Matthew Reilly

Matthew Reilly, born in Sydney in 1974, is an internationally recognized author of action thrillers. He developed an early passion for writing, self-publishing his debut novel, "Contest," at 19 after facing rejections from major publishers. His breakthrough came when his self-published work caught the attention of a commissioning editor, leading to a publishing deal. Reilly's subsequent novel, "Ice Station," achieved significant international success, selling millions of copies worldwide and being translated into numerous languages.

Reilly's career has expanded beyond writing. He penned a television script that was optioned by Sony Pictures but ultimately shelved due to a Hollywood strike. More recently, he ventured into filmmaking, co-writing and directing the Netflix film "Interceptor," based on his own screenplay. This marked his directorial debut, fulfilling a long-held ambition to bring his stories to the screen. His novels have frequently topped bestseller lists in Australia, and his work has been adapted into audio drama formats.

Born in Sydney on July 2, 1974, Matthew Reilly is the second son of Ray, who worked for the Department of Corrective Services, and Denise, a mathematics teacher. He spent his childhood in the affluent Sydney suburb of Willoughby with his brother, Stephen. Reilly completed his secondary education at St. Aloysius' College in Milsons Point in 1992. He then pursued legal studies at the University of New South Wales from 1993 to 1997, graduating in the top tier of his class. During his university years, he also contributed to "Poetic Justice," the student law society's publication.

Reilly began writing at a young age, completing his first novel, "Contest," at 19. He self-published this work in 1996 after it was rejected by all major Australian publishers, funding the initial print run with a bank loan. His self-published copy was discovered by Cate Paterson, an editor at Pan Macmillan, who subsequently signed Reilly to a two-book contract. While still studying law, he wrote "Ice Station," which quickly gained traction with publishers in the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Reilly has since achieved significant international sales, with over eight million copies of his books sold globally and translated into more than 20 languages. Several of his novels, including "Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves," "Seven Ancient Wonders," "The Five Greatest Warriors," and "The Tournament," have been the highest-selling fiction titles in Australia in their respective release years.

Reilly's work has seen adaptation attempts beyond print. In 2007, he wrote a television script titled "Literary Superstars," which was acquired by Sony Pictures for the ABC Network but was ultimately put on hold due to the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike. In 2015, an audio drama adaptation of "Ice Station" was premiered. A more significant step into visual media occurred when Reilly developed a screenplay for "Interceptor," a film designed for a moderate budget. He collaborated with screenwriter Stuart Beattie, and the project eventually secured funding from Netflix. Reilly made his directorial debut with "Interceptor," which was filmed in Sydney and released in mid-2022. The film stars Elsa Pataky and Luke Bracey, with Chris Hemsworth serving as an executive producer.

In 2004, Matthew Reilly married Natalie Freer, who had attended the University of New South Wales and studied Psychology. Reilly credits her with encouraging him to self-publish "Contest." Tragically, Natalie, who had battled anorexia and depression, died by suicide in early December 2011. This event led Reilly to cancel his book tours and take a hiatus from online communication, describing the profound impact of her loss. Following this period, Reilly entered into a relationship with Kate Freeman. They relocated to Los Angeles in 2015 and married in April 2023. Reilly is known to be a collector of movie prop reproductions, reflecting his passion for Hollywood blockbusters.

“My life pretty much fell apart; she was my everything. We did everything together; we’d done everything together for the previous 18 years. And suddenly I’d have days where I’d look at the clock and it’d be quarter past one in the afternoon, and I’d think: I’ve got ten hours ‘til I’m going to go to bed. I cried every day for six months. I howled in my car. I’d take the dog for the longest of walks that she’s ever had in her life.”