Interview With Author Matthew Harrison
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a first-time author and quite honestly never dreamed I would ever write a book in my lifetime. But that changed when I was arrested, found guilty, and incarcerated for a crime that I did not commit. From the moment of my arrest, I felt as if I were treated guilty until proven innocent, instead of innocent until proven guilty. This entire experience inspired me to share my story of what really happened, what led up to it, and how I functioned in the judicial system. I wanted my children, family, and friends to know the truth. I also wanted to share my story with others, hoping it would help them to avoid my mistakes and to learn from my experiences. To me if even one person were helped by reading my book, it would be worth the time and effort.
A little personal knowledge about me: I am a father of three beautiful children. I maintain a strong bond with them, even though I am not physically with them. I enjoy reading books that inspire and encourage, which is what I hope my book will be to those who read it. My faith is very important to me, and my belief in God drives my decisions and direction in life. I have a wonderful and mostly supportive family who help provide the things I need while I am here. It is my hope that my book will bring the truth to light and bring about a change in my circumstances one day soon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My inspiration came from the events of the past 8 years. Being accused of a crime I did not commit ruined my life and devastated my family. During the legal process, my side of the story was never able to be told for several reasons. Because of the false narratives and lies told in the media and on the internet, and my children and family hearing and reading these things, the truth needed to be told. I also wanted to share the experiences I had and the changes that took place in my life as a result of turning to God for help. I needed to share these truths with my children and family and any who would read my book so that my side of the story could finally be told.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Because I had to author my book while in prison, I had access to only emails. This made it challenging to author a book as each email to my family member agent and editor had to be copied and pasted into a Word document and then formatted into a book, proofread numerous times, and finally submitted to a self-publishing company for printing and distribution. If I had access to Microsoft Word or other writing tools, the process would have been much easier and less time consuming. It took three years to complete my book using this process. It was a very unusual way to write a book, but it was the only option I had; and I was determined to succeed!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have been influenced by many spiritual books such as The Bible, The Book of Mormon, C.S. Lewis books, Tolkien Lord of the Rings, books by religious leaders, self-help books such as Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Outside the Box, historical fiction and nonfiction, and classics from authors such as Hemingway, Daniel Keyes, Harper Lee, and John Steinbeck. I have always enjoyed reading and find I learn so much about life from those who are willing to share their talent and experiences.
What are you working on now?
The next book I am working on is also based on the last eight years of being in prison. I am writing it to help other people who are arrested navigate the judicial process and learn how to protect their rights in jail and in prison. There is so much that people do not tell you until you are there; and once you are there, the experience can be so overwhelming that you do not think clearly and can be taken advantage of by lawyers, inmates, jail and prison staff, and even the system itself. My book can help people understand what to expect in each stage of the process, how to choose a competent attorney, costs and fees in jail and prison, and all the necessary steps from beginning to end. Most importantly it shows how to survive and even thrive your time in county jail or prison. I use firsthand experiences and those of unnamed inmates to help others know what things to do and what to avoid. Because I was not familiar with the system when I was arrested, many of my rights and opportunities were missed because I did not know what to do or what to expect. I want to help others, particularly those who are innocent, not make those same mistakes and avoid prison time.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Marketing for most newbie writers is the biggest pitfall of all. You can spend thousands and not know if your promotions are working., One big problem with self-publishing companies is that many do not report earnings except quarterly, which leaves a new author for as much as six months wondering if their promotions are working. So my agent and I have found that you have to try a variety of sites and promotions—a broad range is best to begin with. Sites like Goodreads are worthwhile but be careful not to fall into the trap of giving away books without any kind of reader contact as your reward. One of the best sites is LinkedIn where both readers and authors “hang out” to exchange ideas and ask questions. I encourage new authors to set up accounts on key social websites and post promotions. We have done our own and have learned a lot from what see on these sites and apply insights to ours.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Do not get discouraged. Marketing has a learning curve and experience will be your best teacher. Hang in for the long haul and do not expect instant fame. Focus on your main goal; if you are achieving that goal, then you are not a failure. Money comes slowly, but if you apply what you learn, your book will be successful—at least in your eyes. One of the main reasons I wrote was to heal fractures with my family and friends because they did not know the truth. After reading my story, several have written and apologized for not believing me and asking me to forgive their lack of trust and support. All of my children have read my book, and we are once again strengthening our bonds.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
One author I met on a social media website posted that authors should not worry if they find errors in their book. He said that he had several proofreaders look over his book and there were still errors that came through. I echo that statement. Do the best you can. Many readers will not notice what you noticed and be forgiving if they do.
What are you reading now?
I enjoy all genres, along with scripture reading. For pleasure, I am rereading J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbit and Lord of the Rings books because Tolkien was heavily influenced by C.S. Lewis, one of my favorite authors. I have also started reading the Harry Potter books again, as I enjoyed them when I was younger and find I still enjoy them now.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I want to work with local and national judicial improvement organizations to influence effective change in the judicial system. So many laws are local laws and different from one state to the next. However, I am contacting some national organizations who have branches in states. Few leaders of those organizations have actual knowledge about prison life.
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?
First, I would take my Bible and Book of Mormon. Next, I would take a couple of C.S. Lewis books. Maybe take along something from Vince Flynn to really keep me alert during difficult times.
Author Websites and Profiles
Matthew Harrison Amazon Profile
Matthew Harrison’s Social Media Links