Matthew, describe yourself for our visitors.
I am a pastor at a small church in Orland, California, and my wife and I have two boys, Dylan (7) and Malcolm (2). Besides writing, I enjoy playing violin in the local symphony. I especially like playing in small groups of three or four. I mostly play classical
music, though in a nice change of pace the orchestra did a Christmas concert this year with Michael W. Smith. One of my favorite things to do is read with my boys. I just got done reading to Dylan from The Wind In the Willows.
How do you find time to connect with God?
I’m something of a night-owl, so I read the Bible for my personal devotions after everyone else has gone to bed. One of the richest things I’ve experienced recently is stopping several times a day for prayer. In the morning, I pray through the Lord’s prayer, adding specific requests suggested by each line. In the middle of the day, I pray through Proverbs 6:16-19, the seven things that the Lord hates, as a way of examining myself. I pray for my family right before I go to bed. I’ve found that the Lord really uses all these times to guide me.
Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?
I’ve read a lot of Ernest Hemingway this year, and I especially dug into For Whom the Bell Tolls. Other favorite authors are Raymond Chandler, Edmund Burke, and P.G. Wodehouse. Right now, I’m reading Ronald Reagan’s Diaries.
Tell us about your journey to publication.
I’ve written three novels, two of which rest peacefully in a drawer. I try not to disturb them. The third was written for a Christian Writers Guild contest, and I called it The Work of Our Hands. I did not win. But I felt that this novel had enough potential to keep fussing over. One editor told me that no Christian publisher would touch it because it was too controversial. (He wasn’t happy saying that, but he felt it was reality.) In spite of knowing he was probably right, I kept refining the story.
Another editor, after looking the manuscript over, told me I needed to study Self-Editing For Fiction Writers by Browne and King. I got the book, implemented every recommendation the best I could, and showed the new version to Steve Barclift of Kregel. The result is my first novel, Fallen.
Tell us about your current book?
Fallen is about lying. A pastor lies to the church chairman. The church chairman lies to himself. The story deals with confession of sin, accountability, power struggles in churches, the pain of relationships that deteriorate, and the comfort of those that are healed. It is not a story for the faint of heart. One reviewer called it “brutal,” and
I’m afraid she’s right.
I wrote the book because I know many people who’ve been through these experiences, and who need an honest portrayal.
How did you come up with ideas for this book?
I constantly meet with other pastors, and the stories of our friends and colleagues who fall come in a steady stream. The book isn’t a fictionalized depiction of a real incident, but is entirely invented. To come up with the plot, I thought of the many different ways a pastor would have to lie to cover up sins. Then I asked how those lies
would ever be exposed. It was pretty grim work.
What’s next for you?
I am working on a new novel right now, as well as a non-fiction book about the Samaritan woman and Jesus.
Where can visitors find you online?
My blog is http://merchristianity.com/, which I update each Thursday. You can find a bunch of my other stuff, like sermons, at http://orlandefc.org/. Thank you so much for your interest.
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