Matt Phillips's Blog

Hello, Dear Readers!

It’s been quite a long time since I’ve written you—today, I have some news to share, especially for those thriller and noir fans among you. Myopic Duplicity, a thriller anthology curated by Jeff Circle at Writer’s Dossier and produced by Leonardo Audio, is available on Kindle. The audiobook is slated for release on October 1. I’m excited to say that my novella, The Men with the Remade Face, is published in Myopic Duplicity. My story follows a crook with multiple personalities—and a surgically disguised appearance—as he tries to rip off some small town gamblers and fend off the onset of his own madness. Other featured stories include yarns written by best selling writers Rob Hart and Tony Wirt, as well as tales from Edgar and Anthony nominated writers like Ash Clifton. In short, it’s one hell of a book and you should pick it up.

Buy Myopic Duplicity

Do the ends ever justify the means?

Delve into a labyrinth of moral ambiguity and psychological tension where the pursuit of power and justice collides with the darker impulses of betrayal and manipulation.

Curated and edited by Jeff Circle, the creator of The Writer’s Dossier, a revered multimedia showcase featuring both established and emerging talent in the crime and thriller genres, this anthology brings together an impressive collection of stories from some of the best modern crime thriller writers working today. Each narrative unearths the hidden complexities that drive individuals to make troubling choices in the name of loyalty, revenge, or survival, exposing the intricate interplay between right and wrong.

As characters confront their own ethical boundaries, they reveal the nuances of human behavior and the often-blurred lines that define them. This anthology challenges readers to consider how desperation can shape decisions, leading to moments where the 'right' choice becomes obscured by the weight of circumstance.

In Myopic Duplicity, the characters’ journeys invite introspection, pushing readers to question their own values and the potential consequences of their actions. With each tale, the anthology crafts a vivid exploration of the human psyche, illustrating that sometimes the most compelling conflicts arise not from external forces, but from within.

Until next time…Thanks for reading!

Hi, Readers:

Last week, International Thriller Writers announced the finalists for the 2024 Thriller Awards. There are eight Thriller Award categories and I am astounded to say my latest book, A Good Rush of Blood, is a finalist for the Best E-Book Original Novel Thriller Award, along with five other stellar novels.

This represents—in all honesty—the highest level of professional success I’ve ever had as a writer. I’ll be in NYC this June to attend the awards banquet and tip a few back with fellow writers/nominees. It should be a good time, if I can afford the cab ride from the airport…thank goodness for airline miles.

If you haven’t had a chance to read the novel, pick up an ebook here or buy yourself a paperback. If you can find time in your day (or night) to leave a review, it’d help me with visibility—thanks to all those who already bought and read the book!

In other news, I’ll be in Tucson this weekend for the Tucson Festival of Books. A Good Rush of Blood is an official indie selection for the festival and I’ve got a presentation slot at the festival on Saturday, March 9. I’m excited about attending the flagship book festival in the United States, and am hoping I can sell some books to new readers.

If you’ve been a reader of my work—I want to thank you for your support. It’s been a slow ride, but I see more and more success with each book. So, thank you. I can’t do this without your readership and support. Hell, I wouldn’t want to do it without you!

With thanks,

Matt

Hi, People:

Just a quick note to say that the Kindle version of A GOOD RUSH OF BLOOD is $0.99 for a super-limited time. If you haven’t already, consider picking up a Kindle copy of this “suspenseful page-turner packed with twists.”

Buy on Kindle

I’ll have more great news about this book later this week…Stay tuned!

On this episode, noir writer and poet Stephen J. Golds, editor-in-chief of Punk Noir Magazine, talks about his recent novel from Outcast Press, Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms. Stephen was born in North London and has lived much of his life in Japan—he is the acclaimed noir writer of The Dead, The Dying, and The Gone series now available in stunning new editions from Punk Noir Press. These noir novels are Say Goodbye When I’m Gone, Always the Dead, and I’ll Pray When I’m Dying. Join us for an honest discussion of how mental illness is portrayed in crime and other fiction, how poetics does or does not fit into the noir creator’s craftsmanship, and an assessment of the indie crime fiction scene.

Buy Shadows Slow Dancing in Derelict Rooms here or wherever books are sold.

Intro music by Road Side Brake.

From Canada: “…bold and bloody grit lit, and it hits like a hammer…the story is about the draw family has on you, even when you don’t want anything to do with them. And Creeley learns you can’t run forever.”

From the United Kingdom: “…more twisty and labyrinthine than anything else I've read by Phillips. Just when you think you've got it worked out, the rug is pulled from under your feet.”

From Australia: “…a real page-turner…just couldn't put it down.”

From the USA: “…half the fun was watching Creeley’s gutsy actions, the kind of things female characters rarely are given the opportunity to do; the kind of things that male crime fiction characters do all the darn time.”

READ TODAY

Read this stellar noir novel today…Don’t miss out on the hottest mystery of the fall season.

Hi, Readers—

I’m writing to remind you that A Good Rush of Blood is out in the world and it’s looking for readers. The most recent 5-star reader review says, “…I couldn’t put it down. This suspenseful page-turner is packed with twists that had me hooked.”

BUY BOOK

If you already bought the book—THANK YOU. Double your impact by leaving a review on Amazon or GoodReads. If a book receives 50 reviews in a thirty day window, Amazon starts to actively target readers who will love it. YOUR REVIEW MATTERS and your purchase is incredibly meaningful to me. You don’t need to purchase the book on Amazon to review it there—go here and leave a review!

Thank you for your support.

Well—it happened. A GOOD RUSH OF BLOOD is officially available for purchase.

“Phillips writes in the classic noir style: short sentences, snappy dialogue, vivid imagery, beautiful flashes of metaphors and similes….the wanderings down sidetracks, the mystery, the drugs and music and sex, all make A Good Rush of Blood a wild, deftly handled mix of genres: mystery, noir, road novel.” — Reedsy Discovery 5-Star Review

You can buy it anywhere books are sold including Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or Amazon. Want to buy direct from me? Reply to this email and I’ll give you the details (yes, it’ll be a couple bucks cheaper). But whatever you do—buy and READ the book!

If you already bought the book, you can still help by sharing your purchase on social media like Goodreads, Twitter, or wherever else. You can also upvote the book on Reedsy Discovery where it has been selected as a 5-star MUST READ. Upvotes help the book get broader exposure and features across the reader community.

Interested in the book’s journey to publication? Check out my ‘Story Behind the Story’ on the popular crime fiction publication, The Rap Sheet.

Still need convincing? Here goes…

Thanks so much, readers…Without you, this book is so much paper and ink.

Much love.

Hi, Everybody:

I’m thankful for every reader who follows me and reads this newsletter. Many of you know that my mystery novel set in Palm Springs, A Good Rush of Blood, will be published this coming Wednesday. I’d love for you to pre-order this book—the more orders the book has in its first week of publication, the more likely readers who don’t know about my work will find it. You help the book the most by ordering in the first week, or by pre-ordering it. So far, 5000 readers have added the book to their ‘want to read’ shelf on GoodReads. The book has 20 reviews already with an average rating of 4.68 stars. And sites like Crime Fiction Lover and Cemetery Dance Review have written incredibly kind words about A Good Rush of Blood. I guess what I’m saying is…I know this is one of the best mystery/noir novels of the year—I hope you’ll join my supportive readers and buy a copy, and I hope you’ll share the news with others.

Order Ebook

Order Paperback

Order from Indie Bookstore

Other steps you can take to support the launch of A Good Rush of Blood include:

Share your purchase on social media

Leave a review on GoodReads, Amazon, or BookBub

Tell your local bookseller they should order the book from Ingram Distribution

Request that your local library system order the book for readers (usually they have an online request form)

Okay, that’s all I have…Many thanks for any help you provide to this book. I’m thankful for anybody who reads the book, buys the book, or thinks that I should keep writing—I can’t do this without your continued support!

On this episode, crime writer Alec Cizak, creator of the renowned journal Pulp Modern, talks about his new crime collection, Nobody’s Coming Home. Cizak has more than twenty years of publication/editorial history in the crime writing community—he founded All Due Respect and Uncle B. Publications. Cizak’s published novels include Cool it Down, Breaking Glass, Manifesto Destination, and Down on the Street. He has had numerous novellas and short stories published, including the story collection Lake County Incidents. Recently, Cizak founded the Independent Fiction Alliance.

Buy Nobody’s Coming Home here or wherever books are sold.

Intro music by Road Side Brake.

A GOOD RUSH OF BLOOD | A mother's sins haunt a teenage runaway in this scorching mystery of criminal conspiracy, street-level justice, and unlikely courage.

You can pre-order A Good Rush of Blood in paperback today. The book is already garnering advance reader acclaim and 4000+ people on Goodreads have added it to their TBR lists (TBR = To Be Read). If you’re looking for a “fast-paced whodunit, intriguing plot, spell-binding twists and cliffhangers…” than my book is for you.

Pre-Order Book

If you are a mystery reader, I’d deeply appreciate your support in pre-ordering what I know will become a sleeper hit of a crime novel. I’ve already had a production company request a copy of the book for review and book influencers on social media are taking notice…This is the one—I’m going to hit the big time, people :)

Hop on for the ride! Why order from Bookshop.org? Because you can select an independent bookstore to share a portion of the book sale profits—awesome!

“Creeley Nash hooked me from the start and kept me turning pages as she searches for the truth behind the murder that put her estranged mother behind bars…”

— Five Star Goodreads Review