What can you tell my readers about yourself that they might not know from looking on your bio or reading in another interview?
My stories are dark, and if there’s one thing I don’t particularly enjoy, it’s books that are too predictable or often shy away from portraying the darker side of reality. Although what we write is fiction, but I find stories that shy away from horrendous life or death situations to be boring. There was one time where I was challenged to write a “happy” book and ended up with a story of ducks just trying live their lives (but the mother duck was brutalized and killed in front of her own children by a pack of wolves -who then proceeded to kill all the children). Recently, I was asked on Twitter why all my stories are dark, to which I responded with: “Tragedy and calamity bring the best in us -I believe, a candle will only shine its brightest in the dark.”
What do you enjoy doing on your down time?
I love to read -obviously- books and random articles about ancient civilizations and old pantheons and try to get the reasoning behind every statement and law that was used. Aside from that, I really just enjoy working on stories (some of which do not see the light of day, and just remain in my folders).
What is your favorite part of writing?
It has to be the outlining process. That is where I generally plan the twists and turns in the story and sometimes it gets so.. tedious that in order to pull off the plot twist, the story has to ease readers into it. There's just something about outlining that I absolutely love. That is what writing is all about, and if done correctly, it all builds up and creates one hell of a world for readers to delve into.
Do you have any certain routines you must follow as you write?
I light a few candles, close the lights, connect my laptop to my giant TV and my 'writing' chair (it has bluetooth speakers on the back and it vibrates!). There are also two types of writers, those who can only write when listening to music, and those who can write in absolute silence. If you're the latter, congratulations, I hate you, you magnificent ******.
What are some of your Favorite books or Authors in the Urban Fantasy/ Paranormal Genres?
I actually don't read a lot of Urban Fantasy, but I'd mention the Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare as being one of my top reads recently. I tend to enjoy dark fantasy (The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski, and the Witcher Series).
I'm currently reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas as well (I'm at Heir of Fire) and plan to go on a reading sabbatical pretty soon and finish the entire series.
How would you pitch The Long Night (Fortier Series) to someone who has not heard of it before?
I wrote Fortier for many reasons, one of which was the growing misrepresentation of true vampire origins nowadays. It portrays the darker side of vampires, in how vicious and deadly they could be. It's definitely not for the soft-hearted as one reader found out and couldn't finish the book.
It is definitely not the usual "vampire" take and forces readers to forget any preconceived notions of vampires, this can be a different take on vampire mythology all-together. What makes it so exciting (for me at least) is how the bulk of the cast are as ancient as they can be. For example, the main character has lived during the times of the Roman Empire and the Fall of Carthage. So if you enjoy a bit of history, this is definitely one read you'll enjoy.
Can you tell us a little bit about the world that The Long Night (Fortier Series) is set in?
It takes place in modern Texas. Vampires have lived for almost as long as humans deep underground after the Salem Witch Trials, they are families, ruling hierarchies. They trade, and buy just as any mortal would do.
Nearly all historic events and civilizations have influenced the world of today, as most characters have deep roots in history as they have lived it. There are also ground rules set by the Elders for all vampires to follow, one of them forbidding the supernatural from contacting the natural world. Yet within every society, there are rebels and mischiefs as much as there are those who live and honor the rules.
Do you have a favorite scene in The Long Night?
There was one scene in particular that sparked the entire concept of the book in my head. I knew that whatever happened, I just had to reach that point in particular. I can't really mention what it is, but the combination, tension, and conflict of power around just one table was thrilling to write.
You hear stories how authors kill their darlings, and to me this scene was a prime example of such practice. When I first wrote that scene, it was just like I imagined it (I avoided writing it in advance, to serve as a motivation to continue writing) but in the grand scheme of things, it just fell short. It was hurting the plot more than it was helping and that is why I completely rewrote it to the point where I couldn't recognize it -being my favorite scene to write- but all in all, it was for the greater good.
Which one character out of all your books was your favorite to write about? What about the hardest to write about?
You would imagine it would be Alfred, the main character but no. It was Dave. An insecure, dimwitted but kind writer who had a death wish. I loved writing his character and the growth and impact that he had on the story almost demanded that I write something exclusive to him.
The hardest character to write for was -ironically- the main character Alfred, and not just because he scared the heck out of me. In terms of writing, you have to avoid writing overpowered characters; that is a sacred law. A character without weakness is just lazy writing... or is it? There are so many things you can do with a character like Alfred, so what if he's the Strongest? What sense of danger would he be in? Can he be everywhere at the same time? Those are some of the questions I had to answer when writing the book.
What Other Projects can we look forward to reading from you?
I have another series called "Titanlord" which was my first real project. Book 1 is out right now, and currently, I'm in the process of finishing the first draft of book 2. Meanwhile, I've already started outlining the next installment of Fortier. I do have a working title, but I think a better announcement here would be the first few words that open the next book:
You are your father's son.
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He is best known for his Secret of the Moonlight which was featured on Wattpad.
Find M.G. Darwish and his books
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The Long Night: Blood Will Be Served
Fortier #2
The Vampire Alfred, is known as the Fortier. Vicious, renowned and feared.
Alfred Zeidan is proclaimed Fortier, the Strongest amongst the vampires. After ending a century old feud between the two most prominent vampire houses, he sets out to rid his race of a shadow that has long haunted them.
The Elders have been the deciding factor in the fall of so many civilizations that date back to Carthage and the Romans. So many have fallen to them, but now Alfred as the Strongest takes on this challenge.
No one has ever considered a world without the Elders running it, would it spread chaos in the Underground? Or will it shift the balance of the supernatural completely? One thing is for certain: Alfred intends to see this through. Will he succeed? Or will succumb as those before him?
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