Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name’s Matthew Fraser, I’m 31 and I live in Surrey in England. That’s the boring sort of stuff about me, slightly more interesting is that I have a ginger cat called Harry and a number of plastic dinosaurs in my garden. I like to pretend it’s Jurassic Park, so what? Ha!
I’ve written 4 ‘full size’ novels now along with a number of short stories.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called ‘The Adventures of Edward Brett: Volume One’ and it was inspired by my love of folklore and the supernatural. I find ancient religions really fascinated and I couldn’t help but wonder, ‘what if all those old gods people used to worship, what if they were real, and still alive now?’ What would they be doing? I know this sort of thing has been done before, but I wanted to do something that was tied to the UK – so Edward Brett in my book is a god from Britain who has long since lost anyone worshipping him … so now he spends his time travelling about and saving us from the demons and monsters that still exist! What else is a god to do?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not really, although I do find I come up with my best ideas in the bath. So if anyone could invent me like a floating laptop tray or something with a waterproof keyboard, that would be ace.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
TV and movies actually influence me more than books. Is that weird? Is that like blasphemy? I can watch stories on the screen and think ‘ah, yes!’ and then take an idea off on a tangent and come up with something new.
What are you working on now?
The next book in the Edward Brett series, so Volume Two. I have it mostly all mapped out in my brain, so it’s time to put pen to paper. Or fingers to keyboard, as it may be.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Plug, plug, plug. Someone told me once that promoting a book is spade work – you have to keep digging. It’s hard, you’ll feel like giving up. But keep digging and you WILL get there. I’m still on the digging part right now.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I don’t think I could be so bold as to offer advice, as writing is such a personal thing. But if you have an idea and YOU enjoy it, then pursue it. Go for it. Even if some people might hate it, the fact that you like it means that there will be others who will like it as well. The task is finding them … see above re. spade work!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
“Don’t touch that, it stings.”
What are you reading now?
I’m re-reading Jurassic Park actually. Just to fuel those garden fantasies of mine.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully, a tonne more Edward Brett. I love this character so much, and I really want others to love him too. So I’m hoping to write many, many more adventures for him. He’s been forgotten for too long!
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?
– The Adventures of Edward Brett: Volume One (what, I’m not allowed to like my own book?)
– Dinotopia by James Gurney (it’s a children’s book but it takes me away)
– Any of the Shardlake books by C.J. Sansom
– Ah what the heck, let’s take Lord of the Rings, that way I might actually finish it!
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