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Matthew D Riven was born and raised in the American West, where faith and storytelling were woven into the rhythms of life. He grew up in a Christian home where the gospel was faithfully taught, but it wasn’t until much later that he came to truly understand and believe it. Though surrounded by truth, he lived under the illusion of faith for many years—knowing about God but not knowing Him. His life changed dramatically when a passage from Matthew 7 confronted him with the sobering reality of false assurance. That encounter with Scripture led to a deeper understanding of grace, repentance, and the unshakable truth of the gospel.
From a young age, Matthew loved stories. As a boy, he spent hours imagining new worlds, typing scenes, characters, and conflicts. Many of his closest friendships were forged through shared creativity—discussions about stories, characters, the worlds they loved, and the ones they hoped to build. Those early passions never left, even when life grew busier.
A fictional likeness, fitting for the fantasy world I write in. © 2025 Matthew D Riven. All rights reserved.
Matthew pursued a degree in English and developed a deep love for literature, especially stories that wrestled with the human condition, longing, and redemption. Over time, that love of literature deepened into something greater—a love of theology, truth, and the beauty of God’s Word. He became a student of Scripture, and his passion for writing began to intersect with his growing desire to communicate eternal truths through storytelling.
Though his writing was set aside for a long season due to work and life responsibilities, it never disappeared. In recent years, he found a renewed rhythm in the quiet of the night—after his wife and children are asleep—when the house is still and the world slows down. Those late hours have become a creative wellspring, where stories are once again taking shape.
Matthew met his wife in 2013 and was married the following year. Together, they’re raising two boys. His family remains the greatest joy and responsibility of his life. For now, he chooses to write under a pen name to maintain a sense of quiet and privacy—not out of fear or concealment, but because he believes the work is still unfolding. One day, when the larger story is complete, he hopes to publish under his real name and share more openly.
Until then, the pen name Matthew D Riven serves not as a mask, but as a placeholder—a reminder that names may be hidden for a time, but truth should never be. The stories he writes are not allegories, nor are they moral fables—they are honest explorations of faith, doubt, deception, and redemption. They reflect his own journey of discovering the gospel not just as a message, but as the very power of God to save.
Matthew’s work aims to blend Christian conviction with imaginative storytelling, capturing the unseen spiritual battles of a broken world. He believes good stories should stir the heart and awaken the soul—not just entertain, but point to something greater.
He prays his writing does just that.
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