Frequently Asked Questions
When you’ve been an author for a while, the same questions keep coming up—and they come up more and more often. Always happy to answer them, but since the answers were usually the same, I figured I’d just make a FAQ.
What genre is the Frost Files?
Is the Frost Files YA?
How many books in the Frost Files series?
Why are some of the Frost Files books not available in audio?
Will you ever write any more Outer Earth books?
Will we get a sequel to Adrift?
Can I get a signed copy of one of your books?
Will you write something for my publication?
Will you write for free? it’ll be great exposure…
Are you still writing short stories?
Why aren’t you on TikTok?
I’m a librarian/book store worker, and I’d like to do an event with you/get signed copies of your books for retail. What do you say?
I want to interview you for a website/magazine/podcast/whatever. What do you say?
Why is Matthew such a little asshole?
What is Teagan’s favourite food?
Low End Theory or Midnight Marauders?
Conway, Westside or Bennie?
MJ or Bron?
What genre is the Frost Files?
This is kind of a weird one. Typically, they’re sci-fi, but they also take place in the present-day. They’re urban fantasy, but they have a distinct lack of mythical creatures. They have the plot twists of thrillers and the violence of a good action movie. In other words, they are a whole bunch of things, and don't really subscribe to one single genre. However, you will probably find them in the sci-fi section of your bookstore.
Is the Frost Files YA?
Very much not. As light and good-natured as these books are, they often take a dive into some very difficult topics, with plenty of sex and violence thrown in. If you buy these for your 14-year-old with the expectation that they are getting something wholesome and age-appropriate, you're an idiot.
Having said that: I know for a fact that the series has many, many teen readers, and several of them have actually written to me to say they've done book reports on it for their high school classes. So while the series isn't technically written for teens, they clearly enjoy it a whole hell of a lot. I am 100% in favour of this. While I did not explicitly write these books as Young Adult novels, they can absolutely be enjoyed by young adults, as long as the young adults in question are happy to be confronted with difficult themes.
And no, LGBTQ+ topics are not ‘difficult’ themes. Neither is racism, or sexism. The books tackle all of these, in one form or another, and their presence has absolutely NOTHING to do with the books not being YA. They’re adult thrillers because people get strangled to death with steel rebars, not because some characters are gay. If you think otherwise, you need to have a good, strong word with yourself about why you’re a prick.
How many books in the Frost Files series?
The fourth one comes out in 2022. The series is ongoing, and there is no planned end in sight.
Why are some of the Frost Files books not available in audio?
The series has sold extremely well in print and e-book, but for whatever reason, it has struggled to gain traction in the world of audiobooks. That makes me very sad, especially as the voice of Teagan Frost, actor and Grammy-winning musician Lauren Patten, does such an incredible job. Audiobooks are expensive and time-consuming to produce (trust me, I used to have a job engineering and mixing the bloody things), and sadly, the publisher decided that there wasn't enough of an audience to justify doing more books in audio.
Obviously this sucks. But there’s no beef between me and the publisher here; books are a business, and spending oodles of cash on a format that simply isn’t working, despite everyone’s best efforts, would be crazy. Please, please, please don’t email my publisher or their staff to be nasty about this. That would get you struck off my Christmas card list.
The first two books on the series are available in audio, and the publisher has said they are not ruling out doing more if the demand is there. If you want to see these books on audio, then the best thing you can do is to write reviews, tell your friends about them, and make as much noise as possible.
Will you ever write any more Outer Earth books?
Probably not. That story has reached its logical conclusion, and I don't feel the need to explore any more stories in that world.
Will we get a sequel to Adrift?
Again, probably not. The book was published as a stand-alone novel, and I never had any intention of turning it into a series. It's very hard to imagine a group of space tourists being stranded at a second time…
Can I get a signed copy of one of your books?
I frequently get requests from readers for me to send them a signed copy of one or more of my books. It's very hard to me to do this, not only because my own supply of author copies is limited, but because posting them off is expensive and time-consuming. While I have entertained a few requests in the past, I've had to stop doing this, as they became too much to handle. Also, I'd much prefer it if you buy my book in a bookstore, so that I can, you know, actually earn a living.
Having said that, I frequently pop into bookstores to sign stock, so they are definitely copies available in the wild with my signature on them. I also sign books at cons and events.
Will you write something for my publication?
I'm a full-time author, and it's been a while since I've done any journalism. But I'm always open to the right project. If you have a particular story you'd like me to cover, or a piece you think I would be ideal for, please do get in touch.
Will you write for free? It’ll be great exposure…
No. Fuck you. Don’t even bother asking.
(Yes, yes, alright, fine, sometimes I do write for free—but it’s almost always when I or my publisher approach an outlet for publicity purposes. That’s our decision, and I’m happy to do it. But if you approach me? Best be ready to talk numbers.)
Are you still writing short stories?
Not really. Producing good short stories is incredibly hard, and takes a lifetime of dedication. I think I'm a passible short story writer, and it's where I got my start, but I much prefer to dedicate myself to writing novel-length stories, which are not only easier but tend to have a higher financial reward. I have infinite respect for those who write short stories. It’s bloody difficult.
Why aren’t you on TikTok?
Because I can't dance. Seriously: it's because I find social media pretty taxing. To get any sort of return from it, you have to really put in the effort, and that’s time I could spend writing books and perfecting my craft. I am however on Twitter and Instagram, and have been for years.
I’m a librarian/book store worker, and I’d like to do an event with you/get signed copies of your books for retail. What do you say?
YES! I love every single word in those sentences. I adore doing events, and I think bookstore people and librarians are fabulous, so please do get in touch.
Even if you (or I) don’t have the budget to have me there in person, we can still do a virtual event, and I can absolutely get some book plates signed and sent out to you for your stock.
I want to interview you for a website/magazine/podcast/whatever. What do you say?
Again, YES! I love doing these, and usually I can make time for them. Get at me.
Why is Matthew such a little asshole?
Because most four-year-old kids are. Even yours. I just gave mine superpowers.
What is Teagan’s favourite food?
Banh mi sandwiches. And grilled cheese. And paella. And pizza. And smashburgers. And popcorn. And fried chicken. And…