Name: Mark Velvis
Age: 26
Occupation: Writer/ College Student
Hometown: Delmar, New York
A: So Mark, why English?
M: I love language… I find it fascinating that a few scribbles can change the world! I like language used in personally effective ways.
(Mark expanded upon this telling of his fascination with William Shakespeare, specifically A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
M: The way he uses language is beautiful. Learning Shakespeare opens up a new world of comedy and tragedy.
A: So tell me about Dante’s Inferno, why did you bring that book to show the class?
M: I like mythology. Dante creates a beautiful mythology mixed with Greek myth in order to create hell. The language in the book is beautiful.
A: So you see it as a fun read?
M: Oh yeah!
A: Are there modern writers you like?
M: Allan Moore, a graphic novelist, and Carlos Ruiz Zafón for his work A Shadow of the Wind. They both use language in effective ways.
A: In your opinion, what is the best book to movie adaptation?
M: Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. J.R.R. Tolkien uses a stupid amount of descriptions that translate brilliantly to the screen. Some of the weirder stuff in the book was cut but the fantastic adventure is still there.
Top 5 Destinations Mark has been to.
- Greece
- Southern France
- London, England
- Holland
- Switzerland