Grateful by Matt Cost

I am grateful for readers, writers, reviewers, podcasters, bookstores, libraries, and every single person of the wonderful community of books that I find myself immersed within.

These are just some of the books I have read written by friends.

Encircle Publications published my first book, I am Cuba, in March of 2020. It has been quite a ride. Over that time, I have met so many literary people. In 2019, I attended Crime Wave in Portland, Maine. It was as if a light bulb had exploded from my head with the inscription inside stating wow, these are my people.

The other day, I was walking out of the grocery store into the parking lot, and a car pulled over, the window went down, and a woman asked if I were Matt Cost. Thinking it was somebody I knew, I leaned in the passenger window and said hi to her dog. As it turns out, I did not know her, but she just wanted to say how much she loves my books and that she has read every single one of the sixteen of them. People—that stuff means the world to us writers.

This past Sunday, I was invited to the house of Jule Selbo where she and Gabriela Stiteler were hosting a holiday gathering of writers from Sisters in Crime. There were nine of us there, a few who I knew, a few who I got to know, and a fabulous time was had by all. A major topic was getting creepy correspondences or gifts. What else would crime writers talk about?

Whether it is a noir at the bar reading, a crime conference, a panel discussion on writing, or just an impromptu gathering, it is always a fabulous time to get together with my people. Those who write crime and spend their days researching odd and strange and illegal information to then spill out onto the pages as murder, theft, fraud, and general all-around depravity.

Over the past five years, I have established a wonderful relationship with many book reviewers. Many of these literary people are regulars, dutifully reviewing the three books a year that I have been publishing over this last half-decade. I have met a few of them at book presentations or conferences, but most, I know by name and review only. All the same, I feel a tie to them that is real, a friendship that exists.

Five years ago, I’d never heard of a podcaster. My first foray into the world of radio and podcast was on the House of Mystery Radio with Al Warren. What a fantastic time talking books on the air with other authors and lovers of literature. Since then, there have been many other great podcast talks that I have participated in. I am a regular on Big Blend Radio. Last week, Julie Hennrikus reached out to me to interview me for her podcast for Sisters in Crime. What a wonderful experience.

There are many marvelous bookstores in the world. Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Shop has nine stores scattered across the state, and I’d like to send a special kudos out to them for how wonderful they have been to me at every step of my evolution as a writer. They carry and sell all my books. They have me come do signings and participate in book events. A couple of weeks ago they sat me at a table signing books with the amazing Tess Gerritsen. Thank you.

This past spring into fall, I did over fifty speaking engagements. There was a rotary club, a few retirement communities and whatnot, but the bulk of them were libraries. Libraries are the absolute hub of every community. Usually centered in town, in some wonderfully unique building, filled with books and lovers of books, these institutions are the backbone of our towns. To be given the opportunity to visit these fantastic places around New England, meet the wonderful people who work there, and engage with their patrons is truly an honor.

So, to the incredibly sensational writing community, I’d like to say thank you, I’m grateful, happy holidays, and here’s to an astonishing New Year to come. Write on.

About the Author

Matt Cost was a history major at Trinity College. He owned a mystery bookstore, a video store, and a gym, before serving a ten-year sentence as a junior high school teacher. In 2014 he was released and began writing. And that’s what he does. He writes histories and mysteries.

Cost has published six books in the Mainely Mystery series, starting with Mainely Power. He has also published five books in the Clay Wolfe Trap series, starting with Wolfe Trap. And finally, there are two books in the Brooklyn 8 Ballo series, starting with Velma Gone Awry. For historical novels, Cost has published At Every Hazard and its sequel, Love in a Time of Hate, as well as I am Cuba.

Cost now lives in Brunswick, Maine, with his wife, Harper. There are four grown children: Brittany, Pearson, Miranda, and Ryan. They have been replaced in the home with four dogs. Cost now spends his days at the computer, writing.