1.
Tell Us about yourself
My name is Matthew
Lett and I currently reside in Tulsa, OK with my
wife and two daughters. When I'm not writing, I work as a computer technician
at Staples. Boring work, but, it keeps food on the table and the kids
in
clothes. Born April 25th, 1966 puts me at the ripe old age of 34, but
age is
irrelevant where the craft of writing is concerned.
2.
What was the first story you had published?
My first sale (for
a sum of money which might put gas in your tank)
was back in October of 96', a small piece entitled "The Hunter"
which Impaler
magazine published. I have to admit, I was pretty proud of that little
story.
3.
Are you a modern writer slaving over a PC, or are you a strictly parchment
and candle light man?
I suppose I'd fall
into the quasi-modern type of writer. I do not
have an office, per say, but I do write comfortably within my den on my
PC.
Although, when the mood strikes me right, I'll pull out my legal size
notebook and go to work. But, overall, my PC does spoil me.
4.
Has the internet helped or hindered writers?
With the vast amount
of information available at any given person's
fingertips via the Internet, I feel the emergence and growth of this tool
invaluable. The name of the game is exposure, and where else is a person
going to find a potential audience of thousands for his/her work?
5.
Who's better Angel or Buffy?
An interesting question.
But, having no idea who Angel might be
(although I did have a cat once by the name), and having seen only one
episode of Buffy, I'm afraid any answer might sorely be lacking in the
department of intelligence.
6.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Strive for quality,
not quantity. And, although cliche', write
everyday. Writing, like anything else, is a process--an art--which can
be
difficult at times, but given enough hard work and dedication to, a person
can only get better. Also, before submitting any work, make sure it's
professional. Follow the guidelines. Check your spelling and paragraph
structure. Slash those silly adverbs, and know the market you're sending
it
to.
7.
Is the emergeance of e-books the end of the printed word?
No. The recent rise
of downloadable Internet stories is not the end
of the printed word. In fact, if anything, it's an exciting new door that
has
barely creaked open. The printed word will always be here. Too many readers
out there who still like to curl up beside the fire on a cold winter's
night
with a good book. The two will compliment one another, if nothing else,
providing the best of both worlds for the younger generation with their
laptops and PalmPilots, and the older guard, who still find a book over
500
pages an incredible turn-on.
8.
who inspires you as an author?
Another easy question.
Stephen King. I mean, who hasn't the man
inspired? And, to a lesser degree, Dean R. Koontz. Simply because they
can
both tell a story. Ask yourself, how many times have you heard the phrase,
"I've got every single Stephen King book at home," or "I've
read everything
Dean Koontz has written." It's a statement almost said with pride
and awe.
Pretty incredible.
9.
Have you heard of Terry Pratchett?
No. I'm afraid I haven't,
but the name does ring a bell. And, since
I've been asked, I think I'll check it out.
10.
what character would you be in Star Wars?
Han Solo. Reserved
and level-headed under pressure, but given to
decisive action when need be. Although, I have no wish to be frozen in
carbonite anytime soon.
11. Have you ever been to London?
Never been to London,
although a trip there would be fantastic. You
all paying?
12.
Which are you most eagerly waiting for, Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars?
Now that's a toss-up.
The Ring Trilogy was, without a doubt, a
masterpiece that will probably never be equaled. Whereas, the Star Wars
saga,
another parallel universe story, is just as compelling. Both with creative
and colorful characters that the public could relate to, feel for, to
hold
close to their respective hearts. Overall, though, I'm waiting on Star
Wars
II.
13.
Describe your writing process
My writing process
begins about 9 a.m. each morning, after having
taken the children to school and polishing off numerous cups of coffee.
I
usually write anywhere from 1-2 hours, longer if I can actually "fall
into
the page" and lose myself. But, overall, I like to get at least 2
full pages
done each morning. Motivation? None, really, except the fact that I know
a
writer must write. Period. There is no substitute. Sure, there are days
that
I feel like saying, "Forget this! I'm not in the mood to write!"
But, I write
anyway, even if it's junk. You'd be surprised at what you can turn out
when
you're really not "in the mood."
14.
You have the choice to make a living doing trashy romance novels, never
having time for your own horror genre, would you do it?
No. I would work on
my own genre (horror). Although trashy romance
stories and novels are teeming with fans abroad, I really have no use
for
them. Write what you know about, and I know nothing about trashy romances.
15.
What does the future hold for you?
Looking at things
optimistically, I hope in the next few years to be
writing full-time as a comfortable means of income and pleasure. The odds
are
long, I know, for any writer to obtain that goal. But, a person has to
have a
dream, and if you can write, and write well with dedication, then your
dream
is just around the corner.
Many
thanks to Matthew Lett for taking the time to answer these questions.
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