Q1. Hello, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
My name is Matrika Hay, I was born in India but I was adopted at 4 months old, where I spent my first several years growing up in Hawaii before moving to Arizona. My mother was in the Air Force so we moved around. I originally wanted to be a paleontologist, but fell in love with the theatre. I went to NYU for college for Film and Television. I’m a professional singer, stunt and have training in various weapons. I have studied theatre for over 20 years both stage and film. I also have a podcast called The Foley Chronicles, that you can find on apple podcast, Amazon, podbean, and spotify.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing your book “Not What Meets the Eye”?
The biggest challenge I’ve faced writing this book, or any others have been to overcome my dyslexia. Not just the issues with words and numbers, but also sometimes the industry itself, where some people will try and take advantage for having a disability.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I grew up reading distinguished works like, Sherlock Holmes, The Lord of the Rings, and The Odyssey. Those stories have stayed with me to this day. Several years ago a friend introduced me to an epic fantasy series by Tad Williams called Memory, Sorrow, and Throne, and needless to say I devoured it. I am so happy that he’s since returned to that world in his latest trilogy. The building of worlds in a book is much more challenging then it is in a screenplay or stage play. Even the simplest details can’t be overlooked if the world you’re building is going to be believable.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
There’s a spot called Abrams Lake in Maine. Peaceful and picturesque. The sky is never the same from day to day. It is far enough away to escape from the everyday. The weather is perfect in the summer.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
Yes, there is. The main thing is having a strong plot formed from start to end. Not just a synopsis. Many other writers I know will sometimes make character outlines detailing the way the characters change throughout the story. Overall plot points of major incidents that will effect the story. If it’s fiction or sci/fi and you want the reader to believe that what they are reading depending on the technology or history of the world there is usually a lot of research involved. If it’s science based, does the science hold up to what we know exists today?
Q6. How long did it take you to write your book ‘Not What Meets the Eye’?
I first had the general idea for the story back in the year 2000. But I didn’t start writing it until about eight years later. Then I put it on the back burner when another idea for a book came to me. So officially it took me about three years of actual focused dedication of the work, that’s with the edits and rewrites before I felt it was good enough to send into a publisher.
Q7. On what platforms can readers buy your books?
Through my publisher, Olympia, Amazon, Barnes and Noble (online only), and anywhere else books are sold online.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Not What Meets the Eye’?
I didn’t really have an idea of what I wanted the cover to look like. A few thoughts had come to me, but they just didn’t seem right. But with the help of my publisher we were able to find the right feel and fit for the cover art. One of the most important things that I’ve learned is that the cover is also a huge selling point to potential readers; so an eye catching unique cover is a must.
As for the title, it just kind of stuck with me from the beginning. ‘More than meets the eye’, just didn’t seem to have the right ring to it given the intensity of the story I was telling. It kind of reminded me of the old saying ‘never judge a book by its cover.’
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
This is a hard one, due to all the sanitation of ideas being used over and over again; both in books, movies, and TV shows. I have fallen back on my acting experience and think and ask myself often, ‘would I want to read or see this?’ Or, ‘what makes this idea different than all the rest out there?’ And ‘How can I make this better, where’s the twist? The hook that just suddenly takes you by surprise?’ I think also allowing the book to evolve as you write it. If it takes things in a different direction naturally, why fight it? It may turn out to be better than you originally planned.
Q10. What is the most valuable piece of advice you’ve been given about writing?
Never give up! I know that sounds like a complete clique and it is. But after being told numerous times by countless people that I’ll never make it, due to my dyslexia, or gender, or how competitive the industry is- that just made me want to push harder to prove them wrong. You will get more nos and or just no replies at all than you will get a yes. The thing is to just keep trying. If self publishing is the way for you than go for it. It is easier now to self publish then it was only a decade ago. I wanted to prove all the neigh-sayers wrong, and reach for a major publishing house. I consider myself extremely fortunate to have had two houses reach out with an appreciation for my work. Don’t give up. There’s a great site that I keep handy, author struggles, to just remind myself if I ever get down on myself where many if not all the house hold authors tell of their rejections. Crazy to think that at one point they were just like us.
Buy Not What Meets the Eye on Amazon
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