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Ask the Author: Matt Cain

“Hit me with your questions - I'm primed and ready!” Matt Cain

Answered Questions (8)

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Hi Matt! A friend of mine recommended The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle on the simple fact that I love snail mail. Was there anything that lead you to have Albert be a mail carrier? I adored the book. It was like a warm hug, and I was sure to give it 5 stars. Thank you for writing it.
Matt Cain Hello! I'm so happy you enjoyed it! I made Albert a postman as we say in the UK as I thought he could be right at the heart of his community with an insight into everyone's lives but also disconnected from it. And that would be a great start if I wanted to then bring him closer to his community during the course of the book. Does that answer your question? And do you think it worked? x
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Matt... Several of my friends have trouble with confidence (I sometimes do too) in general. So I thought I'd ask a few writers this very straight forward, open question... What shakes your confidence? In the realm of writing, or otherwise. What tends to foster it?
Matt Cain Hi Jason, I tend to find my confidence wavers after I've experienced any rejection or criticism. Before Shot Through the Heart was published I wrote two books that were rejected by loads of agents and then loads of publishers. It can be terrible when this kind of thing happens and really hard to keep believing in yourself. I have certain rituals I do to try and zone myself off from negativity like listening to my favourite rousing music or going for a long walk on my own and giving myself a pep talk in my head. But it can be tough - and I have lots of sympathy for your friends because I've totally been there! Please wish them the best of luck from me! Matt
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How do you deal with writer’s block?
Matt Cain To be honest I'm lucky in that it tends not to affect me. I always think something through before I sit down to write and if I'm struggling I stick at it till I've cracked it. So maybe that's what I'd say, just keep writing - even if what you're writing isn't much good sooner or later you'll hit your stride again...
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What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Matt Cain Sitting at home with my cat and inventing hot heroes who make up for all the disappointing men I've had in my life.
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What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
Matt Cain Oh I have lots! And I've written about this in the past. But one thing I will say is I went through years of rejection before I cracked it so always keep going and never ever ever give up!
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What are you currently working on?
Matt Cain The follow-up to Nothing But Trouble - but it's still top secret! All I will say is one of the central themes is sibling rivalry, something that's played a big part in my life.
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How do you get inspired to write?
Matt Cain My books are very much rooted in the real world rather than the fruits of any literary genius so I tend to come up with ideas as I get on with my life - rather than disappearing to some writers' retreat where I can get away from the world.
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Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?
Matt Cain It was partly inspired by my years filming behind the scenes in the music industry whist I worked in TV - and partly inspired by my own years of self-destruction!
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Matt Cain
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