Word Count: Approximately 90k
Ease of Reading: Easy.
Estimated reading time: Five to seven hours.
Genre: NA (19-25) black comedy; political; fantasy;
contemporary; suspense; crime; society
contemporary; suspense; crime; society
Tagline: What would YOU do if you were the
most powerful single human being alive?
most powerful single human being alive?
Story:
Kevin Taylor's got problems.
His maintenance grant is being cut, the leader
of his protest group has designs on Rachel
(his far-too-pretty-for-him girlfriend),
DC are retconning their universe again and the
local bullies make a habit of standing on his specs.
of his protest group has designs on Rachel
(his far-too-pretty-for-him girlfriend),
DC are retconning their universe again and the
local bullies make a habit of standing on his specs.
To top it all, his beloved mum is sick and her long term
busybody "companion" is constantly in his face.
busybody "companion" is constantly in his face.
And all he really wants to do is play Doom.
Despatched to London along with his streetwise
best friend, Ricky, his orders are to pick up two
secret packages donated by a pan-national group
of hardcore Euro-revolutionaries. A massive
demonstration is planned and the group need
these to raise the stakes.
best friend, Ricky, his orders are to pick up two
secret packages donated by a pan-national group
of hardcore Euro-revolutionaries. A massive
demonstration is planned and the group need
these to raise the stakes.
When Verna -a mysterious and alluring Polish
freedom fighter - donates a mysterious third
package that no-one expects nor knows
anything about, Kevin Taylor quickly comes
to realise that his problems are only just beginning.
freedom fighter - donates a mysterious third
package that no-one expects nor knows
anything about, Kevin Taylor quickly comes
to realise that his problems are only just beginning.
And his life as he knows it, and the life of everyone
around him, is about to change forever.
around him, is about to change forever.
Other information: The story takes place over ten
days in the immediate aftermath of the British
public's decision to leave the European Union
and in the context of the consequently collapsing
economy.
days in the immediate aftermath of the British
public's decision to leave the European Union
and in the context of the consequently collapsing
economy.
Who may enjoy the book?: Young people,
young at heart, liberals, lefties,
anti-Trumpers, Remainers/Remainers
in need of therapy; fans of comedy,
black comedy and books with a
multi-character narrative. Fans of suspense
and thrills. Crime readers. Historians. People
from Nottingham.
young at heart, liberals, lefties,
anti-Trumpers, Remainers/Remainers
in need of therapy; fans of comedy,
black comedy and books with a
multi-character narrative. Fans of suspense
and thrills. Crime readers. Historians. People
from Nottingham.
Who may not? Read the Amazon preview.
Green Wizard is an exposition-free micro publisher.
*wink*
Green Wizard is an exposition-free micro publisher.
*wink*
Warning: Minor incidences of strong language.
Interview time!
How long have you been a writer?
I have run my publishing company Green Wizard
since 2012. I started writing fiction for publication
in 2009, with my book Hollywood Shakedown.
Tell us about yourself?
I live on the fringes of Sherwood Forest in
Great Britain, have one son and am fanatic
about reading, comics, football
(Notts County FC) and horse racing.
I have seven books out there
including my latest, Kevin And The Atomic Bomb.
Are the characters in your book important?
They are in all my books. My books are character
rather than plot led. I look around Indie and see
a massive focus on story, but I’m not necessarily
part of that movement. You can pluck characters
from Book A written by author B and transplant
them to Book Y written by author X and you would
achieve the same outcome.
Most people say my books are original and
innovative and they remember the characters.
I like that. I worked as a psychologist for years
as well as teaching psychology. That validates
things a bit.
Tell us about your latest book and its
characters, please.
In KATAB, two young men, part of a protest
group, travel to London to bring back items
for an upcoming demonstration, donated by
an international group of revolutionaries. A
third package is included and the boys –
reluctant revolutionaries at best – bring
it back anyway, despite reservations. Naturally,
when one of them discovers the contents of the
third package, they soon live to regret that decision.
My characters are mostly young and the story
transpires from the perspective of the young.
The book is aimed at 19-25 year olds and if I
don’t reach them without it, I’ll use paid
marketing to reach them. Never done that before,
but the marketplace is exceptionally
crowded at the moment. I might have to.
Why “Luke Rock”?
This new book, Kevin And The Atomic Bomb,
is a huge departure for me. I usually write
character pieces and contemporary fiction
(with the odd gangster tale thrown in), but this
is YA and New Adult. I want to attract the widest
possible audience so I gave myself a new name.
Please share some of the best memories
of your childhood.
It didn’t involve finding an atomic bomb in my mum’s
garage, Brenda :-D
Whoosh. What a relief! Thanks for that info.
Were you always a writer?
Actually, for the last fifteen years yes.
I write contracts and proposals to government
bodies to download project funding to address
problem areas, such as unemployment or, lately,
reluctant reading. I design manuals and project
guidance too. Fiction, however, is a recent thing.
I co-run a small social enterprise called Empleo
I co-run a small social enterprise called Empleo
which supports disadvantaged people in my city.
I also lecture, train and support a popular Creative
Writing project as well as trying to pay
my way through the British horse racing season.
What is your biggest source of inspiration in life?
My dad and brother (and my mum watching down
on me from her cloud). The books of Martin Amis,
great music, the sunsets in the morning, the sight
of racehorses pelting towards the finishing line
and my son, Matthew, without whom I wouldn’t
be doing what I am doing now.
What hurts you most in this world?
At the minute, Brexit. I am absolutely gutted,
Brenda. My country has just committed suicide.
Apart from that, I hate watching someone embarrass
themselves. I once attempted to break up
a wet tee shirt competition because a girl
was clearly distressed by the whole thing.
It caused some, um, bother, but it was worth it.
I can still remember how I felt.
I don’t like seeing stand-up comedians being heckled
either or people walking out of gigs. I think
Britain has embarrassed itself lately and I
am walking around with a bag over my head – even
more than normal, Brenda.
What a shame. You don't deserve that...
What is your favorite genre and why?
Contemporary fiction. I don’t do genre, which is
why I am still living in a pokey flat rather than dining
on freshly plucked truffles with my typing secretary
in our converted cathedral. I adore Money by
Martin Amis and just lately, have discovered
the work of Tom McCarthy - a book called Satin
Island is my favourite book of the year. I am also
heavily into comics and graphic novels.
What are your future plans?
Three more books coming in 2017, including
the sequel to Carla (a popular book of mine)
and the sequel to The Night Porter
(an award winner). The other is a surprise.
If they sell, I’ll carry on. If not, I’ll get a
job-type-job and leave all this behind in 2018.
Except for one book, which I promised an
old friend I would write back when I first started,
I’ll be done.
I’m not one of those obsessed writers who
get palpitations if they don’t write eight
thousand words a day, nor am I one of those
people who can withstand a lifetime of rejection
to achieve my goals. I can leave it behind and with
one actual best seller (the football novel,
Ultra Violence) and my proud association with you
and your Punk Rocker series, I have achieved
something with my life. I have also had a noted
writer once say that Carla is the proudest possession
on her bookshelf and that, Brenda, is something
not every writer can boast.
I’ll have no regrets. Je’ ne regrette bien.
Apart from not being able to afford
a converted cathedral to live in. And a
racehorse…and a…
What top four things do you consider
while writing a book?
Climax. Character. Prose depth. Ease of reading.
What is your dream destination on Earth?
Del Mar in August. Can I sleep in the shed
at the bottom of your garden?
Anytime Mark. My garden is your garden! :-)
Are you reading anything right now?
I’ve just re-read Punk Rocker. Erin’s story
is my favourite – she’s lovely that woman.
Also liked Jim’s stuff – my, he’s angry.
Proper punk. Am about to read Eden Baylee’s
latest thriller, if she gets round to sending it to
me as it isn’t available over here. I am also
re-reading Satin Island.
What is a good book for others to read that
you would convince others it is a MUST-READ?
Burnt Promises by Brenda Perlin. Makes
me p**s myself with laughter every time. I’m
surprised you didn’t have to go into a Witness
Protection Programme, Bren.
You sure know how to humor me! Thank you.
Between the two ex’s one never knows.
I might have to come across the pond near you one day.
My Review
Kevin And The Atomic Bomb by Luke Rock
rings eerily familiar considering what's
happened in Great Britain just recently
but this story is meant to be fantasy. Mostly,
I suspect.
This quirky, dramatic adventure pulls no punches,
is hard hitting, mysterious and irresistibly
entertaining. Hard to stop reading once
I opened the book as I had no idea where
I was being led but I became even more curious as
I got further into the story.
Kevin And The Atomic Bomb is both poignant and
disturbing. Yet, there's just enough
humor to lighten the mood. The author uses
his imagination to string us along from start to
finish. I enjoyed the unexpected turns and
found this to be a smart,cunning story with
an insightful spark.
The timing couldn't be better, as it cuts like a knife
but at the same time there is hope for
something better. A clever account of what if?!
Quote ~
"He realizes. As he looks at the laptop screen,
that no one talks about Hiroshima any more.
He is unaware of anything other than the merest
detail. In school, they didn't teach history like that,
not like they used to, they taught social history and
cross cultural history and the history of textiles
and the history of printing. They taught American
history (a lot) and European history (a bit)
and political history and geo-history and
the history of the feminist struggle, the
emancipation movement. They didn't teach
military history and they didn't teach what
the Americans did to Hiroshima."
Mark Barry is a multi-genre writer and novelist.
His work includes the minor cult hit Ultra Violence
about football hooligans at a small Midlands
football club and Carla, a quirky, dark,
acclaimed romance with shades of Wuthering Heights.
He is the co-designer of the innovative
Brilliant Books project aimed at engaging the
many, many reluctant readers amongst
young people.. He has one son, Matt, on the
brink of University, with whom he shares a
passion for Notts County Football Club.
Fast food, comics, music, reading, his friends
on the Independent scene, and horse racing
keep him interested and he detests the English
Premier League, selfish, narcissistic people and
bullies of all kinds.
He is based in Nottingham and Southwell in
the UK, the scene of most of his fiction.
Twitter @Greenwizard62
Blog: Buy links and FOUR free chapters
