Noticing Newbies

Er...hi everyone.

I'm Matt Appleby - though you probably guessed that from my username - and one day I shall be a novelist. One day. Maybe. If I schmooze The Lady enough. Even though that's usually a recipe for disaster.

Anyway, I'm English, I turned 30 two months ago, and I'm currently unemployed. I'd tell you a bit about my last job, but I don't want to. I'm mainly interested in fantasy & SF, with a sideline in crime/detective fiction. Also video games. Can't forget that. I probably spend more time on my PS4 than I do on anything except sleep. Doesn't bode well for my literary career.

I've always felt that the best way to understand a person is through their tastes in art, so that's what I'm going to do. My favourite writers are Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman and China Mieville. My favourite movies are Apocalypse Now, The Shawshank Redemption and The Proposition. My favourite TV shows are Battlestar Galactica (remake), Neon Genesis Evangelion and Person Of Interest. My favourite musicians are Orbital, deadmau5 and Underworld. My favourite video games are Age Of Empires II, Shadow Of The Colossus and Ratchet & Clank. I hope that's enough to make it clear who I am. Or possibly too much. You be the judge.

I've only got one item in my portfolio so far, a short story called 'Homecoming'. I hope you'll check it out. I'm very proud of it, though I wouldn't post it if I wasn't. There's a few other short stories I'd like to add, along with a novel I'm in the early stages of, though they'll have to wait until I get my first JSA payment at the end of the month. Need the storage space that comes with a paid account, see? In the meantime, I'll read and review as many stories as I can, though I can't guarantee how many. I'm very good at procrastinating.

Well, that's enough from me. I look forward to a long and fruitful time in this community.


-Matt Appleby-