Matt Whyman
Encyclopedia
Matt Whyman is a British novelist, also known for his work as an advice columnist for numerous teenage magazines.
, Hertfordshire
, and has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia
(1992). Since then, he has taught creative writing projects across the UK, and for the British Council
in Russia
and the Middle East
.
In 1995, Matt became the first male advice columnist for 19 magazine. He went on to hold a 10-year residency as AOL
UK's online agony uncle, and has created many national health awareness campaigns for BBC Radio 1
and Brook Advisory, among others. He also writes widely on teenage issues for magazines, websites and newspapers, and often appears on radio and television in this role. He co-presented a series of ITV's controversial Saturday morning sex and relationships show, Love Bites, and is currently the agony uncle for Bliss
, one of the UK's best-selling magazines for girls.
Currently he is a relationship advisor for askTheSite, official spokesperson for TheSite.org - a UK advice and information resource for 16-24 year olds - and a monthly contributor to Marie Claire
.
Whyman's first novels were for adults: Man or Mouse
(2000), and Columbia Road
(2002). Both titles are romantic comedies that address the impact of technology on relationships. He has since written much darker works of fiction, often set outside the UK, as well as non-fiction titles for teenagers. He has also contributed short stories to a number of anthologies, and was a judge for the 2005 Booktrust Teenage Prize.
His teenage novels are: Superhuman
(2003); Boy Kills Man
(2004), a critically acclaimed story of Colombian child assassins, which is published in translation around the world and currently being adapted for film; The Wild
(2005), a novella set in Kazakhstan and Russia; and So Below (2005), for younger readers - an urban fantasy novel set under the streets of London. Inside the Cage (2007), is an Arctic-based thriller about teenage hackers and CIA ghost flights. His latest novels are Street Runner (2008); Goldstrike (2009); and Icecore (2009).
He has also written several non-fiction advice books, including a set of 'Wise Guides' on subjects such as smoking, drinking and family break up. XY: A Toolkit for Life (2002) and XY100: one hundred strategies for life (2004).
Matt Whyman lives in West Sussex. He is married with four children.
Biography
Matt Whyman is a young-adult novelist and a long-standing advice columnist for many teenage magazines. Born in 1969, he grew up in BerkhamstedBerkhamsted
-Climate:Berkhamsted experiences an oceanic climate similar to almost all of the United Kingdom.-Castle:...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, and has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia
University of East Anglia
The University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
(1992). Since then, he has taught creative writing projects across the UK, and for the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
In 1995, Matt became the first male advice columnist for 19 magazine. He went on to hold a 10-year residency as AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
UK's online agony uncle, and has created many national health awareness campaigns for BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
and Brook Advisory, among others. He also writes widely on teenage issues for magazines, websites and newspapers, and often appears on radio and television in this role. He co-presented a series of ITV's controversial Saturday morning sex and relationships show, Love Bites, and is currently the agony uncle for Bliss
Bliss (magazine)
Bliss is a monthly British magazine aimed at teenage girls which currently retails at £2.75 and often comes with a gift such as make-up or a bag...
, one of the UK's best-selling magazines for girls.
Currently he is a relationship advisor for askTheSite, official spokesperson for TheSite.org - a UK advice and information resource for 16-24 year olds - and a monthly contributor to Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Marie Claire is a monthly women's magazine first published in France but also distributed in other countries with editions specific to them and in their languages. While each country shares its own special voice with its audience, the United States edition focuses on women around the world and...
.
Whyman's first novels were for adults: Man or Mouse
Man Or Mouse
"Man or Mouse" is a song by the Swedish punk rock band Millencolin from the album Home from Home. It was released as a single on September 30, 2002 by Burning Heart Records, including two b-sides from the album's recording sessions, "Bull By the Horns" and "Into the Maze"...
(2000), and Columbia Road
Columbia Road
Columbia Road is a street in Washington, D.C., that forks from Connecticut Avenue north of Dupont Circle, and branches north and east through 16th Street to the McMillan Reservoir...
(2002). Both titles are romantic comedies that address the impact of technology on relationships. He has since written much darker works of fiction, often set outside the UK, as well as non-fiction titles for teenagers. He has also contributed short stories to a number of anthologies, and was a judge for the 2005 Booktrust Teenage Prize.
His teenage novels are: Superhuman
Superhuman
Superhuman can mean an improved human, for example, by genetic modification, cybernetic implants, or as what humans might evolve into, in the near or distant future...
(2003); Boy Kills Man
Boy Kills Man
Boy Kills Man is a story written by Matt Whyman about child assassins in South America .-Characters:*Shorty is the main character of this book. When his friend Alberto gets mixed up with guns and gangs, he is not far behind....
(2004), a critically acclaimed story of Colombian child assassins, which is published in translation around the world and currently being adapted for film; The Wild
The Wild
The Wild is a 2006 computer-animated film directed by Steve "Spaz" Williams, produced by Clint Goldman, assistant produced by Jim Burton and C.O.R.E...
(2005), a novella set in Kazakhstan and Russia; and So Below (2005), for younger readers - an urban fantasy novel set under the streets of London. Inside the Cage (2007), is an Arctic-based thriller about teenage hackers and CIA ghost flights. His latest novels are Street Runner (2008); Goldstrike (2009); and Icecore (2009).
He has also written several non-fiction advice books, including a set of 'Wise Guides' on subjects such as smoking, drinking and family break up. XY: A Toolkit for Life (2002) and XY100: one hundred strategies for life (2004).
Matt Whyman lives in West Sussex. He is married with four children.
Books
- Man or Mouse (2000), Flame
- Wise Guides:Smoking (2000), Hodder Children's BooksHodder HeadlineHeadline Publishing Group is a British publishing company. It was founded in 1986 by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and acquired Hodder & Stoughton in 1992 to form Hodder Headline. It was acquired by Hachette Livre, from the WHSmith Group PLC, in 2005....
- Columbia Road (2002), Flame
- Wise Guides:Drinking (2002), Hodder Children's BooksHodder HeadlineHeadline Publishing Group is a British publishing company. It was founded in 1986 by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and acquired Hodder & Stoughton in 1992 to form Hodder Headline. It was acquired by Hachette Livre, from the WHSmith Group PLC, in 2005....
- XY: A Toolkit for Life (2002), Hodder Children's BooksHodder HeadlineHeadline Publishing Group is a British publishing company. It was founded in 1986 by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and acquired Hodder & Stoughton in 1992 to form Hodder Headline. It was acquired by Hachette Livre, from the WHSmith Group PLC, in 2005....
- Superhuman (2003), Hodder Children's BooksHodder HeadlineHeadline Publishing Group is a British publishing company. It was founded in 1986 by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and acquired Hodder & Stoughton in 1992 to form Hodder Headline. It was acquired by Hachette Livre, from the WHSmith Group PLC, in 2005....
- Boy Kills Man (2004), Hodder Children's BooksHodder HeadlineHeadline Publishing Group is a British publishing company. It was founded in 1986 by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and acquired Hodder & Stoughton in 1992 to form Hodder Headline. It was acquired by Hachette Livre, from the WHSmith Group PLC, in 2005....
- XY 100: one hundred strategies for life (2004), Hodder Children's BooksHodder HeadlineHeadline Publishing Group is a British publishing company. It was founded in 1986 by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and acquired Hodder & Stoughton in 1992 to form Hodder Headline. It was acquired by Hachette Livre, from the WHSmith Group PLC, in 2005....
- So Below (2005), Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
- The Wild (2005), Hodder Children's BooksHodder HeadlineHeadline Publishing Group is a British publishing company. It was founded in 1986 by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and acquired Hodder & Stoughton in 1992 to form Hodder Headline. It was acquired by Hachette Livre, from the WHSmith Group PLC, in 2005....
- Wise Guides: Family Break Up (2005), Hodder Children's BooksHodder HeadlineHeadline Publishing Group is a British publishing company. It was founded in 1986 by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and acquired Hodder & Stoughton in 1992 to form Hodder Headline. It was acquired by Hachette Livre, from the WHSmith Group PLC, in 2005....
- Inside the Cage (2007), Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
- Unzipped: A Toolkit for Life (2007), Hodder Children's BooksHodder HeadlineHeadline Publishing Group is a British publishing company. It was founded in 1986 by Tim Hely Hutchinson, and acquired Hodder & Stoughton in 1992 to form Hodder Headline. It was acquired by Hachette Livre, from the WHSmith Group PLC, in 2005....
- Street Runners (2008), Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
- Goldstrike (2009), Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
- Icecore: A Thriller (2009) Atheneum BooksAtheneum BooksAtheneum Books was a publishing house and adult publisher created by Alfred A. Knopf, Jr. in 1959. He recruited editor Jean E. Karl personally, to come and establish a Children's Book Department in 1961....
Prizes and Awards
- 2004 Booktrust Teenage PrizeBooktrust Teenage PrizeThe Booktrust Teenage Prize is an annual award given to young adult literature published in the UK. The prize is administered by Booktrust, an independent charity which promotes books and reading.-List of Prize Winners:...
(shortlist) Boy Kills ManBoy Kills ManBoy Kills Man is a story written by Matt Whyman about child assassins in South America .-Characters:*Shorty is the main character of this book. When his friend Alberto gets mixed up with guns and gangs, he is not far behind.... - 2005 Stockport Schools' Book Award (shortlist) Boy Kills ManBoy Kills ManBoy Kills Man is a story written by Matt Whyman about child assassins in South America .-Characters:*Shorty is the main character of this book. When his friend Alberto gets mixed up with guns and gangs, he is not far behind....
- 2006 De Jong Jury (Netherlands) (shortlist) Boy Kills ManBoy Kills ManBoy Kills Man is a story written by Matt Whyman about child assassins in South America .-Characters:*Shorty is the main character of this book. When his friend Alberto gets mixed up with guns and gangs, he is not far behind....
- 2006 Wirral Paperback of the Year (shortlist) Boy Kills ManBoy Kills ManBoy Kills Man is a story written by Matt Whyman about child assassins in South America .-Characters:*Shorty is the main character of this book. When his friend Alberto gets mixed up with guns and gangs, he is not far behind....
- 2006 Renfrewshire Teenage Book Award (shortlist) The WildThe WildThe Wild is a 2006 computer-animated film directed by Steve "Spaz" Williams, produced by Clint Goldman, assistant produced by Jim Burton and C.O.R.E...