with Mark McConville:
Q1: When did you start writing and first influences?
Mark:
Q1: When did you start writing and first influences?
I started writing at the age of 14. Back then my writing was raw and had little structure, but in the middle of all that chaos there was a glint of light shimmering through. I was influenced by the works of Mick Wall when it came to music journalism. He’s such a great journalist and the way he writes about music is majestic. His style and knowledge are unparalleled and he has written many books on the world’s biggest bands. Also, Ben Myers is a standout influence not only for his fiction writing but for his music journalism. Nowadays he only writes fiction, which is fantastic, but as a music scribe he wrote books on Muse and Green Day, respectively. As for fiction, I adore the writing of Cormac McCarthy and Iain Banks. Their writing is metaphorical and rich. I aspire to be half as good as those authors.
Q2: Who are your biggest influences today?
Mark: My biggest influences today are the independent writers, the writers who dazzle under those well developed independent publications. These creatives are just as good or even better than the mainstream writers. I have written substantially for a publication called Bristol Noir, which is absolutely fundamental to my progression. It is overseen by the talented John Bowie, who in my mind, is one of the hardest working writers in the scene. His writing is rich, it is riveting; it has some much depth and the character development he instills in his work breaks boundaries. I am thankful for him to for publishing my flash fiction and short stories on Bristol Noir. A Fevers of the Mind Quick-9 Interview with John Bowie
Q3: Any pivotal moment when you knew you wanted to be a writer?
Mark: I knew I wanted to write when my parents sadly passed away when I was only 14. When they passed, I seemed to have developed this ability to write my pain. My writing is dark always, and it has developed over the years, but it all stems from heartbreak and sorrow. I didn’t have any writing ability before my parents died; it was probably hidden in me, lying dormant, but it had taken immense agony for it to show.
Q4: Who has helped you most with writing?
Mark: I owe so much to my high school teacher Gavin Cunningham and my college lecturer Linda Jackson for instilling belief in me. Those two incredible people taught me how to be a writer, how to believe in my own abilities.
Q5: Where did you grow up and how did that influence your writing & had any travels away from home influence your work?
Mark: I grew up in a small Scottish town called Carluke. I didn’t really influence my writing. It isn’t the most glamourous place on earth, but it’s home.
Q6: What do you consider your most meaningful work you’ve done creatively so far to you?
Mark: I have written many articles and reviews over the years for many reputable websites and print publications. I am proud of those pieces of writing. The most meaningful work would have to be my forthcoming poetry collection, Lyrics From The Chamber. That chapbook has my feelings laid bare. It will offer the reader a gateway into my world, a dark world, a world where pain and sorrow are bubbling. These poems all have their place, and they will shock.
Lyrics From The Chamber (First Cut) eBook : McConville, Mark, Douglas, Craig: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store www.amazon.co.uk
Q7: Favorite activities to relax?
Mark: I love listening to music. It helps me in so many ways. I adore punk in all its unconventional glory. It also helps me relax and I love conveying through my reviews and articles its impact. Reading books is another way for me to relax and I love falling into different, breathing worlds, where it can go from being majestic to dark in seconds.
Q8: What is a favorite line/stanza from a poem/writing of yours or others?
Mark: There is one stanza that stands out for me. ‘’This House Is A Prison For Vital Organ’’ I am proud of that line and its included in Lyrics From The Chamber. Those are the lines I strive to produce, lines that provoke responses. For me, poetry must have an impact, and lines like that are pivotal.
Q9: Any recent or forthcoming projects you’d like to promote?
Mark: Some of my flash fiction and short stories will appear in a Bristol Noir anthology which is slated to be released soon. I am proud of this feat, and I am thankful to the brilliant John Bowie for including my work In ‘’Savage Minds And Raging Bulls’’ If you enjoy dark stories and compelling works of noir, then check it out when it drops. *Also, see answer to Question 6*
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