#BadMoonRising Ailuros by Matt Doyle #horror #LGBTQ #scifi

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising

If you’ve been a regular at BMR over the years, you’re probably familiar with today’s author. Their featured book is classified as ergodic (a new word for me!), and the format is explained below. Oh – and they might have lived with a ghost cat in a previous house. No biggie. Welcome Matt Doyle!

Would you rather dunk for apples or carve a Jack o’ lantern?

Oh, pumpkin carving, definitely. It sounds odd, but I can’t swim, so apple dunking kinda freaks me out a little. Plus, I’ve been terrible at it the times I’ve done it. Pumpkin carving, I can do though. My brother is better at it, he does some really intricate designs. Like, he once did a Frank the Rabbit form Donnie Darko that was superb. Mine are a little more simple, but I still enjoy it.

If you watch horror movies, are you the person who yells at the characters, covers your eyes, or falls asleep?

I’m actually none of these. I do get frustrated with character choices if they’re poorly written, but never enough to actually shout at the screen. I’ve not fallen asleep in a horror film yet. I don’t cover my eyes, but I have been freaked out a few times. Like, the first time I watched A Tale of Two Sisters, for example. I was living with my parents at the time. There’s a scene with a girl under an oven, and my parent’s had a similar looking oven. I remember, after the film finished, my first thought was, ‘Now I have to walk past that oven.’ I literally ran to my room that night.

Do you ever see figures in your peripheral vision?

Yup, a few times. I’m convinced we used to have a ghost cat in my old house. I’d catch sight of it running under the table, and a couple of times, my old dog would chase it. It was spooky, but not really scary. When it comes to ghostly type stuff, I’m more likely to smell something than see it though.

If you could spend the day with another popular author, who would you choose?

The sadly departed Terry Pratchett would be one, as he was notoriously a really nice person, and always willing to give advice. His books had a massive impact on my childhood too, and continue to be favorites now. Failing that, if we’re looking at living authors, Mark Z. Danielewski. His House of Leaves was a big influence on how I view fiction, and what I’m trying to do with AILUROS. He has a great mind for storytelling and trying something new, so I think he’d be fascinating to chat to.

How would you describe your book’s ideal reader?

Hmm…that’s a tough one, because AILUROS is an odd book. I’d say the ideal reader is one who is willing to try something a little different. The layout is unusual. The paperback is split with one story on the right-hand pages told through prose and audio transcripts, and a second story on the left-hand pages told through notes on the first story. Meanwhile, the eBook is the same but with the notes set up as pop-up endnotes. The ideal reader for it needs to be willing to embrace that, I think. Outside that, enjoying a sci-fi setting, more than a dash of horror, and LGBTQ protagonists certainly helps too.

What are you working on now?

I’m not actually sure, believe it or not! At the time of writing, I’m mostly working through trying to build hype for AILUROS, so I haven’t started anything new. Once I start the next one though…I have a few things to choose from. I have a choose-your-own-adventures style book that I want to work on. There’s also another experimental one that I’m thinking about, but I’m still trying to finalize the story in my head. And then there are the Simon Tell rewrites, plus a D&D campaign for friends…there’s so much!

#Begin

In the <present//future>, Josh and Alex must face <a//their own> monster if they are to salvage <their relationship//Ailuros Unit 23>.

These are/are not separate stories.

The following report represents a summary of the incident involving the abandoned microgravity holiday destination, Ailuros Unit Twenty-Three, and the crew of the Salvagers Guild Three ship, The Orca. The report is comprised primarily of the official transcripts of both the aforementioned events onboard the unit and my interview with Guild Director, Sarah Walker. The final entry consists of my summarizing thoughts on the case.

As is often the case in investigations such as this, in the end, Ailuros itself is as much the key to understanding the events as the people involved are.

Circumstances, as well as personal choices, are important, after all.

Purchase Link

Amazon – Fractured Mirror Publishing

Author Bio and Social Media

Matt Doyle is a speculative fiction author from the UK and identifies as pansexual and genderfluid. Matt has spent a great deal of time chasing dreams, a habit which has led to success in a great number of fields. To date, this has included spending ten years as a professional wrestler, completing a range of cosplay projects, and publishing multiple works of fiction.

These days, Matt can be found working on multiple novels and stories, blogging about pop culture, and plotting and planning far too many projects.


Website – Twitter –  Facebook

70 thoughts on “#BadMoonRising Ailuros by Matt Doyle #horror #LGBTQ #scifi”

  5. That’s so interesting that Matt is more likely to smell something ghostly than see it. I have that experience too, usually a strong scent of flowers that comes out of nowhere. The format of his book sounds fascinating. I love that he experimented with it. Thanks for the fun, Teri and Matt. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

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  6. suerovens

    Cool interview, Matt! 🙂 I couldn’t help but think of the title of your book as a pizza restaurant I knew back in the day (Aurilios)! So, um, could you send a large ‘za over to my place? 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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  10. Okay you two devilish writers… I looked up the definition of “ergodic” and it made my head hurt.
    But then, I’ve been fighting with Amazon all morning, trying to upload the next Journey. Either of those things could be on a horror list.

    Teri, thanks for this delightful visit with Matt. Wishing him all the best. Hugs all around.

    Liked by 3 people

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  11. Pingback: #BadMoonRising – Post 11 Featuring Matt Doyle | The Write Stuff

  13. Another really fun and interesting post, Teri. Matt, I have to agree with Teagan above. I looked up ergodic, too, and was left totally befuddled. Say, whaaat?????

    I’ve never seen a ghost (or even an image out of the corner of my eye … except for “floaters,” of course. By my age, most of us have a few of those, but they aren’t supernatural, so they don’t count. I’m with you on the pumpkin vs the apple dunking thing, for sure, so that should count for something, anyway.

    Thanks for a very interesting post! Shared it! 😊

    Liked by 3 people

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      1. Glad to know the book won’t break my brain when I read it, Matt. And on the floaters, perspective is everything. I just remind myself that at least I’m still here to see them. (And the rest of the age-related stuff that we go through.) 😁 So, yay for that, right?

        Best wishes for loads and loads of sales for AILUROS! 😊

        Liked by 2 people

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  14. As someone who writes about spooky creatures and wraiths, I love the idea of a ghost cat. I’ve also been known to yell at a tv screen when characters do something really stupid…as happens in most every slasher flick out there!
    All the best to Matt, and thanks for another fun interview, Teri!

    Liked by 3 people

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  16. Hubby and I are frustrated about the character’s stupid choices or slow to react/respond. We would yell, “Hurry, hurry!” What an interesting idea of a “choose-your-own-adventure style book.” Great interview, Teri and Matt.

    Liked by 2 people

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  17. Pingback: Appendix to Bad Moon Rising featuring Teri Polen

  19. Pingback: #BadMoonRising Ailuros by Matt Doyle #horror #LGBTQ #scifi – Matt Doyle Media

  21. Another non-swimmer here, Matt. I never liked dunking for apples either. I always preferred the other game where apples are tied onto string, hung up, and you have to try and take a bite out of them without using your hands to hold the apple.

    I love the story of the ghost cat. I hope it never tried to get up on your bed. That would have freaked me out.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. I’ve not actually tried doing it that way! I’ve seen people trying to bite hanging apples, but I don’t think it’s as a big game over here.

      The ghost cat didn’t, though in my current house I’ve had a few occurrences in my bedroom with breathing close to my face. Even found a hand print on the shelves.

      Liked by 1 person

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