Here we are back with another Author Spotlight and we have Matthew Salinas this time. Over to Matthew…
Matthew Salinas is an author from Illinois. He is currently working on a collection of short stories. He has published works in horror, microfiction, general fiction, suspense, mystery, and poetry. He is helped along on his journey by his incredible wife, Jordana, and their cats, Buffy, Pepper, and Nova.
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Yes, I have always dreamed of it. Ever since I was little, reading and books have been a source of solace and inspiration to me. I find nothing better than the ability to just get lost in imagination and a good fictional narrative. It only made sense to me to try and emulate the same experience for others and I dream of one day becoming a well known author and respected writer.
How do you come up with the ideas for your book(s)?
I am easily inspired by just about everything from normal conversations to strange occurrences I notice in my everyday life. I try to be as observant in my life as possible and I think this rewards me with numerous unanswerable questions and a child-like curiosity that lends itself to my natural disposition of storytelling. My wife is also a great source of inspiration. I would consider her my muse. Having her support as well does wonders for my spirit and believing in my ability to even commit things to paper.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
Far too many to count at the moment. I never count them out though. Often I find myself returning to half written concepts and ideas with a renewed vigor as I progress as a writer. There are few exceptions, of course, but those I keep locked away in an old briefcase to never see the light of day. Those are the only projects I’ve truly abandoned.
How many hours a day do you write?
This varies greatly. In an ideal world, I would love to be able to write eight hours plus a day, but as I work full time and have a child on the way I am very much caught up in the day-to-day. I try my best to at least write a line or two a day and currently I am working on a project of writing at least one poem a day.
How do you select the names of your characters?
As weird or cliche as it may sound, I feel my characters named themselves. That being said I’m a huge fan of alliterative names, but this isn’t a strict criteria as much as a personal preference.
How long on average does it take you to write a book?
I can write about a 45,000-50,000 word manuscript in a month or so. If I have a great idea and can sit down to outline it then once I start writing the process is very fluid and quick. If obstacles arise or something pulls me away from writing this will increase the time it takes indefinitely. I notice more and more that when I get pulled away from writing it gets harder and harder to get back into the exact mindset and personality I started with on a novel/novella/short story. So I try to really stay as focused on what I’m doing as I can, life permitting.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Personally, I believe in things that can impede or hinder the creative process but I can only speak for myself. I have had the good fortune of never suffering from it directly and usually have far more that I want to say and write than I could ever commit to paper in my lifetime.
What advice would you give to new writers?
Never give up. There’s going to be a lot of negativity about anything you do from both the writing and reading community as well as potential publishers but you never have to please everyone. If what you’re writing is truly worth merit it’ll find its audience and people who need to or want to read it will.
On average, how many books do you read in a month?
Between two to three depending on the length. I’m also a big comic book and graphic novel person. When I was younger I used to have the problem of finishing an entire comic book or graphic novel between the time my mom would take me to the bookstore to buy it and the drive home.
What are your favourite books? (Not written by you!)
I am a huge fan of Neil Gaiman and Chuck Palahniuk. I absolutely love Ocean At The End of The Lane, Smoke and Mirrors, and Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. As for Chuck Palahniuk, Rant, Lullaby, Haunted, and Invisible Monsters are probably my favorites with Haunted holding a special place in my heart.
What are you currently working on?
I am currently wrapping up a novel called A House on The Horizon. It’s a story about three generations of a family that live inside a house that keeps them from aging so long as they stay indoors. The story explores familial relationships, guilt, reconciliation, and what it means to grow up.
Other than that I have a collection of microfiction coming out on May 1st through Fairfield Scribes Publishing, LLC. It’s titled A Little Conversation and features over one-hundred short stories all about the power of spoken words and inner reflection. So far the reviews from the critics I have sent it out to have been immensely positive so I’m very happy and excited about its release.
Who is your favourite author(s)?
Neil Gaiman, Chuck Palahniuk, Alan Moore, David Mitchell, and so so many more, but overall Neil Gaiman has to be my favorite.
Author Website/Link to all of my books
Follow Matthew on Twitter and TikTok
Thanks so much to Matthew for this.
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