Interview With Author J.J. Matthews
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a British writer of numerous genres but mainly horror and fantasy. Though I’m more partial to dark fantasy, the best blend of fantasy and horror in one genre. So far, my published work only consists of one horror short story collection, one poetry collection and my debut novel. So, technically, I’ve only written one book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent book is the first instalment of my aspiring dark/high fantasy series, Maleos: Rise of the Old Gods. It is a gory, suspenseful and sometimes creepy fantasy set in a completely fictional world that only slightly acknowledges the existence of our Earth. The beginning of the book came to me in the form of a dream. I dreamt I was in a giant stone arena, holding a staff with a giant purple jewel on it, with smaller jewels rotating around it. In front of me was this fascinating but grotesque creature, like a devil but minus the goat legs. I didn’t know exactly what I was doing but I knew I needed to use magic. I put my hand on the jewel and it glowed, making me feel a brilliant yet excruciating surge of energy through my body and into my free hand, allowing me to cast a giant ball of fire from my hand. I woke up immediately after and that scene soon became the basis of my entire book.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think there’s anything I do that I haven’t seen or heard other people doing as well. One thing I know I do to keep my mood going whilst writing is to play music that matches the overall mood of the chapter I’m writing or the scene I’m on. If the music mood fits, I can write the scene in a much more immersive manner.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I think much of my style is influenced from the Artemis Fowl books I read as a child as well as the Fighting Fantasy books I “played” at a young age as well. My father always supplied me with a new RPG book on my birthday or at Christmas and supplied me with plenty of Artemis Fowl once he found out I really liked those. I remember that my love of horror stems from constantly reading the Goosebumps books at the same young age, perhaps younger even.
What are you working on now?
Currently I am working on the sequel to Rise of the Old Gods and the second instalment in the Maleos series. This book will continue the adventures of Mortius Maleos and his friends, this time tackling all the angst and drama of a young adult novel, all the gore, terror and nightmare fuel of a horror novel and all the wonder, excitement and magic of a high fantasy book.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve always found TikTok to be the best tool for advertising. There is an enormous audience there that is being regularly added to and is by far the most accessible without expending money. Second to TikTok, I use Twitter, Goodreads and Instagram for promotion of my material.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Be consistent, don’t be afraid to put your books in people’s faces (but don’t be too obnoxious with it), use every platform at your disposal and don’t expect wild success on the first go. My first book only sold around 20 copies and I know exactly who purchased them, all friends and family. Since then, it has been quiet and nobody outside my social circle has read it. Still, that doesn’t mean you should give up. At the very least, you are writing for yourself and for your enjoyment first and foremost.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Listen to the critics. Even the really harsh ones. Granted, there’s always going to be people that are just out to get you and many times, it’ll feel like any negative or critical reviewer is doing so. Despite how the criticism may feel, there is almost always truth within the words, so make sure to self-evaluate on all the points they touch upon in the review. You may just make yourself a better author for it.
What are you reading now?
Right now I’m in the middle of reading Stuart MacBride’s Dying Light. I bought a load of MacBride on sale at a small bookstore in England and I have been really taken in by the crime thriller genre, especially since finishing a load of Kathy Reichs novels.
What’s next for you as a writer?
For now, I’ll continue on my Maleos series, hopefully reaching the four book mark that I have in mind. After that, perhaps I’ll dip back into a historical fiction novel I started writing a few years ago.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
As many of my fighting fantasy books as I could. I would choose The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, Citadel of Chaos, House of Hell and Creature of Havoc.
Author Websites and Profiles
J.J. Matthews’s Social Media Links