Gotham Ghostwriters Craft Interviews highlight the extraordinary talent of our writer community. Each month, L. M. Archer interviews a member of our network about one of their books, delving into their inspiration and creative process.
This month, Archer asks writer Gregory Mone all about his new book, I, Skeletor.
You have a new book that was released in November. What was the impetus for writing it?
I, Skeletor is the fictional autobiography of the famed nemesis of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. The book was published on November 1st , and I’d love to be able to share an inspiring story about the genesis of the idea, but the truth is that Skeletor threatened me, so I had to write it.
He’d read my book with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry, while he was researching new ways to take over the universe, and I guess he liked my style.
How long did the process of writing the book take, from start to finish?
Again, I was being threatened daily, so it was pretty quick. A few months of very, very intense work.
What were the biggest challenges you encountered while writing it?
Voice! Skeletor has a very distinctive voice in the cartoons and the new Netflix series, which is the world in which this book is set. I really worked to get that right, and hope I hit the mark. Luckily, I worked closely with a few Masters of the Universe experts at Mattel, the brand’s owner.
Any unexpected lessons learned while writing the book?
It’s nice to write a story in a pre-built world, but challenging, too, as you have to find ways to be creative and put your stamp on the project without violating the rules, or changing the characters.
Any favorite chapter(s) and/or section(s)? If so, which one(s) and why?
The story itself is original, but based in the world of the new Netflix series He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, and Skeletor re-imagines a few of the events depicted in the series – sort of rewriting history in his favor. That was fun.
I’m also very proud of the dedication and the acknowledgments. He insults his friends in the former and refuses to thank anyone in the latter.
How has your affiliation with Gotham Ghostwriters (GG) helped inform your writing life?
A sense of solidarity and community! It’s nice to know that there are so many other people out there hustling to make this writing life work for themselves.
Where may readers obtain a copy of your book?
Anywhere, I hope. Not sure if they’re selling it on Eternia, Skeletor’s home planet, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find here in the Northern Hemisphere.
Thanks for reading!
