Hi there Wottareaders, today I’m interviewing fantasy author Mark Lawrence, most known for the The Broken Empire trilogy and The Red Queen’s War series. Let’s get to know him better:
😀 The man
What can you tell us about you?
Well, for starters, I tend to write short answers to interview questions. I’m a former scientist who now writes fantasy and scifi books for a living. I’ve sold nearly two million of them in around 25 languages.
Where are you from? Has your country influenced your stories somehow?
I was born in America, raised in the UK. I did live in the States for a few years at the turn of the century. I’m sure all our experiences influence our storytelling – but I can’t point to any examples based on geography.
Writers are such for different reasons, which was your thing that made you decide you wanted to become a professional writer?
I never had an ambition to become a professional writer. I just wrote for fun with no expectation that I would be able to make a living at it. My success has been rather surprising to me. Friends pushed me into sending my debut, Prince of Thorns, to an agent. Things moved quickly from there, and ten years later, here we are.
One book, one movie, one song, and one videogame?
I tend to like popular things, so: Lord of the Rings, The Shawshank Redemption, Iron Sky – Paulo Nutini (just because, by chance, I’m listening to it as I type), The Last of us.
Pineapple pizza, Yes or no?
No.
If you had to define yourself just using one sentence of your novels, which one would be?
We’re built of contradictions, all of us. It’s those opposing forces that give us strength, like an arch, each block pressing the next. Give me a man whose parts are all aligned in agreement and I’ll show you madness. We walk a narrow path, insanity to each side. A man without contradictions to balance him will soon veer off.
Quote from King of Thorns.
✍️ The writer
I’d like to know about your first steps, the very first day you decided to become a professional writer, what made you do it?
I never made any decision like that. I drifted into writing, first through running games of Dungeons and Dragons as kid, through running a fantasy Play-By-Mail game as a young man, through writing short stories later in life. And the short stories got longer.
Do you have any rituals for writing? Any kind of habit or goal to achieve every day?
No.
Do you take real people you know and put them in your stories?
I don’t. Occasionally I might take a real person’s attitude, or way of speaking, and give that to a character.
What advice would you give new writers on how to delve into creative fiction?
There’s no great science to it. I would just advise them to give it a go. Joining a critique group is a good way to get better.
Which would you say was your best and your worst moments as a writer?
I’m not a very excitable person and things that seem to have other authors dancing around the room really don’t have much impact on me. I think the best “writing times” I’ve had have just been hanging out with readers and other writers in the bar at events. The worst moments would probably just be interactions with awful people on social media.
Let’s talk about procrastination, what is the most absurd thing you’ve been doing when you should be writing?
I’m not a big procrastinator. If I don’t want to write then I don’t write. Generally, I just get on with it. I like writing. I do waste a lot of time on the internet though, when I could be writing instead.
📚 The Books
Before Mark Lawrence tells us about his books and new projects, here you have the first volume of some of his series:
Let’s start with your newest series, The Book of the Ice, the second volume in the series was released in April 2021, what happens to Yaz in this sequel?
She goes on a long, dangerous journey.
So far, all your book series have been a trilogy, will The Book of Ice be a trilogy as well? If so, is there any reason why all your series are a triad? or just a mere coincidence?
The Book of the Ice is a trilogy (like all my trilogies it was finished before the first book was published). I think trilogies match my attention span well. By the time I get to the end of book 3 I’ve always been ready to move on to something new. I wouldn’t want to stick with a character for 10 books. And publishers love trilogies – so that works well.
Let’s get back to your first novel, Prince of Thorns, what were your first thoughts when you realized people were really enjoying your book?
I was a bit surprised by how much they were enjoying it, but I’d already had plenty of feedback from my critique group, then my agent, then my publisher, and so I was used to a good reaction. I was more surprised by the controversy and condemnation – though ultimately that probably helped fuel the book’s success.
Also, Paramount Pictures acquired the rights to The Broken Empire a few years ago, do you have any particular actor in mind to play the role of Jorg Ancrath? Or maybe any other character that you have an actress or an actor you think would be the perfect fit?
-That’s news to me J The option for film/TV rights was sold to a group (not Paramount Pictures) and has some months to run before it reverts to me or has to be renewed. The option is different (much cheaper) than the rights though.
In any event, I’m just avoiding the question since the names (and faces, and existence) of young actors slide from my mind before the credits have finished rolling, and so I have no idea who could play Jorg. To do him credit it would take quite some actor – he’s a complicated young man!
Of all your books, which one is the most special for you?
The cliché is that this is like picking between your children. It’s a cliché because it’s true. I tend to select The Red Queen’s War books, starting with Prince of Fools, as they are my least commercially successful books, but I had enormous fun writing them and they have a dedicated following.
What are you writing right now?
I’m writing a story about a library!
Thanks to Mark Lawrence for answering my questions, and thanks to you Wottareaders for being there, hope everyone had fun!
Also, take a look at my latest interviews: here’s an interview to author Aliya Whiteley, and here’s another one to Rachel Neumeier, author of the Tuyo series.
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I am I.M. Redwright, a passionate storyteller and a seasoned marketing manager with a deep-rooted love for literature. With thousands of sales globally, my journey as an author has been both exhilarating and enlightening, an adventure that started with my first publication: The Sapphire Eruption (the first volume of The Sword’s Choice series). I have dedicated my life to crafting stories that not only entertain but also provoke thought and stir emotions.
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My adventure in the world of writing began 6 years ago. Since then, I have published 3 books, exploring various genres and themes. My work reflects my commitment to delivering compelling narratives, richly woven with intricate characters and vivid settings. Each of my books is a testament to my expertise and a product of my relentless pursuit of literary excellence.
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