Written Interview
Tell me about yourself. What do you like to do outside of writing? What is a day in your life like for you?
Despite winning over 150 awards internationally, my 25-year career in advertising was no longer fulfilling me creatively. So, I revisited to my childhood aspiration of writing, first as a screenwriter. Then I dusted off all the old files of unfinished novels (20 years’ worth) and rediscovered some rough gems in the making. I published my first novel in April 2024 and haven’t looked back since.
Outside of writing, I tap into many other creative pursuits: screenwriting, filmmaking, art, design, photography. I’ve even developed and prototyped a medieval fantasy dice game (from my novels). I’m also a father to a creative 11-year old daughter, so I spend a bit of time helping her pursue her own efforts (writing, street art, stop motion).
What inspired your first novel? What was the thing that got you into writing in the first place?
My first novel, DARK: And the Boy in the Hole, was inspired by my own ND struggle with estrangement – the feeling of never belonging anywhere. And as a lifelong fantasy fan, I wanted to flip the script on some of the popular series (Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Narnia, Miss Peregrine, Ranger’s Apprentice and even LOTR) by creating a darker anti-hero story to truly explore the concept of a character who doesn’t belong in a world that doesn’t want them.
I can now recognise that as I was growing up undiagnosed ND, writing was always a way to immerse myself into a world that I could belong to as a child, teen and then young adult.
How do you come up with characters? Are they spontaneous or meticulously planned?
My MC is a hyperbolic reflection of all my young angst and frustration and confusion at the world around me. The other primary characters are meticulously planned based on an id/ego needed by the MC for balance, each with backstories and character art to flesh them out before they become words on the page. The rest (the extras) are spontaneous walk-ins as the story unfolds and sometimes I’ll even be surprised when they first walk across the page.
What are some of your favorite genres to read? Are there any books you’d recommend to first time readers or people looking for something new?
Fantasy, then horror, some thriller and scifi.
The books that really sparked my reading adventure was an abridged version of Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, followed by Sherlock Holmes and the Hound of the Baskervilles. Then I discovered The Hobbit.
My all-time favourite fantasy novels that are too often overlooked include Alice in Wonderland (I own several vintage copies), The Neverending Story (the movie was only the first half of the book), Princess Bride (even better than my favourite movie), Sword in the Stone, Highlander, and the entire Discworld series (I own a first edition hardcover of ever book, with some signed by the great Sir Pratchett himself).
What’s the most difficult thing about being a writer?
Focus. I never get writer’s block because I plot out all my novels before I start writing, so there’s never a chance to get stuck. But maintaining focus on writing among so many other creative projects and a busy family life is the biggest bugbear. Followed by marketing to keep sales moving (and remember, I spent a career in marketing!).
What is your process for completing a novel from outline to final product?
Plot. Then plot again.
I start with some basic notes on my phone then turn those into a Word.doc of about a dozen plot points. I expand upon this list and then handwrite each one onto separate sticky notes that I stick up on a wall. They’re colour-coded against my preferred 5-act hero’s journey narrative structure, with markers for inciting incident, CTA, turning point, downfall, etc. This way I can move them around, add more, join others together, and remove some until the whole narrative has a flow that works and there are zero plot holes or blockades. These then get put back into a new Word.doc with each one becoming a sentence. Then keep building out from there so each sentence becomes a chapter.
I’m not a “just get it on the page” writer. I craft as I go (thanks to my ND), so my finished manuscript is equivalent to 2nd or 3rd edit. Then I do a digital read (edit 4), a printed read marking up in old-school pencil (edit 5), an audible read to my daughter (edit 6), then get a printed author’s copy to read an markup (edit 7). Then I have a finished product.
What’s the most unhinged thing you’ve written in your novel? Don’t worry, we don’t judge here.
The unexpected and heartbreaking death of a MC halfway through the book. Readers have cried. I like that because it means I’ve written a character they care about. And a villain they want to see dead.
What’s one thing about being a writer that absolutely drives you up the wall?
The disparity between the systems for traditional publishing vs indie publishing.
What does being a successful writer look like for you? What type of life do you want to live as a writer?
For me, success will be when I am solely earning income from my writing and no longer need to maintain the advertising career. I really look forward to travelling to book conventions and events around the world to meet the readers who immerse themselves so heartily in our stories. And because of my screenwriting background, my novels are written very visually, so the big picture dream is a motion picture deal.
Describe your writing journey. If you had to write a story centered around it, do you think you could pull it off?
My writing journey was slow with a massive hiatus in the middle. If I had to write a story centred around it, it would be a prequel followed by “Twenty-five years later…”
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About
M.A.Batten is a neuro-diverse writer of fantasy, science fiction, and dark fiction.
After winning over 150 creative awards during a hugely successful 25-year career in advertising, M.A.Batten returned to his childhood dream of telling stories but without brands or their ridiculous reasons to buy.
His stories have since won four First Places at NYC Midnight, a Finalist at Page International Awards, a Quarter-Finalist at Unique Voices International, and he is the only author in the world to have two Shortlists for the Hammond House International Literary Prize, and his screenplays have won awards and official selections at film festivals around the world under the moniker Mr Chicken whose work has garnered interest from Rupert Grint (Harry Potter series), Kunal Nayar (Big Bang Theory), Greg Davies (Taskmaster), and Nitin Sawney (Mowgli).
As a self-confessed nerd, he delves deep into extensive research, from historical folklore to quantum mechanics, from the chemistry of gunpowder to the birth of blackholes, all in the pursuit of better storytelling. For those with a similar bent for curious discovery, his stories are also peppered with innocuous easter eggs, hidden etymologies, codified numbers, and inconspicuous crossover references.
As M.A.Batten writes, a hedgehog sits on his desk. Its name is Camden.
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Author Website:www.mabatten.com
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