M.P. Norman

AUTHOR OF APOCALYPTIC WORDS AND SHENANIGANS 

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Welcome.

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If you're looking for wholesome tales filled with unicorns, teddy bears, and guaranteed happy endings... you've taken a wrong turn somewhere.​ My stories live in the shadows—where monsters aren't always the biggest threat, heroes make terrible decisions, and survival usually comes at a price.

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I'm Matthew Paul Norman, a speculative fiction author originally from the UK and now based in Christchurch, New Zealand. I began writing in the aftermath of the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes, when reality became strange enough to inspire me to create worlds that were stranger still.

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My work blends horror, science fiction, fantasy, and the occasional dash of dark humour. Influenced by the wonder of Amblin-era Spielberg, a lifelong love of B-grade cinema, and stories that refuse to play it safe, I write character-driven fiction that unfolds like a film on the page. I'm fascinated by flawed people forced into impossible situations, where every decision has consequences and nobody escapes unchanged.

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My debut novel, Road Trip Z, was published by Severed Press in 2019, launching a zombie-apocalypse series that continued with its second instalment in 2023. In 2020, I was honoured to receive the Wright–Murray Residency for Speculative Fiction Writers. My short fiction has also appeared in several anthologies, exploring everything from cosmic horror and monsters to dystopian futures and the darker corners of human nature.

 

Want to find my author page?

 

CLICK THE LINK:  M. P. Norman

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Beyond the Novels

Writing stories is only part of what I do.

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When I'm not plotting the downfall of fictional worlds, I'm usually reading the latest horror novel, revisiting cult films, or disappearing down a rabbit hole of science fiction and fantasy. Stories have always fascinated me—not just how they're told, but why some stay with us long after the final page or closing credits.

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That passion led me to become a reviewer as well as a novelist. Through Culturedemandsgeeks, I review books, films, and television, with a particular focus on horror, science fiction, fantasy, and genre entertainment. Whether it's an overlooked indie horror, a blockbuster that doesn't quite hit the mark, or a novel that deserves a wider audience, I enjoy celebrating great storytelling and taking an honest look at the rest.

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I keep my writing and reviewing separate for one simple reason: this website is where my fictional worlds live. Culture Demands Geeks is where I talk about everyone else's.

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Thanks for Visiting

Whether you've picked up one of my books, discovered one of my reviews, or simply wandered in out of curiosity, thanks for stopping by.

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Take a look around, explore my books, check out my latest news, and if you enjoy stories filled with monsters, impossible choices, morally questionable characters, and endings that don't always play nice... you're in exactly the right place.