Peter Laws
Reverend Peter Laws (born 1974) is a British author, journalist, and You Tube presenter. He is also a Church Minister, ordained in the Baptist denomination, and regularly speaks and preaches at Churches and events. He also hosts a podcast called The Creepy Cove Community Church.[1].
Early Life and Career[edit]
Peter Laws was born in the North East of England in 1974. From an early age he established a fascination with horror and the macabre. Obsessed with film and television, he developed a wide knowledge of horror movies, often recreating films on video with his friends[2]. Through this medium, they would also develop their own stories and ideas, often with humorous intent, using his mother's workplace for sets. Whilst at University studying Sociology he met his wife, who introduced him to his Christian faith.
A gifted musician, Peter spent 1998 touring with Christian band TVB (The Vocal Band), before taking up a position as a Youth Worker at Broadway Baptist Church in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. Whilst working in Chesham he felt a calling to the ministry, studying for a Masters degree. His thesis explored the religious themes that can be found in films or stories that may frighten and disturb us.
After his ordination in 2004 Peter served as Pastor to London Colney Baptist Church[3]. Towards the end of that decade Peter moved in Bedfordshire, where he began his career as a writer.
Represented by his literary agents Hardman and Swainson[4], Peter has published three novels in the Matt Hunter series, with a fourth novel due in Spring 2020. He has also published a work on non-Fiction called The Frighteners.
The Matt Hunter Series[edit]
The main character in this series of crime fiction novels is Matt Hunter. Previously a person of faith he became a university professor after losing his belief in God. He also assists the UK police force in solving crimes that have religious themes or are related to cult behaviour.
The novels, whilst at times humorous, capture vivid descriptions of murder and discomfort. Peter has a descriptive, often lurid style, and does not shy away from difficult themes. The murders are often graphic, and leave little to the imagination. This can be difficult sometimes for Christian readers to comprehend, particularly if they encountered Peter at a religious event and decided to explore his fiction. His fan base is therefore made more of people from outside the Christian community.
There are currently three books in the series, with a fourth due for publication in 2020.
Purged (Matt Hunter book 1) - Matt Hunter is on holiday in Oxfordshire whilst his wife, Wren, accepts a job as an architect. He finds himself in a village dominated by the local Church. During his stay a local girl goes missing, and he encounters an old colleague with links to his past.
Unleased (Matt Hunter book 2) - Matt is asked by the police to investigate a grisly death with ritualistic elements. This books is more supernatural in tone, and questions whether the protagonist is flesh and blood, or something other worldly.
Severed (Matt Hunter book 3) - A vicar is attacked by his son, welding an axe during a communion service. The son escapes, evading the police who suspect the boy was involved in devil worship. Professor Hunter is drafted in to advise and soon suspects there may be more to the attack than meets the eye.
Possessed (Matt Hunter book 4) - coming 2020.
The Matt Hunter novels have been praised by critics. Liz Love Books called Purged "gripping, utterly riveting"[5]. Fully Booked awarded Unleashed its "Thriller of the Year" award, calling it "terrific entertainment"[6]. Severed was called "completely compulsive" by Rachel Read It[7].
The Matt Hunter series are published in the UK by Alison and Busby.
The Frighteners[edit]
The Frighteners is non-fiction book, a series of essays that explores Peter's quest to understand why so many people love spooky and horror themes. Over a series of chapters he engages in a series of adventures, both in the UK and abroad, meeting strange characters and attempting to reconcile his Christian beliefs with his love of horror and the macabre. Each chapter follows a pattern where Peter will embark on an adventure, and then attempt to explain his thoughts, backed up with evidence from other sources.
The Daily Mail in the UK called it "a paradoxically funny book about our fascination with horror"[8]
The Frighteners has been published in the UK and the USA.
Other Work and Writing[edit]
Peter has a regular column in the Fortean Times reviewing movies, and occasional articles[9]. He also writes for Christianity Magazine and various blogs[10]. As a broadcaster, he has appeared on Radio 4, and BBC Three Counties, along with Christian station Premier Radio[11]. As a speaker he has also appeared at the Greenbelt Festival[12]. He is the host of a podcast and YouTube channel called "The Flicks That Church Forgot"[13], where he muses on horror movies and horror themes. Whilst not attached to a particular Church he is still an ordained Minister, and officiates at funerals, weddings, and Church services as a visiting preacher.
Personal Life.[edit]
Peter is married and lives in Bedfordshire. He is a self-taught musician, and can play guitar, drums, and piano to a high standard, often performing in Church. He has written soundtracks to the first two books in the Matt Hunter series[14]. In 2017 he applied to appear on BBC series Mastermind, answering questions on the ITV comedy series 'Duty Free'. He is a regular attendee at horror and sci-fi conventions[15]. He cites his hero as William Shatner and his favourite television show is Knight Rider.
He is an avid tea drinker, and a fan of quality whisky. Whilst he enjoys modern films he feels more of an affinity with the movies, television, and fiction of his youth. Particular favourites are The Martian Chronicles, The Love Boat, The Howling, and The Shining. As he writes, he prefers to listen to soundtrack albums. Favourite composers include Jerry Goldsmith and Stu Phillips.
References[edit]
- ↑ "CREEPY COVE". Peter Laws AUTHOR. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
- ↑ THE PUMPKIN MAN (1990) Home Made Horror Movie Geordie Chester le Street Slasher, retrieved 2020-01-05
- ↑ "Our History - London Colney Baptist Church". londoncolneybaptistchurch.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ "Peter Laws". Hardman & Swainson. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ LizLovesBooks | (2017-01-04). "February Book Watch: Purged Peter Laws". Liz Loves Books. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ "UNLEASHED … Between the covers". fullybooked2017. 2017-07-21. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ "#BlogTour-'Severed' by Peter Laws". Book Reviews and Tours by Rachel Read it. 2019-01-25. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ Lewis, Roger (2018-03-22). "Scared to death? Don't panic - horror is good for you". Mail Online. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ "Reverend and Horror Fan Peter Laws Lands Three Creepy Book Deals". www.lancaster.ac.uk. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ Premier (2016-03-11). "Meet The Real Life Witches". Premier Christianity. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ Premier. "Peter Laws: Finding God through horror movies: Saturday 15 December 2018 4:00:00 pm". Premier Christian Radio. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ "Peter Laws". Greenbelt. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ "PETER LAWS". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ "Peter Laws". Peter Laws. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
- ↑ "Peter Laws - My Life Long Love of Horror!". HorrorConUK. 2018-03-16. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
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