Interview with Steven Paul Mark Reader Views welcomes Steven Paul Mark, author of the mystery/thriller novel, “Drift.” Steven is being interviewed by Juanita Watson, Assistant Editor of Reader Views. Juanita: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today Steven. We are intrigued with your new mystery/thriller novel, “Drift.” Would you start by telling us what your book is about?
Imagine you just get fired from your job. You find a discarded memo that seems to state someone else is getting sacked. You note the oil company address, give them a call and get an immediate interview. Fortune shines until you mention the fired employee as your lead. Then things seem to go a badly. When you get home, a gun’s pointed at your head because you mentioned a fellow named ‘Bran’ at your interview. That’s what happens to Max LaFollette, ex-Marine and unemployed marketing executive and the principal character of DRIFT on a beastly hot October day. Two thugs from Imperium Solutions, the oil company, are waiting for Max: they want to know how he knows Bran. When the NYPD arrive to check on a disturbance the night before, the gangsters leave Max to be the prime suspect in the murder of his wife who’s found in the bedroom. Caught between the detectives who suspect him and an oil company that wants him dead, Max flees for his life and manages to escape into the subway tunnels under Manhattan. He’s taken in by an underground community who listens to his story and agrees to help him. They’re led by Bran. Three thousand miles away, increased seismic activity and peculiar ocean currents have caught the attention of an attractive Caltech seismologist. On a trip to New York, during an inspection of a water tunnel, she’s trapped underground when a minor earthquake rattles the City. Max and his new friends save her but then they disappear into the darkness. As Bran tells his incredible story to Max, they hatch a plan to undo Imperium’s plan to alter the planet’s land masses by controlling continental drift. The ensuing action is the story of how this rag tag band of homeless men, together with the Caltech scientist, are able to battle an international oil company to a very dramatic climax. Juanita: Steven, this is your first novel. What inspired you to write your first book, and this particular story? Steven: I’ve been interested in natural history since I was a kid and part of that includes geology and the movement of the Earth over millions of years. About fifteen years ago I started thinking about what could happen if someone was able to control the process of moving tectonic plates. Those are the land masses that kind of float on a gooey mantle. It would cause all kinds of dramatic changes: climate alteration, melting ice caps, rising and lowering sea levels, earthquakes and subsequent tsunamis, abnormal hurricane cycles, droughts, floods, mudslides...hmm, I think I read about all those last week. Juanita: Would you tell us a little more about your lead character, Max LaFollette, and how did you come up with him in the writing process? Steven: I love Max as a character. He has a certain nobility about him. Here’s a regular guy, a young veteran, married, living in the Big Apple and working as a marketing executive in a start-up. Then a piece of paper lands on his shoulder. It could have been a safe for all the chaos it ultimately will cause. With his wife dead and his life in mortal danger, the reader learns just how tough Max is. Courage and determination in the face of adversity define one’s character and that’s Max. I wanted to develop a character that loses everything, is tested over and over but will simply not give up. He’s got a great sense of humor, too. He’s the kind of person I admire and would want as my friend. Juanita: Who are the other pertinent characters, and how do they factor in to the plot? Steven: I needed a scientist to explain what’s going on and invent the solution that will deal with the planetary turbulence. Of course, a romance was also required so Dr. Rebecca Hausman (“Becky”) was born. The other main hero is Bran, who indirectly sets off the action by becoming Max’s “job lead.” Bran is the step son of the last main character, John Westerhaus. Westerhaus is about as evil as they come though you’d never know it just looking at his pin-stripe suit. He’s the CEO of Imperium Solutions. There are several other characters that are a bit less important but nevertheless have great roles if they make a movie based on the novel. Juanita: Would you comment on the subterranean community that dwells beneath New York City? What/who do they represent and would you compare these underbelly vigilantes to real-life eco-warriors/environmentalists? Steven: I can’t really compare them to contemporary eco-warriors though they’re drawn into the fray by Bran, who leads them. Motivations differ but their goals are the same. They make up an assortment of characters whose names relate to what their primary underground responsibility is. Mata Hari is their above-ground intelligence person; the General is head of security; Lewis and Clark explore new underground encampments; Einstein is their computer guy. They’re all underground because they’re homeless for various reasons. Those of us who are more fortunate aren’t so far away from them. In the space of a bit more than a week, Max goes from a relatively happy, employed New Yorker to a penniless, underground homeless man. There but for the Grace of God.... Juanita: Let’s talk about the villains in “Drift.” Would you elaborate on the struggle that Max finds himself in, and the people that are trying to stop his efforts? Steven: It’s the old story of how much money is enough. Greed is not good, to disagree with Gordon Gekko in the film, Wall Street. When greed is supplanted by the lust for power and control it’s really not good. That’s what happens to John Westerhaus, Imperium’s CEO. Here’s a guy whose company’s deep drilling technology can make them the richest company in history but he wants to control the world, too. He doesn’t have much of a problem in exterminating Bran or millions of others with his evil designs. When Max meets Bran the battle is joined. In the beginning the struggle is more like a mosquito and an elephant, a bit bothersome as far as the noise, but not much effect. Imperium’s tentacles reach into the police, government and foreign countries so it’s not much of a level playing field. Yet through a steadfast effort, the little band of homeless men and their scientific allies create a formidable opponent that finally confronts Westerhaus and his cronies. Juanita: “Drift” travels from New York, to Washington and overseas to Chechnya. How do these various global locales factor into Max’s struggle to save himself and the planet? Steven: New York is home to Max and Imperium Solutions so it’s a big part of the first half of the story. Imperium’s original site, however, is located in a remote part of Chechnya, Bran’s homeland. Westerhaus withdraws to the Chechen stronghold when it looks like the police are closing in. Washington, of course, is the seat of power and the only place where one could get sufficient resources to fight the effects of Imperium’s plan to change continental drift. As usual, the pressing need to convince the appropriate parties is inversely proportional to the speed with which Washington moves. Though forces are set in motion when Max, Bran and Becky meet with a hastily convened group of government officials, it’s not fast enough to forestall our heroes from taking matters into their own hands. Other locations that spice up the story are London, southern California, northern Turkey, the Republic of Georgia and a research vessel in the southwest Pacific. I spend a great deal of time researching a locale making sure that I present a vivid picture for the reader, with all five senses in overdrive. Imagination is essential for the reader but I want the locations to bristle with realism. I’ve used all kinds of maps, measurements, photographs and other materials as well as on-site observation to make my settings different and realistic. Juanita: What drift are you referring to in your title? Steven: Continental drift. This is the mechanism by which land masses move slowly over millions of years changing the locations and make-up of continents in relation to each other. If you look at South America and Africa it looks like you can fit one into the other with ease. They actually were conjoined at one point and then drifted apart. Imperium has figured out a way to manipulate this ‘drift’ by sending sound waves into the Earth’s mantle. I also like the title ‘drift’ because it describes what we do as we confront a dangerous and frightening process. We ‘drift’ rather than take concrete steps to stop it and deal with its aftermath. If we’re not successful, it may not be too far into the future that a Wooly Mammoth becomes the meat of choice and the future source of our summer overcoats. We have to stop drifting and act. Juanita: Much of your theme revolves around oil and global warming. Would you comment these real-life issues? Steven: You don’t need a nefarious oil company to blame but, personally, I curse big oil under my breath every time I fill up my car with gas or see the heating bill. I’m tired of hearing that the prices are necessary so they can explore for more oil. As to Global Warming, it’s here. Of that there is little doubt. You can debate about why but we already know how to reduce its effects. The one really great thing is that just about every day there’s a news article or television show about Global Warming. Al Gore’s first book, Earth in the Balance didn’t get close to the exposure that An Inconvenient Truth has. That’s a great sign of the times. I hope this kind of attention causes more people to act. I want readers to enjoy my book but I also suspect they will see through the fictional story to the underlying fact of how fragile the Earth is and how little has to occur before our environment is tilted on its side. Juanita: What do you see as our future if something isn’t done now regarding western civilization’s addiction to oil? Steven: Unfortunately, we’re going to continue to be reliant on oil until there’s a sensible commitment to producing alternative fuels and making the machines that use fuel far more efficient. The technology already exists: hydro power, wind, hydrogen, etc. All these technologies can be further developed given the financial commitment and dedicated scientists. What a perverse situation we have when most of the oil’s reserves are located in countries which are run by questionable governments who wouldn’t have a problem with serious ill befalling us. They can just turn off the spigot. I’m old enough to remember the oil embargo of the 1970’s. It was scary. Gas stations barricaded, waiting lines extending for miles, people following oil trucks like lions stalking an injured wildebeest on the Serengeti Plain. Fist fights broke out. We have invented, built and willed ourselves out of so many historical crises, figuring out how to make a better mousetrap is already part of our national fabric. We just have to stop being selfish and sacrifice a bit. Juanita: Do you think that present day oil companies have the capacity for such nefarious plans such as Imperium Solutions? Steven: Absolutely not. Otherwise they’d be doing it already. Just kidding, sort of. Look, oil companies aren’t the only culprits. We buy bigger cars that use more gas, don’t insist that our legislators pass more laws to protect us and the environment and just go our merry way hoping it’s the other guy that gets it in the end. I plead guilty, too, but I’m trying to reform. Juanita: What is the underlying message of “Drift”? Steven: It’s pretty corny but as long as there are evil people with no concern for others, there will be good people to fight them for the benefit of all. Juanita:“Drift” is an extremely fast-paced read with an abundance of possibilities, excitement, and intelligent themes. Would you comment on your writing style and the use of real-life issues to deliver a thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking story? Steven: Why, thank you, Ma’am. I appreciate the compliments. Some readers have pointed out that they enjoy how I jump from one part of the action to the next, from one point of view to another. I did this for two reasons: it enables a quick pacing and lets the reader gain insights into various parts of the story before other characters do. It’s the cliffhanger motif. You let the audience become invested in the characters, you provide some hints as to the obstacles and dangers they will face and then you give them a reason to root for them, keep turning those pages. I love a movie where the audience anticipates the action and yells out to warn the character. In effect, you’re not always in the heroes’ presence. Sometimes you’re in a conference room while Westerhaus is conducting a meeting, chewing out his subordinates or threatening them. Clive Cussler , Tom Clancy and the writing team of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child are my idols. These guys know how to write heart-pounding, ticking bomb thrillers. Preston and Child turn natural history into a thrilling backdrop for many of their novels. I couldn’t help be influenced by these terrific story-tellers, As to real-life issues, it’s ironic that when I first thought of the story, Global Warming was barely on the radar. Now it’s daily news. I’ve revised and embellished the environmental effects over the course of writing the story as the tsunamis, hurricanes and earthquakes keep hitting the headlines. This allowed me to have a lot of fun with the Epilogue. When the novel ends, there’s still the open question as to what’s going to happen to the Earth. There’s also the natural inclination of all readers who get close to the characters to know what happens to them if there’s going to be a “happily ever after.” What I did was to include clippings, articles, part of a court order and other material that might have been pasted into someone’s scrapbook over the ensuing few years. These tell the after-story in as if you were looking at snapshots in time. I’m sure it’s been done before, but I’ve never seen this stylistic construct and I’ve done a lot of reading. Juanita: Reviews of “Drift” all give high praises for your thrilling storyline, well-formed plot and characters, and your introduction of issues that are on presently on the global forefront. There have even been suggestions of the appropriateness of your book being transferred to the big screen. How does it feel to have such a highly received debut novel? Steven: It’s really great. I particularly enjoy the favorable comments from my friends and family, especially my mother who said “Gee, I didn’t think it was going to be that good.” Thanks, Mom. As a self-published author, I wish I had more time to market it as I think it would have broad distribution. The good part about print-on-demand self-publishing is that the book doesn’t disappear from print in a few years so hopefully it will have a steady build and interest for a movie. Hey, Spielberg, ya reading this? Juanita: Steven, I know you’re a big movie fan, and with the suggestion of Spielberg as a producer, who would you see playing the parts of your main characters? Steven: Actually, I’d go with Spielberg as director. He did Saving Private Ryan and War of the Worlds, two very dramatic, pulsating films. War of the Worlds put its everyman main character, played by Tom Cruise, and presents him with a major conflict that he has to resolve through his own wits and courage, similar to Max LaFollette in Drift . Since we’re in fantasy land and I’m casting my own movie, I’d go with Brian Van Holt or Lucas Black. For Dr. Becky Hausman I love Jennifer Esposito or, a bit softer, Diane Kruger. Brans a bit tougher and I’d want someone with a natural eastern European accent. There’s a young Polish actor named Mateusz Damiecki. If I had to go American, I’d settle for Justin Bartha. For John Westerhaus, we’re playing here, right? My favorite villain would be Michael Douglas, a cross between his Gordon Gekko role in Wall Street and his character in A Perfect Murder. Smooth but with a major fault line through his personality. The other cinematic beauty I see is the various character roles that would be nice and juicy for actors one film short of their breakout performance. Whether it’s the rag tag band of homeless men, the detectives and FBI guys, Becky’s right hand, Manny Ramirez, or Christina Radivic, there are some really cool parts. The last thing I’d like to add is that the ideal director and cinematographer could make this a rather singular film that would allow for a fast-moving plot, interesting character studies and an opportunity for magnificent scenery and unusual locations. We talking Oscar? I doubt it. But it would be the kind of film you’d always want to see again and again, especially the ending. Juanita: Do you have plans to write a second novel? Steven: Actually, Drift is my second novel. I haven’t published the first one I wrote. I’m planning to revise it in a co-writing effort with John Douglas, the former FBI profiler and a very prominent author himself. Steven: Steven that will certainly please your fans, and sounds like another interesting endeavor. How can readers find out more about you and your book? Juanita: If they want to find out more about Drift, they can visit my page at Booklocker.com. Its address is http://www.booklocker.com/books/2695.html. My website (www.spmlawyer.com) has lots of information about me. I’m an entertainment attorney by day so the website is devoted to my practice. But it has a few interesting features and anecdotes to enjoy. I can be reached via email at spmlawyer@rcn.com. Juanita: It has been a pleasure talking with you today Steven. We encourage readers to look for “Drift” at local and online bookstores. Before we let you go, do you have any last thoughts you’d like to share today? Steven: It’s very encouraging for a self-published author that Reader Views is out there. The opportunity to be reviewed, interviewed and otherwise featured is a real plus. It’s hard enough to write a book but when you actually have to market it yourself, at the same time you’re maintaining a day job, it’s a daunting proposition. But definitely worth it. Thanks so much for the great questions, Juanita. Listen to interview with author on Inside Scoop Live |
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