Featured Interview With Matthew Alan
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Hi everyone – I grew up in Canton, Ohio (A Bulldog from Canton, McKinley) and then graduated from Kenyon College. From there, I earned a masters degree from Western Illinois, after which I began a career in teaching and coaching. I currently live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I have always loved reading, and enjoy the intimacy in the world that the mind/book connection can create. As far as writing, I started years ago with a memoir, but it turned into more of a passion for fiction over the last ten years.
Growing up as a seemingly outgoing introvert, books and my imagination allowed me to be entertained and amused for hours, without having to worry about what someone form the outside might think. A perfect escape for a child’s mind.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
I like most genres – from JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series to David Sedaris (Me Talk Pretty One Day) is something I can read over and over again.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
What We Leave Behind – A story about struggle, a story of hope, and mostly, a story about love. A journey with a unique young girl who is so sure of what is out there waiting for her, that she never compromises her belief in finding it.
Jane Rawley Solomon’s humor, character, and passion for others, serve as a reminder that we choose our own path to happiness, regardless of the events that impact our lives.
I started writing this novel in 2009, after losing my remarkable dog, Rawley, to a bone tumor in a very emotional process. As the next year continued, my other canine companion of twelve years, Max, passed away from liver cancer. In that same period, a very dear coaching colleague – far too young to deal with her medical issues – passed away from cancer. Not to be a bearer of grief, as we all deal with these events in our lives, but from 2008-2012, I watched as my father battled pancreatic cancer, fighting with amazing resolve.
Amidst so much loss and pain, it was easy to write the sad parts of this book. The trick was keeping the hope, the love, the fight, and the joy – that they all managed to hold onto – represented in my heroine, Jane.
Despite numerous challenges, I knew I wanted to push through and finish this work when a former teammate from college lost her struggle with cancer earlier this winter. This book’s dedication is for those people who struggle with illness and pain, and yet never lose their optimism or their love for others. I hope I do them – and through them, all of you – justice.
Buy the book on Amazon.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles