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Thursday, January 26, 2012
 - University of the Damned
When I finished writing Grunch Road last summer, it was kinda sad; I so enjoyed the process of writing that I didn’t want it to be over. I guess Moses felt the same way after he was done writing Genesis, and like him, I sought to alleviate this post-partum depression by launching into a sequel.
For my first sequel, I am moving the location out of my native New Orleans East (though it will be back from time to time) to the campus of Arkadia University. My first story in what will be a four-part series (hey, if Moses could write five books, then so can I!) is called University of the Damned where Nick and his friend Ben (the two guys pictured on the cover) are enrolled in college through a Silver Scroll scholarship. They’re both working for the campus newspaper. Nick doesn’t get into a lot of trouble in this outing. Hell, he doesn’t even get beat up! Don’t worry, I’m only being nice to him next year because next year look out … there will be punishment. The draft of the second novel, Sport of the Gods, is now finished and I’m working on the rewrites. It will be a very intense story and some of the imagery gets a little ugly. I have to work on telling the story without getting too gross, and that’s not easy!
To help promote these books, I’ve redesigned by website to turn the right sidebar into my book promotion area, which means I’ve removed the Chorus Events calendar. I don’t think it will be missed; you can always find out what the Chorus is up to at their website, and there’s a link to them in the left sidebar.
Music Notes
A, B flat, Middle C … okay, bad pun. I was a really bad boy and skipped rehearsal Tuesday night to go down to the bar and drink instead. I’m entitled; it was my birthday. I had a great time, got lots of drinks bought for me, and got up and sang a duet of “I’ll Cover You” (from Rent) with my friend Frankie, who really should try out for the Chorus!
What the Chorus is working on now is a new piece we commissioned from Michael Shaieb, who wrote Through A Glass, Darkly for is in 2008) called “Out of My Range and Other Performance-Related Issues” which explores the adventures of a new Chorus member trying to make it through his first concert. We’ll be premiering it in March and taking it to the GALA Chorus festival in Denver.
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Tuesday, January 3, 2012
So it’s 2012 now. Let the apocalypse begin. I haven’t been doing a lot of writing in my ’blog lately, as I’ve been busy getting the new version of Grunch Road out there and getting the first sequel ready for release. I’ve really re-thought most of the stories, taking out a lot of the supernatural elements and keeping it more in the real world, all working up to the big reveal in Book 4 (Book 5 if you count Grunch Road) where I explain what the Grunch is and where it came from.
 - May 22 – Apocalypse at Cedar Trails
So now we’re in a new year, and I haven’t done any of the things I usually do at the new year, like write a post looking back at 2011 or issuing my semi-fearless predictions for the new year. One thing I am pretty sure is not going to happen this year is the end of the world. Still, I will get a good laugh at the expense of those who buy into all this eschatological nonsense. Maybe 2012 will be the year we finally realize how stupid this all is, and stop running around like Chicken Little screaming that the sky is falling. Then again, probably not. 2020 is looking good for the end of the world, too.
I haven’t made any predictions this year, but last year I did slightly better than Harold Camping. I was write that the world did not end on May 21, but it sure seemed like it was going to on May 22, when I had my first up-close and personal meeting with a tornado. Auntie Em! Auntie Em! I was right about the announcement that this would be the final season of Desperate Housewives. I still think in the final scene, Mary Alice Young will wake up and it was all a dream, and Wisteria Lane is really a skanky trailer park full of sleazy white trash. I also got one hit on my death list, Harmon Killebrew. Therefore, this year, everybody is on my death list.
And A New Butts!
 - My newest family member.
This handsome young man started showing up on Facebook on New Years Day, seen here with his deliriously delighted dad, my nephew Joshua Butts, here with his new born son Elias, the new Keeper of the Family Name. Little Elias was born on the day after his cousin Emma’s birthday, so sorry, Josh, you have to wait until next year to take the tax write-off. Oh, and save the kid’s birth certificate in case he ever wants to run for president someday.
Another little bundle is on the way to my other nephew’s house, as I’m told Josef and Lisadell are expecting a baby girl any month now, which brings my total number of “great-neicephews” to four, three girls and one boy to carry on the proud family name. The circle of life continues.
Welcome to the family, little man. Welcome to the world.
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Books By Matt
These titles are currently available from my publishing subsidiary, The Mind of Matt Press.
Each title costs $9.95.
The Mind of Matt
Online Bookstore
Grunch Road
ISBN 1-467-94343-6
New Orleans, 1971: Nick Eismann’s best friends have been murdered. When the police won’t tell him what happened, he starts his own investigation, and discovers the terrifying truth, and a loose-cannon cop who will stop at nothing to keep him silent!
University of the Damned
ISBN 1-468-09153-0
September 1972: Nick “Iceman” Eismann begins his studies at Arkadia University, a mysterious old campus hidden away in the backwaters of the Louisiana bayou country, where there’s a story behind every door and a skeleton in every closet!
COMING SOON!
Sport of the Gods
Coming April 2012!
New Orleans, 1973: A modern day Jack the Ripper is terrorizing the city. Nick Eismann isn’t paying much attention to the story … until he suddenly becomes the prime suspect!
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