Ask the Author: Mark Pryor
Answered Questions (11)
Mark Pryor
Basically, yes! I just turned the book in to my editor. It will be out next year with a new publisher, still finalizing the title. Hugo will be leaving his position at the US Embassy and opening a bookshop in the Marais, and will continue his adventures from there. :)
Thanks for asking, and thanks for reading!!
Thanks for asking, and thanks for reading!!
Mark Pryor
Hi Carmen - thank you so much! I'm actually working on something a little more in-depth, but it won't see the light of day for a while. Meanwhile, I hope you keep enjoying the Hugo books. Thanks again for the kind words, they are much appreciated!
Mark
Mark
Mark Pryor
Hi Meena,
How did I not see this question?! I'm SO sorry, I wasn't being rude just (apparently) unseeing!
First of all, thank you so much, I'm thrilled you like Hugo and I hope you continue to enjoy the series. Second, yes! I'm working on the ninth book in the series right now, which will be out sometime next year. As I tell people, I'll keep writing them as long as folks keep reading them!
Thanks so much for dropping me this note, and apologies again for not seeing it sooner.
Mark
How did I not see this question?! I'm SO sorry, I wasn't being rude just (apparently) unseeing!
First of all, thank you so much, I'm thrilled you like Hugo and I hope you continue to enjoy the series. Second, yes! I'm working on the ninth book in the series right now, which will be out sometime next year. As I tell people, I'll keep writing them as long as folks keep reading them!
Thanks so much for dropping me this note, and apologies again for not seeing it sooner.
Mark
Mark Pryor
Hi Pam, thank you!!
I think the next Hugo will not be until January of 2019. I've been so slammed with regular and the writing life, I didn't have time to put out two books this year, so just DOMINIC in January, and the next Hugo in 2019.
I think the next Hugo will not be until January of 2019. I've been so slammed with regular and the writing life, I didn't have time to put out two books this year, so just DOMINIC in January, and the next Hugo in 2019.
Mark Pryor
How did I miss this question?! And Hi, Jill. :) Always the cheeky monkey...
Mark Pryor
Hi Jessie,
I have NO idea how I missed this question, I am so sorry!
To answer... my favorite author is probably Phillip Kerr and his Bernie Gunther series. Love those. I also read anything by Alan Furst. For nonfiction I go with Erik Larson, who is utterly brilliant.
As for my influences... well, they'd be the traditional mysteries of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. Alan Furst, too, for his descriptive prowess.
Again, sorry for the delayed response, and thank you for the kind words!
Best,
Mark
I have NO idea how I missed this question, I am so sorry!
To answer... my favorite author is probably Phillip Kerr and his Bernie Gunther series. Love those. I also read anything by Alan Furst. For nonfiction I go with Erik Larson, who is utterly brilliant.
As for my influences... well, they'd be the traditional mysteries of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie. Alan Furst, too, for his descriptive prowess.
Again, sorry for the delayed response, and thank you for the kind words!
Best,
Mark
Mark Pryor
Putting up the Christmas tree.
Oh, you meant writing, sorry! Well, as it happens, today I finished number six in the Hugo Marston series. It will be called THE PARIS LIBRARIAN, and will take place in and around the American Library in Paris. Yes, there is one for real! A neat place, I had a tour when I went over to do research (tough life, I know).
The book starts when a the head librarian locks himself into a small writing room in the basement, to work on his novel. Two hours later, he's dead, still locked inside the room. Hugo is the one to find him, they're friends and had an appointment to talk books, and so he investigates. Of course, right?!
The plot thickens when others die, and Hugo must figure out whether the deaths are related to the library's newest collection, the papers of aged movie star Isabelle Severin, who is rumored to have worked as a spy in the second world war and maybe, just maybe, murdered a Gestapo officer...
Book written, now the editing begins.
Oh, you meant writing, sorry! Well, as it happens, today I finished number six in the Hugo Marston series. It will be called THE PARIS LIBRARIAN, and will take place in and around the American Library in Paris. Yes, there is one for real! A neat place, I had a tour when I went over to do research (tough life, I know).
The book starts when a the head librarian locks himself into a small writing room in the basement, to work on his novel. Two hours later, he's dead, still locked inside the room. Hugo is the one to find him, they're friends and had an appointment to talk books, and so he investigates. Of course, right?!
The plot thickens when others die, and Hugo must figure out whether the deaths are related to the library's newest collection, the papers of aged movie star Isabelle Severin, who is rumored to have worked as a spy in the second world war and maybe, just maybe, murdered a Gestapo officer...
Book written, now the editing begins.
Mark Pryor
This may sound odd, but writer's block is a luxury I can't afford... I have a full time job as a prosecutor, I have three very active kids, a lovely wife who needs some attention... and a writing career! In the few moments that I have to write, I simply can't afford to sit there wringing my hands about how hard it is.
Funnily enough, the book I'm writing at the moment, the sixth in the Hugo Marston series, is difficult. It's not flowing like some of the others did. But I don't beat myself up for that, I don't torture myself. Instead, I just sit down and write, grind out a few words and make them into a sentence. Grind out a few more and a few more... and there I have a paragraph.
The other thing is this: I'm so very lucky to be doing this, that I try as hard as I can to reject negativity. That can mean bad reviews (not many, of course!) or what other people call writer's block. I simply won't allow it!
Funnily enough, the book I'm writing at the moment, the sixth in the Hugo Marston series, is difficult. It's not flowing like some of the others did. But I don't beat myself up for that, I don't torture myself. Instead, I just sit down and write, grind out a few words and make them into a sentence. Grind out a few more and a few more... and there I have a paragraph.
The other thing is this: I'm so very lucky to be doing this, that I try as hard as I can to reject negativity. That can mean bad reviews (not many, of course!) or what other people call writer's block. I simply won't allow it!
Mark Pryor
Hi! It's scheduled for June of this year, I think June 3. So glad you like the series and let me know if you have any more questions. :)
Mark
Mark
Mark Pryor
The first thing I'd say is, don't rush it. I see a lot of folks hurrying to get their book finished and out into the world, and that's a mistake. Whether you self-publish or try to find an agent/publisher, a good product takes time.
The first thing that takes time is learning your craft. Learn the rules, use them when you write. Sure, break them if you want to but make sure you know them first. In almost every profession, it takes time to become good and writing is no exception. In my opinion, rarely is the first book one writes a gem - I should know, I wrote three novels before THE BOOKSELLER. Three novels that no agents had any interest in. Why? I'm guessing they weren't very good. :)
The second thing you need to take time with is the manuscript itself. More than following the rules of writing, make sure it's polished and presentable. Whether you're trying to win over an agent or a reader, a story full of typos will be off-putting.
The other piece of advice I have is specifically for those seeking an agent and traditional publisher, large or small. Keep at it. Don't give up. Those three novels? I wrote them over a period of three years, and earned myself several hundred rejections over that time, and not one word of encouragement. My wife couldn't believe I'd go through all that again with THE BOOKSELLER. I kind of agreed with her!
Nevertheless, I took a deep breath and launched myself back into the agent-hunting process once again. Only this time, I found success. So if you want to be an author, gird your loins for rejection, because it'll happen.
But the dream can come true, always remember that. I'm living proof. Good luck!
The first thing that takes time is learning your craft. Learn the rules, use them when you write. Sure, break them if you want to but make sure you know them first. In almost every profession, it takes time to become good and writing is no exception. In my opinion, rarely is the first book one writes a gem - I should know, I wrote three novels before THE BOOKSELLER. Three novels that no agents had any interest in. Why? I'm guessing they weren't very good. :)
The second thing you need to take time with is the manuscript itself. More than following the rules of writing, make sure it's polished and presentable. Whether you're trying to win over an agent or a reader, a story full of typos will be off-putting.
The other piece of advice I have is specifically for those seeking an agent and traditional publisher, large or small. Keep at it. Don't give up. Those three novels? I wrote them over a period of three years, and earned myself several hundred rejections over that time, and not one word of encouragement. My wife couldn't believe I'd go through all that again with THE BOOKSELLER. I kind of agreed with her!
Nevertheless, I took a deep breath and launched myself back into the agent-hunting process once again. Only this time, I found success. So if you want to be an author, gird your loins for rejection, because it'll happen.
But the dream can come true, always remember that. I'm living proof. Good luck!
Mark Pryor
There are so many!
The number one thing, though, is hearing from readers. For a complete stranger to take the time to drop me an email or Facebook message, it just blows my mind. Sometimes they include carefully-worded critiques and I don't mind that in the slightest, either. If someone was entertained or touched enough to write me, I'm grateful.
I also love to walk into a book store and see my books on the shelves. That never gets old, and especially at airports for some reason. My kids get super excited by that, too, which is a joy for me.
The other thing that's fun is when I meet someone, just start chatting and they ask what I do. I have a day-time job but I always tell people that I write mystery novels - their eyes light up, every time.
The number one thing, though, is hearing from readers. For a complete stranger to take the time to drop me an email or Facebook message, it just blows my mind. Sometimes they include carefully-worded critiques and I don't mind that in the slightest, either. If someone was entertained or touched enough to write me, I'm grateful.
I also love to walk into a book store and see my books on the shelves. That never gets old, and especially at airports for some reason. My kids get super excited by that, too, which is a joy for me.
The other thing that's fun is when I meet someone, just start chatting and they ask what I do. I have a day-time job but I always tell people that I write mystery novels - their eyes light up, every time.
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