Markus Vegsundvåg

Interview With Author Markus Vegsundvåg

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a storyteller drawn to the darker side of human nature, where survival meets morality, and no one walks away clean. I’ve written many stories over the years, but as of now, I have two published books, with more on the way. My focus is on creating intense, emotionally charged fiction set in brutal, high-stakes worlds.

I’ve always been more drawn to sad or bittersweet endings; the kind that stay with you long after the last page. They may hurt, but they leave an impact, and that’s what I aim for in my stories.

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is Edda’s Games™. The initial idea came while watching Squid Game: I found myself wondering, ‘what if something like this was a globally televised reality show, not hidden underground?’. That idea stuck with me. Over time, it evolved into its own world with its own rules. In my version, the games are more than entertainment, they’re a front used to secretly fund and empower a covert division within the CIA, giving them global influence. From that foundation, Edda’s Games was born.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I tend to write in the evening or late at night, when the world feels quieter and the mood lines up with the darker tones of my stories. I also visualize each scene like a movie; I see the lighting, the framing, the pacing, and then write it as if I’m directing it. And while I don’t write the ending first, I always know where I’m going. I like having that emotional endpoint in mind and working my way toward it, piece by piece. It’s the same with sequels: if I write a story to include sequels, I always have that planned before-hand. If not, it remains a standalone.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
While I’ve read many books over the years, I’d say my biggest influence actually come from movies and television. I tend to write as if I’m directing a show, visualizing each scene, the lighting, the angles, the mood, and then putting that to the page. That mindset shapes everything I do. I’m inspired more by storytelling that ‘feels like cinema’, where the emotions hit visually just as much as they do on the page.

What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on Edda’s Games: Aiko and Edda’s Games: Revenant (working title), the sequels and conclusion to the main trilogy. These entries shift into revenge thrillers that dive deeper into the CIA’s role behind the Games, their control over global systems, and the growing tension with the United Nations, who know what’s happening, but are powerless to stop it.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I will say this: don’t be afraid to put your stories out there. If you have a story you feel needs to be told, then tell it. You don’t need permission, and you don’t need perfection, you just need to start. The rest you’ll figure out as you go.

What’s next for you as a writer?
Right now, I’m focused on completing the Edda’s Games trilogy and its connected spin-offs, including darker, more personal stories like ‘Ayame’. After that, I plan to expand into entirely new IPs and build out multiple original story universes, each with their own tone, themes, and worlds. My long-term goal is to create a full library of cinematic, emotionally heavy stories that challenge the reader and stay with them after the final page.

 

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