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Conor Matthews
Bio
Writer. Opinions are my own. https://ko-fi.com/conormatthews
Stories (126/0)
The Candidate: Part 1
The Candidate: 1 The last four months of Gabrielle's presidential campaign have been rough. She knew it would be, but it was still difficult. The attack ads went after her voting record, old views that haven't aged well, and the fact her birth name was originally Gabriella Garcia. For her, the white-washing allegations hurt the most, mostly because she was only doing what she had learned to do by America since she was a little girl. It wasn't her fault poles approved of the name change during the primaries. Yet she still felt the same unease of being on the outskirts of acceptance. As a congresswoman, she was used to having to prove herself, but to be shamed for doing what she was expected, what her opponents expected of minorities, that was disrespectful.
By Conor Matthews6 months ago in Fiction
Santa's Resignation Letter
I have debated whether or not to begin with my trademarked “Ho Ho Ho”, but I wish to convey the gravity of the matter. Let me begin by assuring you that I have had nothing but good experiences, warm feelings, and a reassurance in the good of humanity for all one-thousand-years I've had the honour in being Santa Claus. Indeed, it has been a vocation to spread joy to children around the world. There have also been difficulties, though. Countries I once enjoyed visiting no longer exist. The struggle for my elves to keep up with expectations. And the Sisyphean effort in preparing for Christmas every year. But despite these hinderances, I have loved all of it. Which is why, with a heavy heart, I must announce my resignation. This is my notice.
By Conor Matthews8 months ago in Fiction
My Podcast Journey
Two years ago, nearly to the day, I began a story about a man walking his dog. Some of you had read it; The Trees Swallow People. Over the next two years, I continued to expand a short story into a 45K horror story about mania, depression, cults, supernatural trees, and a little Yorkie called Diva. Now, not only is it available to read in its entirety, it's a published podcast series on Spotify and audio-book on Audible. You can go to Spotify, Youtube, or any good podcast platform and listen to all 6 hours, across 24 episodes, for free.
By Conor Matthews8 months ago in Journal
The Waiting Rooms - 1
Mary had only just died when she woke up. It took her another minute before she would realise that though the bright white void was to be expected, the jumbling and constant crackle of sound wasn’t, especially when it seemed oddly familiar. A double-ring of a bell, the patter and shush of rail tracks, the call of commotion, the brush of a breeze, and the flop and strain of a door opening. This sounded nothing like the hospice.
By Conor Matthews9 months ago in Fiction
1 Year On Basic Income. Top Story - October 2023.
The Basic Income For The Arts is a pilot scheme run by the Department Of Arts in Ireland that has selected 2,000 volunteer artists, creatives, and art-workers to participant in a 3-year-long study to record and report the effects of a Basic Income scheme on the artistic/creative industries and practitioners of Ireland. The scheme official began in October 2022 and will continue until August 2025.
By Conor Matthews9 months ago in Journal
Paternity
Charlie eyed the waiting room children's toys with uneasy judgement. He was picturing the countless children over the years who had played with blocks on rails, the picture book with flaps for doors, windows, and gates, and a winding, pull-along caterpillar with wheels, imagining what it would be like if he had a child with Natasha, sitting beside him in Dr. Manning's practice, to bring and let play with them.
By Conor Matthews11 months ago in Fiction