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The Brothers' Keepers Author Interview & Giveaway

2/19/2015

17 Comments

 
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Tell us about yourself:

What was your first book?

My first book is called CONVERSATIONS AMONG RUINS. It is a psychological thriller. Here is a brief description:


CONVERSATIONS AMONG RUINS is a portrait of a descent into madness, and the potential of finding salvation there.

While in detox, Daniel Stavros, a young, dual diagnosed* professor meets and falls in love with the cryptic Mimi Dexter. But Mimi has secrets and, strangely, a tattoo identical to a pendant Daniel’s mother gave him right before she died.

Drawn together by broken pasts, they pursue a twisted, tempestuous romance. When it ends, a deteriorating Stavros seeks refuge at a mountain cabin where a series of surreal experiences brings him face to face with something he’s avoided all his life: himself.

Though miles away, Mimi’s actions run oddly parallel to Daniel’s. Will either be redeemed, or will both careen toward self-destruction?

*The term dual diagnosed refers to someone suffering from a mood disorder (e.g., depression) and chemical dependency.
That having been said, THE BROTHERS’ KEEPERS is a close second. Both books were published last year.

Describe your first break.
My first break came in the form of a contract from All Things That Matter Press to publish CONVERSATIONS AMONG RUINS in July 2014. A contract from MuseItUp Publishing for THE BROTHERS’ KEEPERS was offered in November of 2014.

What is your favorite genre to read? To write?

My favorite genre to read is literary fiction, while my favorite genre to write is thriller/mystery. I’m sort of the opposite of Toni Morrison, who reads mysteries while writing literary fiction. I read literary fiction while writing thrillers/mysteries.

Are Happy Endings are must in your stories?
No. I strive for a certain amount of realism in my writing, and happy endings don’t always apply.


What makes a protagonist interesting?
What makes a protagonist interesting is a certain level of intellect along with some fatal character flaw.

What is the best thing about being a writer?


The best part of being a writer is having people read my books. I love getting feedback from readers and hearing how they enjoyed (or didn’t) the story. I try to answer every question I get, because to me, it’s all about the reader.

What is the worst thing?
The worst part of being a writer, and this is true with regard to several professions, is that you can never really leave it at the end of the day (or over the weekend). Words are constantly on my mind, and I sometimes have a difficult time taking a break from them.

Pantser or plotter?
Plotter, plotter, plotter. Oh, did I mention, I’m a plotter J That having been said, I leave enough room for spontaneous things to happen, because often the best writing takes place while you are writing, and not planning. Also, I think it depends on what you write. Thrillers/mysteries almost necessitate a good deal of plotting ahead of time, where other genres and types of fiction may lend themselves better to the pantser approach.

What do you see the direction of your future writing taking? What can we expect next? Give us a little taste.

Currently, I’m working on the next book in the Nicholas Branson series. Branson and Jessica Jones will be back for another high-stakes thriller, with another historical mystery/puzzle to solve.

Just for fun
Cat or dog person?

Until a few years ago, I would have considered myself a dog person and left it at that. But over the past few years I had the privilege of having the greatest white, short-haired cat, one that was sensitive to my every mood and stuck by me no matter what. Her name was Isabelle. Unfortunately, she had to be put to sleep last month. I am still mourning the loss.

Favorite food?
Pizza. Yes, I believe that pizza is the perfect food. A close second is anything my girlfriend cooks. Did I get that right, dear? I think I know where I’ll be sleeping tonight L

Favorite book?
Dostoevsky’s CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.

Favorite movie?
I’m going old-school here,  and changing the pace, but I have to say THE SOUND OF MUSIC. I mean, what’s not to like about that movie? I find it hard to be depressed when watching that film—in fact, it is one of my secret weapons against depression. Disney movies are a close second. 

Favorite holiday?
Christmas. I adore Christmas. In fact, I’m one of those lunatics who keeps his tree up as long as humanly possible, until it’s reduced in size and shape to something you’d see on CHARLIE BROWN.


Would you rather be the princess or the villain? Why?

Definitely the villain J Because I’d have a hard time being a princess ;-)

Who has more fun, orcs or hobbits?
Hobbits! Hobbits rule!


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BLURB:
Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, and Jesus’ purported spouse, Mary Magdalene. But what about Jesus’ siblings? What role did they play in early Christianity?

Contemporary Jesuit and renowned religious historian Nicholas Branson is about to find out…and the answer will shake the foundations of the Judeo-Christian world.

It all starts with the murder of a United States Senator in a confessional, and the discovery of a strange religious document among his possessions. At the urging of his FBI friend, Branson joins the investigation. His effort to uncover the truth behind the murder draws him into the search for an eight-hundred-year-old treasure and into a web of ecclesiastical and political intrigue.

Accompanied by a beautiful, sharp-tongued research librarian, Jessica Jones, Branson follows a trail of clues, from the peaks of the awe inspiring French Pyrenees to the caves of war-torn Afghanistan. Along the way, shadowy powerful forces trail the pair, determined to keep safe a secret buried for centuries.



Excerpt One:
Father Rawlings drained his cup and set it on the table. “What I’m about to tell you may sound ridiculous and melodramatic. At best it will seem the stuff of conspiracy theories and spy novels. However, I assure you it is not.” He fixed Branson with a steely gaze. “As God’s soldiers, we are engaged in a battle, Nicholas. As real as any battle ever waged. The war we fight has raged for centuries, but the battle we fight now could well be the last. And we, you and I, the Roman Catholic Church as a whole, must emerge victorious. Nothing less than the foundations, the stability of the Christian world is at stake.” He smiled again, this time with bitterness.

 
“Of course it sounds unbelievable, even paranoid, but believe me, it is neither. I choose my words carefully. I don’t make bold assertions I cannot support. I assure you I am telling you exactly how things stand, exactly what is at stake. Before I go on, however, I must demand a pledge from you, your promise to help the Church in the epic struggle in which we currently find ourselves. We require your guarantee, your warrant if you will, that you will use all your energies, resources, and powers to secure the interests of the Church, and that you will let nothing deter you from the task at hand. With this binding agreement comes an inexhaustible supply of resources: anything and everything you deem necessary to accomplish your mission. But I must have your pledge before we proceed.” Rawlings rose from his seat, motioning for Branson to stand as well. “Before you give me your answer, listen again to Jesus’ words: ‘He who is not with me is against me.’ Nicholas Branson, tell me now: Are you with our Lord, or against Him?”

UTHOR Bio and Links:

 Dual diagnosed* from an early age, Matthew Peters dropped out of high school at sixteen. He went on to obtain an A.A., a B.A. from Vassar College, and an M.A. and Ph.D. from Duke University. He has taught various courses in a variety of disciplines throughout North Carolina. He is committed to increasing the awareness and understanding of the dual diagnosed. In addition to The Brothers’ Keepers, he is the author of Conversations Among Ruins, which features a dual diagnosed protagonist. Currently, he is working on a sequel to The Brothers’ Keepers.


*The term dual diagnosed refers to someone suffering from a mood disorder (e.g., depression) and chemical dependency.

Website: http://www.matthewpetersbooks.com/

Blog: http://www.matthewpetersbooks.com/blog/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewPeters65

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthew.peters.79656

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1qklgNK

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1q8gsMs

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-brothers-keepers

MuseItUp Publishing: http://bit.ly/1l90G1B


a Rafflecopter giveaway
17 Comments
Matthew Peters link
2/18/2015 05:23:56 pm

Hi, Morgan,

Thank you for hosting me today.

I have a question for readers: What makes you decide to read a new author? Is it the content of the book? The cover? Interesting facts about the author? A combination of these, or something else entirely? Thanks for answering.

I wish you a happy and productive day.

All the best,
Matt

Reply
Goddess Fish Promotions link
2/18/2015 06:42:26 pm

Thanks for hosting!

Reply
Morgan Wyatt
2/18/2015 07:12:15 pm

Matt,

As a reader,I would say it is the cover, blurb, nature of subject matter, and the fact the author could serve as an expert on the subject just sweetens the deal. Your book sounds like authentic read, which is rare is the world of copycat or 'sampled' books.

As an author, I will read books about a subject matter and genre I'd like to explore as an author. Right now, I'm knee high in Druid books, but I'd make an exception for The Brothers' Keepers.

Reply
Matthew Peters link
2/18/2015 07:47:21 pm

Hi, Morgan,

Those are excellent reasons for giving a new author a try.

Thank you for your kind words concerning The Brothers' Keepers. I worked hard to make it an "authentic read," as you call it, largely because I was disappointed by the large number of copycat or "sampled" books already out there. Hopefully, I have provided something new for readers to enjoy.

I look forward to reading your blog and to getting to know you and your readers.

Reply
Kenneth Hicks
2/18/2015 10:53:05 pm

Hi Matt, Your tour seems to be going well. I like to listen to Mozart's Prague Symphony if I need my mood to be improved. I always feel as though Mozart wrote it just for that purpose.

Reply
Matthew Peters link
2/18/2015 11:15:18 pm

Hi Ken,

Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting.

This tour is lots of fun. I'd highly recommend it. In fact, you did one not too long ago, right?

I agree. Classical music is a must when I'm reading or writing. I took a cue from you and am now listening to Mozart's Prague Symphony. Great choice!

All the best to you and Anne.

Reply
Susan Bernhardt link
2/18/2015 11:07:49 pm

This was a great interview, Matthew! My husband and I are fascinated with your thrillers and look forward to the next ones.

We differ in that your worst thing of being an author is one that I enjoy. I love staying my writing all day. I'm not sure my husband is thrilled about that. I love thoughts and words going through my mind for a mystery I am working on. At night I lie in bed thinking of a specific scenario, hoping that I'll dream a solution to a problem I may be having with it. I guess I'm still at the stage where I love that writing consumes me.

I agree pizza is a perfect food. It is my favorite also and I could eat it every day.

Best wishes.



Reply
Matthew Peters link
2/19/2015 12:44:18 am

Hi Susan,

First, I want to thank you so much for being such a loyal friend and coming by to say hello at each of my blog stops. You are truly awesome!

I'm glad that you love that writing consumes you. I feel that way when I'm first engaged in a project, but then I usually find that I have trouble shutting my brain off, especially at night. How very cool that you like that, though! It's what makes the world go around.

I also want to say that I love your mysteries. Your protagonist, Kay Driscoll, is very appealing on so many levels. She's likable, and smart, and has some very interesting friends. I greatly enjoyed The Ginseng Conspiracy, and now I can't wait to read your latest, Murder Under the Tree. Kudos to you for creating such great characters and such interesting stories.

Pizza, yes. Long live pizza :-)

All the best to you and Bill

Reply
Karen H
2/18/2015 11:26:10 pm

I use book tours like this to help me find new-to-me authors and their works. I also rely on other review blogs that I trust. While I am a huge fan of historical romances set in the 19th century, I do like to set out to read the occasional mystery/thriller/suspense themed book.

Are your two books tied together in any way? Do you plan a sequel to either book? Enjoyed reading your interview today too.

Reply
Matthew Peters link
2/19/2015 01:01:50 am

Hi Karen,

Thanks for coming by and commenting. You, too, are a very loyal person, having stopped at each spot with me, and I greatly appreciate that.

Book tours are a fabulous way to find authors. I'm kind of new at them, but I'm going to start following them.

To answer your question, the books are not related. However, The Brothers' Keepers is part of the Nicholas Branson series, and I am working feverishly on the next book in the series, which I hope to have available in the near future. The books are very research intensive, so they take a little while to create, but the next one will hopefully be just as thrilling, if not more so, than The Brothers' Keepers.

I've thought about continuing Daniel's story (Conversations Among Ruins) as well, but I need to give more thought to that, when I can fully focus on it. In any event, I do plan on writing more about the issue of dual diagnosis.

Thanks again for coming by. I hope to see you tomorrow.

All the best, and stay warm (unless you're in Florida, and then, I'm too jealous to speak to you :-)

Reply
momjane
2/19/2015 07:20:45 am

I enjoyed your comments but......I must have a happy ending. Sorry. Otherwise, the story sounds great.

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Matthew Peters link
2/19/2015 08:27:56 am

Hi Momjane,

Thank you for stopping by.

I can't say anything about the end of The Brothers' Keepers, but the story continues to the next book, so it's not exactly a Shakespearean tragedy--some characters manage to survive :-)

All the best,
Matt

Reply
Matthew Peters link
2/19/2015 08:29:20 am

Hi Morgan,

Thank you for hosting me.

All the best,
Matt

Reply
Rita Wray
2/19/2015 09:02:43 am

I like the blurb, can't wait to read it.

Reply
Matthew Peters link
2/19/2015 07:50:15 pm

Hi Rita,

Thank you so much for stopping by and for your kind words.

Please let me know what you think of the book if you get a chance. I love to hear from readers.

All the best,
Matthew

Reply
J.Q. Rose link
2/21/2015 12:07:00 am

Great interview. Always fun to get to know more about an author friend through these interviews. Sound of Music? Very special to me since I remember a date night with my hubby BEFORE we really got serious. Must have fallen in love with him because of this movie? I bet you could be a prince though! Best wishes!

Reply
Matthew Peters link
2/21/2015 01:21:04 am

Hi, Janet,

Thank you so much for stopping by and commenting.

There is something about The Sound of Music, isn't there? I'm glad it has a special place for you as well.

Thanks for the whole I could be a prince comment :-)

I hope you come back for more of the tour, especially now that you've called me a prince :-)

All the best,
Matt

Reply



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