Meet Mark Anthony Smith Horror Filmmaker and Author of ‘Keep It Inside and Other Weird Tales’

Hi there. I’m Mark Anthony Smith. I write Horror mostly. I have written poetry and mainstream fiction. But Horror allows me to reflect on – and escape from – the state of the world. I’ve recently moved into Horror Film Production too.

indieactivity: Tell us about your books currently on the shelves?
Mark Anthony Smith (MAS): My latest books are ‘Keep It Inside and Other Weird Tales’ (Red Cape Publishing) and ‘Brood’ (Demain Publishing). They’re a sharp departure from my two previous poetry/prose titles.

What was an early experience where you learned that language had power?
Mark Anthony Smith (MAS): I studied a Degree with The Open University. The Social Policy module really ‘brought it home’ with ‘Words make things happen.’ And they do – they really do.

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
MAS: I research during my writing. I don’t like to get too bogged down. My books happen organically. I only have the rudiments of the book when I start out. The characters help me shape the book. They’re quick to tell me (gut instinct) if their actions are incongruent.

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Book Review (Keep It Inside & Other Weird Tales): Mark Anthony Smith’s narrative pulses with intensity and suspense in which the characterization mirrors the unsettled and bizarre part of the human psyche. In the title story Keep It Inside, the concept of reverse childbirth is beyond my imagination, making it a disturbing but interesting read at the same time. Read 5-Star Reader’s Favorite Review.

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When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? How long were you a part-time writer before you became a full-time one? Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
MAS: I love reviews. That’s how I get feedback from readers. I think reading Ian McEwan’s ‘Black dogs’ really cemented the idea of writing. I still write part-time

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process? What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
MAS: I’m an uneven writer. I don’t write every day. But when I do write, it consumes every waking hour. I need a break between books. The most difficult, but rewarding, aspect is unpacking ideas that seem unwieldy and slowly building them with words.

Talk to us about your business, how it began, and why? Plus what is its future?
MAS: I’d love to see some of my stories on the screen. I love Ash Mountain films. Richard Rowntree is a fantastic film director. I’m working on a very dark Novella, for Red Cape Publishing, at the moment.

Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book? What are you trying to achieve with these bodies of work?
MAS: Both! I like the idea of a very loose Lovecraftian type Mythos but I also like the freedom to wander…

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What does literary success look like to you? Do you believe in writer’s block? What does a script Doctor do?
MAS: Success is getting read – one word/one reader at a time. I don’t believe in Writer’s block. If my head is empty, I binge read – anything and everything. A script doctor doctor scripts, I think – pass on that question.

Do you still write for TV, Film, and Cinema? Do you mentor writers? What advantages do your books give the independent filmmaker? Why should they buy them? Use them? or reference them?
MAS: My books are the best they can be. I don’t write for the screen. But Dean M. Drinkel and Richard Rowntree do.

 Indie filmmaking is a model of zero or small budget. How do you get a film to the audience with such a budget?
MAS: Ask Richard Rowntree and Dean M. Drinkel. I just try to contribute a few pennies and sit back.

How do you think filmmakers can finance their projects?
MAS: Crowdfunding. Winning the lottery. A rich Uncle. A wing or a prayer.

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