Surf, sun, sand — a stark contrast to the moody mind of Michael Forman and his dark stories. He’s said to reside in a popular beachside suburb south of Perth. The question needs to be asked: If he’s in Western Australia, where exactly is he?
Mysteries are part of Forman’s literary repertoire. It’s not unusual for one of his creepy protagonists to pop up in such a community and cause serious carnage to innocent, everyday citizens.
Oh, for goodness’ sake, I’m in Mandurah! It’s no secret. I’m not hiding. I’m here in suburbia — making a living in Mandurah. Everyone lives somewhere. I live here, in a sunny coastal region of Australia.
Mandurah citizens are safe. There’s no carnage here.
And the sand and surf have nothing to do with hiding or being found.
I write stories. That’s it. I manufacture make-believe so readers can enjoy reading it.
The world outside my window plays no part in it. I’m accessible. I’m right on this page!
But if it makes readers happy to believe in author cliches, I’ll take back what I said and tell you I write in a poorly lit room of my broken-down beach shack. It’s in a bad state of disrepair. It’s dingy, rank, and nothing works.
There’s no heating in Winter or cooling in Summer, and the plumbing groans when it’s used. When it rains, the roof leaks so much that it’s drier to stand outside.
Children tell each other stories of the wild man who lives inside the overgrown shack and wonder which room he hides the bodies in.
During Halloween, they dare each other to knock on my front door and then run away. Occasionally, one doesn’t succeed and ends up in my secret body room instead.
I digress. Writing is mostly smoke and mirrors.
Some authors live in comfort while writing corroded, dystopian worlds into their texts.
Others live in squalor while writing stories of wealth and power.
It’s just make-believe — those differences that make good writers better writers. A bit of research and a creative fire will always get a story over the line.
Everyone knows that. Well, I assume they do.
So yes, I live in a postcard world, but my soul is forever chained to the darkness.
I can’t help it.
I write from the shadows, so I counteract that by living in a place with plenty of sunshine. It rescues me. Light is a lifeline out of that place. Mandurah resets my life force. It grounds me when my dark writing journeys come to a close.
I’m not hiding. My somewhere is a small home in a holiday town situated between Perth and Bunbury, Western Australia. It’s nowhere special, but to me, it’s home and serves a purpose.
I’m easily found. The local karaoke scene knows me. Just ask around!
Discover more from Michael Forman – Author of Dark Fiction & Drama
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