Mark Towse is living proof that it is never too late to start.
The Clifton Springs resident only took up writing six months ago and already has 24 short stories that have been published in more than 30 journals, including ‘Vegan Tales’.
Originally from Hull in Yorkshire, Mark has lived on the Bellarine for 10 years.
“The Bellarine is paradise compared to that place,” he says.
Mark was on a visit back to the UK to see family. His father-in-law picked up a leaflet in the vegan restaurant they were dining in.
“It was a short story competition for ‘Vegan Tales’,” he says.
“I was only two months into the writing journey and thought it would be an excellent opportunity to offer a piece that would be a fresh take on veganism and combine with the dark fiction genre I was exploring.
“The story ‘Empty Seat at the Table’ is one that asks people to challenge their everyday decisions, ie are they following crowd mentality or doing the things that will bring quality to their lives and others?”
Writing was something Mark wanted to do since childhood but never had the courage to pursue it, he says.
“Instead of pursuing English, I went down the road of the more solid bet and came out of uni with a degree in mathematics but somehow ended in sales,” he says.
“I was a big fan of Stephen King and on receipt of my first library card as a child, hammered books such as Pet Sematary, Cujo, IT etc.”
Feedback for ‘Vegan Tales’ has been exceptional, Mark says. Particularly from Australia, but it has also received incredible feedback from Spain, the US, and the UK.
“There is limited vegan literature out there that challenges and explores the culture intensely and the variety of stories in the book lift it above what is already available,” he says.
Next on the horizon is six anthologies being released this year with stories from publishers such as Horrified Press and Millhaven Press. A novel is also a possibility down the track.
“I will continue to refine my technical skills in the short-story market because telling a tale in 1000 to 6000 words means you cannot waste a word,” he says.
“The story needs strong character development, a start, middle and end and it has to be told succinctly but maintaining evocative prose.
“Once I feel I have achieved all I can achieve and broken through the professional markets and sub-genres I will put my novel into place. I already have some solid ideas to build on.”
