Mark Johnson lives in New Zealand with his family. Before he started writing, he traveled and later worked as a high school teacher. As he says, he chose fantasy, because it's the best way of telling the truth, without telling the truth. Mark's newest book is 'The Night Princess', which he published 5 September.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about Mark Johnson and his works:

http://www.facebook.com/markjohnsonauthor

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086B93255

The interview

1. When did you start writing?

Well, I started writing about eight years ago. I got sidetracked into other endeavours, and I only managed to publish this year. So far I'm at book three out of six, plus two free short stories.

 

2. Do you have favourite legends, mythical creatures, which you use, or would like to use in your stories?

Yes! My very favourite fascination is  the Atlantis legend. I've always loved stories of secret technologies, artifacts and magic systems that date from the very distant past. I seed these ideas into all my work, even if it isn't visible in the book, I always put in a lost civilization with superior or different technology.

I'm also fascinated by the idea of immortality, or relative immortality. Questions like how would such people hide their immortality, what would their worldview be and how would they function around mortals and one another? And that's very present in my books.

 

3. You create fantasy, and in fantasy usually there is magic. Do you prefer soft, or hard magic systems? Why?

That's an interesting one for me. I prefer hard magic. But I don't like going too far in detail, as the reader just wants a good story, not in-depth descriptions. That change came about over time. I started with very hard magic, with lots of rules and explanations and details, and softened as the years went by. Nowadays I prefer giving the reader just enough description and plausibility, before jumping into character and plot. Not soft, because I've got rules. But I don't like burying the reader in detail.

 

4. If you are working on a new book, which part is the easiest and most difficult in writing?

I find dialogue the easiest. That's my test. If I can't write the dialogue for a scene then I know the scene isn't ready to be written yet. The most difficult part is the fight scenes. I don't like reading fight scenes and I don't like writing them. Ah well.

 

5. Fantasy has a lots of subgenres. Do you have any favourite?

Yes! My favourite is Epic Fantasy or Adventure Fantasy (I'm not certain what the difference is.) I also like Dark Fantasy, but not grimdark. I like a fantasy story with a good mystery behind it. Usually a murder mystery, but thefts are good too.

 

6. You had a new release on 5 September, 'The Night Princess'. Can you tell me about it?

Sure, I'd love to. The Night Princess book 3 in the FireWall series. My main character Terese arrives at HopeWall, to finally confront the four men she chased from their homeland, almost a year earlier. The story is told with dual timelines, one the distant past, and one in the present. Those two timelines, intertwined, explain the stakes and Terese's part in all that's happening. And there's a cliffhanger!

 

7. Do you have any personal favourite from your characters, or someone, who is especially close to you? If yes, why that character?

I don't have a clear favourite. But I wish I had the quick wits of one of my characters, Cess. He's cynical and quick. I wish I was as quick as he is.

 

8. After publishing a new book this month, do you work on any new, or already ongoing project?

Oh yes. My fourth book is coming out in November. The plot: Now Terese has been thrust into a position of responsibility, what is she going to do with it? I'm currently at work on the fifth novel. I hope to have it out in Jan or Feb. I'd better get cracking....

 

9. Do you have any fantasy author, or book, which was an inspiration for you?

Robert Jordan. His worldbuilding was something I'd never seen before. A legend. He seized my imagination like nothing else.

 

10. If you could be anything in any universe, what would you be and why?

I used to be a high school teacher. If I could be anything, it would be in charge of New Zealand's education system, so I could repair its dysfunction.  

Thank you for your answers! And you, dear Reader, what would you ask from Mark Johnson? 🙃