Author Q&A with MG Mason

Author Q&A with MG Mason

Author MG Mason  (Matt) writes mixed genre books, throwing fantasy, scifi, horror, historical fiction and anything else into the same book and seeing what unbridled chaos might come out.

 

What was your inspiration behind a book set at Christmas?

The Salmonweird book series is a light-hearted cosy crime with lots of humour. It seemed like a natural pairing to have a Christmas themed book at some point in this series. And so, while still writing book one (Salmonweird), book 2 was born. I called it: A Salmonweird Sleighing.

 

What’s your favourite scene in your book?

The post showdown scene in the church at the end. In the village, after everything that happened, all the characters came together to share the sense of community and decency towards each other that Christmas means for a lot people. Enemies put aside animosities and there are many expressions of love. I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say it’s the most heartwarming thing I’ve ever written.

 

Does your MC like Christmas, dislike Christmas, or are they indifferent?

Like me, Karl becomes a 6-year-old kid at Christmas.

 

What does Christmas Day in your household look like?

It’s just me and my partner. We don’t have children so it’s all pretty relaxed when it’s just us. We get up, have coffee and stollen, for breakfast, maybe put some Christmas TV on and slowly open our presents before we start making preparations for Christmas Dinner. If we spend it with either of our families, we tend to go along with whatever traditions they have. My family prefer to open presents in the morning while my partner’s prefer it in the afternoon, after Christmas Dinner.

 

What’s your most cherished Christmas memory?

Not Christmas Day, but when my girlfriend and I arranged to do a Christmas market for our first date. We’d been talking for months (lived over 200 miles apart) and finally settled on a mutually agreeable first date in Exeter to see the market. She was new to Christmas markets generally, and it was the first time I’d ever been there. Now, eight years later, we go back to Exeter every year around our anniversary. Magical in every way.

 

If you had to buy your MC a Christmas present what would it be?

Probably a CD full of Christmas carols sung by the village residents.

 

What’s your favourite book set at Christmas?

A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens. It inspires, in part, some of the events in A Salmonweird Sleighing. The importance of kindness theme also inspired my children’s Christmas story The Christmas Goblin.

 

If you could spend Christmas Day with any of your characters who would it be and why?

Not in this book, but there’s a Dickensian gentleman entering the series in book 3. He’s based on a real person and I think Christmas at his manor house would be wonderful.

 

What has been your biggest achievement in 2021?

Finishing and publishing A Salmonweird Sleighing with zero recommended changes from the beta readers. Also, the self-doubt that goes with the first sequel was unwarranted. Most people seemed to love Sleighing more than they loved the first book.

 

What are you working on for 2022?

The third Salmonweird book (a satire on TV & film) called Studio Salmonweird. Also a steampunk zombie horror called Vulcan City.

This or that

Real Christmas Tree or False Christmas Trees?

Fake

Tinsel or No Tinsel?

No tinsel

Mince Pies or No Mince Pies?

Mince pies

Christmas books or Christmas films?

Christmas films

Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?

Christmas Eve. Visit a beach on Christmas Day (Weather permitting), then after sunset settle down to watch Carols From Kings with a curry.

Christmas Tunes or Silence?

Tunes.

 

Where can you find MG Mason?

Twitter