Name: Mark Chartrand

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri

Currently Lives: Navarre Beach, Florida

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What made you want to become a writer?

In all honesty I read "Empire Falls" By Richard Russo. His story and character development blew me way. I found myself feeling as if I was in the book with the characters themselves. When I wrote my first book "A Dog Named Chilli" I wanted readers to feel the same way. I hope I did Mr. Russo proud.

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How do you choose the names of your characters?

 

MC: I chose the names of my characters for this book after family, friends, characters from my favorite T.V. shows and movies as well as pets I had growing up.

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What is your favorite characters to develop for your books?

 

MC: I get character ideas from the many road trips I take. People who when we meet are strangers, but by the time I am ready for the next stop, they've become friends. During those conversations you learn so much about people. Their stories help develop ideas for my characters. 

 

Besides writing, what are your other interests?

 

MC: Other than writing, I love St. Louis Cardinal Baseball. One of the books I wrote that will be out soon titled “Out of Play” is based on the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs rivalry. Even though he is a grown man, I love hanging out and doing things with my son Cohl. I really enjoy going to concerts or live music performances. One of my greatest memories of a live performance was seeing B.B. King on Beale Street in Memphis. I’m an avid moviegoer. I enjoy working out, camping, float trips, anything that has to do with the ocean, and of course going on rides with my best buddy, my dog Chilli!

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If your book "A Dog Named Chilli" was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

 

MC: If this book were made into a movie, I would like to see Ryan Reynolds play Chilli. Charlie Day play Hercules, Kevin Hart to play Lucky, Zac Efron to play Thomas, Christian Bale would play Higgins, Hugh Grant would play Elton, Joe Pesche and Robert Deniro to play the Farillo Brothers, Samuel L. Jackson would play Razor, Bradley Cooper would play Carl, Charlie Sheen would play Bandit, Vince Vaughn would play Harry, and Charlize Theron would play Rose… I’d be lying if I hadn’t given this some thought (wink, wink Hollywood)! I think this group of talented actors would make a great movie!

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Five favorite books of all time?

 

MC: My five favorite books of all time are:

1) ” Empire Falls ” by Richard Russo

2) ” The Life We Bury ” by Allen Eskens

3) ” Paper Boats ” by Thao Lam

4) ” The Stand ” by Stephen King

5) Anything written by Author’s Michael Connelly, and David Baldacci

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Want to know anything else? Send Mark a DM here or on instagram, Mark loves responding to fans!