Check out this spotlight for author Matt Lucas!
You can find all his links furthest down the page, and don’t forget to check out his books!
1. Hi! Welcome to my humble blog of all things bookish! I would like for us to start by getting to know you. Give us a short bio, please!
Hello! I’m a Christian speculative fiction author originally from Pittsburgh, PA. I currently reside in Florida with my wife, our 1-month-old son, and our 1 year old golden retriever. Writing is my passion, and I’ve always admired/modeled my style after inspirations like C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and George R.R. Martin. My writing style is fast-paced, action-packed, and teeming with deep allegories and insights.
2. To get to know you just a little bit better, I’d like to ask you some this or that questions. Answer 5 of these and explain why you chose this or that, or maybe an entirely different alternative!
Winter, spring, summer or autumn? Autumn (which correlates to winter in Florida)
Cat or dog? Dog – I’ve had 6 golden retrievers throughout my life
Tea or coffee? Coffee
Morning or evening? Evening
Library or museums? Museums
Hunter or gatherer? Hunter
Witches or wizards? Wizards
Ninjas or pirates? Ninjas – the Pittsburgh Pirates have been disappointing me for too long to choose pirates
Mountains or beaches? Mountains
Plotter or pantser? Both. I keep an outline of key events, but leave wiggle room for how I get there
Pen and paper or computer/phone? Computer
Standalone or series? Series
Book or ebook? Book
Hero or anti-hero? Hero
3. When you look for books to read, what trope or type of story will always catch your attention?
Anything with an epic scale. Classic good versus evil, preferably with a supernatural, paranormal, or magical twist. Tragic heroes are a big draw as well. Seeing heroes struggle with their own shortcomings and battling with themselves as well as their enemies makes for a deep, relatable character.
4. What do you write? Tell us about your current projects and the latest happenings!
I delve into apocalyptic, fantasy, horror, paranormal, and thrillers, often blending these genres in a captivating concoction. My debut novel, The Shadow Gospels, is an end times thriller that blends political thrills, demonic horrors, and ferocious action. My fantasy series Chronicles of Yeshu: Fellowship of Faith (yes the title is an ode to Lewis and Tolkien) releases in 2023. My sequel to The Shadow Gospels, The Shadow Gospels: Fall of Man, is also slated for a 2023 release.
5. What is your most recent release? Give us a short presentation, cover, and a link for where to buy it!
The Shadow Gospels is my only current release, which can be found here: The Shadow Gospels. You’ll follow a vengeful vigilante, supernaturally gifted exorcist, conflicted child soldier, and a powerful prophetess as they combat political powers, demonic princes, and, secret societies bent on igniting Armageddon’s torch.
6. What real-life inspiration do you draw from, and what are your primary fictional sources of inspiration (books, authors, films, music, etc.)? Name a few!
The Bible is my biggest influence. For The Shadow Gospels I lean heavily into the Book of Daniel and Revelation. These serve as inspirations for global events, though I’d never claim the story itself is prophetic, rather a captivating allegory designed to enlighten, encourage, and entertain readers. You’ll find many scriptural references and faith-based allegories, without being clubbed over the head by it.
I adopted George R.R. Martin’s style of following a diverse cast of characters by their point of view. You’ll also find Martin’s influence in my nuanced plots, clever foreshadowing, and grandiose narrative. However, I also favor Dan Brown’s short chapter length and well-paced storytelling.
7. What is your writing routine? If you have one, give us the run-down!
It varies day-to-day depending on my work schedule and my son’s naps. I typically find time between work meetings and family time. When I know I’m going to have a slow day or find breaks in the day, I block my work calendar for at least an hour for writing. If that’s the case, I just take a working lunch, which is nice since I work from home. However, inspiration strikes at all hours of the day, so I have an extensive notes section in my phone to make sure I don’t lose anything good!
8. If you could go back and give yourself one piece of advice as you started out on the path to becoming an author, what would it be?
During the editing process, if you’re struggling reading your own book, readers are going to struggle to read it as well. My first attempt at The Shadow Gospels was a 175k word, unmitigated mess. While there were fundamental elements to the story, the execution of writing it was fluffy, redundant, and far more tell than show. I eventually began to reach out to agents (LinkedIn is weirdly effective at doing this) and working to network/gather feedback. I wish I hadn’t waited 5 years to do this, scrap the original manuscript, and restart. So, don’t be afraid to network and ask reputable people for help. Most of them are nicer and more willing to help than you’d expect. Also, don’t be afraid to scrap what isn’t working and try again.
9. Last but not least: where can we find you? Drop those links!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076846429504
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattdluke/
Feel free to DM if you’re a reader/author. Always happy to engage with readers or help other authors on their journey!
