Tuesday, September 1, 2009

THE NEW MATTHEWREILLY.COM

Yes, after ten years of the old site, it was time to renovate www.matthewreilly.com and my web designer, Roy Govier, has excelled himself!

I’m thrilled with the new “bookshelf” look of MR.com and I hope you like it, too.

MR ON TWITTER

And, yes, I am also now on Twitter.com. My Twitter username is “Matthew_Reilly” so please feel free to go there and “follow” me.

Twitter is actually great for me, especially when I am on tour. Later this year, when I am doing signings and speeches around Australia, I will use Twitter to let people know where I am and what I’m doing.

I’ll also use it to keep you up to date on what I’m working on, where I happen to be in the world, and other fun stuff. (Oh, and Roy Govier also helped me with the look of my Twitter page, too – making it match with the new website. Gosh, he’s good!)

COMING AUTHOR TOURS: AUSTRALIA AND THE U.K.

I’ve had a few emails recently asking whether I’ll be doing an author tour in the UK anytime soon and the answer is... YES!!!

I’ll be coming to the UK in mid-January to promote the release of The Five Greatest Warriors. I haven’t done a full author tour of the UK for several years (I think I was last there for Scarecrow in early 2004) so I’m looking forward to it.

I remember doing a speech/signing in Borders, Glasgow, on a dark and stormy Scottish night and a huge crowd turned up and we had an awesome time. Be great to do that again. (I am actually golfing in Scotland soon, playing St Andrews and Turnberry; very excited!)

WHAT I’VE BEEN WATCHING: DISTRICT 9

After a pretty average year at the cinema (too many sequels), I have just seen perhaps the best sci-fi movie of the year: District 9.

If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favour and go out now and buy a ticket. Great science fiction makes us look at ourselves, and District 9 really makes you think about how we as human beings treat each other. The treatment of the aliens in this movie replicates the worst of human behaviour (from South Africa’s apartheid years to Nazi Germany)…to the extent that you find yourself sympathising with the aliens.

The effects (from Peter Jackson’s WETA Workshop are first class) and the editing is simply remarkable. And the use of “non-star actors” for the leading roles really leaves you guessing as to what will happen. In its review of the film, Variety spent way too much time commenting on the gore and blood: this was missing the point. The violence in the movie, while grim and not for the faint-hearted, is all story-relevant and well used. It is a tough story and tough stories require tough scenes.

District 9 is a great film that lives with you long after you’ve seen it. Indeed, it’s made with such skill that I reckon it could be a dark horse for Best Picture.

Anyway, gotta run. The Australian edition of The Five Greatest Warriors is now at the printers and now I have to go and check the US page proofs.

I’m so excited to finally unleash The Five Greatest Warriors. It’s huge. October 20 awaits. Not long now…! (And remember to check Twitter for new announcements.)