Marc Mulero - Action-packed Dystopian Sci-Fi

When Marc Mulero isn't hard at work in the business force (or the Spock-side of this world, as he calls it), he indulges in flights of fantasy through his writing. His debut novel, Unearthed, is action-packed, intense and thought-provoking. As our author of the day, Mulero reveals how the main character Blague came to exist, how he defines the rules for his world and which actors he would like to see in Unearthed, should it ever get a movie adaptation.

Please give us a short introduction to Unearthed 

We are all born into the world to inevitably experience the unknown, to adapt to our surroundings. All of us have varying degrees of resilience, equipped to endure our struggles as far as we will allow. But what if we were stripped of all that is good? What if you and your neighbor were robbed of hope? Would you accept the fate that has been molded by the reigning, or would you band together and fight? Unearthed is that story. It embarks on an adventure in which all of these questions become reality for the ill-fated. Follow the class that has been bound to exile, the Sins, and experience those who will stop at nothing to rise above their oppressors. Watch as they grapple to find vitality, which is known only to those who have been pushed through hell and back.

Why did you name Blague's group Sins?

The Sins make up the lowest ranking class within a new-world hierarchy, which is banished from the rest of society. Blague is but one of many in this horde, who are confined to “exiled continents” that broke apart from the mainland after the devastating quake. A great deal of thought went into the focal class of this novel, including how the elite echelon would define the dirt of their world. What better way to shamefully label those unworthy‎ to participate in the rebuilding and ultimate prosperity of society, but to dub them a Sin?

How did you come up with the character of Blague? Was he inspired by anyone? 

Blague was not inspired by any living or fictional character.   When developing him, my approach consisted of mapping out the history of events he had endured prior to the starting point in the book. I pondered heavily on the effects each experience would cause, given that he has a willful personality with exceptional fortitude. Finally, I brought him to life in my mind by jotting down his responses to philosophical questions and visualizing his actions to different situations. He became distinctive from this process, separating him from nearly every other leader you may have experienced in the arts. What you see from the very beginning is the mysterious product of this amalgamation.  As his history unfolds, I expect that the depths of his character will become evident to the reader.   

Are you working on any new writing projects at present?

I'm currently working on the second installment in the Unearthed saga, Allegory of Pain. Now that the world has been painted, my intention for this book is to present more ambitious science fiction elements and provide more expansive character depth, all within the parameters of an impactful, winding story.

Do you have a set of rules for your world? Is there a process you go through that helps define these?

The setting of Unearthed is a universe that runs parallel to ours. It is bound by similar laws of physics and has progressed in a comparable fashion. The factors that differentiate their world from ours are the events that have rattled their earth, and the motives that have been generated following the discovery of certain abnormal chemicals. Once the possibilities within this world are broadened, the ruling class begins to shift and their efforts become focused on ulterior motives.

The process that helps to maintain the stature of the Unearthed universe is the constant recall of what took place, in relation to the actions and motives of each character.  

If Unearthed would ever receive a movie adaptation, which actors would you like to see in the lead roles? 

I’ve given this question a great deal of thought prior to you posing it. To start, I would be honored to work with Christopher Nolan in directing such a film. I think he has the ability to capture the story’s darkness and properly synthesize that tone with a sense of adventure and camaraderie.

Although I won’t assign specific roles, I would enjoy actors such as Michael Fassbender, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Johnny Depp, Emma Watson, Sally Field, and maybe Leonardo DiCaprio to take part in the movie.

I promise, if this ever came to be and I had any say in the matter, the action scenes will not be a choppy mash-up of close ups and shaky cameras, like many films in this genre.

What are some things you did to make sure you keep the Sci-Fi believable?

I attempted to keep the introduction of these elements subtle; the discovery of the elements derived from very natural and believable events. My intention was to intertwine the supporting characters’ intrigue of these elements with that of the reader’s.

Do writing about surreal worlds and enigmatic scenes present any particular problems?

Personally, I find the most joy and ease in writing the first draft of enigmatic scenes. When writing such a scene, it’s very easy for it to become unworldly and out of control. The problem arises when trying to keep the ideas grounded and believable to some extent.

What was your greatest challenge when writing this book?

The toughest aspect of writing this book would have to be making sure that the pace was appropriate, in an effort to ensure that the reader would be engaged from start to finish. As I went through my 2^nd to 100^th read-through, I wanted to be certain that the overall story didn’t drag and that the action scenes didn’t seem meaningless.

What do you hope readers take away from the novel?

It would be a great sense of accomplishment for me if readers are thoroughly entertained throughout the book and become invested in the characters. I also hope that a read through will pique a reader’s interest and leave them yearning for more.

Where can our readers interact with you or discover more of your work?

Currently, the best place to reach me is via email: [email protected]. I’ve received some interesting inquiries and fan mail so far. I do my best to respond back to everyone in a timely manner. I’m working with my publicist to create more havens to help expand my interaction with others. Stay tuned and enjoy!