Dragon Soul Press had the opportunity to interview Mario Caric, an author featured in The Hunt anthology.

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I’m Mario and I come from Croatia. While English is not my native language, it has always been my favorite, especially when it comes to writing fiction. This is why I had spent twenty years learning the craft (and language) to be able to compete with other talented English-speaking (and writing) authors out there. Apart from my love toward writing genre fiction, I also hold a PhD in Archeology, though I work as a bioanthropologist, where skulls and bones that often appear in my fiction have become my everyday occurrence.

1. What prompted you to begin writing?
   • The possibility of being transported to another world and time via the power of written word. Though I loved being the observer in those worlds created by others, over time I wanted to become a creator myself. There were certain genres and characters which had inspired the creative spark in me, and I wanted to do my take on them.
2. Do you have a favorite story or poem you’ve written? What’s it about?
   • While I can’t say I have a favorite one, but if I absolutely had to pick, it would be “Wights of
     Winterwood” because it was the first one to be published
     (https://swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/wights-of-winterwood/). It is part of my dark fantasy
     Marked Mercenary series of short stories, of which one is also featured in the Dragon Soul
     Press’ The Hunt anthology. This particular tale is one of the earliest in the cycle, following the
     titular Marked Mercenary, Glain, who makes his way across the haunted landscape right after
     the loss of the last person he ever loved, and who loved him. I think I managed to convey
     Glain’s inner state of desperation through the depiction of exterior events.
3. How many projects do you have planned over the next few years? Tell us about one.
   • While I did some experimenting with sci-fi, science fantasy, and horror short stories recently, I
     continue building on the Marked Mercenary cycle, since it really started to pick up the pace,
     from the publishing perspective. I have the ending planned, so I’d like to complete the saga,
     though new tales keep popping up, slowing me down somewhat and preventing me from
     reaching the finish line anytime soon. There is also a very personal side project which I describe
     as my version of Stephen King’s Dark Tower series (which had also impacted me immensely),
     but sans the real-world stuff and a lot more action thrown in.
4. What is your writing process like?
   • I am one of the so-called ‘outliners’; I start off with an outline of the story, then develop it into a
     synopsis, and then a full-blown tale. Most of the time, during the writing process itself, I will
     change (add and/or remove) bits and pieces to adapt the idea to the words that come out on
     paper. Many times, the final version will differ significantly from the initial idea, but mostly for the better, I think.
5. Where do you draw inspiration from?
   • Everywhere; from an image that flashes into the mind seemingly by itself, or a story I read and
     get inspired by a certain segment, and then decide to built up on it. Like most authors say, your
     everyday life is your greatest inspiration, even for the most outlandish stuff.
6. Who is your favorite author / what is your favorite book?
   • Huh, I have several, but the one who got me into genre fiction is the great Robert E. Howard
     and his Conan and Kull short stories, which is also why I prefer the short story format over long
     form storytelling. I think Howard really nailed that narrative form. Stephen King is also a massive influence, and I consider him the easiest author to read, which speaks volumes of his mastery of the written word. However, he tends to write himself into a corner (his words), since he is not an ‘outliner’, but rather writes as it comes to him. This makes his long-form stuff lose its steam, in my humble opinion.
7. What is one goal you have for your writing future?
   • Like other writers, I’d like to be able to write the stuff I like full-time. Apart from that, I’d like to try myself in writing a novel someday, one that would hopefully catch enough attention. Many
     people go for novel-length material nowadays, with most products ending up being subpar at
     best, which in turn makes the market oversaturated with low quality stuff. I wouldn’t like my
     potential novel to join those ranks.
8. What do you hope readers enjoy most from your work?
   • I’d like them to have as much fun reading my work as I had fun writing it. That’s all. No big
     philosophy behind it. I’d like my writing to inspire readers like I was inspired by other authors to
     take up writing all those years ago.
9. Where can readers learn more about you?
   • Since I’m not too keen on social media and the numerous platforms, readers can contact me via
     Goodreads and find me stalking the Whetstone S&S Tavern Discord channel, hosted by Dr. Jason Ray Carney, a publisher and a prominent Robert E. Howard scholar. Feel free to drop a line.