Mark P Haskins Interview Published on: 01, Aug 2025
What inspired you to write your first novel, and how did your background in software development influence your storytelling?
Stigma came about, not as an idea for a novel, but as a way of trying to make the UK a safer place. Something was happening in the news, and my overactive imagination came up with several ideas about what would make it easier for the police to identify criminals.
Can you share a bit about the journey from writing software to writing fiction? Were there any unexpected parallels between the two?I answer this question further down.
How did your time in the Royal Corps of Signals shape your perspective as a writer?The simple answer here is that it didn’t.
Did your military experience find its way into your writing? If so, how?There is a small amount of military in Stigma, and I was able to use my knowledge of being in the Army to write that. There was more originally written, but I cut it as it wasn’t really moving the story forward. I do have some notes for a project that has a military team as the main protagonists. If and when I get around to trying to build that out, I would expect my military knowledge to come in handy.
What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing your debut novel, “Stigma”?The biggest challenge was trying to work out why at the age of 50 something I had decided to write a novel. It was not something I had ever considered before. As a kid I had done a little bit of creative writing for myself or school projects, but not since.
Are there any authors or books that have particularly influenced your writing style?My favourite book of all time is Arthur C. Clarke’s - Rendezvous with Rama. The style of writing of that novel did influence the tone of Stigma. I wanted to provide what I hoped would be an accurate representation of what was happening in the UK.
Do you prefer to plot your novels meticulously, like you might plan a software project, or do you let the story unfold organically?I fall somewhere between a planner and a panster, I would say. I like to have an idea of how the story starts and ends, the same for the chapters. I normally have a few bullet points that need to be covered during each chapter, but after that, I just write. Stigma went in a number of different directions than I was expecting due to not having every aspect planned.
What themes or ideas are you most passionate about exploring in your writing?I don’t really think about themes when I write. There isn’t any obvious or hidden theme or statement, unless they are sneaking in subconsciously. For Stigma, and an idea I’m working on, I try to be accurate, writing what I think would genuinely happen in a scenario.
How has your lifelong passion for technology helped shape your creative process?The process of software development has definitely shaped how I write. In software, you tend to break a project up into small, discrete pieces of work that are self-contained. A chapter or a paragraph, for example. Then once you have a working version, you can build upon the framework, adding additional styling or features. When writing, I try and get the core elements down first by just free-flowing writing, ignoring grammar and spelling. Then I build upon it by adding more detail, while trying to turn the draft into a more polished piece of work.
Do you ever find inspiration for your stories from your work in software development?At this time, I haven’t used software development or technology as a theme for a project. That isn’t to say that if a good idea comes to mind, I would ignore it.
You mentioned building Lego—do you see any similarities between constructing Lego models and constructing a novel?For me, Lego is just something I do with my hands. Software development and writing are both cerebral activities; it’s good to do something different occasionally. I don’t see any similarities between the two arts.
Wildlife photography seems quite different from software and writing—what draws you to it, and has it inspired any of your creative projects?I’ve been writing software pretty much all my life. I’ve occasionally got some bit projects on the go, for Mac and iPhone applications that I upload to the appropriate app stores. I find switching context between code and writing fairly easy as it is two different languages and syntax. I guess it is no different than someone who has a fiction and non-fiction book on the go at the same time.
How do you balance your time between your demanding career, your hobbies, and writing?Holding down a full-time job and finding time for writing is quite a challenge. I have a notebook that I carry around with me for jotting down ideas. The advantage of sitting in a hide or a field waiting for something to happen does provide a lot of time to think about plot holes and characters.
What’s next for you as a writer? Are there any upcoming projects or ideas you’re excited about?I have two potential projects that I’m trying to work out. Both of them are different from Stigma in terms of the storytelling and the genre. I would love to try and write a good horror story. Stephen King and James Herbert were always my favourite reads in that area, though I’m finding coming up with a unique idea quite difficult.
Do you feel that AllAuthor has played a role in expanding your reach or growing your fanbase? Could you share any specific examples?AllAuthor has definitely helped in expanding my reach. I am shocked at the number of other authors that are following me. I just wish that I had something to say to them. I’m on the introverted side, and I’m living with imposter syndrome due to coming to writing a novel so late in life that I feel that I can’t offer anything of any worth.
I love the competitions that are run, and it was amazing to see the number of additional sales that I got just by entering the book cover competition.
I always see a sale or two, or a new follower after every tweet sent by AllAuthor.
Being new to this, I have to say taking the risk and signing up for the author services has been one of the best decisions I made.
