Featured Interview With Mac Fletcher
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born and still live in South Staffs and have been writing for many years, my chosen genre from the outset being thrillers… for no reason other than I have always loved reading them.
I extended my field in a different direction some years ago with two black comedies, which are available on Kindle and as Amazon paperbacks. I have also – purely from choice – expanded my direction even further with my two latest offerings in that they’re illustrated children's books. Although I’ve done my own cover designs since I began writing I have never, until recently, included them in novels. Whether my target range – from primary-school to residential home – will find a market is anyone's guess, but I'm enjoying them immensely which makes it worthwhile for me.
I have a lot of interests, though one of my greatest passions is the narrowboat Jean (my wife) and I bought as a sail-away (in shell and engine form) and fitted out. Moving at walking speed on a mode of transport introduced in the seventeen-hundreds is my idea of heaven. Might also give you some indication of how much of a go-getter I am.
Along with my passion for my garden and boat, most of my hobbies are in some way creative: painting, computer graphics, photography … and of course writing… all sedentary enough to pursue while we're out on the boat. Too old for most active sports (and never brilliant either) I try to keep fit by swimming regularly – at least five times weekly during pre-covid days – and walking.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I loved telling stories from an early age (mainly tall ones) so not much has changed really. I just hope I'm a little more convincing these days. Writing developed from there – at six I realised that less nerve is needed to tell stories on paper than in public, and if they're rubbish no-one need know. Yes, I've written some rubbish and no doubt there are people who will bear testament to that!
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I grew up with and loved most of the old classics' authors, not least being Charlotte Bronte and Mr Dickens of course, along with Thomas Hardy and many others.
I read a wide range of modern authors, my particular favourite being Robbert Goddard – a writer's writer in my book. I also enjoy a lot of eBooks and feel that Kindle offerings etc are something of a mixed blessing: they've allowed many writers to publish who would never have had a chance otherwise, and while I know that a lot of stuff has surfaced which isn't everyone's cup of tea, I don't consider that I'm in a position to judge: I was told many times that there is no good or bad beer, just some you like and some you don't. I feel that books fall into a similar category.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Including the children's books, 'Beyond The Lock and Beyond Another Lock, I've written 8 full-length books to date – 5 of which are on Kindle and paperback and one, The Circle Now Is Made will hopefully be available in print in the future. I have also – purely from choice – expanded my direction even further with my two latest offerings in that they’re illustrated children's books. Although I’ve done my own cover designs since I began writing I have never, until recently, included illustrations in novels. Whether my target range – from primary-school to residential home – will find a market is anyone's guess, but I'm enjoying them immensely which makes it worthwhile for me.