MARK HENRY traded a career as a counselor to scar minds with his fiction. In stories clogged with sentient zombies, impotent sex demons, transsexual werewolves and ghostly goth girls, he irreverently processes traumatic issues brought on by premature exposure to horror movies, an unwholesome fetish for polyester and/or witnessing adult cocktail parties in the swingin’ 70s. Mark lives in the Pacific Northwest, with his wife and four furry monsters that think they’re children and have a complete disregard for carpet.
I read and loved the first book in the Amanda Feral series and you can read my review here.
So, without further ado, please give it up for Mark (and his weird but wonderful mind!)…
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On Influences and Sex Act Accidents
It’s funny to even think that my smutty little zombie books inspire folks to write urban fantasy with more of a comedic framework. Freaks me out a little, in fact. And I’ll tell you why. Influences are an odd thing. Very odd.
Imagine what the paranormal genre would be like if no one ever brought anything new to the table. Think about it. You’ve probably read books that rehashed plotlines, character tropes and didn’t stretch the author (or reader) in any sense. Hell, I’ve read those books. We, as writers (aspiring or not), have all said to ourselves, “I can do better.” Maybe, maybe not. I’ll tell you one surefire way to fall into the lazy genre trap: draw your influences primarily from your adoration of urban fantasy books.
A lot of authors I’ve talked to weren’t even aware the genre existed prior to writing their first book, me included—I had to be told at a writer’s conference, after pitching my idea to an editor and looking woefully unschooled when I just blinked after she said, “You mean it’s urban fantasy?” I think I even shrugged.
So, if you don’t draw your inspiration from the genre you’re writing in, where does it come from? That’s a big question. It’s as big as that question from the career guidance counselor in high school,”What are you interested in, young man?” More shrugs.
Influences might not be something you’ve even thought of, but they’re handy to pin down. Sometimes just pondering them will help develop story ideas.
When I sat down to plot my latest book, BATTLE OF THE NETWORK ZOMBIES, I made a list of things that I loved about entertainment. The entertainment industry was going to be my theme for the book, so it was a start. I’m obviously hugely influenced by film and television so that’s the direction I go quite a bit (for you it might be sports, gaming, hunting). It’s a starting point.
Here’s my list…
Agatha Christie Novels/Movie Adaptations
Reality Shows/American Idol-type Contest Shows
Behind the scenes production
Themed nightclubs
And then, more obscurely (from the shit that makes me laugh influences)…
East Indian Cabbies
Gay Love Triangles
Mistaken Lesbianism
Sex Act Accidents
That was it. From there I had a novel. It may not look like more than just a couple of hands full of crap, but it was, like I said, a start. I really encourage aspiring writers to make these kinds of lists and really explore their interests. Write what you know. It can mean an awful lot of things.
I plotted out a story based on scenes that incorporated my list, stuff I enjoyed pondering. My fixation on Agatha Christie influenced the plot via a locked door murder and a manor house setting. A reality show is being filmed at that manor house called American Minions. My focus in the writing is on the background of the industry, the camera operator plays a large role, as does the producer. It goes on from there. And yes, both 7 and 8 play a huge part in the book. It is a comedy after all and if I can’t fit a humiliating sexual experience into a book (or 4), I’m just not happy.
So what are you interested in? What are your influences? What turns you on?
These are huge questions for writers or anybody really.
So, a big thanks to Book Chick City for hosting this Men of Urban Fantasy Week! I was a little worried that it was a calendar project and so in anticipation I did a little waxing. Photo credit goes to Michelle Rowen, who has way too much time on her hands. It has me worried. *Someone else talking about a calendar? I may have to look into this…*
Thanks Mark for a fab post and for being part of my Men of Urban Fantasy week… and for putting a smile on my face – that photo is just too funny! 
You can find the author here:
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GIVEAWAY TIME!!
Mark is kindly giving away a Signed copy of Battle of the Network Zombies!
This giveaway is US only (authors request) and ends this Saturday (27th) – winner will be announced on Sunday (28th)
Good Luck!
16 Comments
Michelle picks very good pictures!
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I love this series! I hope there will be more of it
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I can't stop laughing, nice list you got there. I read the 1st book and loved it! And the second one is there waiting for me– hopefully I will read it this weekend! <3 Amanda! =)
Good pic for the Calendar! =P
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Loved the list. Very entertaining. I haven't read any of these books yet, but they sound good.
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Love the calender! LOL!
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Mark Henry has a better wax job than me ::sighs::
I swear Henry's smutty zombie books are on my bucket list, I really must read them.
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LOL! I love the pic. I actually have Network on my tbr. I can't wait to get to it now.
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LMAO The picture is awesome! Great post! I love hearing about author's inspirations for their books, and Mark's certainly were interesting. I loved Happy Hour of the Damned and look forward to the next two which are setting on my shelf right now!
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Hubbah hubbah!
What turns me on, what inspires me, what are my interests….if it had to do with writing my own book?
I love and get inspiration from my child, gardening, my insane love of rocks, my uber hewgah collection of mysteries of thrillers, suspense, UF, paranormal, cozies….
NCIS, Bones, Supernatural, Eureka, Warehouse 13, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel….
Mayhap there's story or book in there somewhere….
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yay for mark! that manly photo is just fantastic ;-D
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Great post and Pic
I hate to admit this, but because of all the great things I have heard and/or read about this series, it is helping me to change my mind and talk myself into buying books by male authors, or rather the past, the lack of me buying books by male authors. Unfortunatly I had a bad experienced once with how a book read from the male perspective and also had a small issue with the lack of interest in the love scene, which sorta put a stop to me buying books written by men. Yes I know, bad Stephanie to stereo type, but that was something I did 10 years ago and it stuck with me until now. Now I realize as I am getting older that limiting who I read means I am missing out on some really great books. I entered a contest of his to try to win one of his books with this same information, hoping that this will give me a chance to win but I am just a reader not a blogger, tweeter or poster so I never seem to earn enough points to win, no sour grapes and when it comes down to it I have no problems with buying books, its just a little harder to put the one published by a male in my buggy. How stupid right? So even If I don't win, with all the great things I keep reading about Mark Henry, I know I will fold and I probably wrote too much 
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Firstly, I must urge you to read Mark Henry – I have just read Happy Hour of the Damned and you can find my review below this post. I loved it and would definitely recommend it.
Also, nobody gains points regardless of what they say or do, my winners for my contests all come down to Random.org!
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Book Chick City,
Thank you for the urge:D and woohoo, I got a chance with random org. Thank you also for telling me about your reviews, I'll go check it out, Steph
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Hey Steph,
As long as you're not expecting a paranormal romance (or an urban fantasy, for that matter), but a dark comedy. You'll be okay. Amanda is definitely very much like the women in my life, dark, disturbing and very sarcastic. If that's the kind of humor you dig, then this book is for you.
Thanks for swinging by!
Mark
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I've been wanting to read something by Mark for awhile (I read his blog; funny, funny man); I need to get my hands on something soon.
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I'm ready for a dark comedy! Liked your sense of humor in this post — your starting point list surely morphed into some far out ideas. I like that.
Enjoyed this post! And if you end up putting together a calendar of UF authors, count me in.
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