It's M.R. Merrick Week! ~ Today it's MATT!

Loving my M.R. Merrick Week!!

Did you enter the GIVEAWAY for a SIGNED copy of  SHIFT?  Check it out HERE!

Today I have M.R., himself!!!

Welcome to StuckInBooks.  Thanks for hanging out with me today.

You write YA urban fantasy.  What drew you to that genre?

Fantasy in general has always captivated me, and in The Protector series I blur the lines between Epic Fantasy and Urban Fantasy. The main factor that captures me is that I get to twist reality, and more than just a little. With Urban Fantasy I can have a regular world and incorporate anything my imagination can create, which at times can get pretty out there. And when I sit down to write or create something new, my imagination always stretches to something more than then the world we know. Urban Fantasy, for me, is something that is just natural.

Can you see yourself writing in any other genre?

At this point in my writing adventure, I plan to stick within the Fantasy genre. Horror and Thriller are always genre’s that have piqued my interest as well, but right now I can’t get my mind away from the magic and monsters that Fantasy allows me to create.

Writing is a tough business.  How do you stay motivated?

Some days I rely heavily upon friends and family to keep me going. I get down on things and doubt myself and everything I’ve created, but the people who care about me keep me going. Other days it’s my passion. I love to write and I believe in what I’m creating. I really think I’ve created something special, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much going on in my mind that I look forward to creating, I can’t stop. Not now. I’m my own boss and as tough as writing and publishing can be, I’m doing something I love. That has a value all its own. It also helps that I have readers demanding more of me. Knowing there are people out there that love what I’m doing and want more is a huge motivator.

 
Does your muse instead on anything while you’re writing? (Place, music, food)

It really depends on the book. Exiled and Shift insisted on having music to them, but with Release, it was exactly the opposite. Release was emotional for me, and it required silence. Nothing more than the clack of a key being stroked. Noise intimidated the story, and it needed to revolved in quietness in order for me to be able to unveil it.

Each story kind of takes on a life of its own, and each story requires its own kind of sustenance. The forth book in the series, which I’ve been working on recently, has had a back and forth of music and no music, depending on the scene. But for the most part, my muse dictates what it wants depending on what kind of story its trying to tell.

When you first met Chase, what was your impression of him? (DON’T pop my bubble and say he isn’t real).

My first impression was that this guy is holding a lot inside. He’s tough, he seems bad ass, and sometimes he’s a jerk, but in reality, he’s broken and protecting his vulnerability. He’s lost in a world that seems so dark, trying to find his way like the rest of us. His path is full of questions, obstacles, and challenges, just like our lives, only his path is lined with monsters too. Chase is very real to me, and his struggle, in some ways, are not much different from our own. He’s a guy trying to make a home in a world full of strangeness.  

 

Which character is your favorite to write in the protector series?

I love getting inside Chase’s head when nobody else is around. It gives me an opportunity to peel back what isn’t plain to see. But my favorite character to write all around is probably Vincent. He’s clever, he’s an ass, but he’s a lot deeper than what is on the surface. Actually, in a lot of ways, Vincent and Chase are very similar. 

 

Any of you in those characters?

There’s actually a lot of me in this book. Each character has traits of mine, for better or for worse. But I won’t tell you who has what. J 

If you could spend a day with any writer (living or dead), who would it be & why?

J.K. Rowling, and for a few reasons. First, her world building and imagination in the Harry Potter series just blows my mind. To think all of that came from one mind really makes me smile. I’d love to take a trip through that mind in a face to face conversation. Second, although very rich now, she came from extremely humble beginnings, and I think that past probably helps ground her mentally.  At least in my mind she’s a very down to earth type of person, and I could see myself feeling comfortable spending a day with her. There are a lot of other writers I’d love to spend time with, but nobody gives me that imaginary level of comfort that Rowling does.

So I know you wear a cape – Super Matty.  I’ve decided its black, btw. BUT, what is your super power?

I could pick any at all, it would be like it is in the Protector series and I’d choose to be able to create and control the elemental powers of the world. Aside from being kick-ass fun, you could do a lot of good with it too.  

Tell me your favs

Color: Blue

Cereal: Pebbles - both of the fruity and cocoa variety

Cookie: White Chocolate Macadamia Nut

Book growing up: I didn’t read much growing up. I remember really loving The Giver, and James and the Giant Peach.

Sport to play: Basketball

Sport to watch: Hockey

Movie all time: I cannot choose a single move. I love movies like I love to breath. To pick just one is impossible.

Movie recently:  I don’t even know if I can pick one for this…I loved Serenity. It’s not new, but it was new to me because I just recently watched the Firefly series. I enjoyed Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter, The Fourth Kind was creepy, and The Avengers and Thor were both awesome.

Coffee: Folgers! Classic Roast. With International Delight's Southern Butter Pecan creamer. And lots of sugar.

This or that

Night or day: Night

Sweet or salty: Sweet

Burger or steak: Steak

Physical book or eBook: eBook (paper beneath my fingers is weird. Especially if my hands are dry. It’s worse than nails on a chalkboard for me)

Mountain or Ocean: Mountains. I’ve never seen the ocean.

Thanks for hanging out with me.  Love your books, but you know that already.

 

 The Protector Series

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Yep! It's all M.R. Merrick ALL week!!!