photo by Mark Crosse / The Fresno Bee

Dream Inspires a New Life

Former tractor salesman writes novels, lives in Italy. — Mary Lou Aguirre/The Fresno Bee Oct. 20th, 2006

If there's room on bookstore shelves for the musings of lawyers-turned-authors and comedians-turned-authors, there ought to be room for a tractor salesman-turned- writer. 

Eight years ago, Mel Mathews left the financial security of a well-paid salesman for John Deere tractors to pursue a career that came to him literally in a dream. 

Mathews had told a friend about a dream he had. The friend thought the dream would make a good novel. The result was his first book, "LeRoi" (Fisher King Press, $16.95), which was published last year.

"I was foolish enough to believe him," Mathews says. 

Mathews has since followed up his debut novel with two more novels (both Fisher King Press, $17.95): "Menopause Man," published in June and "SamSara," published in September. 

The Hanford native, who was living in Monterey at the time, recalls he "officially" began writing on Halloween 1999. 

"I have been in love a time or two, but when I started writing, I felt a euphoria," Mathews, 45, says. "Today, I'm afraid not to write. I need to do it for my soul." 

He describes his novels as "psychological dramas." His protagonist is Malcolm Clay, a character so much like Mathews that it's hard to distinguish fact from fiction. 

"He's a tractor salesman stumbling through the world," he says. "He asks: What does it mean to be a man? To be human? How does he fit in?" 

Mathews, who is an avid reader of Albert Camus, Thomas Mann and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, has studied the unconscious mind writings of Swiss psychiatrist C.G. Jung. 

"Jung believed the collective unconscious is characterized by 'archetypes,' 'instinctual patterns of behavior and perception,' which can be traced in dreams and myths," according to the Web site mythosandlogos.com. 

The character of Malcolm Clay, Mathews says, is looking for transcendent love. 

"I think we are all searching for an authentic life," he says. "It's part of the human condition." 

For years, Mathews was satisfied with being a tractor salesman in Fresno. 

"I'd built up rapport and trust with clients who respected me," he says. "I was caught up with that identity. It took me over." 

Despite a divorce at 33, Mathews felt "things were too easy" in his life. 

"I wanted to feel life again," he says. I wanted to struggle again." 

Mathews turned to writing full time. 

"I've always read and, a lot of times, I thought, 'I could write that.'" 

A Jungian seminar on creativity in Sedona, Ariz., lead to another seminar on Mary Magdalene in Florence, Italy. He made new friendships there that continue today. In 2002, he had the opportunity to rent an apartment in Florence. He took it. 

"It was exciting," he says. "It forced me upon myself. I had to turn inward." 

The Hanford High graduate, class of 1979, who never had ventured farther than Santa Cruz, San Diego and the Central Coast, now lives a romanticized writers life: sitting in Italian cafes in such places as Paris and Florence, drinking strong coffees and writing ideas on the backs of menus. 

Mathews' novels come from both his dreams and the journals he keeps about his dreams. He transcribes handwritten passages on his laptop computer. He is a self-taught writer, which he says is typical for him. 

"I'm a little bit of a rebel," he says. "I have never written an outline. The editing process is very laborsome." 

Mathews, who owns a home in Hanford, returns periodically. While here, he will promote his books and do book-signings, including one at Borders Express at the Hanford Mall 2-6 p.m. Nov. 25, and another 3-6 p.m. Dec. 16 at Borders in Visalia. Go to his Web site, www.malcolmclay.com, for details. 

He doesn't like "labels" and feels more comfortable with "being a writer" than author. 

"And just because I misspell words and have lousy grammatical habits," he says, "doesn't mean I can't tell a good tale."

Author follows Dream

Hanford resident Mel Mathews has penned 7 books.
—Barbara Swarm/Hanford Sentinel, Feb. 26th, 2006

In January of 1999, Mel Mathews, a longtime Hanford resident, left his lucrative career as a tractor salesman and set out to follow his dreams. 

"I had 18 wonderful years in the farm machinery business," he said. "I loved my clients, but I was burned out."

After Mathews gave his notice, he rented a little place along the coast in Monterey.

One morning he woke from a dream only to ponder its outcome.

"The dream wasn't finished," he recalled. "I wanted to find out what would happen."

Out of curiosity, Mathews began "dialoguing" aloud with some of his dream characters, all the while writing it down in his journal.

Three to four months had gone by when Mathews discovered he had quite a bit of content.

He showed his former college teacher, with whom he had become friends, his notes and told him about his dream.

"You've got a book here," he told Mathews, " but you have to piece it together."

Mathews said with a laugh, "He was arrogant enough to believe I had a book, and I was foolish enough to believe him."

From there the fire was lit and Mathews began piecing together his notes.

Looking up from the interview, he said, "I'm just a good ol' country boy... some lost in life tractor salesman trying to find his way."

LeRoi is the first of seven books written by Mathews.

LeRoi is about blame and fear," he said. LeRoi in the book is a scapegoat. He is somebody people want to blame in order not to have to face themselves."

Mathews admitted that a part of the main character is him.

"In this book he lives in a fantasy," explained Mathews. "In the next book he is struck by reality."

When asked what he hopes readers will take from his stories, Mathews replied, "There's more to life. The potential of a fuller life is out there. Sometimes we can get trapped in blame and fear. It really doesn't do us any good. It keeps us stuck."

When asked what he personally took from it, Mathews said, "I was seeking freedom. I was actually seeking a greater understanding of myself."

Mathews' journey took him away from the Valley, and even outside the United States.

Two years after quitting his job as a tractor salesman, he ended up in the south of France.

"I lived there for a little more than a year," he said. "Then I went to Switzerland, and lived there for a year."

Mathews found Florence to be the best place to write.

"In Switzerland, I do a lot of editing," he said with a smile.

Mathews explained that while in the States he has an identity.

"When I leave here and go to Florence, I don't," he said. "I seem to be quite free. I am free to be a writer there, and I don't have the pressure to be anything else."

"People can withstand a lot of stress and tension in their lives, if they are doing what they want to do," said Mathews. "I think it's when you are not doing what you want to is when the stress and tension gets us."

Do you feel rested?

"I don't," he said with a laugh. "I'm tired, but I'm doing what I want to do."

His second book, Menopause Man, is about a psychological menopause.

"It's about a man whose masculine nature is being challenged," Mathews explained. "There is a shift within his soul, he can't live the life he was living before. Not because of his intellect, but because something had changed within him and the book is about the fight of his ego that he puts up with as he tries to step into his new life."

One concern Mathews has as a local writer is that there are a few issues addressed in his book on abuse and references made when one of his characters blame their parents.

"In reality, this is not my parents," he stated. "I don't want that to fall on them."

Mathews' parents, Mel and Loretta Mathews, still live in the same house they brought their first son home to. Mathews is the oldest of four boys. "If I did not have that stability," he said of his caring, nurturing parents, "I don't think I could be off living this life I am living."

For many, leaving home can be a difficult decision. As for Mathews, his family ties will always be a part of who he is.

"I was born and raised here," he said. "I don't want to lose that. But at the same time, I want to embrace the rest of life. It's OK to come back home, but it's nice to leave and get perspective."

At 45, Mathews believes his life change to be a healthy step in the right direction.

"It's never too late," he said of following your dreams. "I hope I'm doing this when I'm 80."

To purchase a book, visit www.malcolmclay.com or contact your local bookseller.