Interview with Matthew Santiago
Published 2017-08-23.
What music do you listen to and does it inspire your work?
I listen to all kinds of music, my favorite being Christian. I follow a playlist on Spotify called Instrumental Inspirations in the Christian genre that I listen to to immerse myself in my projects.
Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I was raised in Hammond, IN as a child where my parents liberally allowed me to play video games and toys which sparked my creativity. I eventually moved to Portage, IN during my high school years and found my passion for music by joining a Christian band. We even got played on the radio, but eventually broke up. Being a vocalist really taught me words and how to play with them. Then I began attending Columbia College Chicago, a very artsy school. I took a class called Story Development that solidified my love for writing.
Who are your top 5 inspirations?
God, my wife, Paul the Apostle, who I consider one of the greatest authors in history, J.R.R. Tolkien another great author, and my barber (laughs).
What motivated you to become an indie author?
I type pretty fast, so I can write a story faster than paint a picture, code a video game, etc. etc. But honestly it's the people around me who take pride in their art and musician/athlete interviews.
What's your brain food?
Chick-fil-A.
What inspires you to get out of bed each day?
Aside from my projects, I work the night shifts to provide for my wife and two cats. I'm hoping one day with more exposure my books can do that for me.
When you're not writing, how do you spend your time?
If I'm not writing I'm either at work or at the gym.
What was the first book you've ever read cover to cover?
Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan in my middle school years. I think I finished that whole series in one year (laughs).
What is your favorite book you've ever read?
The Holy Bible. It's a challenge at first, but it boosted my reading speed and unlocked my mind in many ways by seeing love and the world in a whole different way. I'm a history junkie also so learning about different wars and kings was pretty cool too.
What's your writing process in terms of story, title, and cover design?
I get an idea, and immediately jot it down. Character development, setting, and even the plot kind of grow on their own in my brain. But in terms of writing, I literally start on the first page. No plan sheet, no notes, I just start it. Sometimes it flows well, but the majority of the time I go back and add a detail here and there. It's around the end of the first chapter where I come up with the title and cover art.
I'm sure you've guessed this last question, are you currently working on any projects? What's next?
I currently published a chapter of a project I'm working on called "We're All Here" as sort of a sample/trailer due to release around mid-December.
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Books by This Author
We're All Here
by Matthew Santiago
Follow the romance of newlyweds Abram and Jill Fisk. As tragedy occurs, Abram and Jill lose each other and begin their journey to unite in two different worlds of perception, emotion, and love.
