Matthew Paris Author Bio:
Matthew Paris was born and raised in Houston, Texas. Growing up, he excelled at sports, Football and Track. Matthew has always been a very good writer. By the time he was a sophomore in high school he was in English class and the teacher told him that he might have a talent in writing after making an A in the class. After high school, Matthew attended Texas Tech University, where he would graduate with a degree in English Literature.
Matthew Paris has written three short films. The first film, “Crisis” won the Platinum Remi Award at Worldfest-Houston. The movie would be sold for distribution on AT&T U-VERSE and DirecTV. It would play over three continents including; Europe, Middle East, and Africa. His second film, “The Last Catch” would win the Silver Remi Award at Worldfest-Houston and be sold for distribution on the ShortsHD Channel. The film played in the United States, Europe, Middle East, and Africa.
Matthew is also the author of five books. His latest book, “A Confrontation of Souls & Words” is a book of poems that Matthew had re-written. He originally had written them for his poetry class at Texas Tech. The book is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
What inspires you to write?
I think the biggest thing that inspire me to write is when my sophomore English teacher in high school said I might have a talent in this. I was sitting at my desk one day talking with a friend next to me. She came up and put this A paper on my desk. I looked up and she told me I might have a talent in this and I should pursue it. At the time, I said Thank you, but was more of a sports guy. I played football and ran track. I didn't really get into writing seriously until I got to Texas Tech. I wrote short stories, poetry, critical writing, and how to write fast and officiant. It was a great learning experience.
After I graduated, I started writing for fun… Just to practice the craft. I've written five books, over 300 articles, and some short films. It's all been an adventure.
Tell us about your writing process.
My writing process usually varies. Most authors usually set a time to write. I don't… I write when the inspiration comes. Sometimes, I'll write during the day for a few hours and other times I write at night. I usually pick about two to three hours a day to sit down and write something. Most authors have steady jobs so they can only write at night. That's hard because usually you are tired from your job, but if you want to write you have to do it.
I've had moment when I'll sit down and look at a blank page and I won't have anything. For me, It's usually go away for a few days and come back to it. Other times, I can sit and write ten pages. For writers block, it helps me to write words on a paper because it will get the flow back and your creative energy will come.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I do both. I'll write out the scene and sometimes I'll have a conversation with myself to hear the dialog I'm writing for the characters. The scene needs to build tension and the reader has to know that. So, you have to be able to describe this well. To see what the characters are going through.
Who are your favorite authors?
There are so many. I like Chuck Palahniuk. He's very dark, but writes some interesting stuff. His book, "Fight Club" is an excellent study of aggression and how does one relieve stress. The movie captured it well. Stephen King is one. He writes great stuff. "Salem's Lot" is a great book. However, my favorite book is "I Am Legend" by Richard Matheson. A masterpiece of a man dealing with his own sanity and how he's the last man on earth. He needs to survive and he has a purpose, too.
What genres do you write?
Drama, Spiritual, Sports
How did you choose the genre(s) you write?
My first few books were sports books. Mainly, about coaching. I was a coach for fourteen years in Austin. The first book, "Preparing Athletes For The Future" was a coaching book. How do you coach and make an impact on young athletes. My second book, "The Light That Shines Upon The Players" was how does an athlete feel before a game or something that might affect his or her performance? How do they deal with it? My third book, "An Athlete's Journey" is a study on if an athlete has a goal how do they get there to accomplish it? What does it take? My fourth book, "The Passing of Time" is much more of a spiritual book. How does one deal with the problems of everyday life. There is always a solution to the problem. All books are available on Amazon and other bookstores.
What three things are on your writing desk at any given moment?
I'm usually an active contributor for The Sports Column, an online blog for sports writers. I'm always writing an article. I'll get the inspiration to write another book soon. I do have another idea. I have some other projects down the road.
What hobbies do you have when you need a break from writing?
I run marathons. I really like to keep in shape so I work out a lot. I also like to go see movies and sporting events. I like to be entertain and sometimes I'll find inspiration while having fun are working on something else.
What formats are your books in?
eBook, Print
Author’s Social Media Links
Goodreads
Facebook
Twitter
All information is provided by the author and is presented as it was submitted so you the reader get to hear the author’s own “voice” in their interview.