Ask the Author: Mark L'estrange
Answered Questions (14)
Mark L'estrange
Hi there, sorry for the delay, I seem to have missed this question.
Alas, I am a victim of nothing much of any excitement-value ever happening in my life. There was an incident which happened to my ex-wife. We were visiting Hever Castle which was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn (Henry 8's second wife) and while we were walking up a small staircase my wife suddenly turned back and shouted at me for pulling her hair-she had very long hair. When she realised that I was still at the bottom of the stairs-professing my innocence-she realised that it was not me. But there was no one between us on the stairs either. When we mentioned it to the lady in the gift shop she said 'Oh yes, that'll be Anne, she hates anyone with hair longer than hers.' It turned out that my ex was not the only victim of Anne Boleyn's hair-pulling stunt as several other ladies had also complained of the same thing happening to them.
Freaked my poor ex out! She refused to ever go there again.
Alas, I am a victim of nothing much of any excitement-value ever happening in my life. There was an incident which happened to my ex-wife. We were visiting Hever Castle which was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn (Henry 8's second wife) and while we were walking up a small staircase my wife suddenly turned back and shouted at me for pulling her hair-she had very long hair. When she realised that I was still at the bottom of the stairs-professing my innocence-she realised that it was not me. But there was no one between us on the stairs either. When we mentioned it to the lady in the gift shop she said 'Oh yes, that'll be Anne, she hates anyone with hair longer than hers.' It turned out that my ex was not the only victim of Anne Boleyn's hair-pulling stunt as several other ladies had also complained of the same thing happening to them.
Freaked my poor ex out! She refused to ever go there again.
Mark L'estrange
Hello Cindy
Rest assured, there is not a pair of fangs in sight. This is purely a 'Haunted House' story. Thus far, I have not written a vampire story, although I probably will do at some time. It is hard to write horror and not inc vampires in there somewhere. That said, I have written a couple of short stories about them, bu nothing approaching a full-length novel as yet.
I sinceley hope you enjoy 'The Haunted House from Hell'.
Let me know what you think.
Take care
Rest assured, there is not a pair of fangs in sight. This is purely a 'Haunted House' story. Thus far, I have not written a vampire story, although I probably will do at some time. It is hard to write horror and not inc vampires in there somewhere. That said, I have written a couple of short stories about them, bu nothing approaching a full-length novel as yet.
I sinceley hope you enjoy 'The Haunted House from Hell'.
Let me know what you think.
Take care
Mark L'estrange
Hi Dan
Sorry it has taken so long for me to answer, but your question only just popped up on my board...Goodreads tech doesn't like me very much.
I always say 'never say never' and to be honest, I have-in my mind-considered some ideas for sequals for some of my novels, but to date, I have so many other ideas that I want to go with first that I am not sure when (if) it will ever happen.
Thanks for the encouragement.
All the best.
Sorry it has taken so long for me to answer, but your question only just popped up on my board...Goodreads tech doesn't like me very much.
I always say 'never say never' and to be honest, I have-in my mind-considered some ideas for sequals for some of my novels, but to date, I have so many other ideas that I want to go with first that I am not sure when (if) it will ever happen.
Thanks for the encouragement.
All the best.
Mark L'estrange
Hi Moacir, I am so glad you enjoyed Ghost Song, and your english is brilliant, I cannot speak a single word of brazillian, so you've got me there.
I am sorry you find the sex scenes in my books upsetting, I do not intenionally set out to include any, they sort of just come about depending on the characters. Having said that, sex and horror have always gone together rather well, in my opinion, and when I first began reading horror novels (back in the sevenies), I was always struck by the fact that the majority of them contained at least one sexual scene. I hate to think my writing style will put you off continuing to read my novels, but if I'm honest, I cannot guarantee leaving sex out altogether, sorry.
Take care and stay safe.
Thank you for writing in.
All the best.
I am sorry you find the sex scenes in my books upsetting, I do not intenionally set out to include any, they sort of just come about depending on the characters. Having said that, sex and horror have always gone together rather well, in my opinion, and when I first began reading horror novels (back in the sevenies), I was always struck by the fact that the majority of them contained at least one sexual scene. I hate to think my writing style will put you off continuing to read my novels, but if I'm honest, I cannot guarantee leaving sex out altogether, sorry.
Take care and stay safe.
Thank you for writing in.
All the best.
Mark L'estrange
Oh boy (That's not part of it).
It was a cold, dark night, and she was all alone in the castle.
Then, she heard a strange noise coming from the dungeon.
Not a bad idea now I come to think of it. Might make a good start to a short story.
It was a cold, dark night, and she was all alone in the castle.
Then, she heard a strange noise coming from the dungeon.
Not a bad idea now I come to think of it. Might make a good start to a short story.
Mark L'estrange
As I was such a huge fan of the series, I would probably have to say somewhere like Kings Landing, they certianly had the best weather and the most wine. But knowing my luck, I would have ended up with my head on a spike for insulting Cersi (unintentially, naturally).
Mark L'estrange
What summer? (Ha ha), Oh, you mean those two extremely hot days where no one could breathe and out office AC broke down.
But seriously though, I don't actually have a specific summer list, though I do have a winter one, which includes 'The Diary of Jack the Ripper', the collected works (various) by MR James, and a couple of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, together they put me in the mood for the season. This summer I have read a couple of Guy N. Smith novels, and a couple by Gary Bradner, who wrote 'The Howling', plus I revisited 'The Exorcist' and the Omen books...I never throw books away so I can always revisit them at will.
But seriously though, I don't actually have a specific summer list, though I do have a winter one, which includes 'The Diary of Jack the Ripper', the collected works (various) by MR James, and a couple of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, together they put me in the mood for the season. This summer I have read a couple of Guy N. Smith novels, and a couple by Gary Bradner, who wrote 'The Howling', plus I revisited 'The Exorcist' and the Omen books...I never throw books away so I can always revisit them at will.
Mark L'estrange
Hi Katherine
Thanks for asking, yes I have a collection of short horror stories for Christmas with my publishers now.
I am hoping that they will be ready in good time for the festive season.
Each of the 19 stories is set on Christmas eve (when all good stoires are told).
Take care
Thanks for asking, yes I have a collection of short horror stories for Christmas with my publishers now.
I am hoping that they will be ready in good time for the festive season.
Each of the 19 stories is set on Christmas eve (when all good stoires are told).
Take care
Mark L'estrange
"Snow Beast" was one of those books which I always wanted to write. I love the snow and looking out over a vast landscape covered in the stuff conjures up the image of (for me anyway) of a large creature suddenly appearing on the horizon.
With "Night of the Kraken" it was the thought of looking out over the sea and suddenly seeing something monstrous rise above the surface.
Once I have the original idea I just need to find the characters and create their stories, and then finally bring them all together to wrap it up.
I love the idea of ordinary, everyday folk carrying out their daily business, and then suddenly some hideous great monster appearing to disrupt everything.
And as you know, monsters come in all shapes and guises.
With "Night of the Kraken" it was the thought of looking out over the sea and suddenly seeing something monstrous rise above the surface.
Once I have the original idea I just need to find the characters and create their stories, and then finally bring them all together to wrap it up.
I love the idea of ordinary, everyday folk carrying out their daily business, and then suddenly some hideous great monster appearing to disrupt everything.
And as you know, monsters come in all shapes and guises.
Mark L'estrange
Alas, with a full-time job and 6 cats to feed and clothe I don't get enough time to write as it is, so writer's block does not tend to be an issue for me as such.
However, if it did set in I am a firm believer in leaving the task and doing something else until the phase passes.
However, if it did set in I am a firm believer in leaving the task and doing something else until the phase passes.
Mark L'estrange
Having your efforts appreciated by people from all over the world....Still waiting for that one (ha ha).
Mark L'estrange
Do not give up under any circumstances.
Accept all criticism with good grace.
Appreciate that your work may not appeal to everybody.
Do not be too disappointed by rejection (that's a tough one).
Make your work as presentable as possible before submitting it.
Ensure that you adhere to the submission guidelines of the publisher/Agent you are sending it to.
Read until your eyeballs hurt, then read some more.
Try and write every day, even if you feel as if your ideas mill has dried up, sit down behind your keyboard and start-the final draft sometimes takes several attempts.
Read books (preferably by authors or publishers) which tell you how to write successfully in your chosen genre.
Make your work a labour of love-if you don't enjoy writing it, no one is going to enjoy reading it!
Accept all criticism with good grace.
Appreciate that your work may not appeal to everybody.
Do not be too disappointed by rejection (that's a tough one).
Make your work as presentable as possible before submitting it.
Ensure that you adhere to the submission guidelines of the publisher/Agent you are sending it to.
Read until your eyeballs hurt, then read some more.
Try and write every day, even if you feel as if your ideas mill has dried up, sit down behind your keyboard and start-the final draft sometimes takes several attempts.
Read books (preferably by authors or publishers) which tell you how to write successfully in your chosen genre.
Make your work a labour of love-if you don't enjoy writing it, no one is going to enjoy reading it!
Mark L'estrange
I have just finished my third full length novel which I have titled "The Creeper". Alas the publisher of my first two novels does not think that it's main protagonist is the kind of monster that their readers will enjoy, so I am presently trying to find another publisher for it.
Wish me luck.
Also I am working through an anthology of short horror stories for Christmas which I also hope to find a publisher for by Christmas 2018.
Watch this space!
Wish me luck.
Also I am working through an anthology of short horror stories for Christmas which I also hope to find a publisher for by Christmas 2018.
Watch this space!
Mark L'estrange
By reading horror stories from the likes of Guy N. Smith, James Herbert and later on Richard Laymon.
I have read many examples from those considered as the classic writers in the genre, authors such as Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Allen Poe and of course MR James, but I must confess that I have always found it tough following the style of literary fiction written in the 19th and early 20th century.
I have read many examples from those considered as the classic writers in the genre, authors such as Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, Edgar Allen Poe and of course MR James, but I must confess that I have always found it tough following the style of literary fiction written in the 19th and early 20th century.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more