Mark Lawrence's Journey to Publication: A Q&A Session
Mark Lawrence, the award-winning author of the Broken Empire trilogy, has captured the hearts of readers worldwide with his captivating fantasy novels. Born in the United States and currently residing in the UK, Lawrence's success story is a testament to perseverance and the power of self-publishing.
Lawrence's debut novel, "Prince of Thorns," was initially self-published before it was picked up by Harper Voyager. His path to publication was paved through online platforms and word of mouth, a strategy that has become common for debut fantasy authors who build a readership independently before venturing into traditional publishing.
Despite the varying success of his books across different countries, Lawrence remains a household name in many parts of the world. His work has been translated into over 20 languages, with the quality of the translation and the state of the fantasy market in each country being potential factors influencing the books' reception. However, Lawrence himself admits that he does not fully understand the reasons behind the variation in his books' success.
Lawrence's books can be found on various platforms, including Amazon, and have garnered numerous accolades. He won the David Gemmell Legend Award in 2014, was on the Barnes & Nobles Best Fantasy List for two years, and was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Award three separate years.
The success of his books has not come easily. Prior to finding his publisher, Lawrence had written to four agents, with the 4th contacting him and signing him up. He encountered little rejection from book publishers, but had received many rejections when sending stories to magazines a few years earlier.
Lawrence's approach to writing is as unique as his stories. He comes up with his plot and story ideas by just starting to type and seeing where it leads. He does not read or avoid certain books or genres that might influence his writing. His advice to aspiring authors is to focus on enjoying their writing, and their success will be there.
In terms of publishing, Lawrence notes that the books do better where the publishers opt to keep the original title. He found his publisher after his agent took his manuscript to various publishers.
As of now, Lawrence has just finished the third and final book in his second trilogy (The Red Queen's War). The books have done well in France, Hungary, Poland, and Brazil, but have not fared as well in Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.
In an interview today, the focus was on how Lawrence became published. With his unique approach to writing, his perseverance, and his knack for creating captivating stories, it's clear that Lawrence's journey to success is one that will continue to inspire aspiring authors for years to come.
Mark Lawrence's captivating fantasy books continue to inspire readers worldwide, offering a unique form of entertainment through storytelling. Despite the varied success across different countries, his works have amassed numerous accolades, with readers discovering his books through various digital platforms.
