Author Interview with Michael Darling

Who are you?

Michael Darling, inhabitant of imaginary worlds. The first world is The Behindbeyond, an urban fantasy series. Book three, Got Lost, was just released. Soon, I hope to be an inhabitant of *multiple* imaginary worlds with the upcoming release of my first science fiction novel, Hollowfall, which may develop into a second series, if all goes well.

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Where do you live?

Our family has resided in the same house since before my wife and I had our first anniversary. The house has been the victim of my efforts to add and improve on it. It's also experienced the swelling required to accommodate a growing family as we have added kids, pets, another kid, another pet, as happens in life. Now, however, the house is subsiding in size with only one of the offspring currently in residence and a reduction of pets as well. We do have a big St. Bernese so, yes, the Darlings have a "Nana" dog.

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What’s your home life like?

My wife is a flight attendant, so she is often out from underfoot...erm...out of the country. Her favorite trip takes her to London and that's a place where you can enjoy a really great layover, though we miss being together when she's gone. I spend an inordinate amount of time correcting papers as I attempt to bring middle school and high school students into a place many people refer to as "civilization" by teaching them English grammar and literature.

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What genre(s) do you like to write? To read?

I read across almost every genre, including fantasy, science fiction, mystery, procedural, thriller, and horror because they're all interesting in the different ways they tell a story. I will read almost anything that is well reviewed. Then I'll read something poorly reviewed or not reviewed at all for change of pace. Maybe the better question might be "what do I finish reading" because I find myself sticking with books I didn't think I'd like and never finishing books that I thought I'd devour. Capricious? Or just looking for something that's interesting and fresh whether it's the best prose or not? ​

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Why did you start writing?

I remember reading Poe and Bradbury and Le Guin and marveling and the power of their words. With nothing more than simple language, words on a page, they transported me to different planets, and small town carnivals, and inside the minds of the clinically insane. I wanted to see if I could recreate that amazing sense of shared experiences.

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What do you do when you’re not writing?

When I'm not writing, I read a lot. There's also a lot of work that goes into marketing as an author. Blog posts are great! And I love being here. Most authors have to also maintain a presence on social media, keep a website running with updates, send out newsletters. Publishers just don't devote time and resources to those things, so authors get the honors. I also love to travel and cook as both are nourishing to the soul. ​

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Where do you like to go when looking for a new book to read?

When I'm looking for something new to read, I go to book signings! I go to as many as I can, because having a book signing is traumatic. What if nobody shows up? So I often go to a book signing every week to support all kinds of writers, whether I know them or read them or not. Otherwise, I am a slave to the Amazon, like most people who begrudgingly learned to tolerate Kindle. Services like BookBub and Book Cave are also great places to find new things to read. ​

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At what point do you call it quits when reading a new book?

I hate to be a snob, because there are many ways a story can be successful, but it's usually pretty clear early on when a book isn't doing its job. I'll usually give a book a couple of chapters and then move on if I'm not finding myself engaged. I purposely avoid looking at how a book made it to market, but sadly, most books that fail for me are self-published. If I make it to the midpoint, I'll usually finish. ​

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Are you independently or traditionally published?

So far, all my novels are published traditionally, through Future House Publishing. The short stories have a varied and checkered history. ​

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How many books/stories have you published so far?

There are three novels in The Behindbeyond Series: Got Luck, Got Hope, and--most recently--Got Lost. I've had a dozen short stories published, give or take a flash fiction or so.

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What book/story are you currently promoting or working on?

Got Lost has been out only briefly, so I'm constantly promoting that. The science fiction novel, Hollowfall, is a licensed property based on the popular board and computer game Master of Wills and that's being prepped for a release in the spring. ​

(Click the stars for my review)

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What’s the elevator pitch?

I could give the pitch for Got Lost--or your readers can go watch the book trailer! I have done book trailers for other novels and projects and I think it turned out great. I'll provide the link below. 

Hollowfall is the story of a young woman from the slums of Novus City, a post-apocalyptic metropolis divided into multiple factions. The woman, Sadia, just wants to belong and be safe. When she resurrects a murdered man with a hidden power, in front of millions of witnesses, she becomes the most hunted woman in the city. Every faction and corporation wants her, some to exploit her, martyr her, or take her apart. If she makes the wrong move, the entire city could be lost. 

Here's the link to the Got Lost book trailer: 

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How long have you been working on it?

Hollowfall was begun in February 2019.

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When will it be available to buy? Where?

Hollowfall will be available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble shortly. The Behindbeyond series can be found in bookstores or online from most ebook providers. ​

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How can readers find you?

Come say "hi!"

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What inspires you to keep writing?

Writers are naturally concerned about getting from "Once Upon a Time" to "Happily Ever After." Professional writers are just as concerned about getting from the previous "Happily Ever After" to the next "Once Upon a Time." ​

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Anything you’d like to add?

I greatly appreciate anyone who reads my work and I hope they find it time well-spent. If anyone would care to subscribe to my newsletter, I currently offer a free story to say thanks. Just as valuable are online blogs (the more laughable the better!) which provide lifeblood to an author's body of work. Thanks Nicholas for your support, now and always! ​

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My thanks, again, to the brilliant Michael Darling for participating in My Laughably Inane Blog. It's always a pleasure to read his words in whatever form they come. I wish him all the best in his Behindbeyond series and look forward to reading Hollowfall.

Sincerely,

Nicholas P. Adams

Just a small-town boy with an overactive imagination.