Calvin Markus creates unique reading experience

Calvin Markus, a first-year student at SCC, has recently self-published two unique books, which feature their own soundtrack.

The first book, "Mind Gutters," is made up of three short stories. The second book, "A Loose Portrait of Body," is a collection of 50 poems and 50 illustrations. Both books contain a CD created by Markus and fellow musicians.

Markus, who has been playing music for the past seven years, plays guitar, bass and piano. He also does electronic sound manipulation. Interested in film scoring, he wanted to create an atmosphere to go along with his books. He timed the music to match the time it would take an average reader to read his stories. Markus describes the CDs as "atmospheric soundscapes."

"They are original instrumental scores," he says.

Markus, 19, graduated from Corona High School in Tempe. This is his second semester at SCC. "I started as a film major," he said, "but I decided I liked to write more."

He describes his short stories as "flash fiction"; they are very short stories. He finds poetry much more difficult to write. "They are a lot more dream- like images", he says.

Markus likes the idea of combining music with words. "Literature can be as limitless as film can," he says,."The music creates an atmosphere., I like scoring, that's what I wanted to do with film, so I decided to score my books."

"Another reason I wanted to do this," he said, "Is because I think my generation doesn't read unless they have to. I grew up on MTV, I'm just now getting into reading."

In addition to self-publishing the two books, Markus has also had his work published locally. "Funeral Balloons," one of his short stories, was published in Hoozdo Magazine, and another, " The Abortionist," was chosen and published in the Fall 2008 Maple/Ash Review.

Changing Hands Bookstore is marketing both of his books, as part of the "Page 23 Program." "The bookstore selects readers who appeal to younger generations, they send 10 copies to 10 different bookstores in 10 different states. If the bookstores want to buy more, then I will send them more books. So then I'll be distributed, and that's what I'm working on-being distributed," he says.."

Though Markus has written before, he really began seriously writing last year. He likes that writing classes motivate him to write more and gives him the opportunity to meet other writers. He is not necessarily interested in future academic goals, but rather just in continuing to write, publish, get a following and be able to make a living off his writing.

"I like writing because it's active," he says, "The reader pictures what they want, and it's different for everyone. That's what I like about it."

For more information, check out Markus' website at www.calvinmarkus.com