Author Matt Adams

I have just been introduced to a new author who has written a superhero book, I, CRIMSONSTREAK. This tale sounds very interesting. I always enjoy seeing superhero stories in novel form.


The Interview:

Without giving too much away, can you tell us what your book is about?

Framed by his father, “reformed” supervillain Colonel Chaos, super-speedster Chris Fairborne, AKA Crimsonstreak, is sent to the Clermont Institution for the Criminally Insane. A hero surrounded by dastardly inmates and heartless guards, Chris struggles to keep his wits about him, until the arrival of some unexpected new “guests” at the facility provides him with a means for escape. Once out, though, he discovers that the world he knew is gone, replaced by a fascist, supposedly utopian state run by none other than Colonel Chaos himself.

With the heroes of the world locked away or fighting in a disorganized resistance, Crimsonstreak teams up with a snarky British butler and a teenage superhero-to-be. Together, the unlikely (and bickering) allies must take down Crimsonstreak’s dad and set the world right. Not easy when your only powers are super-speed and looking good in spandex. But hey, someone’s got to save the world.

Of course, that's the official blurb. The book is a love letter to colorful, splashy comic book adventures, science fiction, and pop culture. Within its pages, you'll find hints of dystopia, clones, parallel universes, gadgets, gizmos, romance, and much more. At the same time, at its heart, I, Crimsonstreak is a story about family.


How long did it take you to write this book?

I wrote the first draft in 2007 over the span of a couple months. It was a meaty 55,000 words back then (I had no idea what I was doing). Over the course of four years, I left Crimsonstreak, returned to Crimsonstreak, and then decided I'd give the book a final polish and make one more run with it. Good thing I did.


What was your inspiration to write this book?

I've always been interested in superheroes. I'm not the world's most rabid comic book reader, but I love the "capes and cowls," "tights and flights" heroes. My gateway to most of comic book history comes through cartoons and movies with a fair bit of Wikipedia, several novels, and a smattering of comics.

I wanted to do a story about a superhero who wasn't from a big city. New York has plenty of 'em: the Fantastic Four, Daredevil, Spider-Man, Dr. Strange, Iron Man, and Batman (via Gotham City) are all based in the Big Apple. I wanted a guy who was from the Midwest, someone who would bring a little bit of that Midwestern sensibility to the world of superheroes. I ended up with Chris Fairborne AKA Crimsonstreak.

The book pays tribute to the great legacy of comics...and also lampoons its many beloved tropes.


Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book?

This is a rollicking superhero adventure stuffed with spandex, a snarky butler, and enough pop culture references to annihilate Comic Book Guy.


Do you have a specific genre that you always write in or do you try writing in different genres?

I can't even explain how it happened, but I've turned into "the superhero guy." I've written dozens of short stories and a couple of superhero novels because I get a kick out of it. I'm fine with being "the superhero guy" for a little bit. That's not the only genre I write, though. I've written a few robot stories, a zombie story, a short story about a building-size puffin rampaging through the U.S., a few requisite space adventures, etc. I'll try just about anything, although I'm not much of a horror writer. It's just not my thing.


Do you have any writing projects you are currently working on?

I have a follow up to Crimsonstreak in the hopper and another superheroic book called The Franchise, althoughThe Franchise leans a little bit more toward sci-fi/pulp than pure spandex. Both are in revisions right now.

I also have a couple of novels that combine sports and science fiction. I'm a big sports fan--something that you'll see throughout Crimsonstreak--and those books reflect that. They're still in the draft stage.

I grew up loving Star Wars and Star Trek, so naturally I have a sci-fi adventure as well. The book is called Sheridan's Hammer, and it's about a former intergalactic gladiator who gets caught up in war between two rival religious factions. It's past the draft stage, but not ready to submit anywhere.

Bio:

Matt Adams is a former TV news producer whose stories have appeared in Wily Writers Podcast and anthologies from Library of the Living Dead Press and Timid Pirate Publishing. I, Crimsonstreak is his debut novel. He lives and works in Indianapolis, Indiana, with his wife and (possibly) man-eating frog. Once, long ago, he planned to patrol the streets as Batman, but ultimately decided writing was safer and more cost-effective. He was only half right.

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