Tell us a little bit about you outside of being an author.
What is your earliest writing memory?
Around seven years old, I remember putting together cute little poems that grew into stories, which I still do today.
What feelings do you experience once you are satisfied with your completed manuscript(s)?
I am never 100% satisfied with my manuscripts. If I write a chapter that I think is excellent I get a feeling of satisfaction that is un-describable. Then I go back and read it again and continue to improve upon us.
In your upcoming release or newly released book, how did you come up with the idea of your main character(s)?
With my first book Broken Family Ties; I sat down at my computer depressed and just started typing. It started out being about a 5 year old who was accused of being the seventh child born and evil. Before long I found myself going in a totally different direction about parental superstitions, lies and deceit.
Part II Severed Family Ties was written more traditionally. I used a scene builder script, narrated the story. I also studied Broken Family Ties to clean up all loose ends and such.
Tell us a little bit about your work in progress and/or your upcoming release.
Broken Family Ties was released 12/2006. The follow up Severed Family Ties is soon to be released and will answer all the cliffhangers. It will start out with Carl, the oldest sibling being homeless, answer Caroline’s child situation, explain Charles’ idiosyncrasies and delve more into the relationships of their parents’ Kevin and Ann Grover.
I’m a big believer that word of mouth creates more sales than advertisements. Let’s say I’ve never read any of your books before, how would you pitch the idea of your latest release to me?
Headline Suggestion: Family Ties, Family Lies
Word Count: 185
Broken Family Ties is an introduction into the lives of the Grover children and their extended family. Caroline, Charles and Carl Grover are born to Kevin and Ann Grover. Caroline is taken in as an infant for a hearing test, the doctor makes an observation that her soul is in trouble. Caroline is described as evil, with a disconcerting look and precocious in her mannerisms. When Caroline, the middle child, is five years-old the children lose their parents and their grandparents, Henry and Alicia
Brooks move in to care for them. Immediately it is clear that Alicia is harboring secrets and resentments where the kids are concerned.
Grandma Alicia is a woman only concerned with her God and living in her dead daughter’s beautiful home. She has no use for anyone else and is honest about it. She is the true power in the home and makes the decisions. Grandpa Henry is an inactive participant.
Broken Family Ties is available @ www.lulu.com and
http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Family-Ties-PCMarks/dp/061516093X
Part II-Severed Family Ties unofficial release date, late 2008
I consider myself a tough critic when reviewing books. What do or would you do when you receive a mediocre or less than average rating from a reviewer or reader?
I take their suggestions into account and build upon them. Since I am self published and there is very little budget for my craft, I consider this free editing and welcome it with open arms.
What authors influence your writing dreams, goals and aspirations?
Not only do I have a natural love for writing, I also love to read. I make a point of not letting other writers influence my style. I want to find my own voice. That being said, some of the authors I find myself drawn to in distant past and present are VC Andrews and Carl Weber. I’ve read Eric Jerome Dickey’s latest and was unimpressed. Below is a list of books I read in July. I always review them after completion.
| Jul-08 | Back Roads | Tawni O'Dell | Excellent! Definite good read. Flowed nicely and kept me guessing. I thought for sure the killer deserved her just due. Some of the areas took me where I wasn't ready to go. But once I got there I was in awe of this writer. |
| Jul-08 | Bad Boy, A Memoir | Walter Dean Myers | Boring as hell! This story was so long and drawn out, I got half way through the short memoir and didn’t care what made Walter a bad boy. I forced myself to finish it and liked the ending. His writing style was excellent, even though drawn out at times. He wasn’t a bad boy; I felt he was more so lost. |
| Jul-08 | Better Than I Know Myself | | Excellent! Three unlikely girls cross paths and develop life long friendships helping each other through searching for a child, drug addiction, weddings, cancer and death-awesome! Just when I thought I had it figured out Deberry & Grant took a new route! |
What books would you recommend on writing?
I would recommend that every aspiring writer who believes that they have a raw talent/love for it should take at least one professional writing course. I highly recommend Long Ridge Writing Group, it is affordable and honest critiques are given of your home work assignments. And the course can be completed at your leisure.
If you could change one thing you did during your road to publication, what would it be and what would you have done different?
There is more than one thing I would change. I would heed to the advice of getting my work copyedited. I would not rely on friends, family, and co-workers. And my best friend would be the last to read it, not the first as she was only trying to protect my feeling, when in fact she allowed me to embarrass myself.
What advice would you give an aspiring author?
If you love to write then write! No matter what anyone says, chase your dreams, hone your craft and go for it with a vengeance! If you fall on your face get back up and start writing. For every bad review you receive, change your way of thinking. It’s not a bad review. It’s constructive criticism to help you improve your craft.
Where can readers learn more about you and your books?
http://www.lulu.com/content/583716
http://blackauthors.ning.com/profile/PCMarks
http://www.authorsden.com/pcmarks
http://booksxyz.com/search.php?q=broken+family+ties&x=5&y=9
http://www.myspace.com/pcmarkspublications
http://nubianlitnetwork.ning.com/profile/PCMarks
And….a whole lot of reading groups and book clubs through Yahoo Groups
Thank you PC for taking time out of your busy schedule and sharing with us.
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