The Sandman Cometh
Lansing writer Matt Winn
pays recent visit to Bay City
October 15, 2003
By: O. J. Cunningham
The cover of Winn's latest novel
Death row scenery, dream-induced mind control, serialized murders complete with missing body parts:
The Sandman written by Matthew Winn has it all.
Winn, a Lansing native, is not the typical author-type nor does this novel contain the usualmurder mystery sensibilties permeating so much of today's popular literature.
Winn is is a third shift worker at W.W. Grainger in Lansing. A graduate of Holt High School, he settled into the career after a stint in the United States Navy.
Today, he is also the one-man promotional team for
Matt Winn Books.
Winn spends most of his freetime writing, scheduling readings, and promoting sales of his book state-wide.
On September 26, 2003, Winn visited Bay City Coffee and Tea at 810 Saginaw St. for a book signing. Last weekend he was at the B. Dalton book sellers in the Bay City Mall doing much the same thing.
Both events were open to the public.
Winn will be inBay City promoting the book again in 2004 when he may take part as a featured reader in the Saginaw Street Reading Series held monthly at the Bay City Coffee and Tea.
Copies of his book are still available at Bay City's Studio 23 gallery store, atlocal Waldenbooks and Barnes and Noble stores, and at the Circle Gallery and Gourmet on Ashman Street in Midland.
Winn has written a many short stories, many of which have appeared in small press magazines and periodicals. He is currently putting the finishing touches on three more novels and has several more novel concepts in the works.
The Sandman which was recently called "A contemporary Jack London with a little bit of Thomas Harris' Hannibal Lechter thrown in for good measure" by noted Lansing literary critic Ray Walsh, is a quick, but intriguing read.
Winn himself defines it as "a crime-drama-mystery with elements of horror in it."
The gritty new novel, according to Winn, who sounds as if he can't help a smile from spreading across his face as he says it, "sells itself."
How can Bay City readers go wrong with a sales pitch like that?