An Interview with Matt Peterson

Cisco Gonzalez is an American author who writes fictional stories with a comedic twist under the name Matt Peterson. As a military brat, he grew up all over the place. He enjoys any well written and funny fiction and is influenced by authors such as Christoper Moore, John Scalzi, and Martha Wells. He currently resides in Tucson.

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Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

The whole concept of Bunny Slippers started out as a joke between myself and a dear friend of mine. The idea was that I would write a story where the main protagonist would hunt down and kill another character by the name of Mary and that the process would repeat over and over again. The hunter would always be wearing bunny slippers. I have a draft of that novel lying around somewhere, but eventually Mary became MARI and Bunny became an assassin.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

Honestly, I cried. While I’ve been writing for a long time, I’m writing now as a result of a personal tragedy. The reasons I write, the choice of my pen name, they all mean something very precious to me. When I held that first book, the reality of it hit me pretty hard. I’m blessed with a lot of love in my life and so, so grateful.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I have always been a voracious reader. My parents had a library in the basement filled with science-fiction books from Isaac Asimov to Theodore Sturgeon and classics and when I found them, I found myself in heaven. Growing up, we would visit Puerto Rico over the summers, and my aunt had a library filled with even more books and a stack of comic books (which today would be worth a fortune if we’d only known) of Spider-Man, the Hulk, the Fantastic Four, Batman, and Superman. My first attempt at a novel was in the ninth grade. I really started writing after college. I remember the first time I picked up a Christopher Moore novel and knew that’s what I wanted to write. I love Christopher Moore, John Scalzi, Martha Wells, Kurt Vonnegut, Carl Hiaasen, Matt Dinniman, and Jonathan Maberry. Quirky novels with smart ass characters? I’m in!

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I was enlisted in the U.S. Navy, went to college, returned as an officer, so I’m considered a mustang.

When I left, I went into consulting. I thought they were going to turn me into a process guy; instead, they turned me into a programmer. I switched over into project management and eventually product management. I’m fluent in busy and tech.

Something that my readers wouldn’t know … Okay, I am a science-fiction junky, probably not a surprise there. My daughter introduced me to the romance genre and next thing I know, I’m down the romance rabbit hole. I have probably read well over one hundred romance books in the past eighteen months. I regret nothing. Nothing!

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

The developmental editing experience. Without a doubt. There is a point in the writing process where you have to just let it go and give it to someone else and trust. When I had my meetings and the notes that I received, the goal was always to make the story better and that experience for me was amazing. I felt my editor understood my story and my intent, which is to give readers an opportunity to escape and to laugh, and I had a wonderful time. I have received a lot of positive feedback from readers, and I have no problems acknowledging the book is as good as it is because it was a team effort.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

Bad Bunny. Anything by Bad Bunny. I mean, with a title like Bunny Slippers and that book cover?

Also, Despacito by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee. This might have to go under something my readers wouldn’t know, but my real name is Francisco Gonzalez. I go by Cisco, and I’m Puerto Rican. Matt Peterson is a pen name that I use to honor two very special young men who were taken from us way too early. So, yeah, throw in some reggaeton and if you’ve read the book, then you know we’re throwing in a ton of Broadway musicals.

Yep, reggaeton and Broadway musicals … welcome to Matt Peterson’s world.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book? How do you envision your perfect reader?

Life’s too short, so make sure you take the time to love and laugh.

I don’t think that I have a perfect reader. I originally started with wanting to write something that guys would read because I got tired of hearing that men don’t read. So, my goal was to write a thriller/beach read for guys … and then I was influenced by the romance genre and learned how to write fun, strong, smart ass female characters and now I feel that I, along with my beta readers and editors, created something that everyone will enjoy.

So, actually, maybe wives who want to get their husbands to read or girlfriends who want their boyfriends to read. I would suggest that you buy two copies, one for you and one for your significant other so you can read it and laugh together ;).

What creative projects are you currently working on?

I am currently working on my next novel, Super Scared, which is a tongue in cheek take on the superhero genre. I just received my developmental editing notes. I also started working on the next Bunny Slippers novel. I don’t know that you plan a series — I certainly didn’t — but I’m hearing from readers that they want more Bunny as well as his supporting cast. I have a few other novels marinating in various sixty to ninety day drawers.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

They put the author first. I had a blast and I would do it again. Oh, wait, I already am.

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