Links to my books are above.
Author Interview with
Cully Mack
Author of The Voice That Thunders Series
Please tell
me a little about your current work in progress.
I’m over halfway through writing my Voice That Thunders Series and currently I’m writing book five. The series features siblings, Mirah and Gabe, who become central characters along with a band of rebels fighting against immortals conquering their realm. Think epic battles with Immortals and beasts of all kinds, throw in elemental magic, huge plot twists, portals and unique worlds, and an ever-growing number of characters trying to save their world. If you love character-driven fantasy, you'll love my books. I warn you now; I don't go easy on them.
Where did
you get the idea for this book or series?
I have a fascination for mythology. The older
the better. My
primary sources are from myths from Mesopotamia. Most people have never heard
of them. This is because, until around 150 years ago, the cuneiform tablets
detailing their accounts was undecipherable. Mesopotamia is otherwise known as
the birthplace of civilisation and its historical setting is in the ancient
near east. Differing cultures lived in proximity, so there is a blending of
myths and traditions. I mainly draw from the Sumerians, the Akkadians, the
Semites and the Babylonians.
YA readers may have heard the term Nephilim from Cassandra
Clare’s series or watching Supernatural among other popular sources. Most
modern Nephilim depictions are drawn from Semite sources such as the Book of
Enoch, where they are portrayed in an urban setting and regarded as
fallen angel/human hybrids. As interesting as this is, the Semite account is
only one version of the mythos.
Mesopotamian texts differ on many topics. For example, creation epics, deity names and culture heroes. But they agree on one thing… the gods came, slept with human women, and created giant hybrid offspring. Yes, those Titans, gods and beastly monsters from Greek, Roman and biblical myths were known to older civilizations! Some saw these gods in a positive light, others as negative. It makes for great conflict. I wanted to create a work more aligned with the earliest accounts of this mythos.
Do you
write in more than one genre?
I write high/epic fantasy, myth, legend and fairy tale retellings, and speculative fiction. I also short film scripts and creative nonfiction.
Tell me
about something that you believe makes your writing unique or worthy of
attention.
I’m not afraid to write what the story needs. In places,
it’s dark (but not grimdark). People die! The battles are intense, blending
weapons, magic and intelligence. No one is safe! I’ve got messages from fans to
prove it. I always tell them the same, trust me, keep reading. The monsters are unique. Ever heard of Dactyrs or
Dagani? The cast is huge, with two or three plot arcs often running parallel,
and narrated from multiple pov’s. I’m a discovery writer, so the edge of your
seat plot twists in unexpected ways. You’ll find romance and broken hearts
(sorry). Even so, romance isn’t the main plot. I’ve been told many times that
my writing is very visual and how reading my books is like watching a movie.
I’ll let you be the judge of that…
Is there
anything about your personal history or personality that manifests strongly in
your writing?
For many years, I worked with people who were the most broken, those experiencing homelessness, isolation, trauma, and addictions. My characters tend to go down similar paths, and even though their journey darkens, in one form or another, it becomes a redemptive arc, finding themselves, who they truly are, kind of thing. I’m an advocate for nothing and no one can break me unless I give them the power to do it. So, yes, I test my characters to the point of shattering, and watch them rise from their brokenness into who they were meant to be.
What else
would be helpful for readers to know about you?
I’m on most social media
Links:
Amazon author link: https://www.amazon.com/Cully-Mack/e/B07QBLXZLT
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19033629.Cully_Mack
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CullyMack
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CullyMack
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cullymackauthor/
Excluding
your own work, what underrated author or book would you recommend that more
people read? Why?
Shawn Dressler’s A Tale of Cloak and Shadows. This was a new author for me. The prose is poetic, and the world is painted with vivid imagery. The way Galindel switches back and forth from the present to his memories is enchanting and intriguing. It’s not technically a novel, more of a prequel to the Kingdoms of Core series. Everything about it feels so alive and made for intense reading. The world building, characterization and dialogue were all spot on. An author to try out for sure.
Which of
your books do you most highly recommend? Why?
I’d recommend book three, A
Fire That Whispers. But to get there, you’d need to read the first two
books in my series. Why book three? My writing is stronger. What I loved most
about writing this book, is how the two main characters are trying to
discover the truth but are unable to discuss and compare their findings. Nothing
is as it seems. I drop hints and foreshadow the plot. There are some huge plot
twists! Other characters who know the truth are possibly lying. Even I didn’t
know how it was going to play out until the latter part of the book. The reader
learns the truth as the characters do, because that’s how it was revealed to
me. This is the beauty of discovery writing.
Which
break, event, decision, or fortuitous circumstance has helped you or your
writing career the most?
I had the opportunity to return to university to study English Literature and Creative Writing. As a mature student, I had a blast. I stayed on and completed my Master’s in Creative Writing.
What
question do you wish you would get asked more often?
How can I join your mailing list? The best way to do this is to sign up for Sojin. A free prequel featuring Ammo and Sojin, two side characters in the Voice that Thunders series. It can be read at any point in the series. https://BookHip.com/QVLCRL
Do you have
a catch-phrase or quote that you like? What is it? And why do you choose it?
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Metaphysics
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