Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Mark Holloway, a debut indie fantasy author based in the UK.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current book, The Soul’s Aspect, is my first ever book and is the first in a planned series.
I started writing The Soul’s Aspect early 2020 because I had been in a reading drought, really struggling to find a book that scratched the itch I had been feeling. At some point I just decided that if I couldn’t read the book I wanted to, I would write it instead.
More than anything, I was craving a coming of age story where things can actually go wrong. I was bored of reading stories where plot armour is so thick around the characters that there’s just no tension anymore, and this seemed to be a particular issue around coming of age stories. Not to mention that these types of stories are usually reserved for the YA audience, and I wanted something that felt a bit more mature.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
To a fault, I’m not an over-planner. I like discovery writing, where I just noodle around with words on paper first, writing scenes that come to me, before I figure out the key plot points. Usually, I have a start and an end goal, but much of the route on the way is open for me to work around.
This often means I have to stop and rework large pieces of text, but I find it’s made the writing process feel more organic like my story is growing up a trellis of my own creation.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Robin Hobb, Patrick Rothfuss and Jeff Vandermeer are huge influences for me, each for different reasons.
Hobb’s character work in fantasy is second to none, and I’ve still yet to experience anything else like it. All her characters feel real, and even the stupid mistakes that they make, the ones that have you screaming at the page, feel justified, and right for that character.
Likewise, Rothfuss’ prose is a delight in the genre, and particularly here, I’m referring to the Easter eggs hidden throughout his work, be that the seven words spoken in dialogue, or my personal favourite, the sneaky use of iambic pentametre used in certain, symbolic scenes.
Lastly, Vandermeer inspires me to be creative with my prose. Reading the Southern Reach trilogy was like a bucket of water thrown over me, with so much rich, beautiful, densely packed with terrifying language.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on the sequel to The Soul’s Aspect, as well as working with a producer on an Audiobook version of The Soul’s Aspect.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I mostly stick to Instagram as I like to have a closer connection with readers, and it feels like more of a community. I’m also pretty active on Reddit, helping to moderate a writing group focused on the fantasy genre. Mostly, I think the important thing in marketing and promotion is honesty and symbiosis.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Take your time. Debut indie authors are unlikely to make a huge splash with their first book, and those that do have often paid through the nose to do so. Don’t fret if the numbers seem small, just focus on writing, and build yourself a small community that can be genuinely interested in your work.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t let your first foray into writing be The Great Novel. Write small, short stories first so that you can hone in on the mechanics and get feedback.
What are you reading now?
I don’t read while I’m actively writing, for fear of accidentally absorbing other people’s ideas into my own work and being overly influenced. That being said, next up on by TBR is Kirstoff’s Empire of the Vampire.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More writing!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
How to Survive on a Desert Island
How to Build and Sail Small Boats – Canoes – Punts and Rafts
Cursed Child (makes good tinder)
Author Websites and Profiles
Mark Holloway Website
Mark Holloway Amazon Profile
Mark Holloway’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Author Interview Series
To discover a new author, check out our Featured Authors page. We have some of the best authors around. They are just waiting for you to discover them. If you enjoyed this writer’s interview feel free to share it using the buttons below. Sharing is caring!
If you are an author and want to be interviewed just fill out out Author Interview page. After submitting we will send it out in our newsletters and social media channels that are filled with readers looking to discover new books to read.
If you are looking for a new book to read check out our Featured Books Page.