Phobias
by Mark Robson
February 17, 2007
There is a surprising amount of material on the web about this subject. I must admit that I had no idea that phobias were so prevalent and was a bit taken aback by the amount of reading material available. However, the kind people at: The National Phobics Society have helped me to cut through the swathe of information to the sort of stuff I was looking for.
One of my main characters in the Dragon Orb series is going to suffer from various phobias, but as someone who has never really suffered any, it is going to be a challenge to make her fears convincing. As well as my every increasing stack of research reading, I am currently making arrangements to interview a few phobic people to try to understand what they go through.
The variety of phobias that people suffer is totally astonishing. It would be very easy for some to laugh at people who suffer phobias like those who belong to this group: UK Toilet Phobia Group but the more I read about phobias, the more I realise that any phobic condition is no laughing matter. Recent research has demonstrated that up to about 1.5% of the world’s population suffer from one form of phobia or another. That’s approximately 89 million people who suffer from debilitating fears! That sort of statistic makes it feel all the more worthwhile including such things in my story.
Here’s a little challenge I found - a simple matching game. Follow the link to see if you can match the top 10 most common phobias with their correct names. It’s not as easy as you might think: Phobia Challenge If we can’t even name them, how can we begin to understand them?
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Hello Mark, i’m a italian boy.
I’m sorry for my off-topic but I need to congratulate with you for your new book “Imperial Spy”.
I have read the book in less than 5 days: exciting, spectacular, being involved… I have decided to buy also the old series and will attend the arrival in Italy of sequel the “Imperial Assassin”. I ask excuse if the translation is not optimal…
Congratulations again…
Comment by Dario — February 20, 2007 @ 7:29 am
Hello, Dario,
Many thanks for your message. I’m most glad that you enjoyed Imperial Spy - I assume that you read it in the Mondadori edition - La Spia Di Shandar? I’m not sure yet when Imperial Assassin will be translated, but I hope that it will not be too long.
Your English is most impressive, unlike my Italian! I hope you continue to enjoy my work and look forward to hearing what you think of the other books.
Comment by Mark Robson — February 21, 2007 @ 5:55 pm
Yes, I have read the Mondadori edition “La spia di Shandar”.
I am a simple reader, and sure my observations aren’t comparable to famous critics, but I’m totally agreeable with the Licia Troisi’s words: “Una saga dai ritmi serrati e dalle atmosfere intriganti, con una protagonista decisamente fuori dagli schemi.” I hope that the continuation will come translate and published soon, at the moment, I have already ordered “The Forging of the Sword” in English version…
Thanks for your answer Mark, I’m honored!!!
Comment by Dario — February 22, 2007 @ 9:00 am
My very best wishes to you, Dario. Good luck with reading The Forging of the Sword. I cannot imagine being so taken with a translated book that I would be moved to read the author’s other works in a second language. (Perhaps this is because I’m particularly poor at learning other languages!) I’m most flattered that you are going to do so. :-)
Comment by Mark Robson — February 26, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
hello, i have read all of your books, great! You came to our school (warneford)
Comment by James — February 28, 2007 @ 9:02 am
Thanks for the message, James. Great to see you here. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to your school and hope I shall see you again, either in a signing event in Swindon, or in a future school event. It’s always good to hear from readers who have enjoyed my work - it’s what keeps me writing.
Comment by Mark Robson — March 2, 2007 @ 7:52 pm
hi mark robson i have heard alot about you and your comng 2 my school on monday 14th (st clement danes)i can’t wait to read one of your books.
Comment by Amy — May 13, 2007 @ 11:29 am
Your books are really GREAT!I am REALLY excited for Aurora to come out on August 2009!
Comment by DeclanCooke — April 30, 2009 @ 7:50 am
I think your book is amazing I can’t wait to get all the series i have curly hair and i met you today at waterstones thanks for sighning my book
Comment by archie conlon — July 24, 2010 @ 9:40 pm
your book is amazing I can’t wait to get the hole series I have curly hair and i met you at waterstones and thanks for sighning my book I feel esctatic dragons rock
Comment by archie conlon — July 24, 2010 @ 9:42 pm
I think your better than roaldh dahl and all the famous book wrighters soon i will be just like you
Comment by archie conlon — July 24, 2010 @ 9:46 pm
Thanks, Archie. Glad to see I have another enthusiastic fan out there. :D
Comment by Mark Robson — July 26, 2010 @ 12:52 pm