Mark Lawrence

As part of our SFFWorld.com’s Member Spotlight Series, Nila interviews Mark Lawrence, a scientist by day and science fiction/fantasy writer by night.

Hello Mark, thank you for taking time from your busy schedule to chat with me. I promise I’ll make this quick.

Mark Lawrence: Writers are always seeking distractions, no matter how little time they have to spare.

SFFWorld: What’s your SFFWorld.com’s forum handle and why did you pick it?

Mark Lawrence: Mark Lawrence, it came to me in a dream.

SFFWorld: How did you discover SFFWorld.com and why did you decide to join?

Mark Lawrence: It was back in 2010, before Prince of Thorns was published but after it was contracted and I’d written King of Thorns. I did a lot of self-googling. I know, the shame of it! I also checked out as many fantasy blogs and forums as I could. I’d never pursued my love of reading fantasy onto the internet before and I was keen to catch up now that I had a horse in the game.

So, I must have joined either because Google led me to some discussion of my upcoming debut, or because Google suggested it as a good place to talk fantasy.

SFFWorld: What keeps you coming back?

Mark Lawrence: Well, if I’m honest, part of it is habit. There’s a 39 page thread on my books with 96,000 views. Nothing new since last October, but I’m always interested in what people have to say. (Check it out here.)

The rest is what keeps any fantasy reader turning up at any fantasy forum – I’m interested in what people think of books I’ve read, and occasionally I’ll chip in with my opinion.

SFFWorld: What’s your favorite book?

Mark Lawrence: Freefall by William Golding. That’s been my default answer for years. I’m no good at ranking excellent things against each other.

SFFWorld: What’s your favorite author?

Mark Lawrence: Tough one. I guess for sustained pleasure over millions of words I’ll have to be boring and go for George RR Martin.

SFFWorld: What’s your favorite genre?

Mark Lawrence: Fantasy – though for the decade before and during writing Prince of Thorns, I read more 20th century classics than fantasy. Finally reading GRRM got me back into fantasy after falling out of love with reading it in the 90s.

SFFWorld: Where’s your favorite place to read?

Mark Lawrence: Any convenient chair. I can read on public transport, at a party … actually I’ve read plenty standing up. Anywhere that’s not raining.

SFFWorld: Favorite con (convention)?

Mark Lawrence: Because I have to look after my very disabled youngest daughter, when she’s not asleep or at school, I can’t travel. The only fantasy convention I’ve been to is the one that takes place 5 miles from my house, Bristolcon. I’ve cycled down for a couple of hours during the day for three years running now. So by default, it’s my favourite.

SFFWorld: What do you do when you are not reading or messing around on SFFWorld.com?

Mark Lawrence: My bio has a bunch of hobbies listed from my pre-published days. The truth is that I don’t really have time for any of them now. The answer to your question is “I write.” That said, I also spend far too much time on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit. I did buy a PS4 before Christmas but so far the only game I’ve managed to find time to play on it is GTA5.

SFFWorld: Thanks for taking the time to talk to me, Mark. Anything else you’d like to add?

Mark Lawrence: Thanks for having me. And since my publishers would shoot me if I didn’t take up your offer to self-promote in this answer: my next book is the second in The Red Queen’s War trilogy that started with Prince of Fools. The Liar’s Key comes out at the start of June. (Check it out on Goodreads.)

Be sure to check back every Friday for more Member Spotlights!