Is Lucifer Morningstar Welcome In The Confessional?
Before diving into this review, there are two things I want to preface.
1) I am not a religious person, and my knowledge of scripture/The Bible/religious history is not strong. (That said, I love modern takes on classic mythology and this checks that box)
2) Read The Author's Note!!! It dives into Lutton's relationship with religion, and does a fantastic job setting the tone for this novella.
Okay, so the review... This book was not what I expected, and because of my lack of knowledge regarding religious history, I actually learned a TON, which was a neat bonus. But what Lutton does exceedingly well is to have two dichotomous characters butt heads over their convictions regarding confession and forgiveness.
Can a Catholic Father find it in himself to forgive The True Morningstar when he comes to confession and unravels "the truth" behind religious texts with a tale unlike any heard before? Or will this be the one confession he can't forgive?
It's a fun and gripping ride that does well to mix the grand questions of the religious mythos with the follies of humanity into something that will either seed doubt or conviction.
p.s. Sorry about the audio issues in there! But it'll be better next time, promise!
Is Forgiveness Synonymous With Confession??
Matthew Lutton, author of
The Morningstar Confession
AJ: I like to think every story starts with inspiration. Whether it’s a line from a song, an abstract idea, a personal experience, you name it. So, what would you say was the inspiration for this novel?
ML: I had made a post when somebody asked what story they would like to hear? I answered Lucifers side of the story. Lisa saw the post and kept bugging me about it and saying it needs to be a novel.
I had only written short stories and Lucifer’s story was something I was deathly afraid of f*cking up, so I started writing it in secret as a gift to her for believing in me.
AJ: From inspiration, to the physical copy in your hand, a journey took place. How was your journey, Matt? Did it go according to plan, hitting all the stops? Was it tumultuous? Did you get lost? Were there setbacks?
ML: Anyone who has ever written a book knows the process takes alot out of you. This one was extremely tough for me. I would write a paragraph and feel like I had just come from the gym. It was almost like I was pushing the words out of me.
I knew the points I wanted to go over. What stories I wanted to dive into. The only snag I kept hitting was my fear of filler. I did not want the reader to ever be bored which is extremely easy if you are not religious at all given the subject matter of the book.
I tried to make the dialogue like a Tarantino movie. That way even if they were talking about nothing it kept you fascinated by learning something weird or cooky.
AJ: I always wonder, did you know your final destination with this story, or did you find it along the way?
ML: I never know. All I have is an idea. I have never liked planning out plot lines. I prefer to have it come organically almost like I’m telling myself the story.
AJ: I think, like any journey—hiking, driving, cross-country skiing, spelunking, magic ring disposal—writing a story almost always has a point, whether it be on day one or day one-thousand-and-one, where the thought of quitting and turning back comes to mind. What was that moment like for you? Was it brief? Was it difficult?
The Morningstar Confession by Matthew Lutton
ML: I had it numerous times.
One reason I love short stories is because if you don't necessarily like one it will be over soon and I want to know how it ends anyway.
I like King but I hate that he will spend 4 pages describing the pizza boy. Now obviously filler like that is necessary but I just can't do it. I feel like I'm cheating the reader out of the story or something.
I didn't expect 10 Drink Minimum to be successful but I did have high hopes for Candy Dish. I believe each one of those stories were thought provoking, if nothing else. And if they hadn’t taken off like they did, I thought it would make trying to write a novel seem even more daunting but at the end of the day you have to write for you and that's what I did.
I wrote the story I wanted to read.
AJ: I don’t think I’ve ever gone on a trip, a journey, without losing something…might be a me thing. But I know we all lose something when writing a story. Often this is called “killing your darlings” in the editing process. What did Dan & Lucifer’s interaction lose that ultimately served it for the better?
Beware falling morningstars…And Watch My Review on YouTube
ML: It was originally a lot more violent-more horrific you could say. I had Lucifer doing some pretty messed up stuff in the backstories because well, he's the Devil. Ultimately it made him very unlikable, and the reader stopped feeling sympathy for him. I toned it down but there is basically a splatter version that exists and ultimately, I think it makes for an overall better story.
AJ: And through it all—especially editing—the story changes and our daily lives bleed into the writing, whether it be through prose, narrative, or something entirely different. I call this the “soundtrack” to a story’s progression. What would you say was going on in your life, the world around you, that served as The Morningstar Confession’s soundtrack?
ML: So much. I was going through my divorce. I had decided to leave my home state and all I knew to start over.
I always had a plan. I had backup plans of backup plans. It’s why im such a big Batman fan. I finally decided to just live and see where everything fell. It was faith you could say...
Now, if there were a soundtrack in existence that could best accompany reading this eye-opening tale, what would it be? Judith by a Perfect Circle. That song hit me so hard when I heard it and a lot of its themes are in the book.
AJ: As you continue to develop new projects, do you believe there is a reason to revisit Dan or Lucifer for a future tale?
ML: I always like to throw callbacks or easter eggs, so you will definitely see them again. As for Dan his story is not yet finished...
AJ: What advice would you give readers, before patting them on the back and sending them down your literary roads?
ML: I'm a story teller not a writer. 10 Drink Minimum was my first book and you can tell by the editing but its an amazing story. Candy Dish is some of the work I'm proudest of and think that any of those stories could be turned into a movie or T.V. show. The Morningstar Confession is me at my most vulnerable.
AJ: Anything else you’d like me to share with folks? Factoid? Links? Sale? Image?
ML: My bigcartel is 10drinkinc.bigcartel.com where you can order signed copies of Morningstar.
Im available on Amazon and have a story that was for the BOH pirate box available for sale titled: In Our Tears, In The Sea
I also have a patreon where I do giveaways and exclusive short stories at www.patreon/matthewluttonauthor
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