Book 3 – Mark of a Friend
The third adventure of Mark Morgan at ARTS.
This one came out of nowhere. And just a heads up – abuse trigger. Click the cover image to enlarge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it true you didn’t have a plot when starting this book?
Yep. No plot at all. I had a starting point, but that was it. I sat down at the keyboard, pictured the starting point in my mind and started writing to see where it would take me, and it took me somewhere I never expected it to go. That might sound strange since I had no expectations to start with, but it wouldn’t have been this if I had something in mind. Does that make sense? Anyway, in case you’re wondering, I don’t recommend anyone start a book this way. Don’t ask why it worked for me. I know I’m odd.
What surprised you the most when writing this book?
The main plotline. I didn’t even dream of this storyline when I started writing the book. After I finished, I looked back at the first two books and realized I had set it up without knowing it. Again. I did go back and tweak the first two books to make it more obvious – yes, more rewriting – but that was it.
Is this book a turning point in the overall story arc?
Yes. Of the two major plotlines in the series, this book is definitely the turning point for one of them. After you read it, you’ll understand why and which one. This book sets up the rest of the series.
Are the abuse stats in the book correct?
Unfortunately. At least they were at the time of writing. The stats are hard to measure due to various factors (such as a stigma against men reporting violence by women), but even though the stats show a 60-40 male to female split, it’s quite likely women are more abusive than men despite the stereotype. They just don’t do as much damage, as a rule.
What the? Did I miss something?
My bad here. For those of you who bought and read hard copies of books 1 and 2 some time ago then picked up book 3 and found yourself wondering how the plot got there, I apologize. If you’ve read my comments on this website, you’ll see a reference to a left-hand turn in the story while creating the rough draft for book 6. Unfortunately, that happened after books 1 and 2 were published, which is how I know discovery writers need to finish rough drafts for every book in a series before publishing anything. The plot direction was too good for me to pass up, it gave the series heart, tightened the plot and made the series much better. Since so few had read the first two books at that point, I made the update. Again, my apologies.