House Of Mystery Radio Interview: Matthew Hughes
By Alan R. Warren and Michael Hawley
Q: Welcome to the show, Matt. Let’s start with your background—how did your writing career begin?
A: I’ve been a professional writer for over 50 years. I started as a journalist in British Columbia, then moved into speechwriting for politicians in Ottawa. After that, I spent about 30 years freelancing in Vancouver, writing speeches for CEOs, political leaders, and charities. Eventually, when my kids were grown, I decided to focus on fiction—what I’d always wanted to do.
Q: That’s quite a shift. What did you do once you committed to fiction writing?
A: I gave up having a permanent home and became a traveling house sitter. I’ve lived in 13 countries so far, writing along the way—usually about two novels a year. I’ve also published over 100 short stories in magazines like The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Asimov’s, and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.
Q: Your work often connects to Jack Vance’s universes. Can you explain that?
A: Yes, many of my novels are set in worlds created by Jack Vance. One is a space opera setting, and the other is the “Dying Earth,” a far-future world where science has collapsed, and magic has taken over. I enjoy working within those frameworks.
Q: Do you outline your stories, or are you more of an intuitive writer?
A: I don’t plan. I start with a character in a situation and let the story unfold. About halfway through, I begin to see how it will end. It’s a discovery process for me.
Q: Do you ever experience writer’s block?
A: Not really. I might pause for a day or two, but ideas always come—sometimes while I’m driving, showering, or even napping.
Q: How do you connect with your characters?
A: I become them while I’m writing. I experience their emotions in a muted way and write from inside their perspective.
That’s something I learned during my time as a speechwriter.
Q: Does that emotional immersion ever take a toll on you?
A: Not deeply. It’s more of a light version of the experience. I usually write about 1,000 words a day so that I can step in and out of it fairly easily.
Q: Many of your characters have criminal backgrounds. Where does that influence come from?
A: I come from a working-class background with some family members involved in minor crime. That naturally influences my characters—thieves, con men, and so on.
Q: How long does it take you to write a novel?
A: About four months for a 90,000-word book. It used to be three, but I’ve slowed down a bit.
Q: Let’s talk about your latest book, Yellum. What’s it about?
A: It’s the third book in a loose series. It follows a character named Yalem Erkatchian, a space yacht captain who gets called back to his home world after 25 years. What unfolds is a mix of adventure, intercultural politics, and a major twist—where the universe itself shifts from science to magic.
Q: That’s a fascinating concept. Can you explain the science-to-magic transition?
A: In my universe, every few thousand years, the fundamental rules change. Science stops working, and magic takes over—or vice versa. In Yellum, I actually depict that collapse happening in real time.
Q: Do you feel pressure writing in the style of Jack Vance?
A: Not at all. His work has always felt natural to me. I first read him in 1962, and it had a huge impact on me.
Q: You’ve also written outside of science fiction and fantasy. Can you talk about that?
A: Yes, I once set out to write a comedic fantasy inspired by Thorne Smith, but it turned into a serious supernatural thriller called Ghost Dreams. It ended up being a more emotional and character-driven story than I expected.
Q: Do your books carry deeper themes, or are they purely for entertainment?
A: I’m an entertainer first, but my life experiences naturally shape the stories. I often explore ideas of growth, morality, and characters becoming better versions of themselves.
Q: Your upbringing sounds intense. Did that influence your writing?
A: Definitely. I had a very unstable childhood—my father caused major disruptions, including sudden moves and even burning down our house at one point. Those experiences shaped who I am and, by extension, my writing.
Q: How can readers connect with you today?
A: I’m on Facebook, I run a Patreon, and I have a monthly newsletter with about 800 subscribers. The best place to learn more about me is probably my Wikipedia page.
Q: Final thoughts—what keeps you writing after all these years?
A: It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. Storytelling still excites me, and there are always new ideas to explore.
Q: Thanks for joining us, Matt.
A: My pleasure. Great speaking with you.
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