About the Author
I always loved telling stories.
Ever since I was young, I would read almost any fiction book given to me and smash them together into something new(ish). I remember very vividly building these forts in the basement of my friend's house with toy guns and telling stories about aliens and heros and saving the day. I'd spend hours thinking about it, writing down the events, drawing little stick figures about it.
My parents hated it.
Maybe they didn't, I think that's a bit too harsh to say. Most likely they didn't see the point or saw they that my tendency for tall tales got me in more trouble than I'm worth. So they gave me books, which I liked well enough but often got bored of soon. And then they gave me video games, which I loved but it didn't quite scratch the itch.
Then, my aunt who's not really my aunt suggested, why not theater? My dad took me to my first production, a local performance of Pirates of the Penzance in Hyde Park I think, when I was young and, much to his surprise, I loved it. I loved the vibe, I loved the presence the director had, I loved this unique and interesting way of telling stories. It was like my little stage plays I did in the basement but respected, revered.
I enrolled in my school's theater program a week later. I fell out of it after a couple years. Turns out I was a much better liar than an actor or singer and, eventually, people stop casting you. Plus, I didn't like the lack of control I had. I was 15, I was moody, you know how it is. But, it wasn't without value. I still have a life long love of performance. I go up to Stratford, ON with my dad every now and then to see their Shakespeare festival.
Plus, I made some good friends through the theater. And, they turned me onto tabletop roleplaying. DnD, Pathfinder, Monster of the Week. This, this is where I hit my stride. I fell in love with it almost immediately. I got into fantasy reading so I caould better describe the scene, so I could better interact with the tropes that surrounded them.
And that was my gateway drug into literature, into this project. It was how I knew I could create, that I had things worth creating. Its where Cup of Trembling originated in, its where I refined my love for the long ramble.
Its where I found my love for sharing stories, stories like this. It makes us closer, allows us to reach across the gulf and say 'yeah, I get it.' Its why I love being an author. The act of creation. I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved writing it.
- Matty
