Interview With Author Mark O’Bannon
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Author and game designer (Pen & Paper RPGs) from San Diego. I have 5 published novels and am currently in the process of editing 10 more, while writing a few other novels. I plan to publish 11 or 12 books this year.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Touching Infinity
I wanted to tell a Scienc Fiction mystery/love story about a journey to the heart of a supernova. SN1987A was a supernova that exploded on my birthday in 1987. The book, “Nova” by Samuel Delaney inspired this, too.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I am a story structure expert. This allows me to write well, write cinsistently well, and write fast. I use eccel spreadsheets to track my stories – plot, scene weave, etc etc.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Perry Rhodan (German SciFi), Ray Bradbury, J.R.R. Tolkein, Robert Heinlein, the anthology series, “Alpha 1-10” by Robert Silverberg, J.K. Rowling, and my friend, George Clayton Johnson, who wrote 8 Twilight Zone stories, Logans Run and the first episode of Star Trek TOS.
What are you working on now?
“Whiskers” – Long ago, someone turned all of the dragons into cats. Now they’re changing back! Set in 1912, this is a Steampunk story, too.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Www.MEOwPublishing.com
Marketing is easier when you have lots of books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
90% of your success comes from a mastery of STORY STRUCTURE, taught by John Truby.
Read:
1. “The Anatomy of Story,” by John Truby
2. “The Anatomy of Genre,” by John Truby
3. “The Power of POV,” by Alicia Rasley
4. “The Scene Book ” by Sandra Scofield
5. “Zen & the Art of Writing,” by Ray Bradbury
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Character flaws, (Weakness/Need) are the wellspring of your story.
What are you reading now?
Reading my novels again on a quest to kill the typo gremlines. I have a theory that these little monsters multiply inside your books.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Publishing IMPERIUM, an epic science fiction space opera. I take a utopian “Star Trek” society and devolve it into a nightmarish dystopian society. Then I show how to build a free society. Star Trek becomes Star Wars and it ends up as a free society.
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?
My novel, Touching Infinoty, Harry Pottrr and LOTR.
Author Websites and Profiles
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