Michael David Matula's Blog: Author Michael Matula, page 2

Christian Larsen Author Interview

As promised, here's my video interview of author Christian A. Larsen from CapriCon 34.  In the interview, Christian talks about his debut sci-fi novel, Losing Touch, and shares a few of his thoughts on running his own table at a show.

Oh, and I should probably note that the dealer's room was only open for 2 hours on day 1 (a Thursday), and it was as cold as a Dear John letter that night, so that's why a few of the tables are still empty around us.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the video. 

CapriCon 34

Having a great time this weekend at CapriCon 34 in Wheeling, Illinois. Spotted a TARDIS in the wild, tried to sell a book to a chick wielding a fire axe, and even interviewed local Chicago author Chris Larsen on camera. Will try to share the interview once I edit out the parts where I went brain dead and couldn't think of any questions. For now, here are some pictures from my first day of the con.

I'll be there again Sunday, February 9th, 2014, from 11:00 to 3:00. 

 

Character Interview: Drew Adams from Starting Over: Starsville Book 1

STARTING OVER: STARSVILLE BOOK 1: Max deals with high school the way she deals with panic attacks… deep breaths and denial. But denying her brother’s friend is another thing altogether. Her nickname is ‘The Kid.’ She’s small, she’s socially awkward, and she desperately wants to be left alone. For most of her childhood, Max was punished for speaking, or for just being in the way. Life improved slightly when her abusive father was no longer in the picture, but she still felt the need to be invisible. Her older brother, Nate, is extremely protective and refuses to leave her side. He shelters her so she won’t be hurt again. They had a good system until he introduced her to his new best friend. Drew wants to coax Max out into the world so she can move beyond the pain. The method each boy takes in helping Max cope with her anxiety causes more conflict than Max is prepared to handle… especially when the school heart-breaker offers her more than a brotherly shoulder to lean on. 



Mike: Hello, Drew.  Tell us a little about the book you’re in, and how you fit into the story.

Drew: First of all, Mike, thank you for having me. I always thought my first interview would be after a hockey game, but this is cool. To answer your question, I’m in a series of books that aren’t really about me. I’m the best friend, the school heartbreaker, the captain of the hockey team, the rich boy next door, the popular kid… the everything really. But if I didn’t have a secret crush on my best friend’s little sister, I probably wouldn’t be very important at all.

Mike: What’s your background?  Is there anything people should know about you before they read your story, like where you grew up, or anything in your younger days that might have led you to this point?

Drew: I was born and raised in Starsville, Ontario, Canada. I met the majority of my friends and teammates in my toddler years, and I can’t really remember a time without them. Since Starsville has two universities and a college, I’m not sure any of us will ever leave. Why would we? It’s like party town!

Mike: How would you describe your relationship with the author?  For instance, is it a collaborative process, or does she tell you what to do?  And just between us—I’ll make sure to cut out this part, to keep it off the record—what are your personal feelings about her?

Drew: Hmm, I’m not sure I really have a relationship with the author. She pretty much lets me do whatever I want, so I play a lot of hockey and a lot of video games. Plus, she gave me all the best characteristics. Sure, I might have a bit of an ego, but I’m working on it. Maybe I should pass some of my confidence to the author; she could use some.

Mike: If you could star in any other book or film, which one would you choose?

Drew: Oh, I don’t know, Mike. Max is the book lover; Ty is the movie buff. No matter what I say here, I know they’re going to laugh.

Mike: Between adventures, what do you do to blow off steam?  Any hobbies?  Favorite vacation spots?

Drew: My family owns a cottage up north, so we go there a lot. I haven’t really been on any vacations, but I plan to travel around Europe someday. I don’t have a lot of steam to blow off. I’m pretty laid back. If I really need to get rid of some stress, then I hit the gym.

Mike: How has your experience been so far as a character in a novel?  Has it been challenging for you?

Drew: You know, until Nate and his sister showed up, my worst problem was trying to get the clingy girls to stop… well… clinging. Now, what I’d give to have that one particular girl cling to me. How can I be the popular guy and not even get noticed by her? Probably better. Nate would kill me if he knew.

Mike: Of your co-stars, is there anyone you simply can’t stand to be around, or anyone you could see yourself being friends with outside of this story?

Drew:  Jill. That answers both questions really. She’s blunt, outgoing, says what she means, calls it as it is, and is sarcastic as all hell. She pushes all my buttons. I don’t have many, but she’s found them all. But she’s awesome, means well, and will have your back to the death. She’s like my annoying little sister really… the sister I never had… but don’t tell her I said that.

Mike: Are there any actors who could do you justice in a movie?

Drew:  Brad Pitt… in like… his younger days… or, um, like him in Fight Club. Have you seen that movie? He’s freaking awesome! Except I guess they wouldn’t get an old dude to play a teen, right? Um… what about that guy from Glee? Yeah, I’ve seen a few episodes of that. I like their song mash-ups. Anyway, that one guy, he plays Sam something. I looked him up once… Chord Overstreet. Cool name. That guy would make a good me, I guess. He’s probably too old to play me too, but he can pull off the high school look. He can sing, play guitar, and dance… triple threat right there… or quadruple, I guess, ‘cause the acting too. I can’t dance. Chord would make me look good. He’s got kinda the same hair… or he used to anyway… so I guess he kinda looks like me. Can he skate? If so, then yeah, I’d choose him.

Mike: And finally, what are your plans for the future?  Any sequels you can tell us about?

Drew: Big plans, Mike… big plans. I’m going to get the girl… somehow… I haven’t figured it out yet but one day… and then, then maybe I’ll start my own business. I’m great with people and good with numbers. I think I could be real successful. If not, there’s always hockey.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jaclyn Aurore is the author of young adult fiction books The Starsville Saga: Starting Over, Standing Up, Giving In, Hanging On, Leaving Behind, and the stand alone fantasy, My Life Without Me.

Her books have been described as "Wonderfully human", "Evokes the awkwardness of teenage life perfectly", "Heart-wrenching and heartwarming at the same time", "Twilight without the vampires", and "Nothing at all like Twilight".

She is a wife and mother, and lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband, two children and two dogs.


LINKS:
WEBSITE: http://www.jaclynaurore.com/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/JaclynAurore AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Jaclyn-Aurore/e/B00AO9Z138/

Wrapped in White - A Ghost Anthology

This March, my next story "You'll Thank Me By Tomorrow" will be appearing in Wrapped in White, the new ghost anthology from the dark and twisted--but thoroughly lovely--minds at Sekhmet Press, who also brought you Wrapped in Red, a vampire anthology I was lucky enough to appear in. 

Here's a preview picture:

Contributors are scheduled to include:
Allison M. Dickson, author of Dust  Patrick C. Greene, author of Progeny and Dark DestiniesBryan W. Alaspa, a fellow Chicagoan, and the author of many novels, including Vicious: A Novel of Suspense, RIG: A Novel of Terror, and Sapphire: A Paranormal RomanceMichael David Matula (Hey, that's me!), author of Try Not To Burn James Glass Cecilia Dockins G. Elmer Munson (A fellow Post Mortem Press alum), author of StrippedSolomon Archer Michael Williams Kelli A. WilkinsJoshua Rex Patrick O'NeillGary Buettner Besides myself, you'll recognize a couple of the names from Wrapped in Red, including Patrick Greene, Bryan Alaspa, and Michael Williams. All told, it'll be 13 full ghost stories for your reading pleasure, just like Wrapped in Red included 13 vampire stories. 

Samantha Reiss Character Sketch

I've been fooling around with some pencil drawings I've done recently for a couple of characters from my Paranormal Thriller novel, Try Not to Burn. So far, I've drawn Samantha Reiss and Jane Calrin. You can check out both pictures on the new page I added to the blog, currently called Try Not to Burn Art & Extras.

Citadel Review

A semi-autobiographical movie from Writer/Director Ciaran Foy, starring James Cosmo from Game of Thrones and Aneurin Barnard, Citadel is one of the best horror movies I’ve seen in years.
I was surprised to learn how much of this Irish import was based in real life when I watched the behind the scenes featurette, with Foy mentioning he’d been attacked with a hammer and a dirty syringe as a teenager, which led to his struggles with agoraphobia.  In the film, it’s the main character Tommy’s pregnant wife who gets attacked with a syringe in their high-rise apartment, while he can do nothing but watch from behind the faulty elevator door.  The culprits behind the attack?  Feral children clad in dirt-caked white hoodies. 
Not long after, Tommy is alone and raising his infant daughter, Elsa, all but crippled by the terror he feels toward the outside world.  To make matters worse, the children in the hoodies aren’t your typical punk kids, and they’re coming back for Tommy’s child.  And worse still, these kids can see his fear, honing in on it like a shark with blood in the water. 
The film is shot in a way to make you feel claustrophobic, getting up close to the protagonist as he delivers a spellbinding, believable performance.  The characters are as likable as they are vulnerable, which is the best way to create suspense, in my eyes.  As is having something to protect, and something to lose.  Rarely did I find myself worried about Tommy himself, but that’s not the point of the film.  It’s not Tommy who was attacked to begin with.  His fear springs from his inability to defend those he cares for. 
The plot felt a bit reminiscent of After Earth, the recent Will Smith & M. Night Shyamalan collaboration, which is all about overcoming fear, but in a much different manner.  In this movie, it’s understood that bravery doesn’t come from the elimination of fear, but in persevering despite it. 
If you like suspense, or if you just like well-crafted movies that draw you in and feature great performances, then definitely give this one a try. 
Favorite line from the movie: “If you don’t wanna get dead, hold my hand.”
Rating: 5 stars.  
 

Indie Book of the Day Award Winner

Hey, I just found out I won an award!  That's always fun, isn't it? 

The fine people at IndieBookoftheDay.com just awarded Try Not to Burn as the "Best Paramormal Thriller to Listen to Enya to While Sipping a Latte".  Well, not really.  They awarded it as the "Indie Book of the Day" for January 25, 2014.  But that's still pretty nifty.  Now, I'm just waiting for Mayor Rahm Emanuel to hand me the key to Chicago and proclaim January 25th as the official "Try Not to Burn" day. 

Now, I just need the mayor to start returning my calls.  Guess he took that whole "You tried to include yourself as a write-in candidate and didn't vote for me" thing personally. 

Sale on Kindle Version of Try Not to Burn!

It doesn't happen very often, but Post Mortem Press has seen fit to lower the cover price of the Paranormal Thriller, Try Not to Burn, for a limited time. Grab it while supplies last!  (Technically, it's an ebook, so supplies aren't really a factor, but...well, it's fun to say, isn't it?)

Mia Darien, author of the Adelheid Series of vampire novels, says, "I’m always fascinated by unique or different depictions of Hell and Purgatory, the darker and unusual settings. Matula provides an interesting scenario, blending the spiritual, the emotional, the physical; merging past, present, future; bringing religious concepts without necessarily any specific religion, so it has a general appeal and fascination without being “preachy.”  This book brings in another thing I love: characters living in the moral grey. You know from the start that our Main Characters would not be there if they hadn’t done something to earn it, but you root for them anyways; even after you learn what they did. You’re still there with them."

Angelika Rust, writer of the mafia-inspired fantasy novel, Ratpaths, calls the book, "A very well thought-out, action-laden story. I'm truly looking forward to the sequel."

And Top 500 Amazon Reviewer Kacunnin says: "A mash-up of 'The Matrix' and Dante's 'Inferno.' I recommend TRY NOT TO BURN for fans of epic horror stories set in strange and convoluted worlds chock-full of mind-bending rules and God-driven tests of faith and character. This is a very big story, even though the focus is on three very small people. In Dante's version of Hell, he reveals that the only way to salvation is through an understanding of sin. It's the same with TRY NOT TO BURN - only through immense and harrowing trials can Brand and his friends move beyond Hell City to whatever awaits beyond." 

Character Interview with Steve Minion from Hell's Super

Mike: Tell us a little about the book you’re in, and how you fit into the story.

Steve: This book is completely ridiculous. I'm Hell's Super, that is, Superintendent for Plant Maintenance. It's my job...well, in the interest of full disclosure...it's my eternal damnation to serve as Hell's Handyman-in-Chief. I hate Mr. Fixit jobs, always have, so naturally Satan stuck me with this assignment when I got down here. My author named the book Hell's Super. He thinks it's a clever play on words. Hmmph. He wouldn't feel that way if HE were Hell's Super, or if HE were in Hell, like me.

Anyway, in the book, Orson and I have to fix Hell's Escalator, which runs from Gates Level (Pearly and Infernal) all the way down to the Eighth Circle of Hell. Orson is my assistant. That's Orson Welles, and yes, he's THAT Orson wells.

I get help from some other famous historical figures, at least one mythological creature, and a large and lovable vampire bat. I get grief from devils and demons, of course, as well as some other historical figures who are, well let's just say they are not my friends.

Mike: What’s your background?  Is there anything people should know about you before they read your story, like where you grew up, or anything in your younger days that might have led you to this point?

Steve: I'm from New York. In life, I was a tenured professor of economics at Columbia. Being a professor, I suppose, led me to this point. I was the dissertation advisor for a grumpy graduate student, who blew my brains out with a revolver.

I hope that isn't too graphic for your readers.

Mike: How would you describe your relationship with the author?  For instance, is it a collaborative process, or does he tell you what to do?  And just between us—I’ll make sure to cut out this part, to keep it off the record—what are your personal feelings about him?

Steve: One thing I appreciate about my author is that he lets me tell my own story, in my own words. I'm a former economist, not a great writer, and I suppose he could have jazzed things up with lots of adjectives and all, but he didn't do that, or not too much anyway. (One exception: "mellifluous." The author stuck that in, but what the hell does "mellifluous" mean anyway?)

I'm a pretty strong personality, and I think he knows that. So generally I tell the story. I try to be informative by telling readers how things work down here, I keep things moving along, and I do my best to add some levity to the situation.

Between you and me, my author is like most writers. He thinks he's F. Scott Fitzgerald. He's not though. I know Scott Fitzgerald, Scott Fitzgerald is a friend of mine (he lives down the block from me in Hell), and I can tell you for sure, Mark Cain is no Scott Fitzgerald.

Don't tell him, though. He's writing a sequel and could make my afterlife even more miserable than it already is. Thanks.

Mike: If you could star in any other book or film, which one would you choose?

Steve: Probably Casablanca. I think Ingrid Bergman is really hot. Besides, I look good in a white dinner jacket.

Mike: Between adventures, what do you do to blow off steam?  Any hobbies?  Favorite vacation spots?

Steve: I don't get much time off, being damned and all. And the fire pits and Sea of Thorns are not exactly trendy destinations.

Occasionally I play poker with some of the boys, though I always lose. Funny, we all always lose. You'd think that wouldn't be possible, but anything's possible in Hell, as long as we're suffering. Oh, sometimes I play Twenty Questions with my neighbors, including Sam Morse. The games can get pretty tedious, because Sammy insists on using Morse Code. Ugh.

Generally, though, it's work work work. My workload is hell. Sort of by definition.

Mike: How has your experience been so far as a character in a novel?  Has it been challenging for you?

Steve: It's hard to be a hero when you're in Hell. You know, it's hard to win the day. Satan tends to frown on that. In the long run, all of us poor, damned souls are losers. Of course, that's to be expected.

Still, while I have a tough time being a hero down here, I have my moments.

Mike: Of your co-stars, is there anyone you simply can’t stand to be around, or anyone you could see yourself being friends with outside of this story?

Steve: There are a couple of early Twentieth Century industrialists who I absolutely can't stand. They hate me, and I hate them. Louis Braille and Allan Pinkerton are friends of mine, as is Orson, of course. We would all be friends in any story you put us in, I think. Then of course there's Flo. I'm, well, I'm sweet on her.

Mike: Are there any actors who could do you justice in a movie?

Steve: I'd like to see Chris Pine play me in a movie. I don't look anything like Chris Pine, but I hear he's very popular right now, and I'd like to see the movie make a lot of money.

To give you an idea of my appearance, I once won third runner-up in a Jimmy Durante lookalike contest. You know: big schnozzola, male pattern baldness.

Mike: What are your plans for the future?  Any sequels you can tell us about?

Steve: I've been told that there's a problem with Hell's HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning for the uninitiated) system. If that's true, man, it will be a bitch to fix.

My author tells me he's going to call the sequel A COLD DAY IN HELL. Obviously he thinks this title is hysterical. Har. Har. Funny as a crutch, if you ask me.


LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Hells-Super-ebook/dp/B00FNFZ8LS/


AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY: 

Mark Cain is a writer and musician living in the Austin, Texas area. His third novel, HELL'S SUPER, a comic fantasy, has been published this fall by Taylor Street Books. It is available as a Kindle eBook or paperback. HELL'S SUPER is volume one of a new series, CIRCLES IN HELL. Volume two, A COLD DAY IN HELL, will be published in the Spring of 2014.

HELL'S SUPER has been variously described as satire, comedy and comic fantasy in the spirit of Christopher Moore, Terry Pratchett, Tom Holt and Douglas Adams. The entire CIRCLES IN HELL series, including A COLD DAY IN HELL, takes the everyday frustrations of modern life and expands them to Hellish proportions. You never know who you will run into in Cain's cracked Inferno. You might encounter a great inventor, a movie star and, of course, more than the occasional devil and demon.

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest 2014

If you're an author (chances are, if you're reading a writer's blog, you at least have some latent interest in putting pen to paper, or fingertips to keyboard keys) then you've likely already heard of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, also known as the ABNA Contest.  Even if you have, though, you might be interested to know when it's all going down this year. 

 Well, inquiring minds, the contest opens for submissions on Sunday, February 16, 2014. 

The contest is open to previously unpublished and self-published novels.  The grand prize winner receives a publishing contract as well as an advance of 50,000 buckaroos.  Four first prize winners will receive contracts with Amazon Publishing and an advance of 15,000 bones. (It does seem slightly odd that Amazon would pay in bones, but, you know...we're in a rough economy.)

In previous years, I believe they were open to submissions in January, but this year it seems like they've pushed it back a bit.  I wonder if this is to give people more time to polish up their NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) books?

 I remember scrambling to get a novel finished a couple years ago in the already woefully-stressful holiday season, just so I could enter the competition in January.  I ended up reaching round 2 and was given a pair of reviews in the round.  One review was absolutely glowing and uber-positive, and one was from someone with a distaste for the genre I'd written the book in.  Needless to say, the second reviewer put the kibosh on my chances of moving forward. Still, I enjoyed the overall experience, and it came at a time when that positive review really gave my sagging spirits a kick in the pants. 

Anyway,  here's a link to the full contest rules.

Good luck!