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Matthew FitzSimmons
116 ratings | 64 reviews | avg rating:4.84

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Matthew FitzSimmons

Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author


Born
in The United States
Website

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Genre
Thriller, Science Fiction, History

Member Since
March 2015


Matthew FitzSimmons is the author of the bestselling Gibson Vaughn and Constance Series. His latest, The Slate, will be released in October, 2024. Born in Illinois and raised in London, England, he makes his home in Washington DC.

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Popular Answered Questions

The plot of "Short Drop" is so complex, how did you outline it and keep all straight? I'm a first time author and have a problem in outlining a simple a linear novel.I'd love to know your outline secrets. (Please don't tell me you didn't use one.)
Matthew FitzSimmons So I'll tell you my approach, but I think everyone has to find a method that works for them so take it with a grain of sand.

I worked from an Excel sp…m´Ç°ù±ðSo I'll tell you my approach, but I think everyone has to find a method that works for them so take it with a grain of sand.

I worked from an Excel spreadsheet so that at a glance I could see chapters, POV, major plot points, characters featured in the chapter etc. That gave me a top down view that helped me notice if I was going too long without checking in with a certain character or plot point. I think Excel is optional, (I'm just comfortable with it) and there are lots of solutions but having a way to see the big picture was critical for me.

Beyond that, I'm what I'd call a "road trip outliner." What I mean by that is, I knew where I was starting and knew where I was ending. Beyond that I had several major stops (plot points/events) mapped out along the way but didn't always know how I was going to get from one to the other. I always left room for detours when I inevitably discovered a more interesting route as I wrote. And that was critical for me, the story became more complex as I went along as I kept finding ways to "raise the stakes" in the story and for the characters. When I began, the story wasn't nearly as complex or interesting as it became as I wrote/redrafted/edited.

So to sum up, I'd say that it's easier for me to plot if I know what I'm writing toward. Once I know that then it's about finding the most interesting way to get there.

Good luck with your writing!(less)
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What are you currently working on?
Matthew FitzSimmons I'm currently in the middle of the second Gibson Vaughn book, picking up about six months after The Short Drop. If everything continues on schedule, i…m´Ç°ù±ðI'm currently in the middle of the second Gibson Vaughn book, picking up about six months after The Short Drop. If everything continues on schedule, it is due out in September, â€�16. (less)
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Combine Editions

Average rating: 4.14 · 100,772 ratings · 6,431 reviews · 12 distinct works â€� Similar authors
The Short Drop (Gibson Vaug...
4.18 avg rating — 50,587 ratings — published 2015 — 32 editions
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Constance (Constance, #1)
4.02 avg rating — 20,179 ratings — published 2021 — 15 editions
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Poisonfeather (Gibson Vaugh...
4.07 avg rating — 10,585 ratings — published 2016 — 11 editions
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Cold Harbor (Gibson Vaughn,...
4.18 avg rating — 7,580 ratings — published 2017 — 9 editions
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Debris Line (Gibson Vaughn,...
4.24 avg rating — 4,701 ratings — published 2018 — 7 editions
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Origami Man (Gibson Vaughn #5)
4.32 avg rating — 3,469 ratings — published 2020 — 7 editions
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Chance (Constance, #2)
4.10 avg rating — 3,033 ratings — published 2023 — 6 editions
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The Slate
4.30 avg rating — 636 ratings — 4 editions
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GIBSON VAUGHN series -- 5-b...
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
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More books by Matthew FitzSimmons…

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Matthew FitzSimmons's Blog

Book Giveaway For Poisonfeather (Gibson Vaughn, #2)

We'll be giving away 100 digital (eBook) copies to US entrants who enter the giveaway from now through the last day on 10/3.

/giveaway/sh...
5 likes ·   •  1 comment  •  flag
Published on September 06, 2016 10:36
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Series by Matthew FitzSimmons

The Short Drop Poisonfeather Cold Harbor Debris Line Origami Man
(5 books)
by
4.17 avg rating — 76,920 ratings

Constance Chance
(2 books)
by
4.03 avg rating — 23,211 ratings

Matthew is Currently Reading

Mercury Pictures ...
Matthew FitzSimmons is currently reading
by Anthony Marra (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author)
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Nov 17, 2024 03:10AM

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Matthew’s Recent Updates

Matthew FitzSimmons is now friends with Anastasia
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Feb 04, 2025 06:12AM  · 
Matthew FitzSimmons rated a book it was amazing
Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
Looking Glass Sound
by Catriona Ward (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author)
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Nov 17, 2024 03:11AM  · 3 likes ·   · 
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Mercury Pictures Presents by Anthony Marra
Mercury Pictures Presents
by Anthony Marra (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author)
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Nov 17, 2024 03:10AM  ·   · 
Matthew FitzSimmons and 1 other person liked Kathy Church's review of The Slate:
The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons
"Getting Even

Wow. This book is really good. It goes to show that it is not safe to trust anyone in DC. Just keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
Oct 26, 2024 06:24AM  · see review · 
Matthew FitzSimmons liked Steve's review of The Slate:
The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons
"The Slate by veteran political novelist Matthew Fitzsimmons contains the topical drama of today's and the past: political machinations, misery, and corruption. Twenty years ago, Agatha C. was told by her boss to eradicate and make a typical Washingto" Read more of this review »
Oct 20, 2024 04:13AM  · see review · 
Matthew FitzSimmons liked Roslynne Levine's review of The Slate:
The Slate by Matthew FitzSimmons
"Well-paced political thriller with interesting characters, great dialogue, and a few twists that took me by surprise. I loved the Gibson Vaughn series and the Constance books. Hopefully this is the start of another solid series. Matthew FitzSimmons d" Read more of this review »
Oct 20, 2024 04:13AM  · see review · 
Matthew FitzSimmons is currently reading
Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
Looking Glass Sound
by Catriona Ward (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author)
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Sep 10, 2024 12:04PM  ·   · 
Matthew FitzSimmons rated a book it was amazing
The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe
The Right Stuff
by Tom Wolfe
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Jun 22, 2024 12:56PM  · 2 likes ·   · 
Matthew FitzSimmons finished reading
The Walkaway by Scott Phillips
The Walkaway
by Scott Phillips (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author)
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Jun 22, 2024 12:56PM  ·   · 
Matthew FitzSimmons rated a book it was amazing
Chocolate City by Chris Myers Asch
Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation's Capital
by Chris Myers Asch (Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Author)
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Jun 22, 2024 12:56PM  · 1 like ·   · 
More of Matthew's books…
Quotes by Matthew FitzSimmons  (?)
Quotes are added by the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ community and are not verified by Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ.

“If you don’t have anything nice to say, take a big bite and chew slow.”
― Matthew FitzSimmons, The Short Drop
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“Google’s no substitute for knowing things. Write that down.”
― Matthew FitzSimmons, The Short Drop
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“Hope is a cancer. One of two things happens. Either you never learn the truth, in which case it gnaws down to the bone until there’s nothing left, or worse, you do, and you go through that windshield at ninety because hope told you it was okay to make the drive without a seat belt.”
― Matthew FitzSimmons, The Short Drop
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