What does literary success look like to you? Holding a book with your name on it. Everyone’s definition of success is different, but if you’re only writing with the aim of getting rich and famous, you’re likely to be disappointed.
What’s your background, what compelled you to start writing?
I started writing funny tales about friends of mine when I was in school. I didn’t have many other hobbies at the time, and they were always popular amongst my classmates. Life happened, and it wasn’t until many years later I started to write again. I do it mainly because I enjoy it. If others enjoy my stories too, then that’s a nice bonus.
What book from your childhood do you remember the best? Why?
I grew up reading Goosebumps, which I attribute to my lifelong love of horror. If I had to choose one book that stuck with me the most, though, it would have to be Stephen King’s Firestarter, which I snuck from my parent’s bookshelf and devoured in a day. I can’t have been much older than eight at the time. It was like my beloved Goosebumps books, only better.
If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
Don’t be afraid. When I first started writing with an aim to publish, many stories ended up in the wastebasket unfinished. I was editing my stories so heavily as I went along, afraid that it would not be good enough, that I would run out of steam before I could finish them. But I’ve learnt to push through and focus on getting the story out first. There will be plenty of time for polish later.
What does literary success look like to you?
Holding a book with your name on it. Everyone’s definition of success is different, but if you’re only writing with the aim of getting rich and famous, you’re likely to be disappointed.
In relation to Beyond Human;
What sparked the idea for this book?
Beyond Human started out as a five-thousand-word short story I had written several months ago and left simmering on a back burner. Although I considered it complete, I felt there was more that could be done with it. When I saw Black Hare Press were accepting submissions for their Underground series, I decided to dust it off and expand it into the tale it deserved to be.
What challenges did you encounter to finish it?
I tend to get distracted when I’m writing. I need to be in a quiet room on my own if I’m going to get anything done. If the television is on in the background, I’ll end up watching it without even realising I am.
And, lastly;
What’s brewing? What projects are you working on?
I’ve been working on my debut novel, Blackstock Estate, for the last few months. I’ve not decided if I will self-publish or go the more traditional route with it. Either way, I hope to release it in the first half of 2021. I also have another two half-finished novels waiting patiently in the background. It can be hard to focus on one story for months at a time when I have a dozen other ideas screaming at me for attention, but it’s always fun.
Beyond Human by Matthew Clarke – Launches 23rd July 2021
/by Black Hare PressWhat does literary success look like to you? Holding a book with your name on it. Everyone’s definition of success is different, but if you’re only writing with the aim of getting rich and famous, you’re likely to be disappointed.