An Interview with Malcolm Farrell-Mitchell

Malcolm Farrell-Mitchell is an Australian-born migrant to Ireland. He is a fan of absurdism, escapism, and humour. Whilst his head is based in Dublin working in the world of travel and events, his heart is in the clouds with fantasy, elves, and magic. He has loved writing all his life, and never had an interest in doing anything with it until his mother (also see ‘Editor’) encouraged him to submit a story to a writing competition. He has been miserably trying to write a book for almost five years, and this is the closest he has gotten to something he likes. But more importantly, it brings him immense joy. He’s now getting freaked out by writing in third person for so long. He is thirty-one years of age and is getting married to an Irish woman who is far smarter, more creative, and more beautiful than him in Sicily in September 2025. Perhaps she should have submitted something. Anyway, when you said biography, this is what you meant, right?

What inspired you to start writing this book?

I’ve always been interested in the workings of religion, fantasy and mythology. I’ve always particularly liked the idea of Greek mythology and Gods that are flawed, much like the humans that revere them. Then I wondered what it would be like if one of those flawed Gods was speaking to me directly.

Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

“The Diary of a God” is the working title of this fantasy novel. The story is written from the first-person perspective of a God that chooses our protagonist, ‘Phil’, to be the first person to have a direct line of communication with a God.

When the world finds out about Phil’s power, he is hunted by three groups of people: those who wish to worship him, those who wish to jail him, and those who wish to control or kill him.

As the story progresses, Phil learns of his ability to control magic and that he comes from a long line of ‘Bards’ with the ability to affect the world. He also learns that the reason that magic exists is because it was the effect of the death of a God; Gaudium, the God of Joy.

It’s a working title for now, but as the book is written from the first-person perspective of a God, it made sense—I welcome feedback!

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

“Immigrant Song” – Led Zeppelin

“Wona” – Mumford & Sons

“I Am Woman” – Helen Reddy

“Brand New Key” – Melanie

“We’ve Got To Get Out of This Place” – The Angels

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I have worked in tourism all of my life, and still do. Until writing actually works out. My passion for writing comes from a hedonistic desire for escapism. Whether or not I’m desperately trying to find my next physical escape to Tahiti or Budapest or Perth or Venezuala, or whether it’s my next mental escape through Adams, Pratchett, Tolkien, or Sanderson.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

My mother. No further comment.

What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?

This advice is equally to my current self as my past self. Commit. We’re going to do something with this writing thing whether we like it or not. We enjoy it and that’s what matters, so we’re going to find time every day to make it work. Your work and your (soon-to-be) wife are the only things that come first.

What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?

If I ever finish this book, and you ever read it. I hope that what sticks with you is a sense of wonder and a memory that all of the best things in life are here already.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.