Novel Transcript Reading: Ode to the Darkest Days, by M. Ryan Hollows

Performed by Elizabeth Rose Morriss

Get to know the writer:

1. What is your novel about?

A young man named Astinos, his wife stolen and a prophecy on his shoulders, must find his strength in order to fight through not only a host of invaders that hail from darkness, but also the demons that are his doubts. He struggles to make sense of it, the inklings of truth that hide beneath the veneer of this battle of Light vs Darkness.

2. What genres would you say this story is in?

Adventure, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Survival

3. How would you describe this story in two words?

Deep Complexity

4. What movie have you seen the most in your life?

Rush Hour (I used watch it with my dad a lot)

5. What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)

People Live Here By Rise Against

6. Do you have an all-time favorite novel?

No; I’m usually disappointed with the Fantasy books I read (Bad luck maybe…).

7. What motivated you to write this story?

When I was 7 I started imagining a lot, and came up with what is now the story I’m writing. It’s changed a lot, obviously, but that’s just because it has never stopped growing since then. Now it’s grown into a series I’m planning. I don’t think I could ever write another series I’d love more, and so this first book is very special. But as for what actually got me to start typing it up, the short version is that I got a crush on this famous girl, and I was hoping writing it would get me a shot at her, but eventually, like my story, my motivation to keep improving grew. Now I’d say my motivation is wanting to do something positive with writing, both through inspiring people with it, and hopefully helping people through the money I make, if in fact I make any money from this book, and the others that follow it.

8. If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

James Joyce. I think two writers with an overwhelming ‘God Complex” would have some interesting, albeit heated, conversations.

9. Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?

I like thinking about what I’d do if my writing took off. I’d like to help new writers, teach them to be freer with their idea of how to write a novel. And as I stated earlier, I would also like to help people.

10. What influenced you to enter your story to get performed?

I wanted exposure. I need all I can get, as I’m terrible at advertising myself. So when I saw this, I figured I’d give it a shot.

11. Any advice or tips you’d like to pass on to other writers?

When you write, don’t think of what you are supposed to do, but rather, let your writing flow out in a way that best suits the story you are trying to tell. And also, try not to emulate other authors too much; if there are any authors you particular like, just try to write with the same type of spirit that they do, think of how they approach it, and use that as the foundation to begin your own. Lastly, don’t be afraid to try putting in something that seems strange or out of place in your genre, or novels in general; I think books, and life in general, would be more interesting if more people did ‘strange things,’ as there would be so much more variety to enjoy.

****

Producer: Matthew Toffolo – http://www.matthewtoffolo.com

Director: Matthew Toffolo

Casting Director: Sean Ballantyne

Editor: Kimberly Villarruel

Camera Op: Mary Cox

By writingfest

Monthly Festival showcasing the best of new novels from around the world. Novel transcripts get performed by professional actors. OR, we also turn novels into movies and seen by 1000s online and at various film festivals.

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