Every Friday, we meet a member of the BFS and peer deep into their soul (or, at least, a form they filled out). Want to be featured? Email us: online@britishfantasysociety.org
Name:
Mark Stay (he/him)
Which region are you based in?
Kent, UK
If you write, which genre:
Sci-fi, fantasy, horror
Are you drawn to any specific SFFH sub-genres?
Folk horror, grim fairy tales, ray gun SF, epic fantasy, and it’s helps if it’s funny.
Your influences
Tell us about the book/film/thing that got you into SFFH: What was it? How old were you? What impact did it have on you?
When I was four I wanted to be a firefighter (we had a fire engine come to my school, which was very exciting, I got to sit in the driver’s seat and put the hat on and everything), but on my fifth birthday I saw Star Wars at the cinema and I immediately abandoned all firefighting ambitions and instead wanted to step through the screen and be in that world. Arguably, Star Wars ruined me and I’ve been chasing that dream ever since.
And reading Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy opened my eyes to SF that was wise and funny. It once made me laugh so much that I fell off my chair when eating breakfast before school. I was probably ten or eleven when that happened.
How does that early influence show up for you (in life/writing/agenting/publishing/editing/reading) now?
My writing is Hollywood widescreen, but my characters are very working class British… it might explain why I’ve never made it in America.
Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?
My own neuroses and fears. I put them on the page, interrogate them until I get some kind of catharsis and it mostly keeps me sane… Mostly.
Who do you look to as a genre hero? Why?
Terry Pratchett showed me that fantasy could be compassionate and hilarious. He had a work ethic that I aspire to, and prioritised character over all.
Your Work
You’re stuck in an elevator for 60 seconds with that hero, and they want you to describe your work. Give us the pitch.
The Witches of Woodville series is best described as Dad’s Army meets Bedknobs and Broomsticks. It starts with three bickering witches versus walking, talking scarecrows, then escalates to witches versus Nazis (there was a war on, y’know), then demigods and demons.
What are you working on right now?
The third part of The End of Magic fantasy trilogy, which is possibly the most epic thing I’ve done. If anyone’s looking for their kitchen sink, it’s probably in this draft…
And I’ve just signed a contract on a feature-length horror screenplay that is supposed to go into production soon-ish (though, as with any film or TV project, I’ll believe it when I see it).
Thinking about all the stories/work you’ve done, what sticks out most in your mind? Why?
There was a moment where I was standing in a soundstage in Pinewood studios. We were filming Robot Overlords, and I was with a friend I’d known since I was twelve (a fellow Hitch-Hiker fan who was filming the ‘making of’) and we were both wondering quite how we had made our childhood dreams come true. It was unreal.
Where and when do you create/are you at your most creative?
First thing in the morning in my office. I used to write on trains on my commute to and from work and on my lunch break, but for the last few years I’ve been lucky enough to have a room where I can hide away for a couple of hours each morning.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
Craig Mazin’s lecture ‘How to Write a Movie‘ changed the way I write. It’s 40 minutes on YouTube and it covers theme, character and the central dramatic argument and it’s everything you need to know to be a good storyteller.
What’s your writing soundtrack?
These days: silence. Or, if I’m out and about, I play rain and thunder through headphones.
Back in the day, I wrote Robot Overlords to Daft Punk’s Tron Legacy soundtrack, and the writing of the first End of Magic book was accompanied by Jeremy Soule’s Skyrim score. But something happened to me in middle age and I now need silence if I’m going to transcribe the voices in my head.
The Quick-Fire Round
Sci-fi, fantasy or horror?
Yes, please, thank you very much.
Quiet or loud?
Loud. I have tinnitus from some reckless Walkman volume management in the 80s and 90s. To be fair, my mum did warn me this would happen.
Dark or light?
Light. I’m an optimist. Yes, even now.
Strict lines or genre blend?
I’m a blender bender.
Awards or bestseller?
Bestseller. Awards don’t pay the bills.
Fiction or non-fiction?
Fiction in the morning. Non-fiction at night.
Poetry or prose?
Prose is poetry when it’s done all proper like.
Plotter or pantser?
For novels, I’m a converted pantser. I just jump in and have fun. For scripts, you generally have to plot for the sake and sanity of your collaborators. It’s nice to bounce between the two.
Reading or listening?
I’m a reader, but appreciate the craft of a great audiobook narrator.
Notebook or computer?
Notebook first. There’s something about the link between my brain and the pen that flows more readily. Then I type it up and refine my scribbles. It leads to a pretty clean first draft.
Favourite SFFH book of all time?
This changes on a weekly basis. This week it’s The Stainless Steel Rat for President by Harry Harrison. It’s funny, political, has a cracking twist and, crucially, is short.
Last book you read?
Star Trek: The Entropy Effect by Vonda McIntyre. I read it for the Authorized podcast and I’m so glad I did. It’s the best kind of Trek: pacy, fun, thrilling, thought-provoking and Sulu rocks a terrific ‘tache.
Any SFFH author on auto-buy?
CK McDonnell, Joe Hill, Kate Atkinson, Joe Abercrombie, Julian Barr, Mike Shackle.
Favourite podcast?
Scriptnotes, Comfort Blanket, Film Stories, Scarred for Life.
The Home Stretch
What’s the best thing about being part of the SFFH community?
It’s become such an open-minded community, with a good balance of pragmatism and optimism. The authors I know are all so supportive and generous with their advice, and the readers have a passion unlike any other genre. And the tote bags are next level.
Time to plug your stuff! Where can we find you and your work? What have you got coming up? Consider this your advertising space.
I’m the author of the Witches of Woodville series and the End of Magic trilogy. I co-wrote the films Robot Overlords and Unwelcome, and I was co-host of the award winning podcast The Bestseller Experiment. My new podcast is Creative Differences, where I talk to writer friends about the little things that make a big difference to their creative process.
You can find me at:
Leave a Reply