THIS JUST IN . . .

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The kindly folks of the Keystone Gaming Society dig my steampunk story, “Scourge of the Spoils,” included in the DAW Books anthology, Steampunk’d, that came out a few months ago. Here’s an abbreviated version of what they have to say:

“This is one of the best short stories I’ve read in a long time…. By the end, you’re left amazed by the twist that you know you should have seen coming but, I’m sure, you didn’t. Bravo Matthew Mayo, I’ll definitely be checking out some of your other work.”

And:

“I read the Matthew Mayo story and loved it…. and I’m not even a fan of the steampunk genre! I would recommend it to fans of sci-fi in general. Very tight, well-written story!”

(Click here for the full review.)

Bootleggers, Lobstermen & Lumberjacks receives a favorable mention on Boston.com (the online version of The Boston Globe). They did a roundup of 14 books about New England published in the past year. Here’s my bit:

“Witch hunt victim Giles Corey appears as one of the case histories in Bootleggers, Lobstermen & Lumberjacks (Globe Pequot Press, $16.95). Matthew P. Mayo, a prolific author of western fiction, pulls out all the stops of his pulp style to dramatize “Fifty of the Grittiest Moments in the History of Hardscrabble New England,’’ including Corey’s death by crushing after he refused to enter a plea in his witchcraft trial. Mayo covers other lurid moments, such as the Lizzie Borden case, and resurrects many low points of New England history, including shipwreck cannibalism, the exhumation of a tuberculosis victim suspected of being a vampire, and numerous accounts of rum runners. Mayo follows each fictional sketch with more clear-eyed history putting the event in context.” —The Boston Globe

And here’s a link to the full article:
http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/articles/2011/02/13/in_praise_of_the_page_fishing_and_witches_farming_to_forests/

And the hits just keep comin’….

Flamingnet Reviews gives Steampunk’d its Top Choice Award here.

The Bangor Daily News has posted a fine review of Bootleggers, Lobstermen & Lumberjacks.

“Life is hard in New England. That’s the message that comes through loud and clear in this new history book by Northport author Matthew P. Mayo. Nature is at the heart of many of the travails documented in the book and culled by Mayo from nearly 400 years of history. And yet, humanity has only itself to blame for a goodly number of the events. In the book, which starts with a deadly Atlantic crossing by the Pilgrims in 1620 and ends with Maine coast trap wars in 1949, Mayo does a sterling job of bringing history to life.

It isn’t enough for a writer of history to recite names, dates and places. Indeed it’s essential to re-create the three-dimensional people around which history is woven. And with the imagined dialogue at the heart of each vignette in his book, Mayo does exactly that. That isn’t to say that he skimps on the facts. At the end of each chapter, he writes in detail about each event, along with supplying information about similar occurrences. What should be a snack ends up being a meal for voracious readers. Bootleggers, Lobstermen & Lumberjacks is an intriguing way to capture readers who may be unfamiliar with the history that has happened in their own backyards.”

—Dale McGarrigle, Bangor Daily News

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Nearly two years in the making, Maine Icons: 50 Classic Symbols of the Pine Tree State has been a labor of love for my wife and me. And we can finally share the cover with the world!

If I do say so myself (and you know I will), this book is one heck of a handsome visual tour of our home state of Maine. As the subtitle mentions, it consists of 50 classic symbols of the Pine Tree State. We profile the likely suspects–lobster, blueberries, lighthouses, whoopie pies, and so many more–but we think you’ll find a whole lot of surprises in these pages, too (Raye’s Mustard, Renys, and Fog? Oh, my!). And while I hope the text in each chapter will serve to illuminate the topic and edify the reader, it’s really the amazing color photos taken by my wife, Jennifer, that form the soul of this project.

The book is available for pre-order at Amazon right now (at a discounted price), though the official release isn’t until May 3, 2011. This book is a hardcover w/ dust sleeve, square format, 112 pages, full color, Globe Pequot Press; $16.95. Buy now and buy often! You’ll love it….

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Here’s a link to an extensive by acclaimed fantasy author Joshua Palmatier of the recent DAW Books anthology, STEAMPUNK’D, in which my story, “Scourge of the Spoils,” appears.

This book is flat-out fun. If you haven’t yet bought a copy, might I recommend clicking here and remedying that unfortunate situation? It’s time to get S’punky!

Holy smoked crawdads, can it be true? Well, sort of. Truth is, it’s a new interview with me at the great site, Booklife. Interview-meister Jeremy L.C. Jones held my feet to the flames and I howled about writing and whatnot. You can sniff the smoke here….

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Just some of the words used to describe BOOTLEGGERS, LOBSTERMEN & LUMBERJACKS in my recent interview with Maine Public Radio’s Keith Shortall.

The interview aired last night and the full transcript and a link to the podcast will be available soon. In the meantime, feel free to mosey on over to Amazon (or your favorite local book store) and snap up a copy for yourself and a few for your friends, too. They’ll love–and fear–you for it!

Gary Dobbs, proprietor of the always-interesting Tainted Archive, has selected what he’s calling “Best of the West 2010”–a list of fiction and non-fiction titles about the West or set in the West  that he’s enjoyed reading in the past year. I’m proud and pleased to say that my book, COWBOYS, MOUNTAIN MEN & GRIZZLY BEARS, is among them. Thanks, Gary!

On Tuesday, December 14, 2010, I had the great honor of being the guest on the top-shelf Vermont Public Radio show, Vermont Edition. Host Jane Lindholm asked me intriguing questions about my new book, Bootleggers, Lobstermen & Lumberjacks, and I did my best to not sound like I was gargling gravel. The cool bit is that the show is taped live—and it was a call-in! We received calls and emails from people who had their own “gritty” tales to tell. And did I mention it has a listenership of 180,000 people? And they all promised to buy a copy of my book! Okay, one of those statements is a fib….

Since VPR is based in … Vermont, and I’m in Maine, we arranged for me to use Maine Public Broadcasting’s Bangor studios. And since my wife and I are regular listeners of MPR, it was a treat for us to experience all the groovy behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on there. Special thanks to MPBN’s Rich Tozier (Maine’s voice of jazz) for being a most gracious host.

After the live VPR show, MPBN interviewed me for a segment that will air at some point this week. I’ll keep you posted. Now that I’m a celebrity, I have to go get my hair done. Signing off….