Ask the Author: Matt Hebert
Answered Questions (5)
Matt Hebert
The high school I attended, Bellevue West, has clearstory windows around the upper level of the common spaces in the center of the building. One day, while day dreaming between classes, I imagined that those windows were underwater, and that all manner of sea creatures were swimming by, breaking up the rays of sun that would pierce that deep. As I walked along I continued to rationalize that idea. The bus would have to be a submarine, and there would be air locks at the entrances to allow scuba-swimmers to enter and exit the school. As I started writing these ideas down and developing this world for my character, Sembado, to live in, I started to ask why. As the history of the complex revealed itself to me, the story became more robust, dynamic, and dire. Ultimately I finished the story 10 years later, updating only the current events of our time so that they were more closely represented in the turbulent past of Sembado's reality.
Matt Hebert
Creative inspiration has always happened to me, not from me. The ideas and directions my stories take often surprise me as much as the reader. Aside from some post-production story arch adjusting, there is very little in the details of 'Beneath the Surface', for example, that did not simply fly off my fingertips all by themselves.
Matt Hebert
I am currently working on 'Breaking the Surface', the sequel to my recently self-published novel 'Beneath the Surface'.
In addition to that, I have a psychological thriller of short story called 'Tobias and Beth' that I need to polish and button up. It is a psycho-drama set in the early 19th Century with emotional ups and downs, the worst emotional struggles a man can face, and how the grace of God and those around him carries him on.
In addition to that, I have a psychological thriller of short story called 'Tobias and Beth' that I need to polish and button up. It is a psycho-drama set in the early 19th Century with emotional ups and downs, the worst emotional struggles a man can face, and how the grace of God and those around him carries him on.
Matt Hebert
Never forget to jot down an idea. Collect them. They will end up snowballing into your current projects in ways you could never have anticipated.
On a different note, once you have those ideas down, go back to your main project and focus on getting done. One finished work is better than 100 half-started concepts.
On a different note, once you have those ideas down, go back to your main project and focus on getting done. One finished work is better than 100 half-started concepts.
Matt Hebert
As an author, my favorite thing about writing is making the stories that I want to read. I am very happy to read work by others, and be immersed in a world that I can discover page by page. But, for me, that pales in comparison to doing the world creating: making the characters I want to meet; making them flawed in the ways that I want the reader to understand; and making the environments that they, themselves, will get lost in.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more