Matthew Reilly - Hello there everybody. Matthew Reilly here. How are you all?
Amanda - great thanks and you?
Donni - I'm GREAT! Read Ice Station yesterday in one day and loved it!
Amanda - we were just discussing killer whales!
Donni - yet to get onto mutant sea lions...
Matthew Reilly - Not too bad. I see someone's been suggesting Steven Seagal as Schofield. He was interested in it at one stage, you know. Killer whales, huh? What about them?

Amanda - can you get whales to perform in movies? lol
Amanda - like rip people to shreds?

Donni - Matthew I heard how you self-published initially and thought what great initiative... onya brother!
Matthew Reilly - Thanks, Donni. Sometimes you just have to force your way into an industry!
Donni - it took me five years to get my book published, and as long for the others!!!! so I really related to your initiative I guess. a fresh approach and all
Matthew Reilly - What was your book that took 5 years to get published?
Donni - different genre, "Oracle of the Dreamtime" and had to go overseas for it, unfortunately although it was a world release. I have written a novel tho. Not quite as action packed as yours but very different.

Donni - Matthew -- thought I'd throw in a question here. How much of your writing is done by your subconscious mind? Or for you, is it conscious planning, thought out? Or a mix of both? (hope that was clear)
Matthew Reilly - It's more conscious, I think. I plan the story out in considerable detail before I start writing. Although, sometimes, like for instance, with Ice Station, I just created the concept, populated it with characters and the story just wrote itself.

Amanda - Matthew, how different did it feel for you having Ice Station snapped up like it was and yet you had to push for Contest?
Matthew Reilly - Contest really allowed Ice Station to be snapped up, I suppose, but yes, it was different. It's like a magic door suddenly opens, and instantly, avenues that were previously blocked-off, are now wide open. It makes things a lot easier, let me tell you!!!
Amanda - I'll bet! lol

on the Box Planet Book Club
Matthew Reilly - So tell me about your reading group.
Amanda - our book group? We read a chosen book every month and then discuss it. Ice Station was the first on the list because Kylie enjoyed it so much!

Donni - Matthew just reading a bit of your bio -- follow your dreams -- but to balance that with realism, wouldn't a lot of people give in.... would you say self-confidence played the biggest part in your writing and getting it out there initially?

Matthew Reilly - Yes, many do give in. A great story: Luke Perry, of 90210 fame, got his job on Beverly Hills 90210 on his 218th consecutive audition. He had failed on 217 auditions before that, and he went to No.218. Those who hang in there get the prize!
Donni - with the persistence you mention with Luke Perry -- and yourself -- do you think that is based on self-confidence, having a vision, or sheer stubbornness, or.... ????
Matthew Reilly - Self-confidence...hmmmm. It's a funny thing. Yes, I have a lot of self-confidence, but perhaps it is having enough to overcome rejection that matters.
Donni - self-confidence versus having "a dream"... or do you see the two being one? I am just curious as to how you perceive the ingredients to "success"
Matthew Reilly - For me, self-confidence does not equal having a dream. Nor does it mean being good at something either. There are many talentless people who succeed because of self-confidence. Many people have dreams, but never pursue them. It often comes down to daring to fail -- and if that means having self-confidence, then I would say that self-confidence is a start. But not by itself. A self-confident person who has no dream can just talk too much!!!
Donni - interesting answer; thankyou.

Amanda - So you are currently working on the sequel for Ice Station? Is it finished?
Matthew Reilly - Yes, I have finished the Ice Station sequel. It is called AREA 7, since it takes place at an Area 51-style base in the American desert. It rocks. Bigger and faster than Ice Station in every respect!!! It'll be out in Australia in the first week of September.

Amanda - no way!! bigger and faster?!! lol.
Donni - I'm glad its bigger -- the longer the better (who says size don't count!) I really enjoyed Ice Station, so that sounds good!
Jenny - Wow Matthew where do all the ideas for your books come from?
Matthew Reilly - I even analyzed successful sequels when writing it: to see what makes a good sequel. Lethal Weapon 2, Aliens, Die Hard 2. Those sorts of movies. The Jack Ryan novels of Tom Clancy. As for where the ideas come from: I read a lot of nonfiction, and the "World" section of the newspaper. Otherwise, I grew up watching stories -- movies, theater, books -- and all the ideas come from 26 years of exposure to wild stpries, I suppose!

on what he won't do
Amanda - Matthew, you completed a law degree, is that right? You are not tempted to write some court room thrillers?
Matthew Reilly - Legal thrillers? I don't think so. I think readers are so "court savvy" now with shows like The Practice and John Grisham's books. You;d have to come up with a fantastic legal thriller to crack the market these days.
Amanda - good.. I don't like legal thrillers! lol. Give me blood and guts every time! lol

Kaz - Matthew, so many people I know have read Ice Station - from my 15 year old nephew to my 80 year old nana. Did you think that your books would have such an appeal of all ages?
Matthew Reilly - As for the wide age-groups reading my books -- it's great! As far as I am concerned, escapism is ageless. Did I expect it? Hard to say. I hoped for it.

Amanda - speaking of age Matthew. I was surprised at how young you are! you are into directing movies as well?

Jenny - A career as a writer would be wonderful I think! how many hours a day would u spend actually doing just that Matthew?
Matthew Reilly - Yes, I have done some helicopter shooting for a screenplay I have written. I would love to direct big action movies. It's storytelling. Whether it's on pages or on a screen, I like telling stories. As for writing: I would spend six to eight hours a day writing -- although not every day, maybe 3 days a week. Beats having a real job!

Amanda - Is there a short list for who may play Schofield in the movie at this stage?

Matthew Reilly - no movie deal has been done yet for ICE STATION. CONTEST has been sold, but not ICE. That said, I have spoken with a really big US action director about a movie version. Am hopeful, but Hollywood moves VERY slowly.

Amanda - it would definitely make a great movie.

on Matrix
Donni - did u like the Matrix Matthew? gotta ask, its one of my faves.... :-))
Matthew Reilly - Loved the Matrix. Have it on DVD. Amazing imagination.

on Quirks
Amanda - do you have any little quirks when it comes to writing? Special paper? 100 year old typewriter? lucky socks? lol
Matthew Reilly - Quirks: just bought a new laptop, a really slim Sony Vaio. Am typing on it right now. No special paper. Although here's a weird thing: since I have a lot of ideas on the boil at any one time, I use different COLOURED paper to write notes on. AREA 7 was on green paper, a sci-fi screenplay, yellow. It's great for desk organisation!

on Online Publishing
Jenny - Online publishing is starting to take off any thoughts on that Matthew?Do you think it may be a way of unknown authors making a start in the market?

Matthew Reilly - I think someone will get a start that way, but not many people. Those who simply whack something up on the net often forget to edit their work, and it shows. Also, the net is one big place now. Hard to find a needle in a haystack. But then, the literary equivalent of The Blair Witch Project could easily happen.

on something new
Kaz - Matthew, do you feel that your success to date has allowed you to pursue ideas that you may not have pursued in the past - I mean ideas for novels that you thought were great but might have been a bit hard to sell?
Matthew Reilly - yes, but in a "future" sense. At present, I love action adventure stuff, but yes, now I could go to my publisher with a book about a nun who plants roses and they'd probably listen! As for "hard to sell" ideas: haven't tried it yet. But I will someday.

on Agents
Donni - aww.... I gotta ask ya a shop question -- do you have an agent ? or have you done it all yourself, since Contest?

Matthew Reilly - nope, no literary agent. Since I self-published CONTEST, I got "in" without one. And to be quite honest, I kinda like not having one. That said, I have a "film agent" in LA whose job it is to sell the movie rights to my books/short stories etc. Since CONTEST, I have negotiated all my contracts myself, and I don't think I've missed out because of that. I have to consider whether or not to get one, since I'm up for renewal later this year.

on Contest
Jenny - So what is the plot of Contest? I must look it up at my bookstore

Matthew Reilly - Contest, Jenny, is about a guy who is brought to the NY State Library and told that inside the building with him are 6 lethal aliens and that he has been chosen to represent the human race in a contest held once every 1000 years. The rules are simple: it's a fight to the death, until only one contestant is left alive. It's the only one of my books with an overt sci-fi premise.

on his favourite authors
Amanda - who are some authors that you like to read Matthew?
Matthew Reilly - Michael Crichton, Thomas Harris (although I thought Hannibal was weak), John Baxter (a biography writer -- does bios of movie directors like Lucas, Spielberg and Kubrick -- he's a great biographer); Jeffrey Archer's early stuff; ditto: Tom Clancy. I find I now read more nonfiction. Thrillers are just too damn slow!

on short stories
Amanda - do you write many short stories Matthew? what stops a short story from becoming a novel?
Matthew Reilly - Just did a new short story for the second GIRLS' NIGHT IN anthology. It'll be out later this year. After it's published, I'll put it up on the site as well.
Amanda - great can't wait! will you ever put together a book of short stories do you think?
Matthew Reilly - I actually don't really like writing short stories. I find them limiting. I need a larger palate. That said, I am thinking of doing some 100-page short novels (a la Stephen King). Some stories just don't have the legs to be 400-page novels, but they are stories I'd still like to tell. Now that I have some spare time, I think I'll write a few of them in the coming months, before I start Book 5.

on writers block
Donni - do you ever get writers block????? what is the source of your inspiration and is it legal?

Matthew Reilly - Writer's block -- never say that to a writer. We all fear it! Haven't got it yet. Hope I never do. I always jot down new ideas in a special "ideas book", so they are always right by my side when I need them. Inspiration comes from reading nonfiction, rereading my favourite books (1984 always inspires me; as does Jurassic Park). If you liked The Green Mile, you should read RITA HAYWORTH AND SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (it was the basis for the movie). It's in the anthology DIFFERENT SEASONS, by Stephen King. It's awesome.
Amanda - one of my fave movies shawshenk but i still haven't read the book

on magazine articles
Jenny - do you still write magazine articles and for which magazines?
Matthew Reilly - no, not anymore. They were simply a means of getting published (to be able to tell a book publisher that someone had PAID me to write! As for a book of short stories (or short stories and short novels), yes, absolutely. I think it would be great!

on making characters
Amanda - Is it tempting to base characters on people you know? Do you do this?
Matthew Reilly - the ICG list in ICE STATION is filled with the names of friends and people I know. If I use real names, I always make 'em bad guys! One character in ICE STATION said (ahem) "F**khug my Roman sandals!" A golfing friend of mine used to say that every time he screwed up a golf shot, so I used it. Otherwise, not much is based on reality.

more information...
Amanda - Matthew's site address by the way is Reilly.com/" target="new">http://www.MatthewReilly.com/
Matthew Reilly - If you liked ICE STATION, there are pictures and info on my website, www.MatthewReilly.com.
Amanda - also a couple of short stories. one of which I got halfway through tonight

Matthew Reilly - I'm thrilled you've enjoyed my books. And it's been great chatting with you all! Bye!