New Book Trailer for Paraworld Zero!

Originally posted HERE

I must first tell you that I created this video trailer myself. I am not a professional. The footage and editing is original, though. The music was created from scorefitter. The characters who modeled for the cover of Paraworld Zero were kind enough to "act" in this video trailer. Secondly, I should mention that I'll probably post an extended version in 2-3 months from now. My original vision was to have a mini-movie with voice overs, acting, etc., but I just don't have the time to create the background music and sound effects right now. The footage and most of the editing is finished. So I hope this 2-minute trailer will whet your appetite for Paraworld Zero and give you something to look forward to when I get the extended version finished.



By the way, over 5 million people will hear me on the radio this week. I did 18 radio interviews on Friday, which will be played on hundreds of radio stations across America. Whew! Oh, and one last thing... my niece wrote an essay that won her a $2,500 allowance to see the premier of The Spiderwick Chronicles in Hollywood. Good job, Amanda! I've read the books and I've met Holly Black, so I'm looking forward to the movie.

Old Newspaper Clippings of the Writing Contests I Won

Originally posted HERE

For the longest time I've been telling people that I won the first writing contest I had ever entered, which was the 2004 Writers Weekly contest (I won $300 for a story I wrote and edited in a matter of hours). Well... I've been going through some of my old things and found some newspaper clippings of me when I was in 8th grade. Looks like my comment of winning the first contest I had ever entered was a true statement, but the Writers Weekly contest wasn't the first contest I had entered.

I had totally forgotten this, but I had entered and won a few contests back in 1989/1990 when I was in 8th grade. That's when I started writing my first book "The Sorcerer's Wand" (which I never completed) and later "Parallel Worlds" (which ended up becoming "Paraworld Zero"). Here are the newspaper clippings. Click on each of them to see the whole article.

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Two More Websites Review Paraworld Zero

Paraworld Zero has received 8 reviews from websites so far and 4 author blurbs... and they've all been very favorable towards Paraworld Zero. Let's hope that lucky streak holds up. Here are the latest two reviews I just got.

"The characters are lively and the storyline is fast paced and exciting to read. It's got everything a kid would enjoy reading so you guys should definitely pick this book up..."
TheBookBinge.blogspot.com

"ParaWorld Zero is one of those rare young adult novels that all ages will enjoy ... funny, fast paced, and enough twist and turns to keep you reading all the way to the end. Don't miss this one!"
- SpecFicWorld.com
Note: this review came directly from the editor/publisher of SpecFicWorld.com, Doyle Eldon Wilmoth, Jr.

Haruah wants to publish "Letting Go"

Originally posted HERE

I just got an email from "Haruah: Breath of Heaven" saying that they'd like to publish my story "Letting Go" on their site (haruah.com) and print magazine. This is a somewhat sad story that my wife just loves. The story is about a Hong Kong Orchid tree and the lives of the couple who planted it. My wife and I have a Hong Kong Orchid tree in our front yard. I've only seen three others in all of Arizona. Maybe I just don't get out enough!

Speaking of getting stories published, "Yearning to Jump" should be published this month at www.Teen-Age-Magazine.com. That story is mostly autobiographical. If you want to see how crazy I was in high school, then don't miss "Yearning to Jump."

Update: Read "Yearning to Jump" Here

My Woe-is-Me Attitude Comes Out

Originally posted HERE

I am going through so many stressful things right now, I honestly have a fear that I’ll have a panic attack. I lost $27,000 last month on lucky number nine. Just kidding.... about the "lucky number nine" part (I've never gambled before), not the losing $27 G's. So this month didn't start out too great. My baby who had heart surgery will be on a separate insurance policy next month, which will end up costing more than my house payment. But enough about money issues (I'll be okay financially... especially if people keep buying Paraworld Zero.).

My biggest stress right now is the fact that bookstores are telling me that they're having a hard time ordering my book from the distributors (i.e. Ingram, Baker & Taylor, etc.) because their computer systems (i.e. Books in Print) is showing Paraworld Zero as "unavailable" or "not yet published." Aaaah! Paraworld Zero has been published! I repeat... IT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED! There's a mistake in the computer systems somewhere. So right now, the only option is for bookstores to back order, pre-order or order directly from Windstorm Creative. I know of at least 3 bookstores who have ordered about 75 copies each from my publisher, but that's only because they were willing to go the extra mile to carry my book. What about all the other stores? I'm getting an ulcer just writing this. Hopefully this will get fixed pronto.

My publicist emailed me today to say that she's already scheduled 17 radio interviews next week and some of them are national. A 48-ft billboard is going up on Jan 12th in Utah and tons of ads will commence after that. One of them will be in The New York Times (4 million readers). Thank heavens for online stores like Amazon.com and BN.com. At least people can order Paraworld Zero online. It was ranked #542 at bn.com and #9 in the "Magic and Wizards" category of Amazon.com the first day it came out. Not a bad start.

Boy, wouldn't it be nice if a large publisher came in right now and bought the hard back rights for my book? They could piggyback on all of the promotions that are going on for the Trade Paperback edition. Perhaps I’ll see if I could solicit that somehow. They’d have to act awfully fast. I hear foreign publishers are much more responsive than U.S. publishers. Oh, woe-is-me! Everything will turn out okay. I just need to have faith that it will all turn out okay. I'm clicking my heels right now and saying "there's no place like home... there's no place like home..."

Almost a Book Sense Pick and other news about Paraworld Zero

Originally posted HERE

I just got back from a 4-hour book signing at Bookmaster in Phoenix. There were about 10 authors there. I only sold 3 books, but seriously there were only like 8 customers the whole day, so it's actually a pretty good statistic. One lady asked for 10 of my flyers and a bunch of bookmarks so she could give them to her friends. I was able to mingle with another author who has the same PR company as me (Planned Television Arts) and she gave me some pointers for radio interviews. My publicist tells me that she has booked me for a national radio interview and a few regional ones already.

Borders emailed me yesterday to confirm to me that they would like to have me on Jan 19th. That's a great day, since I'll be interviewed on NBC Channel 12 in Phoenix that morning. What's funny is that Joe Dana, the news reporter who will be interviewing me, is having a hard time reading my book because his wife has been reading it. And he loaned his copy of Paraworld Zero to his babysitter. I just heard tonight that his babysitter liked it so much that she's been taking it to school and telling everyone to buy it. I sure hope Joe gets it back before our interview!

An interesting thing happened to me this week. On Sunday I prayed for help in getting my book onto the BookSense Picks list. Of course, I was assuming that it would be a few months before that would ever happen. I had checked my book on booksense.com a couple times and it wasn't even listed. The next day after praying, I checked booksense, and lo and behold, there was my book... with a Booksense Picks logo next to it! I couldn't believe it. If it were true, then that would mean 1200 bookstores would be buying my book and putting it on their websites and handouts. Almost a half a million flyers with my book cover on them would be sent out. I was excited but it seem too good to be true, since my book hadn't even come out yet. So I called up Booksense to ask them about it and they didn't know what I was talking about. 10 minutes later, the Picks logo disappeared from all of the bookstore websites. Bummer. It must have been a clerical error. I'm guessing that Booksense has something in their system with a checkbox that says Booksense Picks and someone accidentally clicked it on my book. At least some good came out of this... Now my book is listed on hundreds of independent bookstore websites! And who knows... maybe it'll get that Picks logo again in a few months.

This week, my book was finally listed with Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and Partners/West. Bowker Books in Print also updated their system. Barnes & Noble finally updated the incorrect info on their site (pub date, price, and page count were all wrong), so now that just leaves Borders (their info is still wrong). Oh, and the cover image for Amazon keeps disappearing. It's driving me nuts, so I'll list it here.



P.S. Happy Holidays everyone!

Four New Reviews for Paraworld Zero

Originally posted HERE and HERE and HERE

Okay, so I am working like 18-hour days right now (21-hour days for the past 2 days... yes, that's correct... 3 hours of sleep for 2 days straight.), but I need to take a break and share with you four new reviews I got for Paraworld Zero.

"PARAWORLD ZERO is the first in a new series by Matthew Peterson. Its rollicking adventure style reminds this reader of a cross between Harry Potter's adventures and those of Artemis Fowl. Colorful characters, fast-paced adventure, and clever humor make this an interesting read."
Read the full review at Reading Junky
Note: this review also made its way to http://www.teensreadtoo.com/ParaworldZero.html

"Fantasy lovers will devour Paraworld Zero, book one of the series created by Matthew Peterson...

"Matthew Peterson uses descriptive writing and likable characters to capture your attention. I was completely intrigued on the first chapter! The world he creates is incredibly unique and captivating. The only thing I dislike about the book is that I'm forced to wait to hear more about Simon's thrilling adventure. I'll definitely be looking out for more by this author. "
Read the full review at The Page Flipper

"Enticing and very entertaining, Matthew Peterson creates in Paraworld Zero a very engaging and attention grabbing first novel that both me and my younger brother enjoyed, and had us fighting over who's turn it was to read the book. We'll be eagerly looking forward to the next in this funny, unique, and imaginative series."
Read the full review at The Compulsive Reader

"Peterson deftly blends elements of fantasy and science fiction in this action packed romp. Paraworld Zero is a firm foundation for a new fantasy series sure to please young readers ages 10+"
Read the full review at The Faerie Drink Review