Thai murder cases and sex industry inspire Lindfield author

Matt Carrell has written novels influenced by Thai murder cases and the notorious Thai sex industry.

“I’m constantly being asked to what extent I immersed myself in this aspect of Thai nightlife.

“I’ve also written a story about an American high school shooting but oddly enough, nobody thinks I shot anyone,” Matt joked.

Whilst working in Bangkok, The Lindfield author met a man who was selling lottery tickets.

“He told me the true story of a young woman who got involved in Thailand’s illegal lottery,” Matt explained.

“As a consequence her life simply fell apart.

“It was a vivid lesson of how fragile the lives of the poor in that part of the world can be.”

He used the tale to develop his own tale, and after finding a publisher, Thai Lottery and Other Stories from Pattaya was released a year later.

Matt explained the hardest aspects of being an author.

“The tough part is crafting that into the best possible version of the story.

“My publisher has given me a very talented but utterly ruthless editor, he has no qualms about telling me if he thinks something I’ve written sucks,” he explained.

Matt added that the most rewarding thing about being an author is receiving good feedback.

He admits many authors ‘obsess’ over ratings and reviews on Amazon.

“Mine are beyond my wildest expectations,” he said.

Matt’s novel Vortex drew heavily on his investment career and time he spent in Asia.

It is a Wolf of Wall Street style story with Thai gangsters, and received many complimentary reviews.

Matt continued: “There are so many fascinating aspects to Asian culture I don’t see myself running out of material any time soon.

“I try to give readers a genuine insight into the intricacies of Thai culture.”

Matt’s novels often depict wealth and power absorbing a character.

“These people no longer have any concept of ‘enough’,” Matt added.

“The more they have the more they want and the more compromises they’re willing to make to get where they want to go.

“On the other hand the lives of poor people can be incredibly fragile and one bad choice or stroke of misfortune can be catastrophic.

“Thailand is a fantastic country but this dynamic is magnified many times over.”

Matt’s novel A Matter of Life and Death draws on former Liverpool Football Club manager Bill Shankley’s famous claim that football is more important than life and death.

The author has a ‘love-hate’ relationship with the sport as, while he loves the game, he said it has become too financially orientated.

He explained: “Players, owners and TV companies make obscene amounts of cash and it come out of the pockets of the supporters one way or another.

“Part of me yearns for the old days when players were not that different to you and I.”

Do you have a story to share with our readers? Email us at [email protected]