If you've ever attended a horror convention and had the pleasure of watching Bob Ford read, you know he's one of the best in the business. I'm delighted to share this video of Bob reading the entire first chapter of A Penny For Your Thoughts. Coming 1st June from Poltergeist Press as a hardback, paperback, and eBook.

getbook.at/Penny

With just three weeks until the launch of A Penny For Your Thoughts, I wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to review an ARC. Bob Ford and myself are extremely excited for readers to sink their teeth into this one. Coming 1st June via Poltergeist Press:

"...A Penny For Your Thoughts is a smooth, easy, engaging read, and if I had but one wish it’d be for more Ford and Hayward collaborations." - Michael Patrick Hicks, High Fever Books

"Incredible story. Well-written, great plot twists, and characters that make you want to dive into the pages to help them. Put this on top of your must-read list for 2019. It's THAT good." - Tim Meyer, author of Kill Hill Carnage and The Switch House

"Matt Hayward and Robert Ford blend together so beautifully, you'd think they'd been collaborating for years... and hope they do it again." - Kelli Owen, author of Six Days and Teeth

"...this book drew me in and made me laugh. Made me cry with happiness and sadness. Made my heart race with anxiety. And kept me guessing until the very end. This is a must read and is solidly in my top 10 books for 2019. You’re going to love it." - Tracy Robinson Reviews

"A Penny For You Thoughts gave me that Twilight Zone vibe. I love that feeling the reader gets when the writers are just "in the zone". This is a story which is humorous, dark, bittersweet, and despite its outlandish plot, it somehow manages to be completely believable."-- Frank Errington Reviews

"A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS is a well-crafted tale. Every single story promise is paid off in spades. Every character shines. Every page pulls the reader deeper into Joe’s personal noir nightmare. The story contains hits of humor, which somehow make the emotional cuts even deeper. This new spin on the old adage “be careful what you wish for” is a wild and scary thrill ride." - Suz Jay Reviews

"While still being a completely modern story, this book has the vibe of a great mass-market horror novel from back in the day. A solid premise, great characters, and a twist into the supernatural that worked on every level—it was magical, it offered laughs, and then it was downright scary." - Ouija Doodle Reads

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.