#SPFBO Author Interview with Matthew Olney
This week’s #SPFO Author Interview is with Matthew Olney. Matthew lives in Bristol in the South West of England with his wife, Chloe. By day, he works as a copywriter for an international company, but at night he writes novels. Author of the epic Sundered Crown Saga and the Empowered Ones series.
Why did you enter #spfbo?
I entered last years competition with my first attempt at fantasy writing in the form of Heir to the Sundered Crown. It didn’t get very far so this time I entered The First Fear which I feel is a far better book in terms of my writing ability and story crafting. I wrote Heir back in 2014, and I’ve learned much over the past four years. I hope it shows.
What is your favorite thing about self-publishing?
The freedom to write and choose whatever cover images I like as well as no deadlines which gives me the time to write when I can without the pressure. Meeting other self-published authors is also great as we are all on the same journey, albeit at different stages.
Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Writing energizes me for sure. It’s my favorite thing to do when I have time to spare. When you get into the flow of a scene, nothing beats that feeling of exhilaration and sense that your imagination is running free. It can be a very liberating experience.
What other authors are you friends with, and how do they help you become a better writer?
When I first set out to be an author I was lucky to make contact with the likes of Rob May, Kate Cudahy, and T.J Garrett. Together we formed Firebound Books, a place where we support one another. We regularly communicate over FB messenger, it makes writing a far less lonely experience. More recently I’ve got in touch with a load of fellow SPFBO authors, but my claim to fame is Mark Lawrence wishing me a happy birthday on Twitter.
Do you want each book to stand on its own, or are you trying to build a body of work with connections between each book?
Each of my series can be read standalone, but the eagle-eyed will notice that they are in fact connected. I won’t spoil anything, but at some point, in the future, I hope to bring those worlds together in an epic crossover event. I’m also hoping my fellow Firebound Books authors will get involved too to create a huge shared universe of magic, warriors, and dragons.
Thanks, Matthew!
To learn more about Matthew, check out the following links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSOLNEY
Website: https://msolneyauthor.com/
