Welcome to Inside the Mind where we here at The Faerie Review interview authors and creators.
Our guest today is Morgan Matthews, the author behind The Child Wore Pearls
Lily: Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview Morgan I enjoyed reading The Child Wore Pearls. What inspired you to write this?
Morgan: I have always dreamed of one day writing a novel, but really had no idea of how to get started. I didn’t think it would be possible during this season of my life between taking care of a household and three young children. I mostly write at night once my family is sleeping and I am able to enjoy some quiet time.
I have always had such a love for the written word, reading countless books as a child. It felt at times as though I lived within the stories I read. It always fascinated me how authors could create entire worlds within the minds of their readers, using only words.
Lily: I’m glad you decided to take the plunge and write! Is there a bit of you in June?
Morgan: Although The Child Wore Pearls is a fictional story with a fictional heroine, I think it would have been nearly impossible for me to have not put some of myself and my experiences into that character. While the story itself is a product of my often-overactive imagination, a lot of the emotion that the main character felt and expressed were pulled from times in my own life when I may have experienced something similar. I was always trying to put myself in her shoes, especially as a teenage girl, and tried to imagine what she might be feeling in those moments.
Lily: You did a wonderful job of making her seem so real. Did the story end up where you thought it would when you started writing?
Morgan: I had a really good idea of where I wanted to leave the characters by the end of the novel, but I left a lot of room for improvising the storyline. As it progressed, I had a better idea of how I thought these characters would react and the decisions they would make than I did when I first started writing.
Lily: Sounds like it was a fun journey. Without spoilers, what’s one thing you’d like readers to take away from this book?
Morgan: The characters in The Child Wore Pearls are not “all good,” nor are they “all bad.” Even the heroine of the story is flawed, and for some readers she may even be unlikable at times. I hope people can appreciate that these characters are all flawed, just as we are as people. It’s important to not be overly trusting, especially when we may be in a place of emotional vulnerability.
Lily: I appreciated that none of the characters were strictly good or bad. Now we’d like to talk about you as a writer. Do you have a favorite snack or drink while writing?
Morgan: I’m from Louisiana, so it’s sweet tea for me.
Lily: A cool glass of sweet tea on a hot summer day is always enjoyable. How do you keep track of inspiration when it strikes?
Morgan: I am constantly jotting down ideas in the “Notes” app on my cell phone.
Lily: It’s a handy way to keep track of everything, I’ve started to use it more. Do you prefer to write or edit the first draft?
Morgan: I would actually say editing the first draft is a bit more fun than when I’m first trying to just get the story down. I enjoy the process of fine tuning the material.
Lily: Hehe I’m glad editing is fun for you, I know it can be stressful for some authors. Let’s finish up with some fun questions and get inside your mind. What’s one place you’d like to visit again? What would you do?
Morgan: I enjoy visiting Branson, Missouri with my husband and our three children. There is something very peaceful about spending the night in a log cabin in the mountains. It’s just so different than where we live in Louisiana. We enjoy catching a few shows and exploring together.
Lily: Sounds like a wonderfully relaxing time. Do you have any hobbies?
Morgan: I enjoy photography, reading, and spending time with my kids – we love being in our own backyard.
Lily: I think reading might actually be my biggest hobby. Would you rather take a vacation on the beach, at a remote mountain cabin, or in the city? Which would you least like to take a vacation at?
Morgan: A remote mountain cabin is a great place to unwind, but I do love to explore new cities and learn more about other cultures.
I’ve never really been too keen on the beach – after about an hour or two with my feet in the sand I’m ready to move on and explore.
Lily: Maybe some city exploring followed up by unwinding at a cabin, then. What’s your perfect breakfast look like?
Morgan: Chocolate chip pancakes; lemon ricotta pancakes; homemade grits; and scrambled eggs.
Lily: That sounds delicious! If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Morgan: I would love it if I could freeze time. That way I could have nap breaks when taking care of my kids. It would also make it easier to find the time to write.
Lily: Hehe I swear most days there just aren’t enough hours in it to do anything. If you could spend a day with anyone from any book, who would it be, what book, and what would you do?
Morgan: I would spend the day with Matilda from Roald Dahl’s book, Matilda. As a child, I connected so much with her character. I was obsessed with reading, just like Matilda, and wished desperately at the time that I, too, may develop powers which could be used to right injustices in the world.
Lily: I loved that book as a kid! I think a day with Matilda would be quite a bit of fun. Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?
Morgan: Just to hear and read the comments, theories, and reviews of The Child Wore Pearls has been so incredibly validating and rewarding. To go from writing a story every night in my dark bedroom and wondering if anyone would ever read it, to now having people from all over the world reading it on a daily basis is a feeling which is difficult to put into words. It is as though I have opened a door to my own imagination and let the world take a peek inside.
Lily: I’m glad your dream is coming true! How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Morgan: Please follow my Facebook Page (link below), as well as subscribing to my Newsletter (link below).
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