Morgan Parker is center stage for today's Author Spotlight Series. Parker is the man behind the books, Sick Day, Hope, and Textual Encounters, to name a few. He is known for his different style of writing that has captured readers attention. Parker just released his sixth book, Surviving Goodbye, on Aug. 21. The emotionally charged book has already received high praise from readers on Goodreads and Amazon. In his interview below, Parker touches on the inspiration behind the story. It's my pleasure to present today's Author Spotlight, Morgan Parker.
Morgan Parker's Biography
Morgan Parker is the pen name for a shy and introverted former banker. Because he could never balance his cash at the end of the banking day, he made up stories in order to keep his job. None of those stories was Textual Encounters, which is great because readers will discover a truly unique and original romance that has never been told before.
*
Okay, I’ll be real honest here. Morgan Parker is not my real
name. A lot of people already know this. And yes, I hide behind it in
case something I write sucks. I feel like the Great Danton in The Prestige (another
piece of Morgan Parker trivia: Christopher Nolan is my literary idol),
taking his bow beneath the stage sometimes, but that’s okay. My stories
are for you, not for the applause.
A common question I’ll get is, “Morgan, have you ever written some that sucked?” Uh, yeah. I have. It was titled Tell Me.
Another common question I’ll get is, “Morgan, why are you so cool?” Uh, when I get that one, I know it’s time to admit to myself that I have wwwwaaayyyy too many conversations with myself, and I need to stop, especially if I’m in public.
Now that you know I don’t live in an igloo and harm pretty doggies who pull my sleigh (I have a car, aka automobile like everyone else), I’ll also add that we’re not socialists up here. Depending on your political views, I’ll say I’m a Liberal or a Conservative, whatever it takes to get to the next topic. I don’t care much for politics, I don’t believe that one party is better than the other because both parties push their own agenda, right or wrong. Enough about that.
I’m funny. Even when I’m not funny, I’m funny. People laugh at me (including what I say). Maybe I’m not funny, but it feels good to say I’m funny. It also feels good to say that I deserve to be wealthy just like Rhonda Byrne taught me to say in The Secret. I deserve to be laughed at. Wait, that doesn’t sound right…
I might have ADHD. Being a self-diagnosed hypochondriac, I’m pretty sure I am ADHD-positive.
I talk a lot when I’m tired, drunk or bored. I’m only bored right now.
After 12 years, 4 months and 1 and 1/2 weeks of marriage, his wife packs up and leaves with their daughter. So he writes an Indie novel. And it becomes a bestseller. Well, sort of.
His fame brings him the lifestyle of a rockstar, and he has the fan mail (i.e. female undergarments, probably clean) to prove it.
But seeing his fame, his wife suddenly believes in marriage counseling. Their homework: to create something beautiful for each other.
So he writes Our Story, his literary secret-weapon that will win his wife back. But in the process he discovers that true love is more than just ticking the right boxes on a checklist. It starts with... well... }i{ .
Note: the f-word is used 231 times in various formats throughout this story. Read with caution.
A common question I’ll get is, “Morgan, have you ever written some that sucked?” Uh, yeah. I have. It was titled Tell Me.
Another common question I’ll get is, “Morgan, why are you so cool?” Uh, when I get that one, I know it’s time to admit to myself that I have wwwwaaayyyy too many conversations with myself, and I need to stop, especially if I’m in public.
More about Morgan Parker…
Oh, I live in Canada. No, not in igloo, and I don’t take a dog-sleigh
to work. In fact, there’s hardly any snow where I live and it gets hot
here. Really hot, like Florida in April hot.Now that you know I don’t live in an igloo and harm pretty doggies who pull my sleigh (I have a car, aka automobile like everyone else), I’ll also add that we’re not socialists up here. Depending on your political views, I’ll say I’m a Liberal or a Conservative, whatever it takes to get to the next topic. I don’t care much for politics, I don’t believe that one party is better than the other because both parties push their own agenda, right or wrong. Enough about that.
I’m funny. Even when I’m not funny, I’m funny. People laugh at me (including what I say). Maybe I’m not funny, but it feels good to say I’m funny. It also feels good to say that I deserve to be wealthy just like Rhonda Byrne taught me to say in The Secret. I deserve to be laughed at. Wait, that doesn’t sound right…
I might have ADHD. Being a self-diagnosed hypochondriac, I’m pretty sure I am ADHD-positive.
I talk a lot when I’m tired, drunk or bored. I’m only bored right now.
An Interview with Morgan Parker
Congratulations on your newest release, Surviving Goodbye. What was the inspiration behind this story?
I’ve always had a fascination with infidelity (why do people do it, what is the worst they could really do) and came to the conclusion that it is possible for someone to “cheat” out of love. In Surviving Goodbye, I believe that the dying wife’s infidelity was the act of true love.
The main character Elliott has to deal the death of his wife, finding out he’s not the biological father of his daughter, and his daughter’s unplanned pregnancy. One event alone is enough for a story, what made you decided to go with all three?
I really wanted to create a multi-dimensional love story. Since there are different types of love, I really wanted Elliot to experience these different dimensions. Of course, that’s my intellectual response because I like to pretend I’m smart sometimes. The truth is that in order to truly grow and develop as a character, I felt Elliot needed to overcome more than just one obstacle.
There’s a range of emotion that comes with a story like this, were there any difficulties trying to capture it? Or was it easy?
Pfft. Easy peasy lemon squeezey. Especially when dealing with a mid-life crisis, a 5-year old daughter who punches harder than her 10-year old brother, and (let’s face it) the range of emotions that came with watching Frozen twelve times per week since it’s release on DVD.
You’ve released five other books, has the process gotten easier with each book you’ve written?
Surviving Goodbye was difficult in many ways (it has been my most collaborative work to date) but also simpler in many other ways. I knew from the start what this story was, where it would lead, and how it should “feel.” Building my outline around such a robust story skeleton was ultimately painless. My next novel has been a lot more painful...
What has been the most surprising thing you’ve encountered writing and publishing books?
I’m always surprised that people will buy my books, more surprised that they will read them, and humbled that they will leave a review. To me, this is the most surprising thing in the world... To put it context, imagine asking someone to leave a credit card number with an online company, then asking that same person to invest upwards of a day into read what they’ve just purchased and then asking that same person who has already entrusted you with their money and time, to give you even more time to write a review (so many people are uncomfortable writing in the first place!). It truly is magical, and I’m always speechless when I see that someone has done that for me...
Do you have a personal favorite among your books?
It depends on the day. Today, I really love Sick Day because it’s a simple story about promises and soul mates and trusting that true love will always lead you to the arms of the person whose eyes you were meant to see first thing in the morning and the last thing at night... the person who will hold your hand on your deathbed and find you on the other side.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Colin Harrison is my all-time favorite, and he inspired me with a single email to be better; Dennis Lehane suggested that sometimes bad is good, and good is bad. Indie authors like Tarryn Fisher and Tara Sivec are unknown mentors that consistently remind me that image and success take hard work and it’s the kind of work that never sleeps.
When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?
I’m a big fan of sleep. Such a big fan that I’m releasing a book based largely on sleep, the kind of love story that will keep people talking long after they’ve read the book. It was originally scheduled for a December 31, 2014 release but I’m pushing it out to February 2015 (which is convenient given Valentine’s Day... teehee).
In 10 words or less, can you tell readers new to you what they can expect from your books?
You will never read a story like any of mine.
Is there anything you would like to tell your fans or readers picking up your book for the first time?
Watch closely. The novel in your hands might not be a story you’re in the mood to read. You might not like some (or any) of my characters. Maybe you’ll notice a spelling error that slipped through and maybe it will annoy you to no end. But when you stop watching, that’s when I’ll slip in and steal your heart. Some people have said I write about reality, but that’s not it at all. I think I write about love. And love is what happens when you’re not watching.
Kidding. That’s pretty deep. To first time readers, I want to say: “Thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on my little story.”
I’ve always had a fascination with infidelity (why do people do it, what is the worst they could really do) and came to the conclusion that it is possible for someone to “cheat” out of love. In Surviving Goodbye, I believe that the dying wife’s infidelity was the act of true love.
The main character Elliott has to deal the death of his wife, finding out he’s not the biological father of his daughter, and his daughter’s unplanned pregnancy. One event alone is enough for a story, what made you decided to go with all three?
I really wanted to create a multi-dimensional love story. Since there are different types of love, I really wanted Elliot to experience these different dimensions. Of course, that’s my intellectual response because I like to pretend I’m smart sometimes. The truth is that in order to truly grow and develop as a character, I felt Elliot needed to overcome more than just one obstacle.
There’s a range of emotion that comes with a story like this, were there any difficulties trying to capture it? Or was it easy?
Pfft. Easy peasy lemon squeezey. Especially when dealing with a mid-life crisis, a 5-year old daughter who punches harder than her 10-year old brother, and (let’s face it) the range of emotions that came with watching Frozen twelve times per week since it’s release on DVD.
You’ve released five other books, has the process gotten easier with each book you’ve written?
Surviving Goodbye was difficult in many ways (it has been my most collaborative work to date) but also simpler in many other ways. I knew from the start what this story was, where it would lead, and how it should “feel.” Building my outline around such a robust story skeleton was ultimately painless. My next novel has been a lot more painful...
What has been the most surprising thing you’ve encountered writing and publishing books?
I’m always surprised that people will buy my books, more surprised that they will read them, and humbled that they will leave a review. To me, this is the most surprising thing in the world... To put it context, imagine asking someone to leave a credit card number with an online company, then asking that same person to invest upwards of a day into read what they’ve just purchased and then asking that same person who has already entrusted you with their money and time, to give you even more time to write a review (so many people are uncomfortable writing in the first place!). It truly is magical, and I’m always speechless when I see that someone has done that for me...
Do you have a personal favorite among your books?
It depends on the day. Today, I really love Sick Day because it’s a simple story about promises and soul mates and trusting that true love will always lead you to the arms of the person whose eyes you were meant to see first thing in the morning and the last thing at night... the person who will hold your hand on your deathbed and find you on the other side.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
Colin Harrison is my all-time favorite, and he inspired me with a single email to be better; Dennis Lehane suggested that sometimes bad is good, and good is bad. Indie authors like Tarryn Fisher and Tara Sivec are unknown mentors that consistently remind me that image and success take hard work and it’s the kind of work that never sleeps.
When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?
I’m a big fan of sleep. Such a big fan that I’m releasing a book based largely on sleep, the kind of love story that will keep people talking long after they’ve read the book. It was originally scheduled for a December 31, 2014 release but I’m pushing it out to February 2015 (which is convenient given Valentine’s Day... teehee).
In 10 words or less, can you tell readers new to you what they can expect from your books?
You will never read a story like any of mine.
Is there anything you would like to tell your fans or readers picking up your book for the first time?
Watch closely. The novel in your hands might not be a story you’re in the mood to read. You might not like some (or any) of my characters. Maybe you’ll notice a spelling error that slipped through and maybe it will annoy you to no end. But when you stop watching, that’s when I’ll slip in and steal your heart. Some people have said I write about reality, but that’s not it at all. I think I write about love. And love is what happens when you’re not watching.
Kidding. That’s pretty deep. To first time readers, I want to say: “Thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on my little story.”
Books by Morgan Parker
Textual Encounters
Synopsis
Katie discovers an unlocked iPhone in the back seat of a taxi. But
instead of turning it in to the driver as lost, she decides to keep it
for herself.
Outside of the usual clutter you would expect to find on a smartphone, what captures Katie’s interest is the single conversation she finds on the phone’s secure text messaging service, a three-month dialogue between a woman with an uncertain past named Christine and a single, eligible man named Jake.
>>From Strangers to Soulmates in 90 Days
What starts out as a message intended for someone else ends up being the beginning of a relationship more powerful than anything Christine or Jake have ever experienced.
But nothing ever turns out to be as good as it initially seems and their histories slowly reveal details and past lovers that threaten to derail their humble quest for love.
>>Forgotten In The Back Seat of a New York City Taxi
Can Christine and Jake overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, doubts and secrets that endanger their love?
If so, why would such a relationship get forgotten in the back seat of a New York City taxi?
>>Presented in a Format Unlike Any Other You Will Find
Follow Katie as she reads through the 3 months of conversations that form The Christine + Jake Affair and provide the foundation for the Textual Encounters Trilogy.
Outside of the usual clutter you would expect to find on a smartphone, what captures Katie’s interest is the single conversation she finds on the phone’s secure text messaging service, a three-month dialogue between a woman with an uncertain past named Christine and a single, eligible man named Jake.
>>From Strangers to Soulmates in 90 Days
What starts out as a message intended for someone else ends up being the beginning of a relationship more powerful than anything Christine or Jake have ever experienced.
But nothing ever turns out to be as good as it initially seems and their histories slowly reveal details and past lovers that threaten to derail their humble quest for love.
>>Forgotten In The Back Seat of a New York City Taxi
Can Christine and Jake overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacles, doubts and secrets that endanger their love?
If so, why would such a relationship get forgotten in the back seat of a New York City taxi?
>>Presented in a Format Unlike Any Other You Will Find
Follow Katie as she reads through the 3 months of conversations that form The Christine + Jake Affair and provide the foundation for the Textual Encounters Trilogy.
Textual Encounters 2
Synopsis
Having found a white iPhone in the back of a
New York City cab, Katie orchestrates a "chance" meeting with Jake, the
man of her dreams. Knowing more than she lets on, Katie develops a
relationship with Jake that ultimately gets captured in text form. And
those texts are passed along to the married woman that just lost Jake's
baby.
non friction
Synopsis
After 12 years, 4 months and 1 and 1/2 weeks of marriage, his wife packs up and leaves with their daughter. So he writes an Indie novel. And it becomes a bestseller. Well, sort of.
His fame brings him the lifestyle of a rockstar, and he has the fan mail (i.e. female undergarments, probably clean) to prove it.
But seeing his fame, his wife suddenly believes in marriage counseling. Their homework: to create something beautiful for each other.
So he writes Our Story, his literary secret-weapon that will win his wife back. But in the process he discovers that true love is more than just ticking the right boxes on a checklist. It starts with... well... }i{ .
Note: the f-word is used 231 times in various formats throughout this story. Read with caution.
Hope
Synopsis
Morgan Barker, the lead character of Non Friction and brilliant author
of Our Story, has all but recovered from the heartache caused by Emma.
But when his company's accounting firm sends Hope to inquire about some
suspicious account practices, Morgan is reminded of the beautiful story
he created. He is reminded because Hope has a different version of Our
Story than the unpublished, never-seen-before version that Morgan
created. Read more about Olivia and Oliver's ongoing and difficult love
affair, their secret moments and the struggle that kept them apart for
so long.
Sick Day
Synopsis
Hope and Cameron made a five-year promise before college. Years pass and
they never see each other again. But then one month before his planned
wedding to Riley, Cameron looks outside and sees Hope in the pouring
rain, watching him.
Now, three years later, Cam has one day – a sick day on this last Friday of summer – to convince the one woman whose very existence breaths life into his lungs, that sometimes love like theirs actually does exist, and it’s that kind of love that lives forever, no matter how hard you fight to forget about it and move on.
From the author of non friction and Hope, Sick Day follows one man’s day-long attempt to persuade the love of his life that sometimes it’s okay to break promises if it means keeping the ones that count.
Now, three years later, Cam has one day – a sick day on this last Friday of summer – to convince the one woman whose very existence breaths life into his lungs, that sometimes love like theirs actually does exist, and it’s that kind of love that lives forever, no matter how hard you fight to forget about it and move on.
From the author of non friction and Hope, Sick Day follows one man’s day-long attempt to persuade the love of his life that sometimes it’s okay to break promises if it means keeping the ones that count.
Surviving Goodbye
Synopsis
In the final hours of her life, Elliot Fitch’s wife confesses that he is
not the biological father to their 16-year old daughter.
Surviving Goodbye follows Elliot’s collision course with Fate as he embarks on a journey to locate his daughter’s real father. When Elena, now seventeen years old, announces her unplanned pregnancy and the father’s unwillingness to play a role in their child’s upbringing, Elliot faces an ironic dilemma about the true meaning of parenthood and the roles we play in the lives of others, particularly those we love and who love us in return.
Surviving Goodbye follows Elliot’s collision course with Fate as he embarks on a journey to locate his daughter’s real father. When Elena, now seventeen years old, announces her unplanned pregnancy and the father’s unwillingness to play a role in their child’s upbringing, Elliot faces an ironic dilemma about the true meaning of parenthood and the roles we play in the lives of others, particularly those we love and who love us in return.
Where to Buy Morgan Parker's Book
No comments:
Post a Comment