Pump Up Your Book Chats with Urban Fiction Author Frank C. Matthews

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Prodigious and profound author Frank C. Matthews’ triumphant transformation from inmate to novelist has established him as a leading force in the world of urban literature. Armed with his mastery of the written word, Matthews has achieved feats that are only reserved for the most seasoned of writers, selling an unprecedented amount of books as a first-time author and self-publisher. When it comes to putting the urban voice – the human voice – on the page, Matthews has no peer. His unprecedented journey demonstrates that even when confronted with a web of trials and tribulations, creativity has the ability to flourish. As a New York City native, Matthews grew up with aspirations of one day becoming a household name as an NBA Superstar. His dream took a detour, but his resilience and determination allowed him to persevere.

The lure of the streets and its fast money took Matthews away from hoops and into another game – the drug trade – where he found instant success. But a deal gone bad eventually landed him behind bars. Once incarcerated, Matthews had few options of how to spend his seemingly unending time in what felt like a black hole drawing at all happiness. Taking advantage of the still and silent nights, Matthews spent hours plunged into two of the world’s most renowned, contemporary African-American storytellers, Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines.

The books empowered the now bright-eyed and enthusiastic Matthews and awakened a creative bug to tell the stories locked inside him. “Incarceration transformed me,” said Matthews. “I went from a young, frustrated, and confused boy to a mature, humble, and pensive man.” Much the way Malcolm X used the power of words to transform himself in prison, Matthews used the power of the pen to write his way to freedom, real freedom. While the calamities of his past may have blackened his vision they did not still his pen. He found his purpose. He would write his stories in notebooks, on torn-open envelopes, and anything he could get his hands on and would pass them around through the system. While some traded cigarettes, Matthews traded his highly demanded stories, which inmates clung to like emotional life rafts.

Matthews delved into the business of publishing, an industry he now planned to one day master. He found his style of writing to be unique, labeling it as “true fiction,” an alternate take on real events he had witnessed firsthand. He honed his craft and further developed a distinctive writing style that was uninhibited, dramatic yet cinematic as his readers traveled to adventurous sonic territory. He had a burning desire to share his rare experiences in the underworld of crime with anyone who would listen. Matthews’ drive and passion was reinvigorated. He would be relentless in his pursuit to share with the masses his tales of underworld crime, drama, brotherhood and love.

Upon his rebirth in 2005, Matthews discovered that he could put his past behind him and emerge with a renewed sense of purpose and unwavering determination. The resilient author took his astounding gift of writing “true fiction,” coupled with his compulsion for words and decided to pursue his passion. Even after numerous failed attempts at landing a publishing deal, Matthews did what he learned to do best – create opportunities for himself. He knew that there was an untapped niche audience eager to hear his voice, and he was steadfast in his desire to supplant the current favorites in the urban lit arena.

Matthews self-published one of his first novels, Respect the Jux, and it caught fire, selling over 20,000 thousand copies. The book catapulted Matthews into the sphere typically reserved for seasoned literary greats while capturing the attention of everyone from rappers Jay-Z, Ghostface Killer, and 50 Cent (who rapped on Lloyd Banks’s single, “Hands up, if you want to party with crooks you have to learn to Respect the Jux!”) to literary powerhouses like bestselling author and publisher Karen Hunter.

The gripping tale borrows from Matthews’ recollection of urban legends through the saga of Cat, who journeyed from Jamaica to the United States as a teenager. After a stint in the military, Cat returned with newfound skills and a desire for his own version of the American Dream—by any means necessary.

Using his extensive military background in weapons and intelligence, Cat formed “The Order,” a band of thieves that specialized in pulling off juxes, which Matthews defines as emulating and acquiring another’s style, intellect, or swagger for personal advancement.

Captivating, intriguing, mesmerizing – all words that describe Frank Matthews’ uncanny ability to bring readers into the worlds that he creates. His first auspicious debut Respect the Jux, a dynamic tale of brotherhood, greed, and power, hits the shelves nationwide in September, the style made famous by Slim and Goines will be revived…with a 21st century twist!

Visit his website at www.frankmatthews.com.

On Respect the Jux

Q: Thank you for this interview, Frank. Can you tell us why you wrote your book?

I wanted to carry on the legacy of people such as Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines by reviving a genre that has been dead for over thirty years. I wanted to world to be reintroduced to the art of writing True Fiction.

Q: Which part of the book was the hardest to write?

The ending was the hardest to write. I didn’t want an ending that would disappoint my readers. I wanted the reader to reach the ending of Respect the Jux and demand more.

Q: Does your book have an underlying message that readers should know about?

No it doesn’t. What I write is as close to reality as one could get without having to live that reality. But it is all done for the sake of entertainment.

On Books in General

Q: What was one of your favorite books as a child?

Lol… I will have to say The Three Little Pigs

Q: What is your favorite book as an adult?

I read the Art of War over and over again trying to figure out how to apply it to my everyday life.

Q: What are you reading now?

Nothing right now. I am working on a new book titled The American Dream.

On Writing

Q: Besides books, what else do you write? Do you write for publications?

Though I have been offered to write for publications, I have not done so yet. Maybe in the future, but for now I am focusing on book only.

Q: Do you have a writing tip you’d like to share?

My tip to all writers is always stick to writing what you know and understand.

On Family and Home:

Q: Would you like to tell us about your home life? Where you live? Family? Pets?

I am hardly ever at home because I am usually on the road promoting my book. I am from New York City and still reside there. I have kids, a small dog, and gold fish.

Q: Where’s your favorite place to write at home?

Anywhere I can find a quiet corner is a good place to write.

Q: What do you do to get away from it all?

I usually take a trip out of the country. Nothing else works. If I’m here in the States, than I’ll find myself working in one form or another.

On Childhood:

Q: Were you the kind of child who always had a book in her/his hand?

Never. I was a child that was always outside playing and running.

Q: Can you remember your favorite book?

The only book I can remember reading, as a child was the Three Little Pigs. So I guess that was my favorite book.

Q: Do you remember writing stories when you were a child?

No.

On Book Promotion:

Q: What was the first thing you did as far as promoting your book?

I made sure everyone of my supporters knew I had a project coming out. I figured that those were the people familiar with me so pitching a new project to them would be easy.

Q: Are you familiar with the social networks and do you actively participate?

I am very familiar with social networks; I think I’ve signed up to all of them. Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Q: How do you think book promotion has changed over the years?

We now have the Internet that enables us to reach millions of people without leaving the offices. Because of that, we are also losing touch with our readers.

On Book Publishing

Q: What is the most frustrating part of being an author?

The most frustrating part is finishing a book than having to wait on the publisher to put out my work for the world to read.

Q: What is the most rewarding?

For me it is when I’m out and about and I see a stranger reading my book, and I ask him or her “how’s that book” and their answer is I love it.

Q: How do you think book publishing has changed over the years?

Today we now have the means of self-publishing made easy. Though that is great, it has also opened the market to saturation of low quality work.

On Other Fun Stuff:

Q: If you had one wish, what would that be?

That the entire world read my books.

Q: If you could be anywhere in the world other than where you are right now, where would that place be?

St. Tropez

Q: Your book has just been awarded a Pulitzer. Who would you thank?

I would thank God, my family, my readers, and everyone who supported me in one-way or another.

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Question of the Day

How do you make sales happen for you?

A lot of hard work! I sponsor a lot of on line parties, festivals and contests. Book sales don’t magically happen, believe me. An author has to work hard to earn her readers. And then she has to work hard to keep them by giving them something they’ll enjoy reading. I try hard to make my books worth a reader’s time.

-- Sheila Roberts, Author of Winter at the Beach