Writers Matthew Durocher and Aleksi Gray came in to talk about their books and inspire other writers
On Mar. 20, the MTU Creative Writing Club hosted a Q&A session with writers Matthew Durocher, who goes by mj durocher, and Aleksi Gray. The event started at 5 p.m. and went on for about two hours.
Durocher graduated from Tech in 2012 with a B.A. in English and a minor in Music Composition. He then got his Master’s in Industrial Archeology in 2018. Gray graduated from Finlandia University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Fashion/Apparel Design and Textiles.
The main topics of the Q&A were Durocher’s book “Big Noise in Spaceland,” which was published in 2023, and Gray’s graphic novel “Fell Swoop,” which was published in 2019.
“Big Noise in Spaceland” follows the characters Toivola and Niatru as they navigate their way through Spaceland, avoiding robots and other dangers with no access to wireless communication. When asked what inspired the story, Durocher explained that they wanted to explore what would happen if the loudest sound in the galaxy wiped out wireless communication, while incorporating characters that were older than those often depicted.
“Fell Swoop” tells the story of Naran and Atavah and their evolution from strangers to partners, while escaping an ancient ruin they’re stranded in. Gray explained that they wanted to have a world where queerness is the norm, stating, “When someone says the story is too gay, I make it gayer.”
Writing “Big Noise in Spaceland” took five years, with Durocher explaining they would find moments in the day and work little by little. The hardest part for Durocher was “being patient enough to trust the process.” When asked what it felt to finally have it published, Durocher said, “[It] felt very validating. I suppose it just felt really good to see something I worked on for so long become a physical reality.”
Durocher has been writing for 40 years, while Gray has been writing for nearly 20 years. Both were asked what advice they would give to other creative writers. Gray recommended that, if stuck, one should “do something silly and tropey just to get it out there,” while Durocher said, “Just keep writing, don’t stop… share with others… We don’t write and avoid. You know, we consume. We produce, we consume.”
Durocher and Gray have more books and comics outside of the ones they spoke about. Additional information on them can be found on their individual online profiles. “Big Noise in Spaceland” can be found online or at Black Ice Comics. “Fell Swoop” can be primarily found online.
