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From Memoirs to Monsters: My Leap into Vampire Fiction If you told me a year ago that I’d be writing a vampire novel, I would’ve laughed, taken a sip of tequila, and changed the subject. Because honestly, it wasn’t on my radar. Not after Failing Upward—a book so deeply personal that writing it felt like therapy mixed with public nudity. Peeling back the layers, exposing the fuck-ups, the lessons, the wins—I thought that was my lane. I had found my groove. And then something happened. I got restless. See, memoirs demand truth. Raw, unfiltered, sometimes-painful truth. But fiction? Fiction is freedom. It’s taking everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve experienced, and twisting it into something completely new. It’s building worlds instead of just documenting them. It’s stepping into the shadows and seeing what’s lurking there. Turns out, vampires were waiting for me. Not the brooding, sparkly, high-school-stalking variety. No, these creatures are ancient, dangerous, and have had to evolve in ways most humans can’t even comprehend. Immortality isn’t romantic—it’s a logistical nightmare, especially in a world where cameras are everywhere, and facial recognition can out a guy who hasn’t aged since the Renaissance. And so, Out of the Shadows was born. A modern vampire thriller soaked in dark humor, sharp dialogue, and just enough existential dread to keep things interesting. A story about power, survival, and the terrifying speed at which technology is changing the rules. Writing this has been one of the most exhilarating, terrifying, and fun creative experiences of my life. Memoir writing will always be part of me, but this? This feels like a whole new universe opening up, one I’m eager to explore. So, to my readers who’ve been with me through Failing Upward, Badass Mediocrity, and every weird, winding step along the way—I hope you’ll take this next ride with me…because things are about to get bloody interesting. One love, Matt