Name Mark McQuillen

Age 57 * *Birthday Jan 3rd. Yes I was doomed to be a fantasy author. It’s the same day as Tolkiens.

Where are you from Birthplace Malestrom AFB, Great Falls, MT.  Currently  Pueblo, Co.

A little about your self `ie your education Family life etc

High School Grad, Veteran. Life long AF brat!

 

 

Fiona: Tell us your latest news?

Well just got finished writing Valkyrie 2: Darkness Rising. Coming soon to a Kindle or Nook near you 12/12/15, maybe sooner if I can get the editing done. Valkyrie 1: Darkness Awaits now on Amazon.com .

 

 


Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

Well I have been writing on Fan role playing sites. Especially the Tolkien ones and took a rather obscure character Erestor and wrote an entire history for him from the First Age of Middle Earth all the way through LOTR and beyond. Why I have my own stories to tell from deep in the recesses of my dark mind. Why else?

 

 


Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I wrote the original Mist on a Rpg website and went up against the Biggest BAD Dude and stood toe to toe with him for 16 pages. And the same story got voted best of the year I was hooked.

 

 
Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I’d been kicking the Valkyrie book idea around from the top of my head for a couple of years but in June I was kicking around the house bored one day and off we went. I started on Jun 15th and was done on Aug 15th 48,250 words in 90 days.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?

No, not really. I write in spurts of upto 10 pages at a time.

 

 
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

Just came to me one day.

 

 
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes, it’s all summed up this quote for book 1: “Be careful of what you say and do in life, you never know who’s watching.” Is just that,there are things that are watching. We might want to take care what we do.

 

 
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?

Actually 50%, I mention real historical events. Plus all of the weapons in the story existed at one time.

 

 

Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life

Gils flashbacks to Yugoslavia are based on experience of friends that were there. The scene where Gil sees Mist for the first time is based on something that actually. happened to my Grandfather in WWII.

 

 
Fiona: What books have most influenced your life most? a mentor?

JRR Tolkien the Lord of the Rings. I was in fifth grade when Mr. Roberts, read the Hobbit and the trilogy  aloud in English class. I was hooked.

 

 
Fiona: What book are you reading now?

Raven Williams, Realm Jumper Chronicles

 

 
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Jenna Baxter.

 
Fiona: What are your current projects?

I just started writing Valkyries 3 yesterday.

 

 

Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.

All of the folks on Facebook, I also got the help from other indy authors.

 

 
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

Well since I’m disabled what else do I have to do?

 

 
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No

 

 
Fiona: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I’ve written stories as long as I can remember.  My mother was a writer, I learned from her.

 

 

Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?

From Valkyries 3

Chapter 1: Of darkness and light

 

 

Loki

 

 

Loki worked the bellows as he watched the ancient Dwarven smith work with a pair of tongs to remove a crucible from the forge.

When he arrived a week ago Alberech had been glad to help. Malice had made an enemy of him too. In doing so she had made a big mistake.

When he had told the smith what he wanted his oldest allie set to work immediately making Loki’s instrument of vengeance.

When the God of Treachery had tried to pay the Dwarf, Alberech told him to keep his money.

Loki’s thoughts were interrupted by the ancient dwarf gravelly whisper.

“Move swiftly Asgardian, cast your spell into the crucible before the metal cools.”

Loki walked over as he concentrated, a stream of emerald energy left the Aesirs left hand bathing the mold with green fire. When the flow stopped the glow was absorbed by the molten gold making the magic part of the metal.

Alberech  used the tongs to place the crucible in the forge one last time before he poured the liquid into a mold he had on the workbench.

They had several hours ahead of them before the Dwarf could remove the mold. Alberech led him to a table with a couple of chairs were mead waited.

“I thought you and the shewolves of Odin hated each other. You surprised me with the request Loki. Since when did you decide to help  the Valkyries? You’re not known for doing anything without a price or is this just a part of a larger scheme?”

“The less you know the better old friend.” Loki replied. Let’s just say that my relationship with the Riders has changed since the arrival of the Son of the Valkyries.”

The elderly dwarf nodded, he rarely left the forge but he had heard the rumors about the Riders prophecy coming true.

“A bunch of superstitious drivel if you ask me or has Sif wrapped you around her finger again?”

The God of Treachery eyes narrowed as his irises went black with anger.

“Choose your next words with care Dwarf. No one influences  me.

“Do your work and keep silent or your life is forfeit. Let’s just say that myself and the Valkyries goals coincide for the moment.”

Alberech shied back at the gods words. What the Dark God’s motives where did not bode well for Asgard.

Loki sipped his mead as he calmed down, just the mention of Sifs name still brought out feelings that he thought he had suppressed. When they were young he loved the Goddess from afar. His half brother Thor was the one she had lusted after.

Now she has married Gil Swanson, well good luck keeping her. He thought, life was just so unfair.

“So what’s this Son of the Valkyries like, do I have anything to be  concerned about?” Alberech asked he had his own run in’s with the Riders.

“He’s a man of the world, respecful, intelligent and driven as all of the Valkyries are. He’ll leave you alone as long as you don’t provoke him.”

The dwarf had no intention of doing something that would attract his attention. Loki obviously had a grudging admiration for the male Valkyrie. That in itself was a reason to keep an eye on him. The whole idea of a male Rider was going to take some time to get used to.

 

 

Zander

 

 

The Dark Queens command still echoed in his head as he stormed though Ghost Mountain. He used a fist, a boot or the whip to get the rest of his clan moving. The whip wined as it cut through the air. As he flicked his wrist the bull whip cracked like thunder

“Move you slugs, form up in the courtyard. We have a Valkyrie to kill.”

It took the Warleader an hour to get everyone together. Once outside he looked over his fellow goblins with disdain. In the back stood seven black figures that seemed to absorb the light around them.  Nightflyers were useful tools as long as you never turned your back on them.

Zander approached their leader with caution, he had no intention of ending up as a snack. Skar wasn’t known for his gentleness. When he got close the creature opened his eyes that looked the entrance to the abyss.

“Find the accursed male Valkyrie, Malice commands his death!” Zander barked. In response to the goblin chiefs order the leader chucked, it sounded like the grating of metal on metal.

“Feeling brave today worm?” Skar asked as he looked down his nose at the goblin.

“Hela has already given us our orders, they don’t include taking orders from you. Get your rabble moving, time is short.”

Wisely Zander sniff as he moves off, now wasn’t time to die. His dream was about to come true the greatest Goblin Warlord in the history of Asgard.

Or so he thought when he looked out over a sea of goblins that blackened the ground

Then looked down to see the steel beasts on what the called tracks “Panzers.”

He breathed in then let out a roar, “Death to the Valkyries!”

“DEATH TO THE VALKYRIES!” His host replied, their roar making the heavens shake.

Gil, Mist, Sif, and Shadow.

As Gil recovered from his wound the newest of the Valkyries go to know more about his Valkyrie powers and his oldest friend. The remark about Machiavelli opening a new set of memories from his childhood. Mist telling him stories of her life. As the two of them lay there she now told him of his wives adventures in Victorian London.

‘Victorian London. As in Jack the Ripper, Sherlock Holmes, Victorian London.’  Gil said with humor in his mindvoice. He could see the two of them prowling through the gas lit streets.

Hey why not, everything else has been there even Dr.Who. He thought as his wife spoke of meeting Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. He could see Holmes famous creator using Mist as the inspiration for Sherlock’s perfect woman.

‘Yes. It’s one of Sif and my personal favorite eras in human history. It was all so decadently civilized.’

Gils imagination went into overdrive as she almost purred the word decadently. He looked around at the huge four poster bed they currently occupied.

‘Exactly, where did you think I got the idea to tell the carpenters?’ Mist breathed into his ear as she licked the tip.

How many stories of Victorian Erotica did those two inspire?  Gil thought as his blood heated. Giving his skin a rather rosey hue, attracting his wife’s attention. Mists head lowered  to his neck as she snickered.

‘Stories of Victorian Erotica, eh. At least one or two, I think and a painting.’

 

 

Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Some of the dialog and the interaction between the character. I get confused at times.

 

 
Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

JRR Tolkien of course, I love the whole concepts such as world and myth building.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?

No I haven’t yet.

 

 
Fiona: Who designed the covers?

Shannon Hayes, she did a great job

 

 
Fiona: What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Focusing on my writing, making the time to write everyday.

 

 
Fiona: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it.

Not anything particular

 

 
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?

Just sit down and let the words flow out. You’ll surprise yourself on how easy it is once you get started.

 

 
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

If you have any suggestions of ideas that you would like to see in the books let me know.

 

 

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

Sorry I can’t remember.

 

 

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

What makes me laugh, life in general. If you can’t find humor in what you do then you need to make a change.

 

 

Fiona: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?

Mercedes Lackey, I would love just to pick her brain about writing. I’m still new to this.

 

 

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone and why ?

“He tried his best.” That’s what I  try to do everyday.

 

 

Fiona: Other than writing do you have any hobbies ?

I build computers for folks.

 

 

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

Penny Dreadful, Game of Thrones.

 

 

Fiona: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music Food,

Pizza. Colors green. Music Any.

 

 

Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?

I would have liked to be a commercial pilot.

 

 

 

Fiona: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?

Http://msmcq2005.wordpress.com

Amazon Authors Page http://www.amazon.com/Mark-McQuillen/e/B013S976LA/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1446316805&sr=1-2-ent

 

Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/577569