I loved to read before I loved to write, so it must have something to do with wanting to make that same magic myself. I also find that I often have conversations in my head long after the real life ones are over, coming up with witty retorts or great replies long afterwards. I will often write these things down and they will find their way into my future or current work. It is some kind of ongoing conversation with the world that I am transcribing for my own enjoyment. I hope my readers will agree.

Q4. Where do you get your inspiration?

A. Usually it comes from character and grows into story. I will get a vivid idea for a character, either from real life or my imagination, and then I'll begin to think of what might happen to the character. Often it is the voice of the character that tells me what kinds of shenanigans he or she might get up to, so I'll just write in that voice until the story comes alive.

Q5. How important are names to you in your books?

A. Not as important as voice, story, ideas, and dialogue. I don't generally worry about the meanings of names or how they sound. They are mainly identifiers to help keep the characters separate in the reader's mind. In fact I was quite happy to let Bill Shakespeare take care of all the character names in my second book. Thanks, Bill!

Bulletin: You may announce your present or upcoming project(s) here:

My next project that I'll be posting on Wattpad is a novel called "The Launch." It's about comics and kidnapping.

Book and Author recommendations:

Cory Doctorow's "Little Brother"

Nancy Kay Clark's "When the Dragon's Left"

Toby Litt's "Launderama"

Hugh Howey's "For Writers"

Takatsu's "Espresso Love"

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#5Qi-2 October 18th, 2015