60 seconds with MK Schultz

What drives a horror author to blend conspiracy theories, aliens and artificial intelligence into one novel?

In 60 seconds, author MK Schultz discusses his journey from a small town in Ontario to finding his artistic voice through writing. Schultz discusses his latest novel, Hard Copy and how he uses the blend of aliens, AI and conspiracy theories within it to tackle themes of good vs. evil.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in a small rural town in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario, Canada.

I had been seriously thinking about writing a book since around year 2000. I finally started writing my first novel in 2016. In hindsight, my love for writing was sprinkled throughout my entire life. I just never realised writing was my passion until my debut started taking shape.

How did you discover your passion for writing?

My father is a very eccentric artist who has been given the gift to paint, sculpt, draw, build, play music, and sing. Growing up in his midst was so inspirational, but it also became a source of sadness for me later on in life when I felt like I missed out on my own passion because I didn’t believe that I had inherited any of his talents. Then, when I discovered my passion for writing, it all clicked in such an epic way for me. I realised that I did inherit my father’s artistic talents after all.

My debut novel was a result of me trying to figure out my life during a strange and difficult period. When it turned into a story, I found something I had been searching for since childhood. A change occurred in me as I continued writing and so I mirrored this change on the main character and together, we grew and evolved.

Writing is my art and my passion, and I am so happy to have found something that feels like my destiny.

What led you to write novels in the horror / sci-fi genre?

For me, TV and movies have always had such a massive impact in my life. As a child of the 80’s (the greatest decade) I consumed vast quantities of stories in this medium, even more than through reading, although I did read as well.

My inspirations are Stephen King, Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell, Clint Eastwood, and Quentin Tarantino to name a few. I loved 80s sitcoms, and horror and sci-fi movies.

Are there any themes or messages that you aim to explore in your books?

All of my books contain themes of good vs. evil. I don't think I planned it that way, but when I look back at my books, I do see that as a common theme. Some of my favorite books and movies involve revenge, where the victim rises up to defeat the enemy. It gives me chills to see justice being served: good defeating evil, the weak overpowering the strong, etc. Perhaps it's the vast contrast that appeals to me so much.

Tell me about your latest book, Hard Copy, the themes you explore and the inspiration behind it.

Hard Copy explores themes of failed relationships, love, humour, alcoholism, indifference, dysfunctional work environments and deep thoughts pertaining to aliens, conspiracy theories and artificial intelligence.

It was inspired by my fascination with space, aliens and an artificial intelligence.

I have always been a deep thinker, questioning the seemingly simple things in life, such as déjà vu, sleep, dreams, and our perception of reality. Theology has interested me since adolescence. Sometimes, my frustration with the corruption and hypocrisy of religion is vented a bit in my writing as I express my observations, thoughts, and feelings on the subject.

A little later in life, physics and other sciences involving the universe really began to take hold of me. Finally, conspiracy theories and the idea of aliens existing among us have also played an important role in my interests. I am very interested in artificial technology and robots and enjoy thinking about how our world will change. My mind is open to the possibility of aliens, both far and near. These are all elements that I tried to explore in this novel, and I hope readers will be entertained and intrigued by the content.

Are there any elements of yourself in Hard Copy?

There is a scene in Hard Copy where the main character undergoes a sleep test to determine if he has sleep apnea. For this scene, I was able to draw from my own personal experience.

I began writing the sleep test scene while I was undergoing a real-life sleep test. At the hospital where it took place, they allowed me to work on my laptop for a couple of hours before lights out, and as I lay with wires coming out from me everywhere, I had little difficulty capturing the mood of the scene. I enjoy writing scenes in my books based on events happening in my own life from time to time.

During the sleep study, the main character is visited by an alien presence undetectable to the sleep clinic's monitoring. I thought about how that would feel as I tried to imagine it from within my own experience at the time.

Are there any specific scenes in your novels that were challenging to write?

There is a humorous and touching scene in Hard Copy where the two main characters take part in a live theatre play.

In this scene, the AI robot makes arrangements for the main character, Ray, to take part in a live theatrical play based on the TV series, Gilligan's Island. There is a reason for this, and it goes beyond the selflessness she demonstrates due to her love for Ray. Basically, Ray has grown indifferent to the world and everything in it after being abducted by aliens in his early years. The only thing that makes him feel content and at peace in the present is watching old re-runs of Gilligan's Island. This is because it reminds him of a simpler time in his life before the aliens, when things felt normal to him. He is simply trying to recapture the feeling that has been lost to him.

I found it challenging to capture the mood of this scene because it seemed too far-fetched at first. It was challenging for me to fix because I had never been in a play other than a brief, non-speaking scene when I was in grade one. I asked a friend of mine, who is a theatre actor, for advice. He gave me some great insight into the world of live theatre and suggested that the cast would never welcome participants from the general public to spontaneously take part in the production they had worked so hard on for so long. To fix the scene, he suggested I change the play to an audience improv participation night that does actually exist out there in the realm of theatre.

And as for finding this rare production seemingly random out of nowhere? There is another explanation for that, but it would be a major spoiler.

And finally, can you share any memorable fan interactions or feedback you’ve received?

At my last book signing event, I was approached by three separate fans of my books who dropped by to say hello and buy some of my other books. One man in particular really made me super pumped when he walked up to my table with a grin on his face while holding my first book in his hands. Then he said, “The dream is true.” I almost cried, because that is the title of my blog, and he proceeded to tell me that he had been following my writing journey since the very beginning. We talked for several minutes, and it was such a special experience for me to know that someone out there really appreciates what I am doing and enjoys my work.

About MK Schultz:

MK Schultz is an award-winning Canadian sci-fi/horror author. His most recent works include Hard Copy, The Muse and the Kassius Kanex trilogy. A father of two young adults, he lives in a wooded area on the outskirts of Ottawa, Canada. He and his wife are avid outdoor enthusiasts in all seasons. Although formally educated in architecture, his true passion is writing. Schultz is currently writing his sixth novel to be released in 2025.

Find MK Schultz here.

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