Presidian On-Line Chat

2002

 

 

(Note from Flyboy707: No spelling, punctuation or grammar was changed by me in the following chat. It is presented to you as it originally occurred in 2002).

 

 

Thurs, 10th October 2002

5:00pm AEST.

Moderators Present:

Roy Govier

Matthew Downey

Sam Chen

 

Question: Are you working on a New book Yet?

Matthew Reilly: No. I’m exhausted. Thinking on some ideas though. One screenplay. One new book.

Question: Is the Screenplay for an Aussie Produced Project?

Matthew Reilly: Screenplay is based on my short story The Mine, and will hopefully be produced by me in the near future.

Question: Is it a broadway musical? No-one would expect that.

Matthew Reilly: Broadway musical? don’t laugh. I may just give it a go. I loved Moulin Rouge, remember.

Question: Is S3 in the final stages?

Matthew Reilly: As for S3, it has been delivered and read by my publisher at macmillan. They love it. Now awaiting their editorial comments which will take a month or two.

Question: Any hints on the Title?

Matthew Reilly: The Title is still up in the air. Have contemplated “Scarecrow” or something more global. This book bounces around the world at warp speed.

Question: Has the cover been designed yet? How long until we see some cover designs?

Matthew Reilly: As for a cover, no, it’s a fair way off. That happens far closer to publication.

Question: Who gets whacked in Schofield 3?

Matthew Reilly: Who gets whacked? Not telling. Maybe everyone gets whacked. I suppose if you asked me that about Ice Station I could legitimately say that Schofield got whacked. (his heart did stop beating)

Question: Who do you see playing the giant rats in The Mine Movie?

Matthew Reilly: I’d like to see some Gymansts in suits!!!

Question: If your screenplay is made in Aust. Can I be a stuntman in it?

Matthew Reilly: Stuntment will be necessary, write to me through the website.

Question: Any news about the Ice Station movie?

Matthew Reilly: Ice Station movie continues to tick along. The Screenplay is in its 4th draft, but still moving forward. I’m going over to LA for some meetings in early November. Matthew Downey: As long as you get Ali Larter to play Gant, I’ll be happy

Matthew Reilly: Who is Ali Larter? I like Christine (Marcia Marcia Marcia) Taylor myself!

Juliana: I’m still voting on Hugh Jackman for Schofield.

Matthew Reilly: Hugh Jackman would be awesome. Did you know he was once part of the humble Willoughby Musical Society? (Where I once acted on stage)

Question: Anyone who wants to play a dead body, bloody or otherwise, raise your hand.

Matthew Reilly: I’d play a dead body myself, actually! Hell, if I just get a photo on the set of Wilkes Ice Station, I’d be pleased. To think, it just came out of my head.

Question: Are you coming back to the US on your next book tour??

Matthew Reilly: Not sure about that yet Anna, but I promise you’ll be the first to know. (Anna tried to meet me in Texas when I toured the US earlier this year.)

Question: What news of Contest Movie?

Matthew Reilly: The Contest movie seems to have stalled. Haven’t heard from the producers in a while. I think they call it “development hell” in Hollywood.

Question: Don’t the rights revert back to you soon?

Matthew Reilly: The Contest rights would revert to me after a set period. That’s still some way off, though.

Question: When is Schofield Three being released?

Answer: It is released in Australia in November 2003

Question: What do you think of Dark Angel being axed?

Matthew Reilly: The axing of Dark Angel: Hmmmm. I kinda liked it. Kinda. Just didn’t keep watching it. Which it seems is what happened for a lot of other people. Something about it just didn’t gel for me. The heroine though, was seriously sexy!

Question: What can you tell us about S3 beyond what you’ve written in your thoughts section?

Matthew Reilly: Can I tell you more? Not sure what I’ve said already. Let me just say this: It countains a Bounty hunt, and a price of $18.6 million is put on Schofield’s head (and the heads of several other top soldiers of the world) And that’s the first 3 pages.

Question: Why $18.6 million? anything specific about that amount?

Matthew Reilly: 18.6 was chosen for a reason.

(Various fans) Please don’t kill Mother.

Matthew Reilly: Mothers death? Hmmmm. that was another potential title for S3. “The Death of Mother” …….. Just kidding.

Roy Govier: I fowarded the Area 7 project to a game developer who is an MR fan. Should be good. Just waiting for feedback.

Matthew Reilly: Roy – I loved the A7 game demo. Hope the computer dude likes it. Let me know what he says.

Question: Any killer penguins or other creatures in S3?

Matthew Reilly: Yes. Of course – it IS a “Matthew Reilly” book after all! Some sharks might make an appearance.

Question: Can you tell us one of the new locations in the book?

Matthew Reilly: Locations in the new book. I’d rather not give away too much. (I know that sounds so cliched, but the book won’t be out for a fair while.) It pretty well goes all the way around the Northern Hemisphere.

Matthew Reilly: I should probably explain the delay in releasing the new book. If I could have finished it by July, it would be out now. But I realised in January that I couldn’t finish it (to my standard of quality before then.) Pan were great and said, “Take your time. Make it good.” So I took two more months, and turned in a cracker of a book. Unfortunately that means it won’t be released until August, 2003. (Since books seel more in the lead up to Christmas)

Question: When is the US release of S3?

Matthew Reilly: It’s after the Aussie release. Probably in January 2004. But US readers can go to Aussie online bookstores and get it when it comes out here. I kind of like the fact my books come out here first, since that is not what normally happens!

Question: Have you taken any trips lately? You went to Nepal earlier this year.

Matthew Reilly: No, no trips lately. Nepal was a much needed break. been writing the new book non-stop since I got back in April.

Question: Did you drink Yak milk? apparantly its quite good.

Matthew Reilly: Didn’t drink Yak milk — but I did eat Yak burgers. Very tasty. Like beef only with more tang.

Question: What do you think of Wilbur Smith?

Matthew Reilly: Never really did read Big Wilbur. I tried River God, but was busy writing, so never finished it. Funny, I make comments about some other authors in my new thoughts section that went up today.

Question: Have you heard of Peter McCallister? He is a Brisbane Writer who has recently released Cosmonaut…

Matthew Reilly: yes, I have heard of him. Penguin sent me a copy of Cosmonaut. I was writing at the time, so I haven’t read it yet. Now that I have some time, I might give it a go?

Question: What about Robert Ludlum, the author of the Bourne Identity, if you read the book were you dissapointed with the movie?

Matthew Reilly: Yes, I read The Bourne Identity years ago. I liked it, but it was, well, a bit slow. I found the movie pretty poor actually. It had exactly ONE plot. Which is just not good enough these days.

Question: What do you think makes a book Good?

Matthew Reilly: What do I think makes a book GOOD? Hmmmm. I personally like a story that makes me forget about the real world. I remember reading Michael Crichton’s ‘Rising Sun’ when I was working at a law firm in Sydney. I couldn’t wait to get to the bus after work so I could read it undistracted. A book whose story demands your attention.

Question: At the latest Brisbane Writers Festival they talked about you, and stated that you were perhaps “The Most successful” writer to have ever self-published. Does it make you proud when you hear things like that?

Matthew Reilly: They talked about me, huh? You know what Oscar Wilde said, “The only thing worse than being talked about is NOT being talked about.” As for being a successful self-published author — yes, I am very proud of how “I made it happen”. I wasn’t given any favours in the publishing industry, I really had to bust in. So yes, very proud.

Question: What is the latest on your Brother’s book?

Matthew Reilly: Stephen’s book (funny how that came up just after I said I never got any favours getting published!!!) Yes, as Roy says, it’s called “Ninety East Ridge” and it’s kind of like Carl Sagan’s Contact. Someone attempts to build a city in the middle of the Indian Ocean and it investigates the personalities involved and the International Consequences.

Question: is your Mother pleased that she has two published authors now in the family?

Matthew Reilly: She’s very proud! But she loves us just the way we are. She does think I blaspheme too much in my books though

Roy Govier: You want me to do WHAT your Roman Sandals???

Matthew Reilly: That is one of my favourite lines. It really did come from a guy I used to play golf with! he would say that when he bombed a shot. My other favourite line drawn from real life is in TEMPLE — its about when a Special Forces guy talks about joining “The 80′s Club”. That came from some guys I know. They talked about this 80′s club, and I innocently asked, “What’s that?”

Question: You play golf? What’s your handicap?

Matthew Reilly: 10

Question: How often do you play?

Matthew Reilly: Time for golf… I need golf to decompress.

Comment: You should get business cards.

Matthew Reilly: My books are my business cards.

Question: Any plans to come to the next Writers Festival?

Matthew Reilly: Brisbane next year — if they invite me, Yes, I’ll come. It is the most relaxed festival I’ve attended. Sydney is very S-E-R-I-O-U-S. Melbourne is super slick. But Brisbane is relaxed and about the books.

Anna: Too bad the organizer didn’t know who Matthew Reilly was! The nerve.

Matthew Reilly: Which organizer didn’t know who I was? At Brisbane? It happens.

Question: Do you worry about originality?

Matthew Reilly: Originality of plot is always a big question. Perhaps the biggest one. Not only because people want new and original stuff, but because I don’t want to become a one trick pony. I have to make it original so I enjoy writing it — when it takes a year to write a book, you have to enjoy it.

Matthew Reilly: Just remembered something of interest. I’ve been asked by my US publisher to rewrite CONTEST but set it in the New York Public Library (not the fictional New York State Library)

Roy Govier: Are you going to do that?

Matthew Reilly: Yes, I will. The believe that US readers (especially New Yorkers) will prefer if I use the real building. Luckily both libraries match fairly well, so I won’t alter the story in anyway.

Question: Who asks tougher questions? Fans or the media?

Matthew Reilly: Fans definately.

Matthew Reilly: I should Clarify that. The media doesn’t have the detailed knowledge that fans have; they are always very general. Its only when I get a journalist who is also a fan that the questions get tough.

Question: DO you have a daily schedule when you’re writing a new book?

Matthew Reilly: The typical writing day for me starts at around 10am, and ends around 5pm. I don’t eat. I will have planned out what I want to get through in advance. And if I’m not in the mood, I don’t write. It’s all about energy — starting a new day at the same energy level that I was at the day before.

Question: You get lost in the writing and time flies?

Matthew Reilly: Yes, I loose track of time completely. Happened to me today writing the screenplay. Had “Lunch” at 4pm.

Question: How do you deal with Writer’s block?

Matthew Reilly: Hasn’t been an issue – yet. (Hope it never will be)

Question: Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night with the urge to write?

Matthew Reilly: No, it doesn’t happen to me. Sometimes I write into the night, but generally not after I’ve already gone to bed!

Question: What can you tell us about your screenplay?

Matthew Reilly: It is an attempt, basically, to update Raiders of the Lost Ark for the MTV generation. I thought XXX came close – its heart was in the right place, but it just fell short of the bar. I want to create a high-tech, big fun Indiana Jones for the new century.

Question: Do you have a book full of story ideas that you add too as ideas come to you, or when you come to write a new novel, do you think up the ideas then and there?

Matthew Reilly: I have a story ideas DRAWER. With many slips of paper in it!!!

Question: Do you do your own research?

Matthew Reilly: Yes, I do my own. Roy has given me several Jane’s Recognition Guides over the years, and they help enormously!

Matthew Reilly: I also like to take responsibility for the research. yes, I sometimes make mistakes. I still kick myself for some of the errors in Ice Station, especially the ranking errors, but I was 22 when I wrote Ice Station, and really just wrote it for my own enjoyment. Then it came out and went around the world very quickly. I found out very quickly how seriously American’s take their military.

Question: Are their plans for a new tour soon?

Matthew Reilly: No plans yet. But I’ll definately tour with the new Schofield book next year. I believe it will be released in hardback in Australia.

Question: Will this be your first hardcover?

Matthew Reilly: In Australia. So far I’ve been released in trade Paperback.

Question: Do you travel to the places you write about?

Matthew Reilly: Sometimes (As I did for Area 7) but usually not. I just read about them mostly.

Question: Has anyone approached you regarding episode 3?

Matthew Reilly: No, no-one’s come forward for Episode 3. Obviously I’m not that widely read yet!

Question: What do you do to relax besides golf and watch cricket matches?

Matthew Reilly: For relaxation, I see lots of movies, read a lot, play touch football, go to the gym, yes, watch cricket (and play for the mighty Full Tossers)

Comment: I think you need to write Sci Fiction Space Novels

Matthew Reilly: Hmmm. Maybe a screenplay. Not a book. Although I do have one idea for a kids book…AJ: There’d be less profanity in a kids novel huh?

Matthew Reilly: Why not? Kids swear.

Juliana: You’d be attacked on the street by angry parents.

Matthew Reilly: If I wrote a Sci-fi novel I could avoid crazy lunatics who gatecrash the MR fansite. I think Harry Potter has opened up the “children’s” market. You could write a pretty sophisticated novel these days and kids (and adults) would enjoy it.

Question: Could a Matthew Reilly-style “Harry Potter” ever appear in the not-too-distant future?

Matthew Reilly: I am certainly interested in writing a MR-style “Harry Potter” book. A big idea. And now that I’m out of contract, something I’d like to get into (Publishers get a bit worried when their thriller writers come in and say, “I’d like to write a kids book”. Better just to write the thing and dazzle them with it!)

Question: Is there any book in particular of yours that you would like to see be turned into a movie or computer game?

Matthew Reilly: I’d love to see Temple made into a film. A really big, epic, twin-story film. But it’s so big. I think I’d have to wait for Ice Station to be a blockbuster.

Question: Would you mind if it was CGI?

Matthew Reilly: I think an animated version of Temple would be sensational! I actually thought once Temple would make a great Bond Movie. But now I hear the latest Bond Movie has some Ice Station moments in it… Hmmmmm.

Question: So Temple is your favourite book?

Matthew Reilly: Temple is not so much my favourite (I don’t really favour one book over the others) I think it’s my cleverest book. And very filmic.

Question: Did you find out about Capoeira during your research into Brasil and if you did what were your thoughts?

Matthew Reilly: No, what is that?Fan: Its a Brazillian Martial art that has elements of dance and acrobatics. I ask because Race mentions “Jinga” which is one of the moves.

Matthew Reilly: Sounds very cool. But none of my books have been set in Brazil, so haven’t looked into it. The “Jinga” was a word from my research, but I understood it to mean, “Cat-like”

Question: Any plans for a Sequel to Temple?

Matthew Reilly: I have an idea for a Temple Sequel, but I’m keen to write a wholly new book now, having just written a second sequel.

Question: Did you base the Rapa’s upon a particular Myth, or did you just think “Giant Panthers would be cool”?

Matthew Reilly: I actually made up the Rapas, but then discovered that there were giant cat myths in South America. The actual giant cats were called “titi” but I thought that name was a bit wussy. So I created the word “Rapa” Actually the giant cat myths were weird because there are no real giant cats in South America.

Question: Rumor has it that you are pouring millions of dollars into genetic research to create a real life Hoodaya, is this true?

Matthew Reilly: What does ROTFLMAO mean?

Roy: Nice dodge of my question.

Matthew Reilly: The hoods would be a great feature of a Contest movie.

Question: Can you see your characters becoming McDonalds happy meal toys?

Matthew Reilly: I would love Ice Station action figures. I would bring them out myself if I could. Unforunately that now rests with Paramount (although they haven’t got A7 yet)

Question: Did you know that Ender’s Game is being made into a movie? and that Orson Scott Card is heavily involved in it? Would you have a lot of control in a movie based on your books?

Matthew Reilly: I’m not surprised. It was a superior work of fiction. I was thinking about it the other day actually.

Question: Where do you get your plot ideas from?

Matthew Reilly: Plot ideas just come from looking at the world and asking “What if you did this…” I read a lot of non-ficiton and I just try to skew it a little and create interesting scenarios.

Question: Matthew, did you take the Theme Park rights out on your books??

Matthew Reilly: I’m not sure if I sold them. I’ll have to check the contract — it’s almost longer than the book!

Question: Is Mother Black or White?

Matthew Reilly: Does it matter? She’s gonna buy it in S3. I actually pictured her as white, but since I never actually described her skin colour, I will never settle the issue.

Question: Are you a big comic book fan?

Matthew Reilly: Not really. Have read two: A death in the family, and The Killing Joke. Both Batman comics. the first was the one in which they killed off Robin (maybe that had an influence on me!) Very Dark. It’s funny, while I don’t read the comic books, I keep tabs on all the stories — killing off Robin, Bane breaking Batman’s back, that weirdo stuff that happened to Superman (when they had all those imposters later)

Question: Do you chart out the action scenes beforehand, or just do it on the fly?

Matthew Reilly: I chart out the action scenes in detail. I never do it on the fly. It all has to go somewhere.

Question: When you first thought up the plot to Ice Station, did you deliberately make Schofields’ past include him being a pilot, just so he could fly the Silhouette at the end?

Matthew Reilly: Yep. Schofield’s pilot skills were made solely so he could fly the Silhouette!

Question: Will he be flying at all in S3?

Matthew Reilly: There’s alot of flying in S3. Want a teaser — you’ll find the Sukhoi-37 in S3.

Question: Speaking of Schofield’s past, do you reveal any more of it in S3?

Matthew Reilly: Oh yes. You get more.

Question: Any developments in the relationship between Schofield and Gant?

Matthew Reilly: Yes, Schofield and Gant’s relationship moves even further!

Matthew Reilly: I have a WW2 idea. But perhaps I’d do it like Temple, as a split story, so I could keep my modern gadgets. Oh, and speaking of the Maghook, it makes a BIG return in Schofield 3 — but for the first time, it may not work! And I’ve come up with the mini-maghook for The Mine screenplay!

The Maghook not working?

Matthew Reilly: Tragic deaths abound in S3. As I said before, everybody dies!

Question: You have an ideas Drawer… if there’s a fire, which ideas do you save?

Matthew Reilly: The one about the Nazi’s building a time machine just before the Soviets take Berlin.

Matthew Reilly: Listen guys, I fear I have to go. I have to get to touch football! Thank you for a wonderful chat. I hope I haven’t been too evasive on the new book. But all will be revealed in good time. Bye now.

 

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