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Back to Featured Interviews >> MEET MARK FINK
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| Mark Fink |
Yes. As a teenager, I remember writing some stories on my first typewriter. I also wrote a script for a movie friends and I were going to shoot. The seeds of writing were planted there, as I became a TV scriptwriter and producer.
What was your first job when you graduated from college?
My first job after college was in the field of social work. I was an eligibility worker in the California welfare system. It was a difficult job, in that it was very bureaucratic. It was enlightening though, seeing how the underclass lived. There were many stories there to be told. This was the only non-writing job I ever had.
What are the topics of your books?
I have written two YA novels. STEPPING UP is about two friends who go away to a summer basketball camp. It deals with friendship, sports, peer pressure and what it truly means to be a hero. THE SUMMER I GOT A LIFE is about a fourteen year old boy who is sent to a farm in Wisconsin with his older brother. What looks like a terrible summer, turns into an amazing adventure centered around a first romance.
Do you do other types of writing?
I have written for television, writing over 100 produced scripts for series and TV movies. I have created and produced shows. I have also written short stories, two of which have been published and won contests.
Where do you get your ideas?
Ideas are all around us, like the wind. If you keep your eyes, ears and heart open and just observe life, ideas are plentiful. Personally, as a writer, I prefer writing about real people in real-life situations. I like writing about average teens, because, the truth is, most of us are within the range of average. I believe that readers can relate better to kids who look and talk like them. I have nothing against vampires or witches, but it’s not my thing.
I also find that reading keeps one stimulated and leads to other ideas. Books are important, but also current news articles to keep up with the culture and the zeitgeist.
How did your life change when you got married? And had children?
Immeasurably. As anyone who is married or has children knows, it totally changes who you are. Being in a loving relationship is a gift. Having children changes your life from the day they are born. It makes you more of a giving person and more attuned to the needs of others. Seeing my two boys grow up into adults has been one of my greatest joys and it was an amazing education for me. Writing YA novels, I relied heavily on the experiences of my sons when they were about that age, and it definitely made me a better writer.
Do you like to include humor in your stories?
Absolutely. I am a comedy writer and have been for a long time, so humor is a big part of every creative thing I do. Both my books have a lot of humor, starting with the main character’s POV and world view. I think humor is a great way to tell a story and create characters. If a reader is laughing along the way, it’s a lot more enjoyable ride.
Has anyone ever written you a fan letter that you’d like to share?
I haven’t received that many, but each fan letter I did get is very special, as it’s the only way I can get some feedback from my readers. I had a school visit last year at a middle school and raffled off copies of my book at each session. One girl who didn’t win a book told me she was a big reader and was going to buy my book anyway. I gave her an extra copy—this was around 10 a.m. in the morning. She was very grateful. Then, at lunch later that day, she came up to me and had already read 50 pages of my book! She really liked it, then weeks later wrote me an amazing fan letter. She was incredibly articulate and very insightful about the story and all the characters. In fact, she could have been a reviewer. These kinds of responses make the sometimes isolating task of writing books all worth it.