I’ll Try Anything Once

About the Author

Michael Mathison, a Piscean and a Dragon. Sensitive and empathic.

According to his mother, he was reading cereal boxes at 3 years of age. He loved reading fiction and comic books, taking adventures into imaginary lands. His love for reading evolved into a love for writing.

When he was 10 years old, a relative asked him to write a short poem to sell pickled eggs at a local drive-in.

When he was 15 his writing exploded as he attempted to make sense of the world around him, and his relationship to it, and others. He wrote poems when he encountered beauty or sadness. He wrote prose when he desired to understand motive or situation.

In high school, he joined the Drama club and took drama as one of his classes. As he told others, “I took Drama because I wanted to understand psychology, but did not want to learn the technical terms.”

Michael took part in the school production of Our Town as part of the sound effects team. Here he received the nickname “Cricket”.

Michael entered his poems for consideration in each year’s yearbook. In 1978 his poem, Keep the Rumour Goin’ was published.

In 1982 Michael attended the University of Calgary, and graduated in 1988 with a BFA in Drama.

During his time at University, Michael finished his last Mitchell J. Moritz story and continued his free-form style of writing. Ending with the poem, What is it, Really?

Michael moved to Oregon to live in the high desert with his new wife. 6½ years later, divorced, he returned home to Calgary.

His grandchildren of his 2nd wife rekindled his desire to publish his poems and short stories. Michael brought his poems out from storage for them to read. He discovered his words still spoke to him, and his grandchildren.

Personal Note: I treasured those lunch hours, sitting in the drama room, reading my latest pages to my friends gathered around. I loved when I would reach the last page, and have them ask, “What happens next?” I fed off of their interactions, their feedback on how a poem made them feel, or how a story excited them.

I hope to share that awe with you.

Qn 1: Can you tell us more about your book What is it about?

“I’ll Try Anything Once” features Mitchell J. Moritz in 15 short stories written when the author was 15-21 years old. The author found it difficult to grasp people’s motives, so he used characters to figure them out.

Why do people hate or love? Why do they appear in your life and then disappear?

His friends, eager to join in, later offered suggestions for characters, plots, and genres as he shared his stories.

The author found the experience rewarding, as it opened up new avenues for exploring events and emotions for Mitchell.

Qn 2: Who do you think would be interested in this book, is it directed at any particular market?

Young adults (15-21) will find this book interesting as it explores the situations and emotions that they are dealing with.

Qn 3: Out of all the books in the world, and all the authors, which are your favourite and why?

I loved reading sci-fi and fantasy. The authors who come to mind first are Robert A. Heinlein and Isaac Asimov. Then there is Stephen R. Donaldson and his “The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant” series.
“Stranger is a Strange Land” gave me a perception of comedy that I still hold to this day. The main character of this book was like me, “a fish out of water”.
I loved the three rules of robotics and the stories it inspired.
In the “White Gold Wielder” it is the idea that a mundane thing here could be a powerful item in another dimension.
Within this mix I throw in the “Choose Your Own Adventure”, and Encyclopedia Brown series.

Qn 4: What guidance would you offer to someone new, or trying to enhance their writing?

Know that you too have a story to tell, and your task is to tell it the best way you can.
During high school, a teacher expressed interest in assisting me with publishing my stories; however, I doubted anyone beyond my classmates would be interested.

Qn 5: Where can our readers find out more about you, do you have a website, or a way to be contacted?

https://mjmpublications.blogspot.com/

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