Ngaire Elder meets Mark Barry - around the Cauldron

Ngaire and friend Lu on her birthday this
year

Earlier this year, top children's author Ngaire Elder conducted a series of interviews with a variety of authors around the Cauldron.

Check for some of these on the right column as you look. They're good.

They were well received by wizardwatchers and by popular demand, Ngaire is going to be joining the Cauldron every month or so to demonstrate her pithy, humorous brand of interview.

Today, she meets, for the second time, writer Mark Barry, author of seven novels including this month's release "Violent Disorder".

From Nottingham, a father of one son and a passionate supporter of Notts County Football Club, the oldest football league club in the world, the two spoke on the phone as the dispute between Spain, (where Ngaire lives, in a fourteenth century castle in Jerez) and the UK (where Mark lives, in a flat), boiled over in the background.
__________________

Hi Mark,

Hi Ngaire. Lovely to be back on my show...

Mark Barry

Haha, lovely to have you. You have recently published a novel, Violent Disorder, the long awaited sequel to your bestselling novel, Ultra Violence, tell us about it.

It’s about two brothers, supporters and ex-hooligans at an East Midlands football club, Notts County, the oldest league club in the world, who tell more of their tales to the young Internet writer who wrote the first book. 

All the time, the spectre of the modern world overwhelms them and there is a big match coming up against a team with a massive gang of hooligans. Will they retire gracefully? Or will they join in the Saturday afternoon hi jinks and risk everything on one last fight.

Were there any aspects of the book that were difficult to write? And, what did you hope to achieve from writing Violent Disorder?

No, I’ve only ever written one difficult book and that’s Carla. That was a complex book in many ways. 

Simple on one level and multi-layered on another. Violent Disorder was a relatively easy book to write. 

What do I want to achieve? I want the readers to have fun and enjoy the books. My two football hooligan novels are based on real people, real stories and mythic events. Ultra Violence sold far more than I expected, and I hope the sequel, Violent Disorder, does the same. 

What was your favourite chapter (or part) to write and why?

I like the Peterborough chapter. Bonkers. You have to read it to believe it. I can scarcely believe it myself. 

Is anything in Violent Disorder based on real life experiences or is it all purely imagination?

This is a work of pure fiction. Honest, guv.

Your background of psychology, did it come in useful, did it help you research and understand the behavioural aspects associated with sports violence?

Not really. There is a chapter in there about zero-hours contracts, which I compare to Seligman’s experiments on dogs in 1974.  

Seligman meets the Dalai Lama
You won't take this seriously after you've read the Zero Hour
Contracts chapter.

All my books are couched in Psychology, particularly some of the wilder experiments and darker areas. In both books, my background in history was much more use to me. 

Some of the behaviour exhibited by the gangs in both of the books go back a thousand years, and I draw parallels all the way through.

Hastings

“High-profile outbreaks of violence involving fans are much rarer today than they were 20 or 30 years ago. The scale of trouble now compared to then doesn't bear comparison - either in terms of the number of people involved or the level of organisation. Football has moved on thanks to banning orders and better, more sophisticated policing”. (source http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22158585 David Bond) 

Would you agree with this statement?

I would. William has it tighter than a drum nowadays, guv, but it still goes off, mostly in the lower leagues where there isn’t so much policing and CCTV. 

The EPL is too high profile, and there’s too much money involved for the likes of hooligans to spoil everyone’s day out. No lower leagues. I hear that hundreds of Forest and Derby turn out at Alfreton Town in the Conference, for example. Here’s an extract…

I mean, he said, a bit drunk and earnest, Forest are down to a hundred now, if that. Probably less. You think we’re old c**s? They’re all even older. They’re past it. All dead or claiming pensions. They don’t bother going. Notts have more lads – more young lads any road. Anyway, forget them – if you want a scrap, you have to go lower division.  Conference…Alfreton Town versus Grimsby. Grimsby versus Mansfield. Any contest involving Lincoln. Look at Nuneaton. 80 arrests. 150 old LTE trapped on a Nuneaton Council Estate. Three hundred locals putting the windows through.  A thousand coppers keeping them apart. Planned for months. Look at Stockport vs Kiddy last week. Rioting in the Town Centre. There’s no trouble in the EPL. You’d be lucky to find a Chelsea hooligan nowadays. F**k the Football Factory…I mean, you may as well read historical fiction as that c**t. Nah, Forest has been over-policed for years and the young uns come down here. No coppers. 
Don’t they get on now? HobNob asked. Notts and Forest? 
Renfield wiped his nose on the back of his hand and nodded. Yep. Not like our day. 

Warning: Violent video - Cardiff versus Swansea at Newbury Races

A heartwarming vision of racial harmony
on the pitch at the Boleyn Stadium, during a West Ham
Millwall game

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? 

The first criticism of Hollywood Shakedown. I received before I started Green Wizard. It was two boots in the face stuff and luckily, seven books on, I have yet to have anything like that level of criticism. I've been lucky. The vast majority of my reviews have been positive.  
_________________

A lovely but dark tale of love with hints of Wuthering Heights. Deep, passionate, beautifully penned. A definite must read! (Carla, Chloe Fredericks, New York, 2012)

Best book I've ever read but crying at the moment. I have borderline personality disorder and could relate to this just wish there was a happy ever after for John and Carla  (Carla, Megan, Amazon, 2013)

__________________

I've just seen a seriously evil review of a book by one Richard Long, a horror novel called The Book of Paul. It's a horrific review and he's gone potty about it. I think the review, by one Linda Pepper, has gone all over the internet. Danged if I'd like that one on my Amazon.

What has been the best compliment?

My best is Mary Quallo’s review of The Ritual (on Amazon). Made me proud to read it. Also the moment when Brenda Perlin, in conversation with me about Carla, said I write like JD Salinger. That made me buzz.  

Also, If you check the interviews on the Cauldron, Jo (Lelani Black) recommended Carla has one of her three Desert Island Books and I was well chuffed with that.  

All of my friends have been kind to me and I've met so many through writing these books that I treasure all the good stuff. I read the negative stuff though and am glad people have taken the time to criticise the work. 

I also notice when people haven't finished one of my books. This has been noted, gang...hehehehehe...

Is there an Author that you would really like to meet?

Lots. You, Mary Ann, K-Trina, Jo, (AKA, Lelani Black, preferably in Hawaii haha), Brenda, Emma Edwards, Sarah Tipper, Wendy, Matt Posner, Gladys Quintal, Rae Gee and all these terrific writers I meet online every day of the week. 

We are blessed, aren't we. All these terrific people.

Right, Mark. Some lovely people out there. And wonderful writers.

Too right! Of the “name” writers, I’d like to meet Martin Amis, my literary hero, though he is supposed to be a bit arsy, so I might skip that.

Martin Amis

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Like most Indie authors, I use Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I have four blogs including this one. I also use other sites including Library Thing, Shelfari and Book Matchers. My books can be found in many different places on various profile sites. 

The chap who founded Proctor and Gamble, the washing powder company, once said that we know that 50% of advertising works – we just don’t know which 50%! I guess this sums up how I feel about which is the most successful avenue.

Proctor and Gamble

I recently read that your hobbies include beekeeping and spelunking, care to reveal more about these interests?

Hhahahahahahhaha…I love my beekeeping, and one day will have a hive of my own. I once won £2000 for beehive making equipment on the community farm where I used to work. I was more proud of that than much of the work I’ve done in the past. Spelunking? I shall leave that to your imagination!

What was the last book you read?

“Jacks Return Home” by Ted Lewis, the model for Get Carter. A great seventies book. 

Ted Lewis

Mark, you broke your banning order and were picked up by the cops at the final of Notts County Vs Forest game. Your incarceration officer has a big heart and lets you choose one board game, and a comic from the recreation room and a choice of one of the following: Jolly Ranchers, Spangles or Texan bar … tell us what you choose.

One board game? Hmmmmmmmmmm….Risk. Loved that game.

A comic? My favourite two comics (one story, would be the original death of Warlock and Thanos in Avengers Annual 7 and Marvel Two in One 2.)

Two magnificent comics

Written and drawn by Jim Starlin, these are commonly thought of as highwater marks in comic history. The battle scenes are incredible, the art is sublime, and you genuinely care what happens to everyone involved. Spider Man, watching the battle unfurl involving Thor, Iron Man, Thanos et al, hides in a ventilation duct and say “whoooops, time to get my spider self out of here. I’m way out of my power league!” Which was ground breaking reality for comics at the time and a direct link into today’s realistic approach to superheroes. Unfortunately, these go for about sixty quid a piece in decent nick otherwise, I would recommend them. 

Sweeties? Spangles. Jolly Ranchers bring me out in boils and Texan bars have an er, unfortunate look as every school kid at the time will tell you. Along with Nutty bars. 

Finally, where can fans of Mark Barry find out more and purchase Violent Disorder?

Amazon US
Amazon US

Amazon UK
Amazon UK

Mark, I have to go and feed the horses!

Oh that's a shame!?

It's been a pleasure being on your show and I wish you all the best with Violent Disorder and other books...

Ngaire, the pleasure as always is all mine. 

The man of many (black) shirts cooks up a storm at Sherwood
Towers Beer Garden (renovated) for Roy and Helen Sherwood,  Jordan Sherwood,
Polly Sherwood, Callum, Freya,  Green Wizard reader and
chief Wizardwatcher Kelly Sherwood ,and
urbane birthday boy Seth Wainwright

Carla - a parallel world.perfect score....

The Next Big Thing

The Green Wizard was invited to join in with 'My Next Big Thing' (started by Andy Duncan, author of The Badger-Boy Brouhaha)by his sorceror's apprentice and dear friend, Ngaire Victoria Elder, who writes cutting edge illustrated children's stories and is currently working on her third book somewhere in deepest Spain. Near a big mountain.

http://adventuresofceciliaspark.blogspot.co.uk/

Now, for me, the next big thing is er, not writing a book for about six months as I'm bolloxed. So bear that in mind when you read this.

___________________

What is the working title of your book?
Currently not writing a new book until I've sold a few of the six I've already written. You can find all six to your right as you look. Click on them if you fancy a further look on Amazon. 

Where did the idea come from for the book?
I wrote six books in just over three and a half years, including five in a year and I think the world has seen enough of my work so far. I need to recharge my batteries. I get my ideas mostly when running.

What genre does your book fall under
I write fiction novels. Pure and simple. They have no genre. Genres erect illusory and limiting boundaries between authors and provide a dumbed-down, one-dimensional landscape for the reader. If you just read romance, YA, or erotica, then it is likely that you and I have little to say to each other and I wish you all the best.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
I wrote the first draft of my 60k football hooligan novel "Ultra Violence" in  18 days. I wrote the majority of "Carla", my best reviewed book, over a weekend in late April 2012. Professional writers should be able to do this. Literature is full of similar stories. The 2.5k per day grinders are okay, but I need inspiration and a free playing field. I need to fly.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Lots of different ones.

Who or What inspired you to write this book
The knowledge that I was rapidly becoming unemployable in the modern gel haired, crocodile skin loafer, hundred and thirty pound per tie minor professional labour market was a major influence in my decision to form Green Wizard and write the six books.

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
If readers enjoy innovation, being challenged, old fashioned writing - with prologues, purple descriptions, necessary exposition and a complete  lack of trendy but boring Chucky P influenced skeleton writing - then they will like Green Wizard. My books are generally well reviewed. Readers in Nottingham and Southwell are well catered for.

And now, I'll pass the baton to 3 writers who kindly agreed to participate in the blog-chain ... stay tuned to read about their Next Big Thing.


Mary Ann Bernal -  www,maryannbernal.com

Brenda Perlin - http://www.homewreckerthebook.com/

Bathsheba Dailey - http://newbeginnings-bathsheba.blogspot.co.uk/

Mark Barry - http://greenwizardcarla.blogspot.co.uk/



Good luck everyone!

My First Ever Royalty Payment

I received my first royalty payment today from Amazon.

Yay!

I haven't stopped laughing. Thank you e-book reading public for your donation to Green Wizard.

I'll certainly use the four digits for a passcode or something. I've put the four digits on my mobile phone for posterity  and I shall never forget them. Those four digits are burned into my consciousness, the molten brand of a Texas rancher on the hide of a Longhorn steer.


Hah!


I wrote a short story called "Hot For Teacher" when I was twenty four and it was published in Knave Magazine. I still have it somewhere. It's very dirty. It predates most popular Sapphic fiction by at least fifteen years and its 2,000 words long. 


I got paid three times what I got paid for my FOUR opening e-books. Combined wordage 325,000.


I co-wrote - and won - a bid worth £4.25m and turned a company from a minor outfit into the fifth biggest company in an Industry. I got paid virtually nothing for doing it, but it was still more than this royalty.


But you know what, gang.


I've loved every minute of it. The best year of my working life since 2000. 


I'm living the dream. I'm living, loving and loafing it. Eventually, I've got to make some money, but hey, money comes to he/she who deserves it.


Anyway. The Royalty. What did you do with your first cheque?

I'm going out on Saturday morning to pick up my beloved son and I'm going to do the following things.

Smash box white jacket

a) I'm going to Walk into a bookmakers in Nottingham. 


Those who've read Carla will know the one I mean. The most ethnic bookmakers in Nottingham. 


I'll be doing a load of high fives with all the bloods in there.All the gang. Hip hop. We'll be talking paper, and cream, and beefs and I shall use the connective "Innit". 




We'll be getting down on the hypnotic machines and talking about Snoopy Dog and that. Then I'll check the greyhound race on the big Fly's Eye sports screen. Horses, virtuals, cricket, football, poker.


Greyhounds.


Romford and Crayford on a Saturday morning. I'm going to take the royalty and put seventy five percent of it on Trap 3.  Blind. No form. No sectionals. No trainer analysis. Trap 3. The Smash Box. Bang. Gone. 


Thank you very much, madam. I'll buy THAT for a dollar.

b) If it wins, I'm going to take Matt to the Red Hot World Buffet. There, we will munch course after course of piping hot cuisine from around the world. Plate after plate, dish after dish, until our cheeks burst, our eyes water and our tender bellies cry enough. All of it washed down with Magners for me, Coke for him. 

Top Nottingham Buffet

http://www.redhot-worldbuffet.com/redhot_nottingham.html

c) If the greyhound loses,  we can eat Greggs. Steak bake for me. Double sausage roll for him.


With the remaining 25% of the royalty, I'm going to wander about the town until I bump into a tramp. A really sad hairy one who has had a hellish life on the drugs and the booze. He can have the remaining quarter for a good drink at lunch. 




Or maybe a long refreshing, energising hot pipe of bubbly crack. 

Bournemouth Fan

I've developed a friendship with a Nottingham tramp who camps out near the old Radio Nottingham building on Mansfield Road. She's lovely. She tells me jokes and likes a laugh. Cracked up to the eyeballs, toothless, and a bit smelly, but lovely nonetheless. She can have it. If I see her. I tried to find her last Saturday but I think she's been arrested again. As she often is.


This is an appropriate way to spend my first royalty payment as an e-book publisher. 
Amanda Hocking, EL James, the fellow who wrote SOBB, I salute you. Yet, salutations apart, I am coming to get you. 
The road is long and hard and there are big scary monsters with big gnashing teeth behind every giant cactus, but I shall make it and I shall never forget my first royalty payment and what I spent it on.




Next: An interview with Suzanne Van Rooyen. Brilliant, she is. 

Suzanne Van Rooyen

Carla Again

Carla is online now. Some of you might remember I started writing this when we returned from my father's 70th birthday in Tenerife. I wrote most of it that weekend, (42,000) in the style of the old pulp writers, deadline harassed, whisky-fuelled and hyper-stressed.

As it happened, I think I stumbled onto an original idea and I ended up rewriting the story. Hence the delay. It came in at 76,000 words, which Amazon class as a full novel.

It will cost you £1.53 as a British reader for a limited period. The first two and a half chapters are on Freeview. It looks nice, the best of all Green Wizard stuff,

Simply click on the cover to your right (third one down) and you can read the first two and a half for free.

It's £3 for the PDF manuscript on my website, though you can pick up this and any three other PDF's for £9.

Here's what Kelly W, one of my best friends,probably my biggest supporter and long time proofreader had to say:

Just finished Carla. I think I'm in shock. Grieving a little. I don't know. Very affected. 

Excellent book - very few things to change - typo's etc I've changed but other than that - it's as it should be. Undoubtedly the best thing you've written and I can see why it would take so much out of you to write a book like that. It took a little bit of something out of me to read it. 

I know what Kelly likes and I know what she doesn't. She likes Hollywood Shakedown but really had to plough through The Ritual. She's no sycophant. She slaughters my covers and isn't slow to take the p**s out of me. So she never bullshits me. If SHE likes this book, you will. I used to teach Psychology and Criminal Psychology back in the day and I drew on much of that experience. 

If you like gritty stuff, black humour, crime, psychology, psychiatry, odd romances, love affairs, mental health issues, I think you'll like this one. It also has a climax so affecting, couldn't write anything for a week. Hell, I didn't want to leave the flat!