An Interview with Patrick Matthews (below)
and
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a Bradley’s Dragons prize pack! (you click the link above)
One (1) grand prize winner receives:
• A hardcover copy of Bradley’s Dragons, autographed by Patrick Matthews.
• A Dragon Suncatcher, by the Glassy Geek.
Eight (8) winners receive:
• A hardcover copy of Bradley’s Dragons, autographed by Patrick Matthews.
Giveaway begins September 1, 2020, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends September 30, 2020, at 11:59 P.M. MT.
Interview
Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk: I have not yet had the pleasure of reading your latest book, Bradley's Dragons, but I understand that the main character, Bradley, is a twelve-year-old boy who faces uncertainty, struggles with anxiety, and ultimately draws on an inner strength to confront challenges. It sounds like Bradley will be relatable, inspirational, and exciting to read about. What effect do you wish to have on readers, and how do you construct a character who will achieve that effect?
Patrick Matthews: Bradley was a fun character to write! His story is one of transformation, and for that to connect with readers, I had to go really deep. I work hard to make all my characters well-rounded and interesting, but Bradley took my writing to a new level.
For example, Bradley experiences anxiety attacks when he encounters a stranger. One of the things that happens with anxiety attacks is that the attacks themselves become a source of anxiety. In effect, you're scared of being scared. Prior to this book, I had not written a character who had emotions about having emotions, and once I opened that door, it discovered a world of complexity.
I started, as always, with voice, perspective, and environment. How does Bradley see the world? What pattern do his thoughts take? Where does he live, and who does he live with? Answering those three questions, and the interrelations between them is the starting point. The rest is an iterative process of settling deeper and deeper into the character.
GWGM: This is your third novel. Before authoring books, you were a journalist. Could you describe your writing habits? Have they changed with your move to children's literature?
Matthews: What a great question! As a reporter, the focus is on economy of words and quick turn around. That was a "sit down and write it" world, with little to no time for second-guessing. Working as a newspaper columnist was different. My column was published biweekly, so I had plenty of time to revise and polish.
GWGM: Do you share your works in progress with family or friends? Why is that?
Matthews: I'm a huge fan of critique groups, and I get my work critiqued as often as possible. These days, that's at least every other week. Sharing with my family doesn't happen until I have something very close to being ready for publication. I talk about concepts and characters, but the actual book itself doesn't get shared until it's very far along. Why don't I share more with my family? Because I'm a big old chicken. I really don't want to face that moment when the dinner table conversation turns into how Dad should change his story.
GWGM: What is a memorable experience (in-person or correspondence-based) that you've had with a fan?
Matthews: That's an easy one! Years ago, I was at an elementary school, signing copies of Dragon Run, and a little girl was waiting in line with a piece of notebook paper clutched in her hand.
"I don't have your book," she said, "but after your talk yesterday, I went home and wrote this story. Could you read it?"
Best moment ever.
GWGM: What genres do you enjoy reading? How do your current reading preferences inform your writing?
Matthews: My top four genres are epic fantasy, science fiction (all kinds), westerns, and thrillers. I don't usually read them from a writer's perspective. I just relax and enjoy. When I do put my writer's hat on, I read books to see what works. I try to identify the techniques that resonate with me, and see if they can be incorporated into my own style. I don't think my current preferences drive my writing. The opposite does happen, though. If I'm considering writing a mystery, I'll read some to get myself in that mindset.
GWGM: What are you reading right now?
Matthews: Skyward, by Brandon Sanderson, which I'm quite enjoying, and Second Foundation, by Isaac Asimov. I haven't read the Foundation books in a long time, and I'm going back through them. Great stuff!
GWGM: Paperback, hardcover, or ebook?
Matthews: I read ebooks and collect hardcovers, but I'm a paperback fan.
GWGM: Can you name an all-time favorite book, or does it change regularly?
Matthews: Can I give you a few? Shane, by Jack Shaefer, is an old-school western. I don't know why I love it, but I do. It has some violence, but nothing compared to today's standards. It would probably be fine for 12 and up. Some others that leap to mind are The Hobbit (of course), The Dark is Rising, and Hawk of May. In the older kid category, Dune, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Riddle of Stars . . . Yeah, this list is probably getting too long. One that I read recently that I absolutely loved is Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo. That's firmly in the Young Adult category.
GWGM: Considering this blog's tilt toward children's literature, can you share any picture books that impacted you as a child? Are there any particularly memorable authors who shaped you as a young reader?
Matthews: As a child, I loved Harold and The Purple Crayon, Corduroy, Jacob Two Two and all things Dr. Seuss. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are was one of my all-time favorites. The list of authors who shaped me as a reader is long. My mom was an English teacher and an avid reader, and she shared it with me. We didn't really have children's literature back then (or if we did, nobody shared it with me). I grew up reading Andre Norton, Isaac Asimov, J.R.R. Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and a bunch of others. Paradoxically, as an adult, I find that I enjoy books for people of all ages. There are a ton of great stories being told in the middle grade and YA categories.
As the parent of two boys, I Love You The Purplest is clearly at the top of my picture book list, though the kids and I enjoyed a lot of others. Elmer, Oh The Places You'll Go, Zen Shorts all come to mind. My wife was a preschool teacher, and we read a lot of picture books.
GWGM: And finally, this is an unprecedented time we are living through. How has the coronavirus impacted your writing?
Matthews: That's a tough question. For me, the coronavirus crisis is swirled together with everything else that's going on. There is a monumental test of character happening across the world right now. The ideals that we all grew up with (honesty, compassion, respect, humility, and courage) are being tested on a daily basis.
From the perspective of a writer, particularly a writer of children's books, there can be no clearer call to action. I can't do much, but I can give readers the chance to face character questions before those questions occur in real life. I guess you could say that the coronavirus and everything else that has happened has been a wake-up call for me. I was on this path before they started, but now, I'm more committed.
A huge THANK YOU to Patrick Matthews!
Publisher’s Synopsis:
The Hunters are Coming
The first time a hunter came for him, Bradley Nash was only nine years old. That was three years ago.
Now, he lives with his family in a Florida trailer park. He doesn’t remember the attack, doesn’t know anything about hunters, or dragons, or even magic.
As his twelfth birthday approaches, however, his peaceful life starts falling apart.
The hunters are coming, and if Bradley doesn’t figure out exactly who and what he is, everything he’s ever known will be destroyed.
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Second Story Up | July 7, 2020 | ISBN-13: 978-1733077743
Disclosure: Per FTC guidelines, I hereby disclose partnership with The Children's Book Review and Second Story Up.
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