WEBVTT 00:01.966 --> 00:04.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: It's a debut novel gaining attention not just for its page turning suspense, 00:04.300 --> 00:07.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% but also for the way the authors found publishing success. 00:07.666 --> 00:12.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Matt and Harrison Query's horror thriller is titled "Old Country." Matt says it follows a 00:12.466 --> 00:17.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% young couple who buys the perfect secluded house, only to discover the terror within. 00:17.433 --> 00:21.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% MATT QUERY, Author, "Old Country": They learn through several ways that there's 00:21.733 --> 00:26.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a spirit that inhabits their property and the value at large around their property 00:26.466 --> 00:31.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that presents itself in a in a new and kind of terrifying way depending on each season. 00:34.066 --> 00:37.133 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: Matt Query wrote whole chapters of the novel on the online discussion site Reddit, 00:37.133 --> 00:42.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% in a forum for first person horror stories called No Sleep. He wants to become a near 00:44.066 --> 00:46.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% instant sensation, quickly catching the attention of book publishers, and Netflix. 00:46.833 --> 00:48.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I spoke with Matt and Harrison Query this past 00:48.966 --> 00:52.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% week about their new novel and its impact on book publishing. 00:52.266 --> 00:56.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% MATT QUERY: I had been reading stories on no sleep for about a decade. 00:56.733 --> 01:01.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And I figured eventually, I could try my hand at writing one of my own, 01:01.033 --> 01:06.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% and my wife and I really did in real life by a small ranch, kind of in the middle of nowhere. 01:08.000 --> 01:11.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Our property was not haunted like it isn't in the book. 01:13.733 --> 01:17.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And so I think four or five months after I posted the story, someone reached out to me 01:19.766 --> 01:23.866 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% on my Reddit account and introduced themselves as a someone in the film world in Hollywood and 01:25.833 --> 01:29.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% asked if I wanted to option, the story, and I know nothing about that world. But I do have 01:31.900 --> 01:35.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a brother who works in that world. And so, I asked him to step in and hold my hand through 01:37.666 --> 01:40.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% the process. And that's sort of how it went from short story on Reddit to book and then movie. 01:42.266 --> 01:44.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: Harrison, why do you think this story 01:44.100 --> 01:46.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% is resonating? Why do you think people are so drawn to this book? 01:46.566 --> 01:48.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% HARRISON QUERY, Author, "Old Country": I think it's doing a few things. I mean, 01:48.600 --> 01:53.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% I think it's hitting sort of classic Stephen King horror thriller notes. I think it's set 01:55.333 --> 01:59.400 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% in a area of the world that is generating a lot of interest right now. I think that you see it 02:01.866 --> 02:04.433 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% in TV shows like Yellowstone and a lot of other content that's being made right now. I think it's 02:04.433 --> 02:07.600 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% a setting that people are really interested in, and one that hasn't been so thoroughly explored 02:07.600 --> 02:12.600 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% the horror genre. But I think it's unique sort of chorus of genre and setting that people are 02:16.933 --> 02:20.700 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% have a big appetite for right now. And I think it's the same thing that Hollywood saw it as well. 02:20.700 --> 02:24.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: Matt, how did feedback from the online community people who were 02:26.500 --> 02:29.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% responding to you as they were reading what you were posting on Reddit? 02:29.100 --> 02:32.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% How did that shape if at all the outcome of the book? 02:32.000 --> 02:37.000 align:left position:20% line:71% size:70% MATT QUERY: I definitely took some feedback to heart generally, who would characters the No 02:39.400 --> 02:42.900 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% Sleep audiences most interested in learning more about and what little facets of lore and backstory 02:45.266 --> 02:49.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% people were interested in learning more about, which didn't fit 02:49.133 --> 02:54.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% into the real estate of a of a Reddit posts, and so I was able to take direction and 02:56.100 --> 03:00.266 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% just generally what people want to do -- wanted to have accordian doubt a little more. 03:00.266 --> 03:04.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: There are I'm sure other would be authors like yourselves who will look at your 03:04.866 --> 03:08.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% story and think, Well, how can I do something similar? I mean, what about your experience 03:09.633 --> 03:12.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% might be instructive for other people. 03:12.233 --> 03:14.533 align:left position:10% line:71% size:80% MATT QUERY: I think, you know, it's a good thing to know that like content that's put out there, 03:14.533 --> 03:18.233 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% if it's good candidate will get attention. Not always, but it's, 03:18.233 --> 03:20.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% you know, you're not just throwing something into the abyss. There is, 03:22.266 --> 03:24.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you know, people are fishing out there for this kind of stuff now. 03:25.800 --> 03:28.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% So I don't think it's ever a waste to put something out there and 03:30.366 --> 03:33.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% then go for it. You can absolutely get attention. And since this project sold, 03:33.600 --> 03:37.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% there's been other projects on Reddit and elsewhere are very similar that have sold in big 03:37.900 --> 03:40.933 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% both publishing in film and TV deals. So it's happening more and more. And, 03:42.966 --> 03:46.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% you know, I think it's kind of opening up the access to the business in a really cool way. 03:48.666 --> 03:50.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% GEOFF BENNETT: Well, Matt and Harrison Query, thanks so much for your time, 03:50.166 --> 03:51.766 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and congratulations again on the success of the book. 03:51.766 --> 03:54.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% MATT QUERY: Thank you so much for having us. We appreciate it.