Mark Chadbourn message board archive
Feb 19, 1998 -Can't remember if I posted this information before, but I've just signed a deal with Tanjen to re-issue UNDERGROUND, my out-of-print first novel. It'll be a 1998 remix with missing scenes, stuff that was cut for being "too horrible" and correcting some of the many flaws that made it into the original. :-) - Mark C.
Feb 21, 1998 - So we're gonna be sharing a publisher ,) Nice to hear... Know anything about Pumpkin Books??? Steve S. Oh, and thanks for the ISBN's, they're on order now...
Feb 22, 1998 - Steve- I know nothing about Pumpkin? Did they launch at the last Fantasycon? - Mark
Feb 24, 1998 - Just saw something about Steve Jones releasing an anthology via them, and that they were pure horror outfit... thought it sounded interesting... Steve S
Feb 25, 1998 - I think Pumpkin a releasing a Ramsey Campbell anthology later this year and I may be wrong but I think they are also releasing Pete Crowther & James Lovegrove's ESCARDY GAP in paperback. - Andy
Feb 25, 1998 - I had the privilage of reading the manuscript of Escardy Gap about 3 years ago, long before it was sold, and before they rewrote the last 20,000 words... and it was one of the best Bradburyesque homages I have ever read, cracking read, and I hope there will be a follow up, I have a good feeling that there might be... Steve
Feb 26, 1998 - Hi Mark. Only just got around to reading your reply to me of the 16th. You can't rush a slow baked biscuit... If only your experience re the lack of marketing TESTIMONY was unusual. I've spoken to so many authors over the years and we all have appalling tales to tell. The good thing about smaller publishers is that they give out a mail order address. I've found that most magazines are willing to put it at the end of an interview. But to send the right vibes to publishers every author should chant the following mantra as loud as they can: WHAT DO WE WANT? OUR BOOKS ON SALE. WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW! May you sell a million of the next one. - Carol Anne Davis
Mar 4, 1998
HiMark. Seems to me you've a bit of a perv. In yourlast bookthere was some pervy stuff. I'm not against pervy stuff, but let's not have too much of it. Bit now and again is best.
Mar 4, 1998
Pervy stuff? Dunno what you're talking about, pal. - Mark
Mar 8, 1998
Pervy stuff eh? Heh-heh, can't please everyone I guess... Looking forward to the re-issue of the new and improved UNDERGROUND!
John Pelan
Mar 13, 1998
John - I hear you might be doing a project with Simon Wady. Don't do it! He has the Necronomicon tattooed on his left buttock (in very small print...) - Mark
Mar 15, 1998
Mark, dare I ask how you got close enough to Mr W's butt to read the unexpurgated text and survived? Steve S
Mar 15, 1998
Actually, Steve, it's Wady's party trick. And I am now blind... - Mark
Mar 18, 1998
Now - at long last - I finally know what you tattoed on my arse!!!! At least it wasn't one of your books.....You wag, you. Simon W
Apr 6, 1998
I hope you don't mind me posting this here but I thought it may be of interest to Mark Chadbourn readers;
FRIGHT NIGHT II - RESURRECTION on Thursday 25th June 1998 at The Old Library Theatre, Leeming Street, Mansfield, Notts at 7.30 P.M.
An evening of horror readings by MARK CHADBOURN, DAVID BELL (of Peeping Tom) and DEREK M. FOX (author of RECLUSE).
Tickets are £4.50/£3.50
(thanks to Derek Fox for bringing this to my attention) - Andy F.
Apr 27, 1998
Hello there Mr. Chadbourn,
I've never read your work, but I'm always looking for good writers I've never heard of. I've got an opportunity to pick up SCISSORMAN....Can you give me a quick synopsis and tell me what to expect? I'd appreciate it! Thanks, Matt
Apr 27, 1998
Matt - Financial whizzkid Jonathan Summers who made a killing in the 80s reassesses his life after a drink-and-drugs-fueled crack-up. To recuperate, he returns to the rambling London house where he spent three idyllic childhood years only to find what he believes is another reality crossing over with our own. This place seems to be the source of all human myth, somewhere tapped into by our greatest fantasists down the centuries...only it appears much, much darker than it's portrayed in their books. And then something appears to cross over - the Scissorman, the supposedly mythological figure used by the Victorians to scare their children into line, but now grown hideous and terrifying. And it appears to be targeting those nearest and dearest to Jon... ---- It's a book about perceptions of reality and about the collision of opposites: fantasy and reality, dreams and real life, morality and immorality and all the rest... Some gore, some sex, and hopefully quite a few scares. Hope that helps. - Mark
Apr 27, 1998
Well then. I'll just leave this message board and tell the man to ship it! Thanks MC. Appreciate the quick reply. I'll be looking forward to the book. Catchya later, Matt
May 24, 1998
Mark, when will your next novel be published?
May 25, 1998
Scissorman is out in paperback in November, Underground is out in paperback in March 1999 and World's End (working title) - the next new one - should be out in hardback sometime in the summer of 1999. Oh, and if anyone is interested in comics, I've got a horror series called Fatalis coming from Caliber in September with art by a great British artist by the name of Vince Danks. - Mark
May 28, 1998
How about a collection of short stories?
May 28, 1998
Love to do a collection of shorts - I've certainly got enough. Whether my publishers would go for it is a different matter. Received knowledge says short story collections don't sell in the current climate...who knows? I personally think if you start with that philosophy, it'll be self-fulfilling. Anyway, I plan to pitch a collection after World's End is published - unless, of course, it bombs. - Mark
Jun 18, 1998
Mark: The writing not making you enough spend? I'm hoping Andy will nuke this lil message from the Internet Goon Squad...(It's gone -ed.) Doh.... Oh, and I have a publisher interested in a rather curious project we ought to discuss off line... you know the email, amigo
Jun 19, 1998 - Oh well gives me a chance to have a go on this board! For anyone who missed it, I've just edited out the longest *get rich quick* message I've ever seen posted on here! Hope "World's End" is going well, Mark. Was talking to an American the other week who told me how much she enjoyed "King Of Rain". Obviously too shy to come here! Perhaps I can expose a short story reprint to the largely international audience here at the website? - Andy F.
Jun 20, 1998
To the poster above - I don't know the email because you didn't post your name!! Email me with the details... Andy, feel free to stick The King of Rain up here if you like. I've had lots of good feedback on that story. - Mark
Jun 21, 1998
I didn't post my name? Surely I did and Andy nuked it ,) Steve Savile ,) ie cinderellaman@gyral.com man sometimes I outsmart myself ,)
Jul 23, 1998
Finally got around to up-dating the website...including a new top ten. Check it out... - Mark
Aug 20, 1998
Thanks for checking out the site Mark, the guts of the thing are on there way... Yours looks great. Steve
Aug 21, 1998
New Mark Chabourn at http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Museum/5845
Not finished yet, but thought you'd like to know
Sep 2, 1998
Hey Andy, I sincerely hope it wasn't *me* you referenced as the shy American. But just in case it was.... yes, I've been WANTING to post something here about the fact that Simon Wady insisted I read King of Rain by Mark Chadbourn. I did read it and was quite impressed. Very pleasantly surprised. I didn't want to leave a message here, though, 'cause that's all I've read of this author. But okay, now it's done. Mark, I enjoyed your story immensely.
Laura
Sep 3, 1998
Laura - Thanks for the compliment. And thanks to Simon Wady who's been a tireless champion of that particular story (and the first person to publish it...) - Mark
Sep 3, 1998
Sorry Laura, I know you're not shy really, heh-heh. Nocturne is rising up my reading list. Has anyone out there any thoughts on this novel? I just love Christopher Fowler's cover quote - one of the best I've come across. - Andy
Sep 6, 1998
Well.... What is it????
Laura
Sep 15, 1998
Just checked out "Testimony" - your site...it's great!
http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Museum/5845 ...for those interested
Looking forward to the comic...fantastic art!
Kathy
Sep 17, 1998
Laura - I was waiting for Andy to respond, but as he hasn't it says, "A jazz-hot blast of Big Easy heat that puts the Devil on Bourbon Street and Chadbourn on the horror map." Good old Chris Fowler. Kathy - glad you liked the site. I'll pass your compliments on to the webmaster. (My own feeble efforts on my previous site look terribly out-dated now). And Vince Danks is a great artist, isn't he? - Mark
Sep 17, 1998
Hello. My name is Andrej Dolinka, and I live in Becej, a town in the north of Yugoslavia. Beeing a horror & sf reader, I decided to contact you, hoping you could help me. As you may know, Yugoslavia is closed to the rest of the world in means of merchandise, cultural and other links. It makes it very hard to follow the news in any aspect of life, and horror literature is not an exception from this rule. Besides, mail-order is something that we in Yugoslavia can only dream of, for we simply cannot make any payments to anyone outside the country. As you may see, our options are limited to the bottom line, and, sadly, there are no hints that this may ever change. All I can do, whitch is actually pretty hard too, is hope that you understand all of the above and that you're willing to help me by sending me a free copy of a book of yours. I am very sorry for being unable to offer you anything in return, but if you think of something, please, don't hasitate to let me know. Thank you very mutch. Sincierly, Andrej Dolinka Stevana Doronjskog 21 21220 Becej Yugoslavia mailto:dolinka@eunet.yu
Sep 17, 1998
Heh heh.... Thanks, Mark.
Laura
Nov 11, 1998
So, what's the news on the takeover of Victor Gollancz by Orion then, Mark?
Nov 11, 1998
The takeover has gone through. Orion get Cassell's reference book division which is a cash cow, and in return they *promise* to maintain Gollancz's independence. Which probably means we're all out on our ear... They haven't announced any details on what it means for the authors. I'll probably be the last to know... - Mark
Nov 18, 1998
Just to let anyone know - Scissorman is out in p/b today...
Nov 19, 1998
There will be a brand new review of SCISSORMAN here at MOT within the next few weeks. - AF
Jan 13, 1999
Hi Mark,
Any news on a publication date for World's End?
Biggles.
Jan 15, 1999
World's End should be out around September 18. I'm just polishing up the final draft now. - Mark
Feb 16, 1999
Hello there, Mark.
Has SCISSORMAN been reprinted/re-released? It seems to have appeared on all Horror shelves up here in Wigan (the well-known epicentre of the industry!). It's still a cracking book though. All the best.
Andrew B
Feb 17, 1999
Andrew - It sold pretty well when it first came out in November, but the re-stocking went on hiatus with the takeover of Gollancz. Now Orion is running the show the company has returned to doing what it should be doing - getting the books on to the shelves. Glad you liked it! - Mark
Feb 17, 1999
You wouldn't happen to have a spare sub-7500 word story for sale, would you Mark? Only it's the anniversary issue of Sackcloth & Ashes in September and...well...(beg, grovel) Any chance? Not to worry if there's not, I just thought I'd be cheeky and ask you (and I notice you're appearing in TOM #33). Forgive my forwardness!
Andrew Busby - S&A
Feb 18, 1999
Andrew - I never seem to find the time to write up stories and stockpile them. I prefer to do one up when asked (I keep detailed notes of story ideas). So, sure I'll try to do one for S&A. Send me deadline details and your address by email: m.chadbourn@dial.pipex.com Glad to see S&A is going from strength to strength. - Mark
Mar 31, 1999
Yikes, where is everyone? Well, I shall dodge the tumbleweed blowing through this ghost town of a message board and proclaim that Mark Chadbourn is the ultimate writer of dark fantasy. Almost. Quite seriously, he is one of the few writers who gives the impression of seat-of-the-pants writing enhanced by an advanced grasp of basic literacy. If that sounds like bullshit, read THE ETERNAL. I've just finished it for the third time and I defy anyone who, at some point during the novel, isn't scared, moved, involved or thrilled. It's brilliant.
It's always difficult to show appreciation to an author without sounding like a patronising bastard or sounding like you want to know their favourite colour of socks, but thank you, Mark, top banana!
All good 'uns,
Mike C
Apr 1, 1999
Thanks, Mike. I had a lot of fun writing The Eternal. Some characters from it (some of the few who survived!) will actually be popping up in the second book of the trilogy I'm now writing - as will one or two other aspects of it. There has been talk on and off of The Eternal being made into a movie (Gary Oldman was once mooted for Wilde) - we'll see. - Mark
Apr 1, 1999
I hope the movie comes to fruition, although I've always a few reservations about my favourite books being 'transformed' for the big screen. I expect it's doubly scary for the actual author! I always wonder whether a movie 'based on the book' is better or worse than a big chunk of the screenplay being taken directly from the narrative. I suppose it depends on the director's understanding and/or translation of the novel with regards to the final edit. Would you like the opportunity to work on the screenplay, Mark, or would you be happy to watch the characters (hopefully) come to life without your input? Or do film companies not really give a toss about the writer's input, preferring to make it an anodyne pile of pants?
Mike C
Apr 1, 1999
Mike - When Paramount was in the process of optioning my second novel *Nocturne*, I had an agreement that I'd work closely with the screenwriter which was the best of both worlds - we could back up each other's arguments about what should and shouldn't stay in the script. Incidentally, the studio wanted the original ending of the book junked for an unreservedly happy ending. In a horror movie. Yeah, right. Naturally I put a stop to that. But I'm lucky in that I'm a big movie fan and an occasional screenwriter so I understand it's a different medium. Many writers seem to think a good film adaptation is one that basically puts pictures to their words. Take Stephen King who is under the thoroughly misguided impression that his own TV adaptation of The Shining is somehow better than Kubrick's. Laughable, really. Kubrick's The Shining certainly isn't King's Shining novel, but then different things are expected of a visual medium and Kubrick's stands alone as a work of art. I'd actually quite like to see where a film-maker could take one of my books, even if it's into a completely different place. And if I did the screenplay I'd probably do it differently myself, taking advantage of all that film has to offer. Blimey, I'm a long-winded git, eh? - Mark
Apr 6, 1999
Hello there Mark (and Mike),
Speaking as a punter, I too would love to see any kind of visual adaptation of Mark's work (although arguable, I can't see SCISSORMAN being serialised by the Beeb!), but as a writer/editor, I can imagine myself being a real protective git of my work. With the possible fame and fortune aside, I often wonder how someone like the Bee Gees feel when a group like Steppes cover one of their songs. It may make you feel proud that someone considers it worth covering, or on the other hand, it could just make you feel sick! Having said this, most movies can have good repercussions on the sale of the book it was adapted from. If this raises awareness and profile of the author (and earns them a penny or two) then I'm all for it. If the movie is made badly for whatever reason, the book sales might suffer.
Andrew B
Apr 6, 1999
Ha! Not sure Chadders will like being analogised with the Bee Gees, but I know what you're saying, Andrew. Like you say, it's got to be a thrill to know that film companies are even considering a piece of Mark's work, but if the film's naff, he could suffer. If Mark wrote (or assisted) in the screenplay, the film still could be bad for other reasons but at least it would be to some extent Mark's doing. To some degree, it must be the same with book cover art. Unless I'm mistaken, Mark doesn't paint it himself, but both he and his agent/publisher must surely have a say in the proceedings. How close the illustrations are to how he first envisaged them is weird in itself, but a whole film based on his work . . . it makes me nervous and I didn't even write the bleedin book!
Best,
Mike C
Apr 6, 1999
That's exactly what I mean, Mike. You didn't write the book, but you enjoyed in so much that you're being protective about what happens to it. The thing is, if more people were like you (i.e. actually caring about a piece of work) then maybe horror would be a better position. Mark would love to triple his sales, I'd love to be making pots of cash from Sackcloth, but we're not mercenary because we care about what we do and the industry as a whole. Sorry, got a bit emotional there!
Andrew B
Apr 7, 1999
I reckon we grab hold of a few more MoT visitors and drag 'em over here. This is the most interesting discussion I've had! (As long as Mark doesn't mind, of course).
To continue from the above, yes I DO care about Horror, and to a certain extent this makes me protective of it - the same care which makes me protective about my lady and my football team - but there doesn't seem to be anything being done about it. No offence to Mark and Andrew (and others) but people can't just go around moping and saying 'Horror's in a slump. I've never seen it so bad'. It's defeatist and total rubbish. We Horror fans/writers/editors don't just support the industry. We ARE the industry. I'm not talking about false optimism or far-fetched goals, but Horror can't be attractive to newcomers if we're all miserable gits. I've said it before and I'll say it again: horror writer's have a harder job than authors of romance, adventure, detective books etc. because they have to imagine events that don't normally happen, and convince the readers of their authenticity (suspending disbelief, I believe is the description). I'm bloody fed up of everyone involved in horror having a bad name in Joe Public's eyes because they think horror is squalid, pointless and should be kept behind closed doors. Rant over.
Mike C
Apr 7, 1999
It's true - I'm more of a Mogwai guy than a BeeGees man, but I get Andrew's point. It's hard to let go once you've created something. It's a little easier when you have respect for the person who's going to be handling it, but in the world of Hollywood that's a big game of Russian Roulette. On the cover front, my contract (like nearly every writers') says I'm allowed to comment on the image, but the publishers have a right to ignore that comment. The Scissorman cover is the only one I've been happy with. Having said that, the World's End cover is absolutely brilliant. - Mark. PS I haven't forgotten that short story, Andrew. I'll get round to it as soon as I finish the film script I'm doing.
Apr 7, 1999
Mike - There will be an upsurge in horror soon. Over the last two years the genre has been pared to the bone, but what's left is lean and mean enough to fight for survival. The best way forward, I think, is to try to build some kind of unified base of readers, writers, publishers etc That's what helps SF survive through good times and bad. A Union of Horror People, if you like, which can build support at ground level and also act as some kind of pressure group. If this existed, in some kind of formalised way, it would provide a guaranteed reader base for the small press and it would have helped keep publishers like Tanjen alive. - Mark BTW, yeah, get everybody over here to discuss it!
Apr 7, 1999
Mike, it's this so-called protectiveness (that perhaps more are guilty of than dare admit) which forms part of the unattractivesness of the genre you speak of. To go back to the possibility of a movie based on THE ETERNAL, if the movie was a success, then hopefully it would not only sell Mark's back catalogue, but give a little push for the rest of us. As a horror fan, if I personally liked the film, then I would consider it a success - whether financially blockbusting or not.
Andrew B
Apr 7, 1999
Did we post at the same time, Mark? This film script you're working on, is it THE film script?
Andrew
Apr 7, 1999
Mark and Andrew, this is what bugs me - just for a minute, let's say that a film is made and it's a huge success. And let's say that The Eternal sells loads more copies. Are we saying that the further success of the book is dependent on what could possibly turn out to be a bad film? I'm biased because I love the book, but I don't know whether I'd like it to become a best seller just because of a film. Mark's the author, for God's sake. Regardless of the standard of the film, it doesn't make him a better or worse writer does it?
Mike C
Apr 7, 1999
Mike - Good authors fall by the wayside all the time because they don't get to reach their potential market for a variety of reasons - mainly poor or zero marketing. As you know, Horror rarely gets reviewed anywhere where it might attract a wider audience. And however good an author, if he doesn't reach what the publisher considers a reasonable level of sales, he will be dropped. So in my view, anything which might take horror into a slightly wider sphere, ie film, is a good thing. I wonder how King's career might have progressed if de Palma hadn't done such a good job with Carrie... Anyway, I don't think most writers *want* to put out best-sellers - they just want to sell enough to keep writing. I don't think I'd actually enjoy all the myriad pressures bestsellerdom brings. The only plus side is money, and I'm not the kind of person to go out and buy a yacht and a jet. Andrew - the film script is not THE film script (not yet anyway). It's called Valhalla and it's being done for a big-name director, but I can't say any more at the moment... - Mark
Apr 7, 1999
I agree, Mark, with your reference to CARRIE. I'm not as cynical as I seem, but continuing to use CARRIE and THE ETERNAL as references: CARRIE is an enjoyable book, and de Palma did do a very good job of it (even though, of course, there are differencies) and reading the book again, I think I either prefer the film or enjoy the book more because I've seen the film. It did do wonders for King's career, as you say, but the film version can give a false impression of the standard of the book. It just shows you, an average book can be made to look brilliant; by the same token, an excellent novel can be ruined by Hollywood-type money moguls. Grief, I want horror writers to succeed, but not at the price of hype and plasticity.
Mike C
Apr 7, 1999
The fact that 95% of Stephen King adaptions are crap says a lot about the different perceptions between book and film. You can count good King films on one hand, and most of those are the unusual ones - Stand By Me (The Body), The Shawshank Redemption etc. Personally, I'd love to see something I'd written filmed, whether it was good or not. I want to write all the time, I need money to do this, having a book optioned/filmed is a good way of getting money.
As an aside, I sent my first novel MESMER to a big TV company who were seeking horror-thriller stories. They liked it, but said it was 'too dark'. Maybe they want Teletubbies Go A Bit Naughty? TIM
Apr 7, 1999
Tim
Yes, most of King's adaptations were crap. I wonder how they did at the box office? I mean, did they still do boffo business because it was STEPHEN KING? Just curious. Does anyone have any info on this? If Carrie had been a complete flop would film companies have been as eager to pump out King project after King project? Perhaps, but only because he's the world's biggest selling author. Anyway, it's good to see folks like Michael Marshall Smith geting attention from the Hollywood crowd.
Michael K
Apr 8, 1999
Tim - Forget TV. Mesmer would make a good British movie. Knock out a treatment and send it to one of the up-and-coming Brit directors aalong with a copy of the book. - Mark
Apr 8, 1999
Mark, after all our talk yesterday, I went through my entire library to look for more of your work. I re-read 'All Things Considered, I'd Rather Be In Hell' in an issue of Peeping Tom. I noticed it also won the Scaremonger of the Year award voted for by the readers. It's good to see some people have some sense of taste! Tell me, does everything you do turn to gold, or did you promise yourself not to release average material. Next thing you'll be telling me you look like Harrison Ford and you own a 500-year-old cottage in the Lake District. Good on ya, and long may it continue.
Mike C
Apr 8, 1999
Actually, Mike, I look like Betty Ford and own a Portakabin in Tower Hamlets... Thanks for the kind words about my stuff. If you check out my webpage there are some stories and novel extracts you might enjoy. There should be more added each month. I do have very strict quality control. If I write something I'm not happy with I try to make sure it never gets off my PC (unless it sneaks out when I'm not looking). Any bad piece damages an author's overall body of work, I think. - Mark
Apr 9, 1999
Mark - Better looking like Betty Ford than John B Ford (although don't tell him I said that!).
Andrew 'at-work-but-nothing-to-do' Busby
Apr 9, 1999
Andrew - I met John at last week's Peeping Tom booze up and there's talk he may be coming to these very message boards. So beware!!! - Mark "Too much to do and can't be bothered" Chadbourn
Apr 9, 1999
Ulp! I'd better a) stop leaving messages so you can get on with some work, b) get on with some myself, and c) phone John and tell him I didn't mean it when I said he was the reincarnation of Poe (decomposition included!).
Andrew "trying to remain humourous and hoping that Valhalla is super-satisfactory for you so that I may keep the 'Mark Chadbourn is in issue 5' advert in issue 4" Busby
Apr 9, 1999
Poe - isn't he one of the Teletubbies? Don't worry, Andrew - the story will be with you by the end of the month. Trust me - I'm a writer. - Mark
Apr 9, 1999
Phew! Ta very much (notice how I didn't comment on your last sentence). Have a good weekend.
Andrew
Apr 9, 1999
mark: nice quote, trust me I am a writer, following the importance of deadlines in Dark Echo... hmmm... I know some 'real writers' who couldn't hit a deadline with an exorcet... one isn't actually so far from this stomping ground... I still remember the letter you sent me along with Vaudaville all those years ago... something about being an airhead :) It's interesting to wonder if King would have hit movies without his name... Misery, yes, definately. Cahn and Bates were fantastic, Sleepwalkers??? nah... not even Clive Barker's Police Man saved it... The points about a union if you like, something like the Freemasons or the TGWU for horrorwriters isn't a bad idea you know... The BFS isn't it, its a fan thing with some awards and a few beers... and we don't have a single agent that represents us all... imagine the influence we could lean on... we'd be the Teamsters only with blood and gore... oh, they already had that didn't they? What I mean is, if people could only get a Mark Chadbourn or a Steve Harris, a Pete Crowther or a Steve Laws story via a single source we'd develop a bargaining position... Jesus... what we need is an agressive marketing union like "Ten Angry Pitbulls" who are marketing guys who'll negotiate writers contracts, make deals for artists to accompany writers and basically care for their clients... we're all little fish alone... Tanjen could have benefitted from agressive marketing, hell, as Mark mentioned in a mail to not so long ago, the fact that quality anthologies and novels can fail to meet sales expectations etc only proves that sometimes even the quality isn't important, its the drive behind it... the men in suits...So what can we do? We know enough people involved in this market to form a Guild or a Marketing House... Imagine the websites we could do with all of the great writers here... and artists... MoT is a showcase, but where is the drive to make sure every film maker, every reader, every buyer, knows the names of our guys here? I remember seeing Steve Lockley's name on the cover of a collection next to JRR Tolkien and a couple of other huge names... how did it get there? The PR man at Robinson knew Steve's name from the agressive marketing behind Welcome to my Nightmare... Some nice man on another board said I was good at self promotion, true enough. Selling is a part of this business too whether we like it or not. That's why we have web pages and all that malarky... The only thing we have to cling to is that talent will win out... and that those talents who survive the purge will help build a new monster... Steve
Apr 9, 1999
It's all your bloody fault.... I dreamt about the teletubbies being murdered by the noo-noo last night.. sob I'm loosing it.... Thought I'd attempt to join in this discussion... Weaveworld the movie, adapted by Michael Marshall Smith, now to me sound bloody wonderful, but perhaps a tad ambitous for the average horror movie fan (yes I did wince when I made that sweeping generalisation!) Speaking as someone in the UK, it seems that the market for horror movies over here is very poor.. even the big names, such as Barker are just about limping onto the video shelves and no further (Lord Of Illusions, and Hellraiser (ahem) 4).. When was the last time a really decent horror movie was shown at the cinema? As to the death of horror, I've got to agree with Steve, the problem is a lack of publicity.. I'm a reader (and obviously a would be writer, as I'm sure most of the non published MOT visitors are).. and I'm currently gutted about the fact that I've missed out on so many good writers for so bloody long, just because I didn't know they existed. The Internet has changed all that, but for your average punter going into Dillons/Books Etc/Smiths (apart from the occasioanl branch), they're just not going to find out Mark and the others. I spent my lunch time today rummaging around a second hand bookshop in London, and what a goldmine for the more 'obscure' writers it was.. In fact I just purchased 'Nocturne' and 'The Eternal' in mint for 2.50 each (sorry Mark.. suppose that means you won't see a penny... if we're ever in the same pub, I'll have to buy you a pint!) The other problem of course is the major booksellers (in the UK at least) do seem to be rejecting horror.. I've watched the section get smaller and smaller over the last couple of years, and in some shops it's gone altogether.. why? some people would say that putting a book into a pigeonhole is wrong, but I'm sure I'm not the only person that's gone through a section in a bookshop, looking at books by new authors to see if they sound interesting.. and if the horror books are shoved into general fiction, it makes it a bit difficult to do, so you either know the author is horror, therefore you buy him/her or your just lucky.. OK.. I think I've ranted enough for now, and if any of it made sense I'll be delighted.. Keep up the good work everyone, and I look forward to seeing how this 'debate' continues. Gareth (lillicrap@yahoo.com)
Apr 9, 1999
Some cracking ideas there, Steve. See me after class. - Mark
Apr 9, 1999
Gareth - Don't mind you picking up the books so cheaply (a bargain at twice the price!) Those cheap ones might convince someone to take a punt on them and then buy the new one when it comes out. And thankfully since my publishers were taken over by Orion, I have been getting into Smiths, Waterstones etc. Big popping of champagne corks there. On the movie front, Weaveworld isn't going to happen now. And you're right, there haven't been any really good horror movies in the last few years. The Exorcist was the best thing last year. Empire gave Halloween H20 4 stars in its video review and I thought it was crap. Although I did quite like Scream 2 in a post-modern sort of way - no emotional connection though. Incidentally, I still don't believe horror is dead. Whenever I do my readings around the country I come into contact with loads of people who are never reached by the publishers' marketing departments - they don't read the horror mags, don't go on-line so they have no idea what's out there. They just take pot luck on the odd title that turns up in their local bookshop. But they love horror. How do we reach them, I wonder? - Mark
Apr 12, 1999
Weaveworld not happening - why? I doubt the failure of the last two Barker films helped much! Horror is not dead, yup think we all agree on that, but your point on people who just take a chance in the local bookshop on a writer they don't recognise is fine at the moment, but as I said, as the major chains turn away from having a horror section, so the chances of picking up a new author from your fave genre lessens further. As to how they can be reached??? Go into McDonalds, take hostages and say you won't release them until a certain amount of your book get sold?? Hmm possibly not, it's a difficult question. Why isn't there a UK verion of the Horror Convention? (if there is, I've missed out on it). Actually.. maybe that hostage idea isn't too bad after all.. hmm, plot, plot... I also enjoyed both of the Scream films, on a really basic level, but I do yearn for a movie that actually challanges me to think during it. Which bloody 'American Psycho' certainly won't do.. I'm glad you don't mind me getting your books cheap, I'll pop back up there tomorrow and by 'Scissorman'.
Apr 12, 1999
That last message was me again by the way people... Gareth (lillicrap@yahoo.com)
Apr 12, 1999
Hi everybody, This is certainly a humdinging argument with some positive waves re the future of horror. Mark, you and I talked at length in respect of 'joining up' as it were to promote work, and it seems this is the way many others are thinking. Promotion is a key word and I feel it's up to us to promote ourselves with bookshops et al. I recall when RECLUSE first came out in '96, I rang around umpteen bookstores and got 'em to take a half dozen or so copies. And yes it did, and is doing ok. With DEMON I'm doing the same, especially after Tanjen biting the dust. The Net is a good place to air our views etc but as someone has said, specifivally about the BFS, it is a meeting place for a pint, and welcoming fans, chewing the fat. Indeed, we all gain leads from it, and long may it continue BUT - and this is for info' only for the interested - John B. Ford is bringing together the 3rd Terror Scribes meeting in Sheffield in June or July with many up and coming and established names. Maybe, just maybe some of you gang out there will be interested to come and see, and chew the constructive fat. Let's get the show on the road so t'speak. Horror/Dark Fantasy, whatever we call it, it 's still there. Like the Frankenstein monster, it can't die. As soon as I know anymore about the Terror Scribes gig I'll let you know via this board. Derek M. Fox
Apr 12, 1999
Mark, Derek: This terrorscribes thingie... I'm thinking, flightwise it costs about 40 quid to fly to the UK at the moment... very cheep... maybe I could go a beer in July :) Steve
Apr 12, 1999
£40!!!! It costs me more than that to get a train to London!! - Mark
Apr 13, 1999
The Terror Scribes meeting with Simon Clark and a host of other brand names is now confirmed by John B. Ford as Saturday, 3rd July, 1999 in Sheffield. Meet at Sheffield Station 1.00p.m and hastily repair to The Howard hostelry to sink a few, and talk 'til the cows come home. It's a biggie, folks, so be there. Steve, it would be great to see you, & £40 ain't bad considering. For info' to anyone who is interested we are holding a meet at the Chesterfield Hotel, Station Street, Chesterfield on Saturday 5th June. Meet at Chesterfield Station 1.00 p.m. Two good opportunities (especially the second one) to come up with something positive re horror and marketing, in fact the whole bally lot. E-mail John B. Ford on: johnbford@bjmimpress.free-online.co.uk Derek
Apr 13, 1999
Folks, I dropped a whatsit in my last message. John B. Ford's e-mail is: johnbford@bjmpress.free-online.co.uk Sorry about that. Derek
Apr 13, 1999
Mark, Just read the press release for Nocturne, and it tells me that you used to run an indie label.. Do you have any advice, as a group of us are just launching one, and we're looking for all the tips we can get.. We've got an excellent band, so that problem's dealt with.. it's just the other few hundred,.. funding.. promotion.. radio play... Sorry to everyone else for this.. Gareth (lillicrap@yahoo.com)
Apr 13, 1999
Gareth - All I can say is, you're a sucker for punishment! Seriously, though, it's the best way to get your band noticed, but don't expect to make a lot of cash out of it. Firstly you need to set up a limited company - easy enough; you can do it yourself or get your solicitor to do it. We got a bank loan to get us started. I found they're pretty helpful with record labels so we just shopped around. You'll probably need to do up some kind of business plan - ie costs v expected sales. As long as it shows you lose money in the first year, break even in the second and make a slight profit in the third, they'll probably stump up the money (You do have to pay it back, though!). Has your band got a manager? If so, he/she can take a lot of the load off your backs. Distribution: we used Backs based in Norwich. There are plenty of others - see the Music Week directory. Their usual criteria is whether they like your music or not. Plugging: again, there are various people who do this - check the usual directories. We used some bloke in South London, can't remember his name now. Didn't cost a lot. Took us on a single by single basis and got us Radio 1 airplay, plus all the provincial stations. He did press too and we got bags of stuff in the NME. Then it's just a matter of getting your band out gigging to promote it all. I presume getting gigs hasn't become any easier since I did it.. Hope this helps! - Mark. PS The moment I set up the label, the various bands all got publishing deals. Worth a few quid in the bank for you.
Apr 29, 1999
Shine a light! I go to Spain for a fortnight's holiday, I read all the messages from the last few weeks, and suddenly I discover there's a possibility of Marky Chadders being in Sackers & Ashers! F'kin brilliant! Mark, is this true? Tell me, tell me, tell me. One of my fave authors in one of my fave mags would be cool.
Mike C
Apr 29, 1999
OOPS! Forgot to say something - I've recently bought Scissorman for the THIRD time. The first copy was read so many times it fell apart, the second copy is still in a protective cellophane cover that I promised I'd keep forever, and the third was bought last week in Seville. To cap it all, I was thirty yesterday, and my girlfriend surpised me with a spanking copy of Nocturne. God knows where she got it from, but I'm dead chuffed.
Mike C
Apr 30, 1999
Mike - I'm just wrapping up a disturbing story called *Wan Light* for S&A. The subject matter is a bit of a departure for me, but it's an issue I wanted to deal with. And three copies of Scissorman! Now that's a habit I'd like to encourage... But, seriously, you managed to find a copy of the book in Seville? I find that amazing - sometimes it's impossible to find certain horror novels in parts of the UK... - Mark
May 4, 1999
Mark - Finished reading Noctuern, and am very impressed. I'm conscious that you may get the impression that I'm trying to blow sunshine up your arse. Far from that being the case, if I continue to like all I read, what else can I do.
Best,
Mike C
May 4, 1999
...but you'd be more impressed if I could spell it!!!
Yes, Scissorman was in a big department store in Seville, along with a few Ramsey Campbells, a single Mark Morris and a million Stephen King. This is why I was so chuffed about getting hold of Nocturne - I'd looked everywhere for it.
Mike
May 4, 1999
Mark - My name is Ian Hopkins. I'm from West Milford, New Jersey in the States. Just figured I'd drop you a line and say just how much I enjoyed both King Of The Rain and Where Do You Go... on I-Plus. Brilliant stories both. I copied and pasted them into a share folder on my computer so that my friends can take a peek over the dorm network. Very positive feedback so far! Normally I'm not a horror fan, I'm much more of a science fiction afficionado, but I was impressed by your work. Thanks for a good read! -- mortalengine@hotmail.com
May 4, 1999
Don't worry, Mike - I can tell from your postings you're not an arse-kisser!As a writer, I must say it's good to hear when people like your stuff. The only other time writers get feedback is from publishers, agents and critics and their opinions are not always, shall we say, completely unbiased. Glad you liked Nocturne. I have really fond memories of my time spent in New Orleans researching the book. And sour memories of the time spent negotiating with Paramount over the movie rights... Ian - nice to hear from you. Thanks to I-Plus, those two stories have broken out of horror central and I've been getting some interesting feedback from fans of other genres. I believe SF, fantasy, horror and possibly crime are spheres which all intersect at some point and fans of one genre or another can often find something they'd like by skating into that liminal zone. I don't really see myself tied to horror. If it's an idea I like, I'll write it whichever genre it fits in. My next book is being marketed as fantasy, for instance. My lifelong aim is to write a book which fits into *every* genre! - Mark
May 4, 1999
Mark - Thanks for your prompt reply. Glad to hear that there are still some open-minded, literature-as-expression authors out there, writing what they feel. 'Tis refreshing! So fantasy, huh? Are we talking some sort of twist on the run-of-the-mill small town boy is long lost hero of the land? Or is this going to be exploration of totally new and different territory? Are you familiar with Ian R. MacLeod's work? I am thinking "The Giving Mouth" is one of the stranger fantasy stories I've read...also an Excellent read. I'll keep a lookout, I haven't had a chance as yet to read anything of your novels. -Ian
May 4, 1999
Ian - Haven't yet had a chance to read any of Ian R. Macleod's books. I'll check him out. To be honest, my fantasy novel is nothing like any of the other fantasy novels around which may piss off some readers. It's called World's End and it posits the question(s): if the Celtic gods of mythology were real, what were they? And what would happen if they returned to the world today? - Mark
May 4, 1999
Mark - Sounds interesting to me, given my Irish and Welsh heritage. It's about time someone wrote something other than "boy-king-saves-world" fantasy. I'll have to keep checking back. By-the-by, I think it's great that you run this little message board, it's rare that the public gets a chance to converse with normally distant media figures. Nice to see that you're down-to-earth and accessible. Thanks for the opportunity to chat. I'll be back sometime. - Ian p.s. If you get a chance, check into MacLeod's short stories. Very melancholy work, but VERY highly recommended!
May 11, 1999
Mark, MS received safely today. I'll be in touch soon. Much obliged.
Andrew B
May 14, 1999
Hi Mark, Thanks for the advice about the record label - loads to do , loads to digest - still enjoying it though, and my first badn have just confirmed two London dates next month, so it's all happening. Gareth
May 23, 1999
A while back you mentioned a novel called Worlds End. Any more information on that. Are you still writing it, finished it, or has it been binned? Loved the story on your site btw, six dead boys... very creepy.
May 24, 1999
World's End is out mid-July. It's the first of three inter-linked books going under the umbrella title of The Age of Misrule. (The second is Darkest Hour and the third Always Forever). And it's about what would happen if the gods of Celtic mythology actually existed...and what would happen if they came back today. - Mark