Before we get started talking about your writing, tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from, what you do for a living (if you’re not a full–time writer) what hobbies you have, etc. Whatever you’d like to share to introduce yourself.

Hi there. I’m Matteson. I’m a total artsy-crafty nerd! I love all things fantasy and sci-fi—books, TV, film, anime—you name it.

When I’m not geeking out, I’m playing obedient servant to my feline overlords. Said cats are particularly “helpful” when I’m trying to engage in my artsy-crafty hobbies like:

• • crocheting (Me to cat: “Dude, that’s not your yarn.”)
• • painting (“Why are there paw prints on my canvas?”)
• • decorating my bullet journal (“You realize if you sit on my bullet journal, I can’t…ah yes, I see. You do realize.”)
• • gardening: (The neighborhood cats like to “help” when I garden by sleeping in my flower pots. On top of the flowers.)

1. How did you get started writing?

I’m that kid who was always writing stories and putting on plays for my family. (See above re: artsy-crafty.) For a while, I focused more on acting than writing. But even while I was acting, I was writing monologues and one acts. I never really stopped writing, it just wasn’t my main focus. And now that I’m a Writersaurus Rex, all that acting really informs how I write. I’m very character-driven.

When I got burned out on acting, all my creative energy went toward writing intstead. I started the first book in my Housekeeper series during Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month, where people from around the world all try to write 50,000 words in one month). It took me a while, but I finally got A House for Keeping finished and published in 2018.

2.  What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I write funny, feel-good, contemporary fantasy that includes elements of mystery and adventure. Why? Real life is hard, so I try to create magical stories that offer my readers escape and fun, and hopefully, warm fuzzy feels. Plus, as a writer, I’m going to spend a lot of time in the worlds I create, so I want them to be places I like to visit. For me, that means creating stories with magic, mystery, characters I can care about, and a bunch of laughs.

3.  What do you think about when you’re alone in your car?

If I’m driving, there’s not much thinking, it’s all singing. Occasionally, I do take song breaks to direct some colorful commentary at the really bad drivers on the road. If I’m the one in the passenger seat, I often plot while I’m riding. For some reason, car rides and taking baths are both great for encouraging plot ideas.

4.  What is your favorite part of writing?

Two things. First, coming up with creative ideas! One of the awesome things about writing fantasy is that you get to make up kooky magical things (like the discoing cacti in A House for Keeping). Second, I really love words (shocking for a writer, I know), so when I come up with a clever or funny way to say something, it gives me great joy.

5.  What is your least favorite part of writing?

The slog. It may surprise you to learn that for me, writing is hard. Lots of days, getting words on the page is like pulling teeth. It’s worth it in the end, but sometimes it does feel like walking uphill, waist-deep in snow, in the middle of Antarctica.

6.  Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Honestly, everywhere. Watching TV, reading a book, driving—it doesn’t matter. I’ll see something, and it’ll spark an idea in my head. Then my imagination is off and running. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been watching TV or a movie and I’ve had to rewind because I heard a line of dialogue that sent my mind off on a tangent, and I totally missed what was happening on the screen.

7.  Tell me about your ideal reader.

My ideal reader is someone who likes magical worlds with characters you can root for and laugh with. They like a little mystery, adventure, and action in their stories. And they want a satisfying ending.

8.  What is your “go to” routine that helps you get in the mood to write? Special beverage? Music? Etc.

Coffee. In my world, coffee is a food group.

I also have a candle with a snarky saying on it that I light for extra encouragement sometimes. (My last f@#$. Oh look, it’s on fire.)

One of the things I find super helpful is writing with a group online. We all do word sprints together. Writing in community like that really helps because we encourage each other.

9. Tell us about your next book & when is it being published?

I finally finished the rough draft of Book 4 in the Housekeeper series. It’ll be out in 2023, but I don’t have an exact date yet.