AUTHOR INTERVIEW—M.L. (MATTHEW) BUCHMAN

I had a chance to chat a bit with my guest, romance author, M.L. Buchman. While he's not an anomaly, Matt is one of the few male authors writing romance and does very it well. He writes in several genres but I've only read his Night Stalker series (something I intend to rectify) and he tells a compelling story. You get the flavor of military combat life and some seriously hot romance. What I like about his writing is it can be read and enjoyed by both men and women—not girly hearts and mush. Matt's stories have lots of action and his characters have flaws, emotional scars, and a strong sense of honor. 

I'll tell you something, when I'm in the mood for a good kick ass military based story I reach for Christine Feehan's Ghost Walkers or M.L. Buchman's Night Stalkers and while Matt's stories aren't paranormal they are equally addictive. J 

• How did you start writing?

Twenty years ago, I’d lost everything: my job, my business/career, my house that I’d spent 7 years remodeling for the family I never had time to find. So, for lack of a better idea, I set off on a solo bicycle journey around the world. Somewhere in the air from Korea on my way to ride across the Australian Outback, I started writing a little vignette. It turned into my first novel that sold to a tiny regional press after I returned. That was it, the storytelling bug had bitten me.

• And I understand you recently became a full-time writer?

January of 2013. Once again, the lack of corporate commitment to their employees sliced the ground out from beneath my feet. My wife and I talked about this dream I’d been pursuing for twenty years in stolen moments. But now, with my step-kid was almost through college, we decided to go for it. We dumped everything and moved to a small house on the Oregon Coast. I began writing like a madman. The fans have been hugely receptive and it’s really taking off. I have twenty books out now, and more coming next year.

• Twenty?

Yep. Take Over at Midnight  is my twentieth as well as being the fourth in my Night Stalkers series. I also write contemporary romance, fantasy, and I have a foodie thriller.

• What about your life do you bring to your writing?

Just about everything. The characters take a vacation on a sailboat—I rebuilt a sad old fifty-foot ketch back in my twenties and learned how to sail it by myself. They go flying—I used to have my private pilot’s license. They travel to some exotic locale—if I haven’t been there, I’ve ridden my bicycle to somewhere similar enough to fake it. I have an eclectic resume, I’m being kind there. But as a long-term computer nerd and project manager, I’ve worked in industries such as law, construction, opera, and map design. It all makes great fodder for story. Did I mention that I’m addicted to Project Runway and Top Chef? I’m a lousy seamstress, but I’m a better than average cook, that’s why I wrote my Angelo’s Hearth foodie contemporary romance series, and why I’ll be starting another soon now that Angelo’s is nearly over.

• How would we pick you out of the crowd?

You probably wouldn't. I tend to be quiet, even in a circle of friends. My favorite time of day is when my wife and I cook together or curl up on the couch with books or a movie. Well, there is one thing that stands out. Even mention kids and I’ll start bragging on my step-daughter. I’m one of “those” parents, so don’t get me started. It’s the one topic I never know when to shut up on.

• What does your day look like compared to when you were in corporate?

I used to work hard, often long hours. I’d crawl home, spend a couple of hours with the family, and when they’d gone to bed, I’d gear up to write for another hour or two. Now, I write almost as many hours as I used to work, but the crawling is gone. I've never had so much fun as this last year. It’s still stressful, starting a new career in a new town, but I just love, as my mentor says, “sitting in a corner and making shit up for a living.”

• If writing is no longer your hobby, what has taken its place?

I’m not sure yet. I spend more time walking the beach, reading, watching movies. In the past, I’ve designed and built a couple houses, I might have one more of those in me. We’re talking about taking up Italian in the next month or so which could be a lot of fun. I wouldn't mind doing some traveling again, though probably not on a fully loading touring bicycle; that’s hard work.

• Since you have done so many things, what’s the one you've liked the most?

Oh, the present one, writing. If you look at job satisfaction surveys, which I've done a number of times over the years, almost any form of art takes the top five or so spots. I love what I’m doing, it both energizes me and let’s me share that energy and excitement with others through my art. That it also pays enough to support my family, well, that’s a surprise I’m not yet used to.
    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

BUY: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Chapters/Indigo, IndieBound, 

TAKE OVER AT MIDNIGHT  

Name: Lola LaRue
Rank: Chief Warrant Officer 3
Mission: Copilot deadly choppers on the world's most dangerous missions

Name: Tim Maloney
Rank: Sergeant
Mission: Man the guns and charm the ladies

The Past Doesn't Matter, When Their Future is Doomed... 

Nothing sticks to "Crazy" Tim Maloney, until he falls hard for a tall Creole beauty with a haunted past and a penchant for reckless flying. Lola LaRue never thought she'd be susceptible to a man's desire, but even with Tim igniting her deepest passions, it may be too late now...With the nation under an imminent threat of biological warfare, Tim and Lola are the only ones who can stop the madness--and to do that, they're going to have to trust each other way beyond their limits...

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

M. L. Buchman has worked in fast food, law, opera, computers, publishing, and light manufacturing. It’s amazing what you can do with a degree in geophysics. His Night Stalker Series have garnered starred reviews, top picks and have even been named an NPR Best Romance of 2012 (I Own the Dawn). He lives in Lincoln City, OR, with a loving lady and the coolest kid on the planet. For more information, please visit http://www.mlbuchman.com/.