DEBORAH CROMBIE: Do you ever wish you could go back in time and have a word with the YOU of a few years ago? What great revelations would you impart? What wisdom have you acquired? (In my case, I have no doubt it would be "Write faster," no matter how far back in time I went, but I digress...)
Today we are chuffed (I'm feeling very British, in honor of our guest) to have Mark Pryor, author of the Hugo Marston series. If you haven't had the privilege of meeting Mark before, he's English, but he works as a DA in Austin, Texas, and writes books featuring a Texan former FBI agent, set in Paris. And London. And Barcelona. As you will see. That's the latest book, out today, called The Reluctant Matador. To see just how much I like these books, take a careful look at the cover.
Then see what Mark Today would say to Mark a Few Years Ago.
Writer
Peter De Vries, said: “I write
when I’m inspired, and I see to it that I’m inspired at nine o’clock every
morning.” As a man
with a job, I’m not able to plug myself into scheduled inspiration so I find
that it hits me at certain times. When I go for a walk, or sit in the hot tub.
And when I swim.
The
ideas I pay closest attention to often come when I’m swimming laps. Clips of
Kafkaesque movies spooling through my head, coming out of nowhere. Honestly, I swim
so slowly that my mind has to free itself otherwise it might die of boredom. Throw
a rock into the pool and it’d reach the other end before I will. Anyway, and as
an example, I had this one idea for a story where the guy swims laps like I do,
but when he finishes and pulls off his goggles and unplugs his ears, he notices
the lifeguard giving him a dirty look, and that his swim shorts are tattered
and bleached almost white. He realizes with horror that an entire year has passed.
He goes home and his wife is beside herself with joy but also anger and
confusion, and doesn't believe he was just out swimming laps.
Weird,
eh? Especially since I don't write supernatural things. Anyway, that's the way
my mind works when I'm swimming: oddly. I bring it up because when Deborah
Crombie offered me a coveted slot here at JRW, I pondered long and hard what to
write about, and the answer came to me as I was swimming. So now you know, it’s
gonna be weird.
In
fact, it’s a touch more time travel, if you’ll indulge me. See, it's been
almost three years since I was first published, four years since the first
novel in the Hugo Marston series, The
Bookseller, found a home. And so much has happened in that time. Not just
the books, but the travel, the people I've met, the trousers I no longer fit
into. It occurred to me, as I flapped my way up and down that pool, that it'd
be awesome if the Me of pre-publication could chat with the Me of today. You
know, ask a few questions, get some advice, that kind of thing. So that's what
I'm doing. I've taken myself back to 2011, I thought it'd be fun for the Mark
that didn't even have a publishing deal, just an agent and a hopeful heart, to
talk to me now.
So,
picture a weird time-bubble, a chamber of chronological confusion that's
occupied by two people, both me--one from 2011, the other from today.
2011: Hi.
Now. Hello.
2011: This is weird.
Now: But kind of cool.
2011: Sure is. Right, so I'm in 2011
and you're in 2015?
Now: Correct.
2011: I don't suppose they
actually have technology that lets you go back in time,
do they?
Now: Don't be stupid.
2011: Sorry. I had to ask, you are
in the future, after all.
Now: Four years, not a hundred. Now, do
you have any not-stupid questions?
2011: Fine, yes. We're doing this
so I assume my agent... our agent... found a home for The Bookseller.
Now: Correct. Actually, you got a
three-book deal.
2011: Holy cow, that's awesome! Who's
the publisher?
Now: A new mystery imprint called
Seventh Street Books, part of an existing publisher, Prometheus.
2011: New imprint, eh? Bit of a
risk we're taking there.
Now: For you, yes. Turns out extremely
well, though. In four years they've taken on a dozen or so authors and had half
that many nominations for major awards. They also partnered with Penguin Random
House for distribution, which is huge.
2011: Sounds impressive, although I
don't know what that last sentence means.
Now: That they have huge distribution
and Random House reps read and promote your books. Trust me, I didn't get it
either, but this is a fantastic publishing house and you love it.
2011: Okay, I'll believe you. Me.
Whatever. Say, you mentioned their authors have won and been nominated for
awards...
Now: Not you.
2011: Bugger. Are all three of
those Hugo books out?
Now: Actually, the fifth in the series
has just been released. That's why we're doing this, to mark its release.
2011: Whoa, really? Five books in
three years? Did I lose my job or something?
Now: No, you just neglect your family.
2011: That doesn't sound like me...
Now: I'm kidding. Apparently your sense
of humor develops over the next few years.
2011: Hilarious. So with book five out,
they obviously extended the series beyond the three-book deal?
Now: You can count, well done! Yes, obviously.
2011: What's this new one called?
And are the covers cool?
Now: The Reluctant Matador, it's set in Barcelona. The daughter of a
friend of Hugo’s goes missing in Paris, and the trail leads him to Spain. And
yes, they are, have a look at this one.
Here's
a picture of the others. One of them is blue because it's a prequel, just so
you know.
As
well as these, you're already contracted for number six and all signs are
positive for more to come.
2011: Wow, and when I woke up this
morning all I wanted was a deal for The
Bookseller! Very cool. Do I still have my day job as a prosecutor?
Now: Oh yes. Thanks to all the student
debt you racked up in law school, otherwise you could leech off our wife and
stay home to write.
2011: Hey, that's your
debt, too. How're the kids, by the way?
Now: Fine. Cute. Wanna see a picture?
2011: Yes, but this is gonna be
weird.
Now: Like this whole conversation isn't?
Here you go:
Let's get back on topic, we're here to talk
about your books.
2011: Oh, right. But
first, can you tell me who won the Superbowl each of the last three years, and
maybe the Kentucky Derby winners? We could get rid of those loans...
Now: No, it's not
allowed.
2011: Meanie. So
have I met anyone cool, like at conferences and stuff?
Now: Oh, wow, yes. Loads
of cool people. Did you know this interview stems from meeting Deborah
Crombie in West Texas?
2011: Get out! The Deborah
Crombie??
Now: None other. She's
about the sweetest person you'd ever meet, and she's a fan of our books.
2011: That's
amazing. We have a fan!
Now: Hush, we have at
least five. Anyway, you've eaten barbecue and shot AR-15s with Philip Kerr,
hung out with Laura Lipmann, Megan Abbott, Julia Spencer-Fleming, and loads
more. That's one thing I wanted to tell you: this writing gig, the people who
do it are so unbelievably friendly. Genuinely nice. It's not a club you've
found yourself in, it's more like a family. But one without all the drama and
conflict, and that one uncle who gets hammered and snores on the couch.
2011: I love to hear
that, I can't wait to meet them all.
Now: What else do you
want to know?
2011: Hmmm. Have I
done anything stupid?
Now: Plenty when it comes
to life in general but as far books, nothing too bad yet. Although I will say,
when you attend Bouchercon in Albany next year, go easy on the whiskey. Those
events are known for their boozing but meeting so many of those amazing authors
is already intoxicating, so tread easy. That's all I'll say.
2011: Fair enough.
Hey, who won the 2014 World Cup?
Now: You're going to bet
on it, aren't you?
2011: Maybe. Just
tell me it wasn't Germany.
Now: Hush. We're running
out of time, what else? Book related, please.
2011: Am I working
on the Hugo series exclusively?
Now: No, actually, I'm
very excited about a new stand-alone that comes out in September. It's called Hollow Man and is about an Englishman
who's a prosecutor here in Austin.
2011: Wait, it's an
autobiography?
Now: Just listen. He's
also a musician and a sociopath, but not one of those stabby ones, he actually
tries to hide that part of him and live a normal life. It can't be an autobiography
because we both know you’re tone deaf, and cry when you watch those videos of
soldiers coming home to their kids, so it's clearly fiction. Anyway, his name
is Dominic and he finds himself desperately short of money so he hatches a plan
to steal a car from a slum lord, knowing there's a load of cash in it.
2011: Hey, that's a
true story!
Now: Yep. But in our
version things go horribly wrong and Dominic then has a decision to make:
either go back to being the meek musician and risk getting caught, or let his
true nature come out to play.
2011: Oh, I like it.
Now: Good, because you
have to write it. But I agree, I think it turns out pretty well. Here's the
cover.
Anything else?
2011: Nothing
springs to mind.
Now: Well, it's been fun.
And hey, do a little more exercise will you? I keep getting injured playing
soccer and I think it’s because you’re a little, you know, pudgy.
2011: Hey! I don't
have time to exercise, writing all those books.
Now: You find time to
eat, chubby, so go work out. You'll thank you. Now, if that's it, I'm off.
2011: Parting words
of wisdom?
Now: Sure. Enjoy the
ride. It's a blast. Don't fret over sales and rankings, even though I know you
will. But you can't control them, so just have fun with it all. Getting published
really is a dream come true and I don't want me missing out on the joy because
you're worrying about silly stuff.
2011: Got it, I
can't wait. And thanks for stopping by, I can't think of anything else to ask
you. Oh, wait, can you tell me who wins the NCAA basketball finals next year? I
promise, you can trust me.... Hello?
DEBS: Now if I can just have a word with Mark Future. Keep writing those Hugo books! And for those of you who haven't met Hugo Marston, Mark is giving away three Hugo books to readers who say they'd like a book in the comments. His three (adorable) kids will each pick a winner from those who put their names in the hat.
Mark grew up in Hertfordshire, England, and now lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and three young children.
Here's more about The Reluctant Matador: A nineteen-year-old aspiring model has disappeared in Paris. Her father,
Bart Denum, turns to his old friend Hugo Marston for help. Marston, the
security chief at the American Embassy, makes some inquiries and
quickly realizes something is amiss: Bart’s daughter was not a model,
but rather a dancer at a seedy strip club. And she headed to Barcelona
with some guy she met at the club.
With his friend and former CIA agent, Tom Green, Marston heads for Barcelona. The two sleuths identify the man last seen with the girl, break into his house, and encounter a shocking scene: Bart Denum, standing over the dead and battered body of their mysterious stranger. Though Bart protests his innocence, under the damning circumstances, Spanish authorities arrest him for murder.
The two American investigators are faced with their biggest challenge ever: find the real killer, prove Bart’s innocence, and locate his missing daughter—without getting killed along the way.
With his friend and former CIA agent, Tom Green, Marston heads for Barcelona. The two sleuths identify the man last seen with the girl, break into his house, and encounter a shocking scene: Bart Denum, standing over the dead and battered body of their mysterious stranger. Though Bart protests his innocence, under the damning circumstances, Spanish authorities arrest him for murder.
The two American investigators are faced with their biggest challenge ever: find the real killer, prove Bart’s innocence, and locate his missing daughter—without getting killed along the way.
