About Mathew Heinecke:
Mathew Heinecke is an emerging author of children’s books. He enjoys making up wacky science fiction stories and poems for his children. His Willakaville series books have put these in print for others to enjoy with the goal of tackling the many different issues children will face. (He wants to ensure he is using the full spectrum of his imagination)
As a graduate from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, he has worked for many years as a mechanical engineer in both the aerospace and transportation industries. This coincides with his passion for learning about new technologies and innovations. (He really wants to be a galactic space fighter)
Mathew grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah where he enjoyed visiting the nearby Rocky Mountains and the colorful landscapes of southern Utah. As a child, he played several sports such as; football, soccer, rugby, basketball, snowboarding, skiing, hiking, fishing mountain biking, golf and tennis. Now he just plays a little golf and tennis (and has a small protrusion of his belly to show for it) He continues to enjoy sports and time outdoors with his wife, children and friends.
Some of Mathew’s hobbies include: illustration, painting, t-shirt and logo design, gardening, and movies. (He likes to keep busy) His favorite movies are Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings.
What inspires you to write?
I enjoy being creative and coming up with something I haven’t thought of before. I also enjoy making people laugh. I want to teach lessons and make kids think about the problems they face now or in the future. I want to do this without them knowing they are learning something. Learning should be fun and exciting.
Tell us about your writing process.
I try to think of things that are totally unrelated and silly. For example, I will think of a carrot, a bucket, and a lake. I try to combine these into something silly and interesting. So it might become a story about a carrot who uses a bucket to sail across a lake in order to escape being harvested. Sometimes I will sketch out a small outline involving simple character descriptions, the theme, the location etc.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
Not really. I do sometimes try to put myself in their place and think about what I would do in their situation. I guess I also draw upon memories of my childhood, friends, family, coworkers, books and movies.
What advice would you give other writers?
I have read this other places, but it is very true. Spend time editing and re-editing your book. It is boring, I know. But it is necessary. Also, be prepared to market your book. It won’t get noticed if you do not tell everybody about it. Social media is very important these days. There are lots of websites out there that give advice on promoting.
How did you decide how to publish your books?
I decided to self-publish. Cost was the main factor. I was surprised at how easy it was. It took some time to figure out the format. It was a lot of trial and error at first. Now I have a good format set up. This makes it easier to publish on other sites and for future books.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
I see more and more authors self-publishing. The tools will get better and better. I also think that editing can be eventually done by computers. The challenge is that more and more books are being published. It makes it tough for your book to get noticed. At the same time, a book can be made available around the world for a very low cost. So your book can get much more exposure.
What genres do you write?: Children’s Fiction, Children’s Adventure, Children’s Science Fiction
What formats are your books in?: Both eBook and Print
Website(s)
Mathew Heinecke Home Page Link
Link To Mathew Heinecke Page On Amazon
Link to Author Page on Smashwords
