An Interview with… Matt Baldwin author of the Operation Fools Mate series.

After years serving in the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment, Matt Baldwin left the military with stories, scars, and a need to write. What began as a personal outlet soon evolved into Operation Fool’s Mate — a razor-sharp thriller series fuelled by lived experience, emotional honesty, and an unflinching look at the cost of service.

In this exclusive interview, Matt talks to The Book Network about the shift from combat to creativity, the brotherhood behind his characters, and how fiction became a powerful way to process the real world.

Your time in the Army exposed you to extreme pressure, danger and camaraderie. How did those experiences shape the emotional tone of your writing?

They’re lived experiences that allowed me to write realistically about what it’s like to be in those stressful environments. I found that when writing about certain action scenes I could relate to what the characters would be feeling or thinking because I’d been in those situations myself, seeing with my own eyes how others handled the stress. Some managed it, others didn’t. I think that gave me a unique insight into how people react. Emotions can play a big part in handling that stress, the calmer the leader, the calmer the troops under their command, but lose your head and others will quickly follow.

You began writing your first novel of the Operation Fools Mate series, ‘24’ as a personal outlet. Was there a turning point when you realised you weren’t just writing for yourself — that this could become something bigger?

I think it was after my wife had read the first five chapters that I began to believe that people would want to read more of this story. Originally it was written in the first person, but it still felt too real, too personal. My wife suggested writing in the third person, which was what I did. It was easy for me to write this way and gave the story an element of disconnect that I could control. I think that’s when I realised the story would be not for me, but for others to read.

Going from tank commander to novelist is a serious pivot. What was the most unexpected challenge in making that leap from military life to fiction?

In the military we try to shun away from the spotlight, to keep what we do away from the papers and the media. Not because we have anything to hide, but because of the sensitivity of our jobs and operational security. That was a hard leap of faith for me to take, to suddenly be writing about the very things that I had previously kept quiet about. Where I’ve written about future weapons programmes, or discussed military hardware, I’ve only done so if that information is already available online. Another thing I had to be mindful of was striking the right balance between technical information and a good storyline. After all this is supposed to be a fiction book, not a technical bulletin.

The Operation Fools Mate series is packed with action, but it's the trust, conflict and bonds between characters that stand out. How much of that comes from your own time in service?

Most of what I’ve written about is from my own personal experiences. Nothing bonds humans together more than a shared traumatic experience. Every member of the Armed Forces, regardless of title is held accountable by the same virtues and standards. We all know the risk we take when we enlist, it’s part of the lure of the job. But to share that with others, to challenge yourself and survive, it makes you stronger as a team. That’s why friendships last a lifetime, they’ve been forged in fire.

You don't flinch from showing the psychological cost of operations. How conscious are you of weaving that emotional truth into what is, at heart, a high-octane thriller?

I think you have to include that, to show the human emotion and burden that people place on themselves. All responsibility comes at a cost, and people’s actions and decisions will have consequences, both good and bad later on in life. That’s what makes real heroes stand out in the real world. When the battle is over, these people go back to their families, to live amongst us, carrying those wounds that we don’t see. That’s what I wanted to relay in my stories, real heroes don’t wear capes or masks. They walk amongst us. I want people to see that inside all of us can be a hero or villain, it just depends on whose side of the story you want to believe.

Now several books and a string of published articles in — what fuels your writing today? Has your motivation changed since those early days of cathartic writing?

I’ve got a head full of ideas and stories that I’d love to share with the world. That’s what motivates me to continue writing. I’ve always had a good imagination, which during my time in the forces paid dividends for being able to creatively think of solutions to problems. Now I’m out of the Army, perhaps I can use writing as a way to exercise my mind. As long as people keep wanting to read my books, I’ll be happy to keep writing them.

You’ve said you wrote relentlessly for nearly two years to finish the first books. What’s your writing process like now — structured routine or still driven by instinct?

I think it’s a combination of both. I’ll have an idea for a story, but more importantly I know how the story will end, that’s important so you know where you want to end up. Then when it comes time to writing the chapters I’m driven by instinct, I start to type away, sometimes just lines, sometimes whole chapters. Sometimes I’ll play a soundtrack from one of my favorite movies to help me visualize what I’m trying to write about.  Then I’ll stop, re-read what I’ve typed and begin to structure the chapter. This probably sounds daft, but it works for me. Music can always help you visualize your story.

Your experience gives your fiction a real edge. Do you feel a sense of duty to portray the realities of military life — even within a fictional world?

Yes – I owe it to all those who have ever found themselves in those types of situations. There’s nothing worse than when you watch a movie, seeing the character has clearly never been under fire, the way they hold the weapon, or get wounded and crack a one liner before continuing on like never before. I wanted to make my books as realistic as possible, so that the reader truly feels what it’s like to be in a tank turret, or a fighter jet, or in a high level government meeting.

You’re candid about both the rewards and toll of service. Have you had responses from fellow veterans or readers that have stuck with you?

People have commented already on reading chapters when commuting to work, losing themselves in the book and feeling like they’re on the front line of a war zone. Then later when they’re at their stop, they look around at the world, wide eyed and thankful to be alive and that it’s just a book, but still feeling the urge to read more. Those comments mean a lot to me, because it shows I’ve done what all authors set out to do, write a book that people can enjoy. I know not everyone will like my books, I get that, but even if only one person likes it, then that’s worth telling the story. As for fellow veterans, I’ve had a few contact me praising me for the realism of the books and for opening their own eyes to the trauma they may have kept locked away. Some have begun to write down their own experiences similar to how I started, their own form of therapy. Who knows, perhaps in time they may try their hand at becoming an author.

Looking ahead — will you return to the world of Operation Fools Mate, or are you ready to explore new characters and terrain?

Never say never, you never know what life can throw at you. I originally wrote Operation Fools Mate as one book, which later became three. Perhaps there’s more to the story yet to be told. Or perhaps not, perhaps the story has ended. Like I said earlier, I do have a lot more stories to tell, so will I write another book? Yes. But will it be a continuation of the Operation Fools Mate? Maybe, Maybe not, perhaps it’s time I let Mike Faulkes have a well deserved rest and bring another character into the limelight.

What would your advice be to aspiring authors?

If you’ve already got a publisher then congratulations, you’re one of the lucky ones. If not then don’t expect writing the story to be the end of it. It is almost the beginning. Once you’ve finished the book, be prepared to work hard to get the book edited, proof read, and marketed correctly. If you just put the book online the sales will tick by slowly. Have a plan, get it reviewed, get it read, and get it talked about. And remember, success is measured by yourself. So long as you’re happy with it, and so long as someone reads it, then you’ve done well. Above all else, keep writing, because everyone has a story to tell, and trust me, someone out there will want to read yours…