About

 

My name is Daniel Matuzas.  I grew up in the U.S.A., but am currently living in Seoul, South Korea.  It is here that I have spent the last eight years of my life teaching English.  It is also here that I met my wonderful wife, Seo Young Hee.  Though I am a certified history teacher back in the states, I have come to enjoy teaching English as a second language and all the challenges it presents me with.  Someday I hope to make my own ESL book, but for now I am putting that idea on hold while I dip my toes into the world of fantasy writing.

            Born in Chicago, raised in Texas, I've always had a love for comic books, action figures (my favorite were the battle beasts and the little sci-fi guys with magnets on their feet), D&D, Magic (cardgame) and anything else that stimulated my imagination.  I believe that it was in 7th grade that I really got into reading fantasy books because of my Reading Class.  You see, in this reading class, I had to learn English Grammar, which I hated. (I know, it's funny that I teach it now).  The teacher of the class had a rule, if you read so many pages and write a summary of what you read, you will get 10 points added to your final grade.  I believe she didn't think anyone would read very much, the rule was every thousand pages with a summary got you 10 points.  My friend and I quickly started using the system.  We read so many fantasy books and wrote reviews that, all the points we got, enabled us to blow off the grammar portion of the class.  I don't think the teacher liked it, for she changed the rule and limited the points, but it did get me into reading. 

             Before that, my father would always read to me every night.  I remember him reading books like, Over Sea Under Stone, The Dark is Rising, Narnia, The Hobbit, and others.  I always loved when he read to me and that is probably why I chose to read the fantasy genre.  When I started reading on my own I began with David Eddings.  I'll always love his books, because they were my first fantasy books to read.  I quickly went on and found other authors like, Margeret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Robert Jordan and J.R.R. Tolkein (Lord of the Rings).  I loved the Harry Potter series, and also love Game of Thrones (though I have to admit that I didn't read it until it became popular).  Another series that I am currently enjoying is Peter V. Brent, the Warded Man. 

           Along with my love for fantasy books, my mother also got me into reading historical fiction, which probably also influenced my choice to become a history teacher.  The book that really got me into this genre was Hampton Sides' Blood and Thunder, about Kit Carson and Native Americans.  Awesome book.  After that I went on to James Clavell's Shogun series, which are great.  My other favorite historical fiction was Conn Iggulden and his series on Ghengis Khan and Julius Series.  I highly recommend them. 

              All my reading and active imagination made ideas whiz through my head at all times.  I started writing these ideas down and, after getting married, I took three months off to really focus on writing my first book.  Thanks goes to my wife for being so supportive.  She's great.  On April 18th I finally published Spirits of the Plains (the fantasy genre) and now I'm holding my breath while I watch what happens.  :)