Ask the Author: Damean Mathews
Answered Questions (8)
Damean Mathews
That's a tough one! This year I covered William Peter Blatty's "The Exorcist" for my October book club read. I love a good horror novel, of course, so that was a real treat. I would say one of my all time scary favorites that I can (and have) read over and over would be Stephen King's "Dreamcatcher." There's something about the book that keeps me coming back. Whether it's the aliens, the psychic connections or the crazy people, I couldn't tell you. Either way, if you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. You'll be pulling all-nighters like crazy to finish it.
Damean Mathews
So far there's "Skitter" by Ezekiel Boone, and "Gwendy's Button Box" by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar. There will also probably be some oldies-but-goodies like "The Great Gatsby" and "Dracula" to help pass the days. Be sure to catch up with my book club at dameanmathews.com to keep up to date on those books, too.
Damean Mathews
I push myself. Others will tell you that's not the way to do it, but it works for me. If inspiration won't come on it's own I'll seek it. I will go out in nature, or listen to music that has given me inspiration and motivation in the past, or I will just jot down ideas or read over my own work. That last one may seem a little conceited, but by that I mean I'll read it in the hopes of releasing the passion I've put into it and remembering the inspiration I had while writing.
Damean Mathews
Being able to create this world, or these worlds, of my own. I have said many times that no matter how restricted, restrained and reserved I have to be in real life, I can do whatever I please in my books. I can create a character for the sole purpose of killing them off, or I can take a low and sad individual and raise them to the brink of all mortal ecstasy, and no one can tell me different. It's true freedom. The mind can run in about a million different directions at once, and this is the best way I've found to give it the freedom it desires.
Damean Mathews
Never give up. I know it may sound cliche to some who are researching the craft, but it's the truest thing anyone could ever say. No matter how harsh the critics seem and no matter how bad the market seems, someone out there is going to want to read your work. I also cover a lot of this in my blog, should anyone be interested in further advice.
Damean Mathews
I am moments away from finishing "Maverip II", the second in my much awaited series, and am preparing to run head-on into part three.
Damean Mathews
A number of ways really. Music and nature are my two biggest helpers. I actually have received some of my best ideas during large thunderstorms and while listening to music, which furthers my personal belief the God made me to be a writer.
Damean Mathews
The novel I have been working on most recently is actually a sequel in a series of mine. The books, beginning with "Maverip", are centered around a vampire tale that both embraces and breaks tradition and attempts to include elements of the Gothic as well as the sublime. I got the idea in the summer of 2008 while listening to some of my favorite music. I saw certain scenes playing out in my head like a music video and just knew that I had to write it. I didn't, however, know that the idea would branch out into a series.
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