Name: Matthew Erman What you Write: Comics Agent: Moe Ferrara Why BookEnds?
Great client list of some of my favorite people in comics!
What book do you wish you had written, and why?
Oh man! I’d say there is one book that has inspired me most, or one author, and I’m always trying to chase that high of reading one of his books with my work, and that’s Haruki Murakami. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is an absolute masterpiece of a kind of dreamy, hyper-unique story that never really leaves you. Things about it stick to your life and I always end up thinking about events or moments in that book. I think that’s the kind of story I aspire to write — one’s that really don’t leave after you’ve read them. You know I can’t always write stories like that though or I’d be too self-serious to matter or mean anything so I also love fun things and writing things for kids like The Dark Crystal or Power Rangers. I read more as a kid than I do as an adult, so its fun to go back to that and live there in that moment while I’m writing as well. That’s good but I don’t think it answers your question.
If you’re not reading or writing, what would we catch you doing?
I’ve been really getting into Magic: The Gathering since the pandemic started. It’s been really wonderful to have a small group of friends to play with and it helped socializing you know, in the face of frequent isolation. I love video games, on a technical level and also when one really captures my imagination. I think they’re at the forefront of telling stories that no other medium can with the inclusion of audience participation. So that’s really exciting and I love being sucked into a great game.
Where can readers find you on the web and social media?
Being There by Jerzy Koziński is the last one that really stuck in my mind.
If money were no object, what would be your dream writing location?
I would own a writing retreat in the woods somewhere and all of my peers and friends and family would have a free and open invitation to come and go as they please, in the hopes that my writing would be interrupted by time spent with the people that I love.
What’s your favorite quote about reading or writing?
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.”
― Franz Kafka
What’s your favorite piece of writing advice you’ve received?
To just write, and to never self-edit until the writing is done. The editing part always comes after the writing part and any attempt to flip them is just a self-defense mechanism to not do the writing part.
What excites you most about joining the BookEnds family?
Working with Moe has sounded like it’s going to be a blast. I have a handful of peers who are represented by her and after speaking with Moe about writing, the industry and the expectations it has seemed like a great fit. I love getting new and refreshing takes on my pitches and my writing.
What advice would you give to other authors in the query trenches?
Don’t give up! The act of submitting is not a finality, and there is no such thing as your “only shot” or “only chance” at “success”.
What was the most important question you asked when interviewing agents?
I never go into these things with a plan.
How did you know your book was ready to submit?
When I wanted to start getting paid to work on it.
Name: Matthew Erman
What you Write: Comics
Agent: Moe Ferrara
Why BookEnds?
Great client list of some of my favorite people in comics!
What book do you wish you had written, and why?
Oh man! I’d say there is one book that has inspired me most, or one author, and I’m always trying to chase that high of reading one of his books with my work, and that’s Haruki Murakami. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is an absolute masterpiece of a kind of dreamy, hyper-unique story that never really leaves you. Things about it stick to your life and I always end up thinking about events or moments in that book. I think that’s the kind of story I aspire to write — one’s that really don’t leave after you’ve read them. You know I can’t always write stories like that though or I’d be too self-serious to matter or mean anything so I also love fun things and writing things for kids like The Dark Crystal or Power Rangers. I read more as a kid than I do as an adult, so its fun to go back to that and live there in that moment while I’m writing as well. That’s good but I don’t think it answers your question.
If you’re not reading or writing, what would we catch you doing?
I’ve been really getting into Magic: The Gathering since the pandemic started. It’s been really wonderful to have a small group of friends to play with and it helped socializing you know, in the face of frequent isolation. I love video games, on a technical level and also when one really captures my imagination. I think they’re at the forefront of telling stories that no other medium can with the inclusion of audience participation. So that’s really exciting and I love being sucked into a great game.
Where can readers find you on the web and social media?
Twitter @matthewerman
www.matthewerman.com
What’s the last book you read?
Being There by Jerzy Koziński is the last one that really stuck in my mind.
If money were no object, what would be your dream writing location?
I would own a writing retreat in the woods somewhere and all of my peers and friends and family would have a free and open invitation to come and go as they please, in the hopes that my writing would be interrupted by time spent with the people that I love.
What’s your favorite quote about reading or writing?
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.”
― Franz Kafka
What’s your favorite piece of writing advice you’ve received?
To just write, and to never self-edit until the writing is done. The editing part always comes after the writing part and any attempt to flip them is just a self-defense mechanism to not do the writing part.
What excites you most about joining the BookEnds family?
Working with Moe has sounded like it’s going to be a blast. I have a handful of peers who are represented by her and after speaking with Moe about writing, the industry and the expectations it has seemed like a great fit. I love getting new and refreshing takes on my pitches and my writing.
What advice would you give to other authors in the query trenches?
Don’t give up! The act of submitting is not a finality, and there is no such thing as your “only shot” or “only chance” at “success”.
What was the most important question you asked when interviewing agents?
I never go into these things with a plan.
How did you know your book was ready to submit?
When I wanted to start getting paid to work on it.
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