by Matt J. Pike
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Alms for an author
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AUTHOR Q&A
Warning: the following exchange contains spoilers. Don’t look at it until you’ve finished the book. You have been warned!
OK, the big one first. How did it feel to put an arrow through Duncan’s throat?
I’m not going to lie - it felt fantastic! Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person. RIP not. And I know there are readers who may have gotten just as much enjoyment out of it, as they’ve mentioned what they think of him at events. Apologies to the pacifists #sorrynotsorry.
Were there any particular songs you played to get in the mood for writing his death scene?
For the majority of writing that draft I absolutely hammered the album Day for Night by The Tragically Hip; in some bizarre way I felt the album somewhat captured the mood of the world I was writing in. As for that scene, the song Nautical Disaster off said album – haunting and atmospheric with lyrics equal parts chilling and poetic
Another bad guy question. Would you ever write a spin-off from one of their perspectives? I mean no one ever really sees themself as a villain, and a look into the mind of the Fat Man could be a very wild ride…
I have been thinking about this exact thing for some time. There’s a parallel story happening in the city and I think it could be interesting. The Fat Man/Norwood hubbers are the enemy in Jack’s world, but do they think they’re the bad guys? Maybe they have their reasons. Maybe they’ve slowly changed so much over time they can’t remember who they were. Either way, I think there’s a fascinating story in there, probably with a cast of characters… hopefully some good people I can follow into that dark world along with the Fat Man.
Life post-rock seems so bleak, but there are moments of hope. What sort of research did you do into how the post-apocalypse would play out, for example, with Mother Nature fighting back?
I did a lot of research for book one (and continue to do so) on extinction events. The history of Earth is littered with catastrophes that have taken life to the brink… yet here we are. In fact, we are only here because of those events. Over time, life tends to win.
And what’s the coolest fact you learned that wouldn’t fit into the book?
Adelaide has a very cool system of tunnels running under the city. #book4?
How many more books are planned for the series?
At this stage the next one will be the last. Certainly for the immediate story around Jack, New Adelaide, the Norwood hubbers etc. But I do love this world so much that I’d like to write in it again. Maybe further down the track, or the Norwood story in parallel. Any ideas, people?
Will there be a happy ending? At least please tell us Alyce won’t die, and that she’ll make room on the raft if needed (note to readers, if you don’t get this reference, just Google ‘Rose, Jack, Titanic, door’)
OK well since you asked nicely I will tell you everything. NOT. Come on. Where’s the fun if I spoil it for you now? You’ll just have to keep reading.
Well how about one little clue? Say an answer as to whether Jack’s brother will ever pop up…
Jack’s brother was last heard of in London, which suffered catastrophic damage. And even if he did survive, unless he’s learned to swim very fast and a very long way, I’d say that’s a no. But I haven’t forgotten about him and even if I can’t provide a believable payoff to that I would like something (trying hard not to spoiler book 4 here)
Between the Apocalypse series and your other YA series – Zombie Rizing and The Starship Dorsano Chronicles, your teenage heroes are always in peril. What have you got against teenagers?
Hehe! Nothing! In fact, the reason they’re in my books is they’ve survived long enough to be there. In general though, I like the idea of stripping them of any support networks, like family, and seeing what happens when they have to rely on themselves to get out of life and death situations. My characters surprise me often with their ingenuity, resilience and kickass’edness (so a word).
And one last question. Can you build me a trebuchet? Not before I build one for my own kids, apparently. Although #businessidea.
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About the author
Like the legendary R M Williams, Matt was born in Jamestown in rural South Australia. But that’s where the remarkable similarities between these two end. While Reginald went from bushman to world renowned millionaire outback clothing designer, Matt is a complete dag who was lured by the city lights of Adelaide. Kindergarten in the big smoke was a culture shock, but it is here he first discovered his love of storytelling.
In high school that love found an outlet in a series of completely unflattering cartoons about fellow students and teachers alike. He survived long enough to further his art into a successful career in multimedia design but, like a zombified leech, the lure of the written word gnawed at him, forcing him to pen his first novel, the award-winning sci-fi comedy epic, Kings of the World. It was followed the next year by Amazon Australia dystopian sci-fi best-seller Apocalypse: Diary of a Survivor.
Matt donates part-proceeds of each book sold to find a cure for Rett Syndrome, a neurological condition the youngest of his three children, Abby, has. As a gorgeous Rett angel, Abby cannot walk, talk or use her hands in a meaningful way. So, not only is each of your book purchases a ticket to fantastically rounded, character driven, hilarious and poignant sci-fi awesomeness, it wraps you in a warm feeling that you’ve made a difference to people who deserve your help the most. Like the zombified leech it’s a no-brainer.
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