Mark’s Blog

MF: Can you tell us about the process you go through to convert a story that has been presented as a script into a story expressed through image?

GC: Obviously I am a very visual person. When I’m writing or constructing a scene, it’s very easy for me to conjure it in my mind’s eye. It’s the same with a script. I do like the author to be as descriptive as possible though because what they see in their imagination is not always the same as how I see it. Usually when I’m constructing a page I work out what the most important panel or scene is first (eg. An action scene) and build the other panels around it. If I have a particular strength in my drawing, it would be with drawing figures and faces. Faces are just as important in a graphic story as they are in a piece of prose so I always strive to make my characters real.

MF: Your drawing style has changed between the first Allure of the Ancient comic published in ME5 and the current instalment starting in ME7. What instigated the change?

The Key to His Kingdom page 1

GC: Writers grow and evolve the more they write and I think the same can also be said for artists. But if I was to really analyse it, I think the style change has come about from my work on Witch-Hunts. I’d only really just finished illustrating Witch Hunts when I made a start on Allure and I guess I carried the style over somewhat. This Allure chapter also seemed to be a lot darker than the previous story and I really wanted to capture that darkness. The first Allure opportunity sort of came out of the blue and I was excited and eager so I probably didn’t put as much detail in that chapter as I have done in The Key to His Kingdom.

MF: Who are your favourite  comic artists and what do you like about their art?

GC: My favourite artists are some of the old school artists, like Brian Bolland, Bill Sienkiewicz, Frank Miller, John J Muth, Mike Mignola, Dave McKean and Bernie Wrightson. Bolland’s line work and subtle attention to detail is sublime. Miller is brilliant with black and white, shape and form and negative space and Wrightson, well, he is the king in the horror comic world and I always try and mimic his engraving style.

MF: Greg, can you tell us about Witch Hunts, your project with Rocky Wood and Lisa Morton?

GC: Witch-Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times is a fictional account of the history of the witchcraft persecutions that plagued Europe and the Americas for hundreds of years. The 185 page graphic novel looks at, amongst other things, the origins of the craze; how the Malleus Maleficarium was created and was used as a sort of torture guide book; how the Church endorsed Inquisitions and; how people of the time used the craze for their own personal gain. Rocky and Lisa’s script also includes dozens of accounts of trials from the Dark Ages right up to the late 1700s. The graphic novel will be published by McFarland Publishers in the US Spring/Summer of this year.

From Witches: “Strange Collaborators” by Greg Chapman

MF: How many hours would you have spent preparing the illustrations for the book?

GC: Many long hours, but it was a labour of love. At first, Rocky and I had to put a proposal together, which included the first 7 pages of the book. I did those pages in October/November 2010, but it wasn’t until February 2011 that McFarland gave us the go ahead and I had until November of that year to complete all the illustrations. It was a very challenging experience, but I became engrossed in the script and the book’s ultimate purpose. In my view, the graphic novel is equal parts fiction and non-fiction, because we’re retelling events that actually happened or are recorded in the annals of history. The second half of last year was very intense, with many week nights and lunch breaks and weekends where I would be drawing. Rocky and Lisa outlined every page and only a few of the rough pages I did had to be adjusted, so all in all it was a wonderful experience and I feel very grateful and honoured to have this opportunity and to have worked with two of the most respected people in the horror community.

MF: How can readers purchase it?

GC: It’s not published yet, but you can pre-order it through the McFarland site here.

I believe it will also be available online through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and on the shelves in libraries and bookshops as well.

MF: How do you balance your own writing time with your illustrating assignments?

GC: Well with Witch-Hunts I had to put all my writing projects aside for about 12 months. Thankfully two novellas I’d written 1-2 years before were published during that time so I didn’t really need to work on anything new. It was hard not to write though, because it’s probably more of an addiction for me than drawing. If I have an urge to draw something I usually try and do something on the weekend, when I’m not working. It is a real balancing act, but I’m making a conscious effort to get back into writing this year, particularly in the area of short stories.

MF: Who are your favourite authors, and what is it about their writing that appeals to you?GC: Clive Barker is my all-time favourite. His use of language and willingness to expose the raw meatiness of horror is very inspirational. The fact that he is also artist makes his work even more appealing. Edgar Allan Poe’s works introduced me to the use of dread in horror fiction and I still enjoy indulging in The Pit and the Pendulum or The Masque of Red Death every now and again. Other favourites include Graham Masterton, Brett McBean and Stephen M Irwin. I like King too, but mostly his earlier novels.

From Witches: “Savours of heresy ” by Greg Chapman

MF: Allure is a two year commitment, what other projects do you have in the pipeline?

GC: Nothing pressing in the way of art at the moment (I’m hoping that changes with the publication of Witch-Hunts), but as I said I’d like to get back into writing. I have a new novella called “Vaudeville” coming from Dark Prints Press in July and I’m halfway through a novel. I also have Halloween-themed novella that’s begging me to be completed.

GC: I have a full time job as a media and communications officer for the Education Department. I have two daughters who are heavily involved with dancing so there’s a bit of running around there, but the rest of the time I devote myself to writing and drawing. I probably watch a bit too much TV and movies though.

You can find me on all the usual places: Facebook and Twitter and I have a blog at www.darkscrybe.blogspot.com .

Artist Greg Chapman has done a spectacular job illustrating the new episode of Allure of the Ancients, The Key to His Kingdom.  Greg’s images give the new comic a fresh feel and darker atmosphere, and his images beautifully express the new story direction I have taken with the series. The first instalment will appear in Midnight Echo 7, which will be released on May 31.

To get a sneak peak of the new comic just pop over to Greg’s blog (http://darkscrybe.blogspot.com.au), where he recently interviewed me about my ideas for the new story direction and my writing in general. It’s worth the extra click, I think.

The TOC for Midnight Echo issue seven was announced yesterday.

The issue will feature the first installment of The Keys to His Kingdom, the new Allure of the Ancients comic, which I have been working on with artist Greg Chapman. I am really pleased with the story concept, Greg’s art and their interaction.

Episode one of The Keys to His Kingdom outlines the hidden history of vampire-human relations and a theory behind the vampire’s aversion to Christian symbols. I try and explain how that aversion may be secretly effecting humanity today, perhaps the pain that results from the vampire’s aversion to Christian symbols torments humanity as much as it does the vampire. The world is, after all, a complicated place. Writing this four part series challenged me to think about traditional ideas and values in a different way. It was a real buzz. I have written all four installments; seeing them come to life through images over the next two years is something I am looking forward to.

…perhaps the pain that results from the vampire’s aversion to Christian symbols torments humanity as much as it does the vampire.

Keep an eye on Screaming Ink, Greg Chapman’s blog (http://www.darkscrybe.blogspot.com/) and the Midnight Echo website for additonal information about The Keys To His Kingdom over the coming weeks and months.

I can’t wait to wrap my hands around issue seven of Midnight Echo, there is bound to be excellent stories in it, including an original by horror legend Graham Masterton. Not long to wait until Midnight Echo issue seven will be released on May 31. Pre orders are being taken here.

The full TOC is below.

Editor: Daniel Russell

Cover art by Joshua Hoffine

Fiction

Commode by Shaun Hamilton

Driven by Anthony Ferguson

Saturday Night at the Milk Bar by Gary Kemble

Symmetry Fades by Rick McQuiston

The Hunting Room by Kia Groom

Brand New Day by G. N. Braun

Dead Inertia by Sean Rodgers

Just Some Good Old Boys Sitting Around the Fire Talking Shit by A.J Brown

Parlour Party by Michael Penkas

The Case of the Kissing Corpse by Jack Skelter

My First Horror Show by Ed Higgins

I Like to Share by Ron Jon

Ghosts of You by Lee Battersby

See Jane Mesmerised! by Tom McLaughlin

The Final Degustation of Doctor Ernest Blenheim by Andrew J. McKiernan

What the Dark Does by Graham Masterton

Comic

Allure of the Ancients – The Key to His Kingdom by Mark Farrugia and Greg Chapman

Poetry

Cat by Michelle Scalise

Pain and Pin Me Sweetly, My Love by Kurt Newton

Pleasure Me by Bec Mirr

Interviews

Graham Masterton

Joe R. Lansdale

Joshua Hoffine

Art

Greg Hughes

Jason Paulos

Joshua Hoffine

Plus a special tribute to Paul Haines.

My short story SEEDS recently received kinds words from the folks over at scaryminds.com.

A review is just an opinion, everybody’s got one. None of us should get too excited about them. Having said that, I’ve got to admit it’s great to have nice things said about SEEDS  because it isn’t a nice story. It’s a story I expected might get the raw end of reviews. Anyway, here’s how Scary Minds called it:

“Rounding out the Issue we get a particularly fine dystopian tale from Mark Farrugia, Seeds, that certainly isn’t for the faint hearted. This is the sort of nightmarish outing that would send bogans screaming into the night, assuming they could read, and which will resonant with other readers well after being exposed to its prosaic charms. I would imagine Farrugia would not be welcome at meetings of the Sisterhood, but is likely to find a lot of new fans being converted to his writing via this piece.”

Kind words, indeed.

If you’d like to read the entire review of Midnight Echo 6, edited by David Conyers, Jason Fischer and David Kernot, click here .

If you haven’t read SEEDS and would like to, Midnight Echo 6 can be purchased (very cheaply) here or if you are a member of the AHWA you can download it as part of your  membership (you’ll need to log-on through the AHWA website).

I am lucky enough to be editing an edition of Midnight Echo with fellow ink-screamers Amanda Spedding and Marty Young. Submissions opened recently and I started to think about what I liked about short fiction and what type of stories I’d like to publish.

I realised I liked short stories that are intense and disorientating. Stories that take me places I don’t expect to go, sometimes places I don’t want to go. I ended up thinking way too much about this. Way too much. I ended up with a list of the short fiction that I like, it’s below.

This is the fiction that has stayed with me after long after I’ve finished the stories. This list is not meant to be my version of the best short fiction ever written, honestly, I’m not that well-read, but these are the short stories and novellas that effected, or entertained, me the most of the ones I have read. While keeping in mind that I’m working on this project with Amanda and Marty, the list is also an example of the type of fiction I’d like to publish in Midnight Echo 8.

1. Wives by Paul Haines
This story made me feel so uncomfortable, but I couldn’t put it down.
2. On the Far Side of the Cadillac Desert with the Dead Folks by Joe R Lansdale
The best series of opening paragraphs I think I’ll ever read, and it’s all up from there!
3. The Jeweller of Second Hand Roe by Anna Tambour
Beautiful language and an unusual look at poverty, history and food!
4. Tight Little Stiches in a Dead Man’s Back by Joe R Lansdale
Guilt, retribution and a very human side of the apocalypse
5. Father Father by Paul Haines
The horror is not it the story itself but in what will follow.
6. Manifesto in Onyx by Harlan Ellison
Twists work when you don’t see them coming.
7. Mr Clubb and Mr Cluff by Peter Straub
Horror is great when it is funny too!
8. For the want of a jesusman by Jason Fischer
Fantasy and reality collide to create a very interesting post apocalyptic version of Australia.
9. Undead Camels Ate My Flesh by Jason Fischer
I guess the title speaks for itself.
10. The Devil in Mr Pussy by Paul Haines
A disorientating and enjoyable read.
11. Painlessness by Kirstyn McDermott
A though provoking view of domestic violence
12. Pop Art by Joe Hill
When you’re inflatable death is one puncture away
13. Pater Familias By Lee Battersby
Short, engaging and thought provoking.
14. Smoking, Waiting For the Dawn by Jason Nahrung
A vampire love story in the Outback
15. The Persistence of Vision by John Varley
Classic SF.
16. The Claws of Native Ghosts By Lee Battersby
Australian indigenous were-things.
17. The last thing said before silence by Peter M Ball
Sssshhhh!
18. Haeckel’s Tale Clive Barker
A classic portrayal of the author passing on a tale. As you’d expect, gruesome.
19. We Can Remember It for You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick
Paranoia at its best!
20. Hell Bound Heart by Clive Barker
A feast of pleasure… and of course, pain.
21. The Way of the Cross and Dragon by George R R Martin
22. Out Hunting for Teeth by Joanne Anderton
23. Minority Report by Philip K. Dick
24. Twisted by Kevin Veale
25. The Laughing Girl of Bora Fangorn: A Tale of Colonial Venus by John Dixon and Adam Browne
26. The Hundredth Name by Christopher Green
27. After The Jump by Felicity Dowker
28. Lakeside by Christopher Green
29. The Truth About Pug Roberts by Kirstyn McDermott
30. Dead Air by Gary Kemble
31. Emancipation Dance – Felicity Dowker
32. The Red Priest’s Vigil by Dirk Flinthart
33. The School Bus by Jason Fischer
34. In the Service of the Flesh by Robert Hood
35. A Slice of Life by Paul Haines
36. Busking by Jason Fischer
37. Pain Threshold By Jason Nahrung
38. Hamlyn by Paul Haines
39. Buba Ho-tep by Joe R Lansdale
40. To Serve Man by Damon Knight
41. This not my story by Dirk Flinthart
42. The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street by Rod Serling
43. In the Boo by Stephen Studach
44. A Tale of Interferers: a hunger for forbidden flesh by Paul Haines
45. As We Know It by Lyn Battersby
46. Beware! The Pincushionman by Robert Hood
47. The Message by Andrew McKiernan
48. In Tangled Roots Where Hearts Entwine by Kurt Newton
49. High Tide at Hot Water Beach by Paul Haines
50. Brave Face Pete Kempshall
If anyone out there is interested in reading compilations that the editorial team of Midnight Echo 8 have edited previously, Macabre: A Journey Through Australia’s Darkest Fears edited by Angela Challis and Marty Young can be purchased here, and Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine issue 46 edited by Mark Farrugia can be purchased here.

I was recently interviewed by Midnight Echo about my story SEEDS, which appeared in issue 6 of the magazine. Editors David Conyers, Jason Fischer and David Kernot have put together a diverse collection of SF-horror stories, it’s a great edition and I’m very proud to be included on the TOC.

If you’d like to read the interview, here’s the link: midnightechomagazine.com/

After the interview a story sampler is also published. If you’d like to read the rest of the story, you can purchase Midnight Echo (available in epub, mobi, PDF and print formats) here: midnightechomagazine.com/products-page/midnight_echo/midnight-echo-issue-6/

I found a few moments this afternoon to have a reflective glance along the bookshelf and I ended up thinking about the things I read over the last year (ignoring the rather large section of unread books also occupying the shelf). Now that we’ve well and truly said good-bye to 2011, it seemed an opportune moment to try and pick my best reads of last year. The list below includes comics, novels, anthologies and a novella.  Not all were published during 2011, but 2011 is the year I read ’em.

Here is the list.

1. Walking Dead compendium Vol 1 – Robert Kirkman

The human emotion and reaction to the zombie apocalypse. Couldn’t put it down.

2. Locke and Key Vols 1-4 (ongoing Series)-  Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez

An old mansion and a hidden set of ancient  keys. Exciting new take on an old fantasy formula.

3. The Filth – Grant Morrison and Chris Weston

Phillip K Dick meets Chuck Palahniuk

4. Song of Ice and Fire Vol , 1 A Game of Thrones,  and Vol 2, A Clash of Kings – George RR Martin

The best and most intriguing fantasy series since Lord of The Rings.

5. The Best of Best New Horror- edited Stephen Jones. An edition featuring one story from each of the first twenty years of the popular anthology series.  My favourites were: Manifesto in Onyx by Harlson Ellison, Mr Clubb and Mr Cluff by Peter Straub and Haeckel’s Tale by Clive Barker.

6. The Dark Tower : Vols 4-7 – Robin Furth, Peter David and Richard Isanove

Graphic series that builds on Stephen  King’s Dark Tower mythos and expands on events mentioned in the novels.

7. The Hellbound  Heart – Clive Barker

Should’ve read it years ago (and I’ve got to read  Books of Blood vols 1-6 this year, too!)

8. The Stand Vols 1-5 – Aguirre-Sacasa, Perkins, Martin

A graphic representation of Stephen King’s classic novel.

9. The City and The City – China Mieville

Urban paranoia, parallel worlds and a murder. Doesn’t get much better.

10. The Last Days of Kali Yuga – Paul Haines

Unique dark urban fantasy and horror mixed with black comedy. It was very hard to put down.