Author
Matt has been writing novels and poems for almost a decade while simultaneously working on his doctorate, from high-fantasy to grim magic settings, through to science fiction and political dystopia, for both young adult and adult audiences. His poetry collection Good Morning, Mr Banks continues to grow, with two completed novels (The Infamous Tales books 1 and 2), two projects which near completion (Those Who Walk With Giants, The Governor), and others in early development (A Petal Fallen, among others).
His narrative design process focuses on naturalistic design, following real geographical and historical principles to create realistic and believable environments. This gives his settings a sense of dynamic and unseen depth that extends beyond that which the reader/player experiences. This realism influences the development of cultural groups, city placement and architecture, and language. Matt draws on sounds present in modern languages to create cultural touchstones so that place and person names feel familiar, while summoning culturally relevant imagery from the real world that relates to the fictional cultures present in the narrative. In this way, his worlds serve as powerful vehicles for immersive storytelling.
Content Creator
Matt develops content for role-playing games, both in terms of world building, faction design, and character design, as well as the game mechanics for playable classes. His focus has so far been on in-person fantasy role playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, with his Traveller’s Guide to Ath Ah-lagon (campaign guide and world setting) and Psycher class (full playable class breakdown with mechanics) now in playtesting.
Previously, he was the CEO for the social enterprise Integral Incorporated which created and ran two-day competitive STEM and business simulation events for students and professional development/corporate training days. These put participants in the shoes of engineers and designers preparing proposals for a range of projects embedded in an alternative version of the modern world. Matt wrote detailed histories for fictional companies, fictional business documents, and Requests For Proposals, resulting in the company winning the BAE Systems Award for Professionalism and Entrepreneurship at the British Science Festival.
Educator
Over the last eight years, Matt has been teaching at all levels of education, from Primary Schools to Secondary and Sixth Form education, as well lecturing for undergraduate students or at public outreach events. Up until mid 2022, he taught undergraduate courses in Physics at King’s College London (KCL), and in Mathematics at the King’s International Foundation for non-native English speakers.
Physicist
Matt has a double first-class master’s degree in Physics (2017, University of Warwick) and a post-graduate master’s degree in Non-Equilibrium Systems’ Mathematics (2019, KCL), and has recently become a doctor in theoretical Physics (2022, KCL). For those interested, you can read his most recent research paper here. He also formally studied Philosophy, the politics and ethics of Climate Change, and education practices (Ogden Trust) while at university.