April Author Spotlight 2015
Letter ‘M’ is for Matt Cairns author of Cold Blooded
Why do I recommend Cold Blooded?
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to follow the absorbing plot of this exciting, action-packed, surprising, and thrilling read. I was impressed by the plausible, supernatural element, which is associated with scientific experiments related to genetic engineering in a paramilitary organization. I loved the idyllic setting, in a small rural and remote location in New Zealand, in the middle of a severe thunderstorm, which adds to the tension and atmosphere.
All the characters are well-developed so that I cared about what happened to the ‘good’ ones and felt terrified of the ‘evil’ ones. There are some violent scenes, but not more than are necessary to push the plot forward. I liked the way I was challenged to consider that violence could be the only option when ‘good’ and ‘evil’ come face to face.
The novel is very well-written, while the plot is well-woven, and most importantly, well-unravelled and concluded; the ending is unexpected, partly poignant, and wholly satisfactory. I’m impatiently looking forward to more novels by Matt Cairns.
Tell me about Cold Blooded, Matt.
With Cold Blooded I wanted a no-holds-barred action novel that hooked readers from the start and kept them turning the pages ‘til the end, at which point they’d sit back and take a deep breath and say something like: Damn—how cool was that? Wonder when the next one’s due out…
I took all my favorite authors—Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Wilbur Smith, Jack Higgins, Terry Brooks, and a handful of others—and rolled them into one.
A modern-day thriller-slash-horror with elements of the unreal (sci-fi or fantasy or supernatural/paranormal—you decide which genre fits best), with as much dark (or sick, or twisted, or disturbing…again, you decide) humor I could muster.
…a cross between X-Men and Jack Reacher…
…move over Quentin Taratino…
…this novel kicks ass…
I’m not sure which comment I like best. Kicks ass sounds pretty good.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on the next Tom Jade novel—Tom Jade being the main character in Cold Blooded.
It’s a follow on of sorts, in that Jade (and a few other originals) will feature, and it will expand a bit more on the events of the previous story. But it will also go in entirely new directions as far as plotlines are concerned. And there will be more characters, more action, and all going to plan, a bit more blood.
And because I like humor, especially the dark (or was it sick?) kind, there’ll be more of that too. As much as my agent and publisher will allow, of course, bless their li’ll white cotton socks.
What would you like readers to know about you?
In a perfect world…nothing!
I’d prefer to have people imagine for themselves: Me in a cold dark castle (or cave), hidden away from the world, hunched over an antique typewriter the size of a massive church organ (with pipes rising from it—don’t ask me why), candles burning, music playing (Phantom of the Opera seems to fit), nodding and grinning while I slam away at the keys…
But we don’t live in a perfect world. We live in a social media world. Where everyone wants (bless their li’ll white cotton socks) to know everything.
So what the hell: ‘When in Rome…’ and all that jazz…
Click on the links and come visit the cave. (Cue organ music…) Or castle. Or house. Or whatever hovel I’m living in.
You’ll probably find out one day, if you’re lucky.
When I figure out how to use Instagram…
How can we find out more or contact you?
*****
Please take some time to check out some of the other blogs on the A-Z Challenge. There are plenty of interesting and varied topics.
