Pull up a seat and let's talk. I'm not one for doing these kinds of updates, anyone who knows me knows I keep my cards close to my chest, but I today I decided why not. What's the worst that could happen? I wanted to fill you in a little on what's been happening behind the scenes, because although you all probably see the upcoming novel on the 1st June, what you probably don't know is I had three (yes, three) books finished and ready to go since The Faithful. The first was a crime novel written for an agent back in November who was positive an Irish crime novel is what he wanted from me. It wasn't. The book was called The Devil Came Home, and I've since slapped duct-tape around its spine, strapped concrete blocks to its feet and dropped it from the highest peer. You'll most likely never read it. The second is a novel titled From Up Here which is currently doing the rounds at traditional publishing houses thanks to my incredible agent, Lane Heymont. This is a coming-of-age horror. It's visceral. It's got teeth. And I love it so. I hope you all have a chance to read it soon. Third is a new collection called Various States Of Decay. It collects most of my recent published short stories as well as a truck load of new ones. Some teasers are Things Found In Couches, Happiness Inc., The Mutt, and my "Irish Short Story of the Year"-nominated Intercepting Aisle Nine. By the time A Penny For Your Thoughts releases, I'll have finished another (I guess that makes it four), a survival horror based in Ireland titled The Flood. This will also be sent by carrier pigeon to the major publishers, where I hope it'll stay. I guess I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you, and give you a brief peek into the kitchen. Some things are on fire, yes, and some have burned completely, but I'll be serving up something tasty very soon. Stick around, and thanks for reading.
Matt

I had a great time chatting with David Merriman for The Artist Podcast. David is doing something very unique here in Ireland, and you can check out the interview RIGHT HERE.

Delighted to announce my new novel with Robert Ford, A Penny For Your Thoughts, is up for preorder right now HERE. The book launches 01st June via Poltergeist Press as a hardback, paperback, and eBook. Read the full synopsis below (artwork by Ben Baldwin)

“Fresh from a stretch in prison, Joe Openshaw is living at home with his father and trying to get his life together again. He has let go of old habits, especially the ones that turned him into an addict and helped land him in prison.
On a hike along the Lowback Trail, Joe stumbles on one of the town’s oldest secrets—buried long ago, if not forgotten.
It’s an unusual but safe enough treasure—a jar of old pennies. What interests Joe isn’t the pennies themselves, but the pieces of paper taped to every coin—a child’s handwritten wish on each one.
When the first few wishes come true, they are simple things. Fun. Harmless.
Except as time goes on, Joe realizes they aren’t really wishes at all…
they’re exchanges, and the bill was racking up.

Nothing is free in life.

Sooner or later, you always pay.”

The Faithful (audiobook) will be coming summer 2019, narrated by the fantastic Tom Taverna, and releasing through Poltergeist Press.

Absolutely thrilled to hear that myself and Doug Murano are up for a Splatterpunk Award for our anthology Welcome To The Show. A massive thank you to everyone.

Wrath James White and Brian Keene, founders of the Splatterpunk Awards, which recognize superior achievement in the sub-genres of Splatterpunk and Extreme Horror, are pleased to announce the nominees for the second annual awards, honoring works published in 2018.

The awards will be presented during a ceremony at the 2019 Killercon Convention, taking place August 16th through the 18th in Austin, Texas. For more information, click here.

BRAIN DEAD BLUES, THE FAITHFUL, and PRACTITIONERS — 3 titles now in hardback from Poltergeist Press. Available to order online or at your favorite bookstore:

Delighted to see that Welcome To The Show made The 2018 Bram Stoker Awards® Preliminary Ballot. When I came up with the concept, I had no idea it’d be as well-received as it has been. Thank you to the authors, Doug Murano, Joe Mynhardt and Crystal Lake. And a huge congrats to everyone who made the Preliminaries.

On Tuesday the 23rd, I'll be speaking at Hodges Figgis in Dublin for the release of fellow Irish author Sean O'Connor's debut novel THE MONGREL. On Saturday the 27th, I'll be signing at Belfast Horror Con with copies of all my releases to date for sale. Whether you're in Dublin or Belfast, come along to an event and say hi. Looking forward to seeing you on the road.

Delighted to share that my second solo novel, THE FAITHFUL, releases today on Sinister Grin Press. You can read the synopsis and a short interview with cover artist Matt Davis HERE. And you can buy it now right HERE.​

At the Mountains of Madness meets They Live! in a new novel from Matt Hayward, the Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of What Do Monsters Fear?

​After comedian Leo Cartwright performs his farewell comedy show in New York City, a young man ailed by cerebral palsy confides in him about odd dreams and a place he calls No Man’s Land. Leo thinks nothing of it until the man, Christopher Tate, winds up dead, along with a cryptic note taped to the comedian’s RV window: See you soon, Funnyman.

Leo sets out to find the truth about Christopher’s dreams to an odd town named Elswich. Shown to Leo in a dream by a mysterious man named Jarrad Prescott, the town prays to an Otherworldly god named Aypep and give their bodies to host his children in return for eternal life in the Otherworld.

It’s a wish granted through sacrifice…

“Hayward bleeds onto the page…” – Brian Keene, author of The Rising and Ghoul

“… the future of the horror genre is changing hands, and there is a whole new brew of writers assuming the task. Matt Hayward leading that pack.” – Edward Lee, author of The Bighead and White Trash Gothic

ORDER HERE