A Visionary in Demand

Marjorie K. Noble’s journey from English teacher to casting director to published author is a story of creativity, transformation, and a deep love for storytelling. A California native, Noble’s passion for literature began early, and her curiosity for the written word shaped the trajectory of her career in unexpected ways. Today, she is recognized for writing engaging, cinema-inspired novels, including her notable horror novel The Demon Rift and her science fiction work Babylon Dreams. Noble’s writing combines her years of experience in film and theater with her enthusiasm for speculative fiction, resulting in stories that appeal to both readers and filmmakers.

Growing up, Noble was an avid reader, exploring everything from comic books to classic novels, and even cereal boxes. Her childhood love of books deepened when her family moved to Glendale, California. At just fifteen, she discovered a box of science fiction novels left behind by previous tenants. Authors like Ray Bradbury, Theodore Sturgeon, Isaac Asimov, and Robert Heinlein filled the box, igniting a lifelong fascination with the genre. “Holy moly, what a gift!” she recalls. “Bradbury, Sturgeon, Heinlein, Asimov were there. What a blissful summer! I fell in love with science fiction.” That pivotal summer sparked her imagination and influenced the ambitious projects she would later undertake as an author.

Noble’s background in film and theater significantly informs her writing, particularly in her exploration of nuanced characters and immersive settings. She began her storytelling journey as a theater major at UCLA, where she studied acting and cultivated an appreciation for narrative structure. Her career evolved as she transitioned into casting, eventually founding a location casting company in Reno before moving to Los Angeles to work as a casting director. It was during her time as an English teacher in East LA that Noble decided to pursue writing more seriously. Inspired by the extensive collection of young adult novels she encountered while teaching, she took the leap into writing her first novel, The Demon Rift, a horror story that spans generations and delves into themes of family, trauma, and redemption.

The Demon Rift marked the beginning of Noble’s literary journey. Her next project, Babylon Dreams, signified a shift toward speculative fiction, focusing on virtual reality (VR) and its potential implications on life, death, and identity. The novel tells the story of Gunter, a man living as a digital entity in a virtual afterlife called Bali Hai, where he must confront his past and the profound consequences of his actions. As a digital being, Gunter struggles with fragmented memories and fears that his past will catch up with him. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about what it means to exist in a digital afterlife, where the lines between the real and the virtual are blurred.

In discussing Babylon Dreams, Noble explains that the novel was inspired by an article she read by futurist Ray Kurzweil, who spoke about mind uploading and the possibility of creating utopian virtual worlds. Noble was intrigued by the concept of VR as a paradise, but she also wondered, “Just how glorious would it be?” Babylon Dreams explores that question by imagining a world where the mind is uploaded to a digital Eden, only to be haunted by the sins of the past. “It’s a what-if science fiction novel,” says Noble. “A Citizen Kane in VR.” The novel blends noir elements with speculative fiction to examine the complexities and potential downsides of virtual immortality.

Babylon Dreams has received critical praise, with Kirkus Reviews describing it as a “challenging but compelling vision of a privatized, synthetic heaven slowly eaten away by ungodly capitalism, cupidity, and the sins of its founder.” As Noble continues to work on the sequel, The Dark Side of Dreams, the story delves deeper into the nature of identity and what defines us as individuals. The protagonist from the first book, Gunter Holden, appears in The Dark Side of Dreams in a new form: a mind-uploaded copy of his original self. The sequel investigates the implications of identity in a world where digital copies of people can exist long after their physical death.

With the virtual reality theme playing a central role in both novels, Noble’s work has resonated with readers interested in the intersection of technology, ethics, and the human experience. In addition to Babylon Dreams and its sequel, Noble is also working on a third novel, The Daevas, which follows a woman pursued by ancient demigods known as the Daevas. Her diverse body of work highlights her versatility as an author and her talent for blending genres and themes in innovative and thought-provoking ways.

Noble’s approach to writing reflects both her passion for storytelling and her practical approach to the craft. Despite the challenges she faced in her journey to becoming an author, including struggles with attention deficit, she has remained dedicated to the writing process. “It helps to be curious,” she says, pointing to the constant exploration of new ideas and characters as a driving force behind her work. “What makes a character interesting? Why do they do what they do? Research makes for more believable characters.”

For aspiring writers, Noble offers valuable advice: “Be open and curious. Write for the pleasure of it. Read. Social media is necessary.” She encourages writers to embrace constructive criticism and remain persistent, noting that success is not defined solely by sales but by the fulfillment that comes from pursuing one’s passion. “Success is doing what you love,” she says, reflecting on her own journey of self-discovery as a writer.

Looking ahead, Noble is enthusiastic about completing The Dark Side of Dreams and continuing her exploration of identity in a digital age. “What if you lost all your memories, or what if your memories started to fade? How many of you would remain?” These are the questions she continues to address in her writing. With her extensive knowledge of both the literary and film industries, Noble’s work is likely to appeal to fans of science fiction, speculative fiction, and psychological thrillers for years to come.

Noble’s career as a writer serves as a testament to the importance of following one’s curiosity and embracing change. Her transition from casting director to author demonstrates that it’s never too late to pursue a passion—and that the stories we create can transcend boundaries, whether on the page or on the screen.

Find it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Babylon-Dreams-M-K-Noble/dp/0578352281

Published by Anne C.