Local author launches debut novel

Carlton-based author Matthew Hooper is excited to unveil his debut novel, A Cold Season, a project that has been years in the making.

Drawing from his background in creative writing, Matthew has taught the craft and worked as a novel assessor, refining his expertise along the way.

The idea for A Cold Season came to him in an unexpected way, inspired by a documentary about an American soldier during the Civil War facing the brutal realities of winter. 

“I wrote a poem about that and then started writing some prose. The character’s name was Owens and I wrote about 65,000 words of his story and then his daughter Beth appeared on the page,” Matthew told Inner City News.

Her voice was instantly compelling to me; it was like she was sort of demanding to be heard. I followed her voice and wrote some extended prose about her, and that’s what’s ended up being A Cold Season.

The story is narrated by 14-year-old Beth, whose brother Sam and father Owens have vanished during a sudden winter storm. 

Trapped in their small home at the foot of Mount Kosciuszko with her mother and younger brother, Little Sasha, Beth anxiously awaits their return. 

As tensions rise, their situation worsens when their mother begins a relationship with the “local bad man”, Wallace. 

“The book’s really about loss and grief in many ways, but it’s also about resilience and renewal,” Matthew said.

“It is very sad in places, that’s just sort of how Beth narrated it, I was just listening to her and following her. But what I’ve tried to do is deal with some difficult subject matter but presented in a prose-style that’s engaging.”

With the release of his novel, Matthew is now turning his attention to his next project; a prequel to A Cold Season.

“I don’t do a lot of planning before I write; I tend to just write every day for a period of time without looking back on it. When I’ve finished maybe 15,000 to 30,000 words, I’ll start going back and structuring and doing line edits,” he said about the process of writing a novel.

Since moving to Carlton during the COVID-19 lockdowns, Matthew has come to appreciate life in this central area, enjoying its proximity to the gardens and forming friendships with neighbours in the local community. •