Mark Stevens: Author, President of RMFW, and former Master of Disaster

Today, it is my very great pleasure to welcome Mark Stevens to the Rock.

A best-selling author and current President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Mark started his writing career as a reporter for The Christian Science Monitor in Boston and Los Angeles. Following a move to Denver, he worked for The Rocky Mountain News and then joined the MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour team. For six years he produced field documentaries across the U.S. and Latin America, including the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City, NASA’s space shuttle disaster, and political upheavals in Nicaragua. He was told his “master of disaster” title referred to the stories he covered, not the quality of the reports!

After a brief sabbatical to write, he joined The Denver Post to cover education. Those five years of reporting led to a position as Director of Communications with Denver Public Schools and then with the Greeley school district and the state department of education. Mark currently focuses on writing while also working in public relations.

Buried by the Roan, the second book in his Allison Coil Mystery Series, was released in 2011, and Mark was named a finalist for the 2012 Colorado Book Award and the 2012 Colorado Author League Award. The first book in the series, Antler Dust, was a Denver Post best-seller in 2007 and 2009.

CIR: Welcome to Chiseled in Rock, Mark! You’ve worn many hats, from reporter to producer to novel-writer. How do you describe yourself (the top three things that come to mind)?

MS: Not being a big fan of mirrors, do I have to answer this one? Um, er, uh – happy family guy (two amazing daughters, one terrific and artsy and talented wife), writer, and fan of stories (movies, television, books) and music (rock, funk, blues, etc).

CIR: What are your current writing goals and challenges? (What are you working on?)

MS: I’m finishing up the third book in the Allison Coil Mystery Series. I might actually let somebody read it in a month or two, to see if there’s a story there. Publisher is thinking mid-2013 if all goes well.

CIR: Fracking has been a hot topic in the news, and the controversial practice is addressed in Buried by the Roan. Did you anticipate that public debate and has it impacted your presentations about the book?

MS: When I first thought of weaving the controversy over fracking into the story, it was late 2007. I wasn’t sure that fracking would remain in the news, but I also didn’t think it wasn’t going to be resolved as an environmental debate. So I didn’t think there was much of a risk of being outdated. However, I had no idea the controversy would explode. The movie “Gasland” had a great deal to do with this and now it’s a near-global concern. (If there’s one thing I bet the energy industry wishes it could take back it’s the short-hand term “fracking.”) As far as presentations go, it hasn’t really affected them too much—although I’m finding many individuals out there who are concerned and think the state could do more and should do more to protect and regulate the industry. This is Colorado, you know. It’s worth setting the highest standard possible for environmental management. I’m still looking for one other piece of fiction that incorporates fracking. Don’t think it exists (yet). There is an anti-fracking movie in the works, “Promised Land” with Matt Damon and Frances McDormand, among others. That should be interesting!

CIR: You are currently President of RMFW and a long-term volunteer. How has the organization helped you advance your career?

MS: In every way you can imagine. I am not a big ‘joiner’ in general, but RMFW has offered a tremendous boost—getting to know experienced writers, attending workshops, diving into the conference and education programs. It’s partly about learning techniques and the craft and it’s partly about being around other dedicated writers. The networks are invaluable, the friendships long-lasting. You pick up a tip here, an idea there or maybe a whole new way of thinking about dialogue and narrative. It’s like a big idea and inspiration bank, open all hours of the day.

CIR: When you agreed to serve as President of RMFW, did your writing goals change?

MS: No. Gotta write.

CIR: Have you or the RMFW Board proposed any new long-term goals for RMFW that you might share?

MS: We have had only one meeting as a new board and our first order of business was to make sure the RMFW web site functions on all cylinders for membership, programs, the Colorado Gold contest, the conference itself and all other needs. In general RMFW works so well that I’m not sure you’ll see this board head off in any radical directions. For a volunteer organization, there’s a tremendous amount of activity and top-notch programs.

CIR: What are the two toughest things about writing?

MS: Keeping the prose fresh and keeping the character alive on the page. Oh, and getting the story to the point where the reader is lost in his or her imagination and isn’t even aware of the words on the page. Okay, that’s three things.

CIR: What do you predict for the future of the publishing industry and where do you fit into that?

MS: My crystal ball refuses to cough up the answer on this one. I have yet to read an e-book, though I have nothing against them. I think books are deep in the same upheaval that music started going through 20 years ago and there is just now less distance and fewer steps between writer and reader. But if you want broader distribution and a bigger audience, those systems still exist, albeit with fewer opportunities. But if you want to “get published,” you can write a story in a few weeks and zap it out to the masses overnight. In some ways, the scene has never been more vibrant and active, which is exactly why writers need RMFW to help sort through the madness.

CIR: Where does RMFW fit into that future?

MS: No matter what format your stories will be distributed in, they have to be the best damn stories they can be. So the first thing with RMFW is to improve the story, front to back, beginning to end, moment by moment, scene by scene. You get the idea. The craft isn’t changing. Good writing isn’t changing. Good critiques don’t change. Reader reactions to emotion and peril and challenges don’t change. An individual’s taste in books and writing style might change over time but there will always be a market for good, strong, polished and well-produced fiction. On the business and distribution side of things, being an RMFW member exposes you to all those who think they know where this is all headed and you can soon learn the art of scratching your head and wondering—just like the rest of us.

CIR: What do you feel your stories are born of?

MS: Wow ... what a great question. Answer: I have no idea. I guess I’m interested most in character, how people are put together. What makes them tick and what makes them tackle certain challenges or pursue certain interests. And, in the case of mysteries, what makes them try to put the world back together after some evil-doing. When I met the woman who inspired Allison Coil, I was fascinated by someone who had made the transition from the city to the life in the woods and I really couldn’t stop thinking about what it would take to make that switch and make it so convincingly, to the point that you were at one with your surroundings in such a complete way.

CIR: Do you ever get writer’s block? If so how do you break through?

MS: A bit here and there but I usually back up a page or two and start over, work up some momentum. If I’m stuck it usually means there’s something structurally wrong with the story and I need to rethink it. I try to bear down on what my character is seeing, thinking, feeling and usually if I’m into the character and if there’s a point to the scene, I can get things moving again. But a page a day is about all I’m good for.

CIR: What one piece of advice would you offer to new writers?

MS: Read and write, read and write some more. Get feedback, whether it’s a critique group or from valuable readers who will give you honest feedback. Evaluate the feedback carefully and revise. And show it again. And network. And join RMFW.

CIR: If you could time travel, when and where would you go?

MS: About five centuries ahead, to whatever planet we have colonized. I’d love to see the view from there and find out how we adapted.

CIR: And lastly, as is our MO on CIR, we’d like to end with a non-writing related question. What did you dream of doing when you were eight years old?

MS: I wanted to play guitar and sing like I was one of The Beatles. Didn’t everyone?

CIR: Thank you for joining us, Mark!

You can learn more about Mark and his writing on his website, on Facebook, his book review blog, or on Twitter @writerstevens.

Plus, you can catch Mark on Monday, May 14 at the Koelbel Library in Littleton (an American Association of University Women event), at Barnes & Noble in Grand Junction on Wednesday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. (with the store’s mystery club), and on Thursday, May 17 at the “Art Hop” sponsored by Covered Treasurers Book Store in Monument from 5 to 8 p.m.  Mark will also be one of the featured authors on hand for “speed dating” at the RMFW event in Grand Junction on Saturday, June 9, 2012.

By Janet Fogg

Three Authors, Three Questions: February 2012

This month I’m pleased to welcome Minnesota mystery author Michael Allan Mallory, Colorado author of YA novels Amy Kathleen Ryan, and Colorado mystery author and President of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Mark Stevens to Three Authors, Three Questions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Michael Allan Mallory is the co-author, with Marilyn Victor, of two Five Star mysteries featuring zoologist Lavender “Snake” Jones. Death Roll, the first novel in the series, is now available as an e-book.

Michael works with assorted computer technologies for an architectural and engineering firm in Minneapolis. An avid animal lover, he has volunteered at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota. Killer Instinct, the newest hardcover release in this series, involves a dispute between northern Minnesota ranchers and the federally protected gray wolf.

To learn more about Michael and Marilyn and their books, visit the Snake Jones Zoo Mysteries website. Michael is on Facebook, but I don’t think we’ve lured him onto Twitter (at least, not yet).


1. Michael, how do you keep track of the traits and background information for your series protagonist and secondary characters?

For now it’s mainly from memory. I do remember a lot of details. And for things I don’t recall, electronic searches on the final manuscripts save the day. But I definitely see that as a mystery series progresses one would need to keep a notebook to have this information in one handy location.

2. How did you choose the setting(s) for your novels?

The Snake Jones novels feature wildlife, and the settings reflect that. Death Roll had to be set in Snake’s home turf, as she’s a zookeeper at the fictional Minnesota Valley Zoo. For Killer Instinct she was taken out of her comfort zone and sent to the North Woods of Minnesota. Why? This is where the wolves are. The story involves Minnesota’s large population of gray wolves. It was also a nice change from the enclosed habitats of a zoo to roam the wild expanse of Superior National Forest.

3. Where have you been most active on the Internet for promotion purposes in the past, and what will you do differently in the future?

I find the DorothyL forum the most useful as its members are writers and readers, reviewers, librarians, bloggers, booksellers and other fans of crime fiction. By discussing the works of other authors you also help promote yourself. With luck, your comments may pique the interest of some DLers to check out your books. The same goes for posting thoughtful remarks on author blogs: it gets your name out there. On the other hand, I find Facebook a mixed bag. It doesn’t necessarily generate many new readers, but it can help, and is a ‘must-do’. I have many author friends who are still trying to figure out if Facebook has any appreciable effect on book sales. But promotion is all about getting your name out there and making connections with people. What would I do differently? Nothing really. You can only do so much with your time and energy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Amy Kathleen Ryan is a full-time writer living in Colorado. She has studied anthropology and Spanish language, has a Masters in English literature, and an MFA in creative writing.

Glow, Amy’s most recent YA novel, is the first book in the sci fi Sky Chasers series from St. Martin’s Griffin. It was chosen by School Library Journal as one of the best books of 2011!

Amy’s website contains more information about her books. She posts articles and information at Amy’s blog and can also be found on Facebook.

1. Amy, how do you keep track of the traits and background information for your series protagonist and secondary characters?

I created a PowerPoint presentation with pictures of my characters that I chose from the Internet. The photo doesn't have to be exactly like the picture I have in my head of the person, it just needs to be the same type, to remind me. Then I write a brief description of that character in the PowerPoint presentation. When that character comes up as I'm writing, if I need a refresher about what they look like, or any biographical info, the presentation is a quick reference, right on my computer.

2. How did you choose the setting(s) for your novels?

I suppose I let the action dictate the setting. If I need a character to fall off a cliff, I create a cliff for him/ her to fall off. The setting is so integral to the story and characters that it grows as a natural consequence of the writing process.

3. Where have you been most active on the Internet for promotion purposes in the past, and what will you do differently in the future?

I have a website and a blog that I try to write for about once a week. I hired a designer for the website, and that has been where I've put most of my money for promotion. I think it's worth having something professionally done online, as it represents who you are as a writer. I also have a Facebook presence that I use to feed into my blog. A status update about a new blog post can generate up to 30 hits for me, maybe more. As far as what I'll do differently, I don't have plans to revamp my online approach right now. I'm busy enough with writing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Coloradoan Mark Stevens is the author of Antler Dust and Buried by the Roan, mysteries featuring Allison Coil, hunting guide. Both books are now available in print and as e-books.

Mark has been a journalist, producer of field documentaries, bartender, and now works in public relations while he writes mysteries set in Colorado. Buried by the Roan focuses on fracking (hydraulic fracturing), a controversial technique for extracting oil or natural gas from certain types of rock.

You can get to know Mark better on Facebook and on Twitter as @writerstevens He also reviews books on his blog, Don’t Need a Diagram.

1. Mark, how do you keep track of the traits and background information for your series protagonist and secondary characters?

Rely on editors? Hope for the best? I wish this was an area of strength. I’ve heard of others who use spreadsheets but I can’t imagine the discipline required. For now, I go back and check. And then I go back and check again. (And repeat.) All tips welcome. It’s not just characters and their traits for me. It’s the landscape details, too. Making sure I’m not repetitive but also accurate when I return to the same location. You don’t want houses or rivers or barns to move around on their own. Not good.

2. How did you choose the setting(s) for your novels?

The Flat Tops Wilderness in western Colorado chose me. I was on a horseback ride and watching the scenery was like drinking the best champagne you’ve ever sipped. I felt like I’d been beamed to another planet. I find the Flat Tops calming, serene. We were led by a stellar guide (who inspired the Allison Coil character). In my mind, this stunning and smart female guide and the Flat Tops were inextricably linked. I was sure I had the basis for a character. Well, two. The guide and the Flat Tops. Lucky me, two main characters. And a killer setting.

3. Where have you been most active on the Internet for promotion purposes in the past, and what will you do differently in the future?

I believe in social media. It’s the Times Square of the 21st Century and I believe every writer can decide how often he or she wants to step outside and on what basis. The quality and quantity of those connections and conversations are your choice. I participate on Facebook (a personal page and one for my main character, Allison Coil ), Twitter, LinkedIn, Goodreads. I also maintain a book review site. Here’s my take: if this doesn’t come naturally, don’t do it. If you enjoy going to conferences and bumping into random people and striking up a conversation, social media is one endless cocktail hour, but you don’t have to worry about what you’re wearing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mini-interviews were conducted and compiled by Pat Stoltey. Chiseled in Rock thanks Michael Allan Mallory, Amy Kathleen Ryan, and Mark Stevens for graciously agreeing to participate in the Three Authors, Three Questions series.