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Matthew Dunn | A Spy's Love of Story Telling...All True?
August 11, 2011
As a child and young man, I was a voracious reader of 19th century
seafaring novels and obscure early 20th century adventures about
spies and bomb-carrying anarchists in Europe. I had fire in my belly and the
books I read helped fuel it. But I always wanted to translate the escapism of
the books into a life of real adventure. So, when MI6 tapped me on the shoulder
after I left university, I accepted its offer of employment without hesitation. I was an MI6 field operative who worked at the sharp end. I traveled the world
alone, met the bravest men and women, did great things, terrible things, hard
things, witnessed unbelievable heroism, and saw deprivation, sorrow, love,
compassion and death. Some of the things I saw and actions I made affected me but not as much as you
may think. I was young, fueled by my passion for adventure and an unrelenting
motivation to combat bad people's intentions towards the west. I have the luxury
of pausing and looking back at that life now. I am older, wiser and have a few
more inches on my waistline. But I never paused for a moment in those days.
Not once. I thrived on having other identities and personas. In every mission I felt as
if I was an actor taking the stage on the show's first night. Though an actor
can take off his costume at the end of the night. Often I could not do so for
months and in some cases years. And an actor risks a bad review; my work risked
something else entirely. I tire of hearing that the espionage world is not as glamorous and exciting as
some would make out. I spent five years in MI6 existing on adrenalin,
travelling to places that I dreamed about in my youth, doing things that would
have made the authors of some of the early twentieth century thrillers I read as
a boy blush with envy, and meeting fascinating, courageous, honourable and yes,
evil men and women. But I will concede my path as an MI6 officer was ultimately
a lonely one. Read SPYCATCHER and you'll know
what I mean. Writing has always been my true passion. I won small awards for it at school,
subsequently put it on hold to live-out my adventures and have now returned to
it as a man with something to write about. I've come full circle. My work is
fantasy and I am a story-teller. The characters in my books are based on my
imagination, but there are elements of real people in some of them. They are
like the real secret agents and officers who exist in the world today; men and
women who risk their lives for us and who, like I did, tread an exhilarating,
but solitary path. When I left MI6, I was a very hard man, a million miles away from the innocent
wonderment of my youth. But now that I'm writing I do once again feel like the
boy who loves the smell of books, who loves the adventure on the page. Now I
want to contribute to the greatest tradition of writing as entertainment and the
opportunity to take readers to another place. I am a single father. My son is
seven years old, my daughter eight. Unlike me, I don't want either of them to
translate escapism into a real adventure that ultimately takes them into a
dangerous and lonely world. But I do want them to read. I'm writing under my own name so that you know who I really am. As an ex-MI6
officer writing fiction, I have taken an unprecedented risk in doing so but I
feel that my readers deserve to know my name. And for once, it is good to do
something that has my real identity attached to it. I have told you a little bit about me, not much, but a bit. However, I am in
nature a private man who wants the focus of attention to be on my books, not
me. I believe my books are more interesting. Let's leave it at that. What do you think is more exciting...the man's experience or the story? Tell
us to win a copy of SPYCATCHER
Comments
42 comments posted.
Re: Matthew Dunn | A Spy's Love of Story Telling...All True?
Both the reality of a field spy and the story of a field spy are equally exciting in their different venues. In this instance, the author's reality fuels a story and, therefore, readers anticipate an edge made sharper by imagination and a reading experience even more exhilarating than real life adventure!
(Carla Schuller 1:17am August 11, 2011)
What an interesting man! I think you led quite an exciting life, and now you are like a soccer dad with this amazing background. I think this is gonna be one heck of a read! My answer, the man is more interesting than the story, in my opinion.
(Stephanie Bondlow 1:55am August 11, 2011)
Your experience has made you what you are today, a honest man and an excellent and exciting writer.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 6:48am August 11, 2011)
Cheers to you for writing a novel, drawing from your experiences and adding another 'chapter' to your already full life. I am truly looking forward to reading Spycatcher!
(Kristen Horton 7:36am August 11, 2011)
They say to write what you know. I guess there can be no doubt that you are. I
am so glad that you lived to tell about it.
(Sandra Spilecki 7:43am August 11, 2011)
I think the experience because it puts more heart and soul into your writing. I can't wait to read this book.
(Christine Arcidiacono 8:38am August 11, 2011)
The book sounds fascinating but I am sure the real life adventures are even more amazing.
(Pam Howell 8:58am August 11, 2011)
Very interesting...I love how you used your life experiences to write a book as your life sounds so exciting. Thank you for sharing!
(Dawn Staniszeski 9:15am August 11, 2011)
What an amazing life. I always enjoy hearing about an author's life. Thanks for sharing you stories.
(Diane Brixius 9:18am August 11, 2011)
Sounds interesting. I enjoy reading suspense books. Is there much difference between a suspense and a thriller novel?
(MaryAnne Banks 9:22am August 11, 2011)
I like learning about background in the roots of writing for an author. As another voracious reader, it's the books that talk to me first and I try really hard to listen.
(Alyson Widen 10:25am August 11, 2011)
sounds like a book i would love to read. good luck in selling lots of books
(Rhonda Laney 10:40am August 11, 2011)
The book sounds fascinating. Can't wait to read it. Thanks for
giving me a chance to win it.
(Linda Hall 11:07am August 11, 2011)
Your book sounds like it is going to be a best seller. I'm glad you survived your experiences & are now sharing them with us. Your experience & the story are both exciting...because you have lived it, the story will be more so.
(Beverly Beltz 11:34am August 11, 2011)
I think your life is more interesting than any fictional character you could write about. But your experience will make the book come alive.
(Kathleen Bianchi 12:02pm August 11, 2011)
I favor real life so I think your story is more interesting. I haven't read any/many suspense novels but knowing some about the experiences you bring to your writing tempts me to make your book my first.
(Holly Caulfield 12:09pm August 11, 2011)
Your book seems very interesting. I love suspense novels especially if it impersonates real life. I look forward to reading it if I win or not. Thanks for the opportunity!
(Lorraine Rodriguez 12:44pm August 11, 2011)
Very few of us have the gut, the fire the grab the
dream, to bite life and make with it what we can-
I definitely believe experience takes the cake.
You can describe people, place, things, food,
aroma, but it isn't as good as being there.
Admittedly, reading and experiencing second
hand through story telling is good, but what
would I give to experience life without fear.
(Carla Carlson 12:52pm August 11, 2011)
Your book does sound exciting and there are very few books out there that I think both my husband and I would equally enjoy!
(Jeanne Sheats 12:54pm August 11, 2011)
Because you were a spy and experienced the real world of spies you can write not only a believable story but one with excitement and suspense. Would love to read your book. I am a mystery, suspense reader and love thrills also.
(Brenda Hill 1:17pm August 11, 2011)
I think the story can be more exciting than the man because you can
suspend reality and push outside "the box" of our existence. You can do
the impossible in a story. Miracles rarely happen in real life. I think
because of your life as a spy you can give us more of a "real" story
with the voice of an "exciting" writer. I would love to win this book
and share it with my husband :-).
(Lenna Hendershott 1:23pm August 11, 2011)
Souonds lilke you have lived an exciting and rewarding life and can draw on all of that to write a very interesting book. Thanks.
(MaryEllen Hanneman 1:48pm August 11, 2011)
OOOOHHHHHH Spies!!!! I already like it. Always looking for new ways to get much needed information. Maybe I can pick up a tip or two.
(Elizabeth Rodriguez 1:55pm August 11, 2011)
I think it will be most interesting to read about your life experiences
(Shirley Younger 2:30pm August 11, 2011)
Well, I'd say both are important :-) !
(Birgit Lehner 3:39pm August 11, 2011)
The man's experience cannot help but influence the story he
tells. An exciting element is what is learned from the way
the story is told. What has been said and how it is
expressed, as well as what has not been revealed all creates
an experience for the reader to 'view'. The most exciting
element is the experience each individual reader has as a
result of all of those elements being brought together by
Matthew Dunn.
(Nikki Truhan 4:10pm August 11, 2011)
I think the man's experience because they shape the stories and I bet he has some good ones. I was glad to read that he is finding the boy he lost and I hope you continue the journey. I am looking forward to reading spycatcher
(Kathleen Todd 4:12pm August 11, 2011)
Book sounds unique and believeable
Life experiences can weave a good tale.
Cheers to the writer, what a talent.
(Dayle Butler 6:31pm August 11, 2011)
I love where your passion lies!
(Lisa Garrett 7:36pm August 11, 2011)
I am sure that your experiences would be very interesting to read about but I have to say that I prefer reading fiction.
(Maureen Emmons 7:37pm August 11, 2011)
Experiences in the life of an author always make the stories better. I wouldn't dare try to describe my favorite hangout spot in Paris since I've never been there, but I can imagine all kinds of plots about a fictional place and person. Your experiences must make the action seem more plausable. Can't wait to read this one.
(Christina Harrison 7:57pm August 11, 2011)
I would say the man's experience is important. This way he has stories to write.
(Kai Wong 9:44pm August 11, 2011)
I would have to say that the man's story would be more interesting, because he tends to weave his life's experience in it. He can tell you what he's done in his life, and that can be interesting, but the way he tells you what he's done with his life, which is actually a story, can be much more interesting, because that is when he tends to elaborate more. By that I mean he can go into much more detail about what he did, which in itself is a story. I truly enjoyed reading about your lifes' experience, and I'm sure that England was grateful for your service. It takes a lot of guts to do what you did, and it also takes a lot of guts to raise a family alone. If I wore a hat, I would take it off to you! I am chomping at the bit to get my hands on your book!!
(Peggy Roberson 9:48pm August 11, 2011)
wow... can I say both? I am sure that the man's story would be interesting since every one is interesting in his/her own right.... But stories can be just as interesting too. :) It just depends on how you present both, I guess. :)
(May Pau 10:01pm August 11, 2011)
Yes, I agree that your experience and your honesty have truly made you a great Writer and given you great knowledge in your field of writing too. This books sounds fantastic and I would love to Win it and read it soon too. Thank YOU so much and may God Bless YOU with Success always. Thanks, CECILIA
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 10:23pm August 11, 2011)
I can't even imagine it being real. So I think experience!
(Jennifer Beyer 10:57pm August 11, 2011)
I think the man's experience and the story are intertwined. The story wouldn't be without the experience and the experience wouldn't be voiced without the story. You can't have one without the other. Sounds like an intriguing read.
Good luck and happy writing!
(Tracie Travis 11:47pm August 11, 2011)
I guess spying does rely a lot on "acting" in a certain way. I've never wanted to be an actor, but in my late teens, I thought spying would be a great job, trying to be someone I wasn't and making sure that the international bad guys got their just rewards. A part of that was learning different languages. I soon knew that pinning my life on my ability to act was harebrained. So I learned the languages, but spying? Nay. I'll stick to reading about others doing that.
(Sigrun Schulz 11:52pm August 11, 2011)
The real life experiences of a man are more interesting than any book of fiction could ever be. I love biographies but I do love spy stories. They are a great way to escape one's own dull life. We try to have our own adventures in life and a good book could inspire us to go for it.
(Kathleen Yohanna 4:21am August 12, 2011)
Great review. Nice that you can draw from experience to write this. Sound like a great book and interesting. Good luck with this book. One that I would like to read.
(Diane Castiglione 2:49pm August 12, 2011)
When a story is backed up by a man's experience you get the best of both worlds.
(Shirley Nienkark 12:35pm August 14, 2011)
A little background is always appreciated. It fills in gaps that you may not otherwise be made aware of. I like it when everything fits together.
(Mary Preston 8:59pm August 15, 2011)
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