Men of Cryptozoology: Matt Bille
Posted by: Loren Coleman on October 6th, 2010
Happy Birthday, Matt Bille. You are 51 years young today, and you are being spotlighted on Cryptomundo.
The world of cryptozoological television programs was introduced to Matt Bille during the fall of 2008. He was interviewed as an on-camera expert on mystery bears for an episode of The History Channel’s “MonsterQuest” series. For years before, Matt toiled away on individual cryptozoology and other projects in the twenty years before his appearance. For a half decade, Matt wrote and edited the cryptozoology newsletter Exotic Zoology, from 1994 to 1999. (This name, as I have mentioned before, alludes to the book of material on cryptozoological works by Willy Ley, a hero of Bille’s who happened to be interested in rocket science and romantic zoology.)
Professionally, Matt Bille is a defense policy analyst and freelance science writer living in Colorado Springs, Colorado. A former U. S. Air Force officer (1982-1994), specializing in ballistic missiles, guidance programming, and command & control, he holds a Masters in Space Systems Management. He has published numerous papers and articles on space technology.
In his other field of interest, cryptozoology, he published his first book, Rumors of Existence, in 1995. His first nonfiction book was about the world’s rarest and least known animals and the many new discoveries made in the 20th century, and was published by Hancock House.
His second nonfiction book was on space history. Entitled The First Space Race: Launching the World’s First Satellites (2004), it was published by Texas A&M, under sponsorship from the NASA Chief Historian.
A linked sequel to his first work, his third book, Shadows of Existence, appeared from Hancock House, in 2006. Like his first tome on cryptozoology, this one also covers recently discovered animals, species thought extinct which have been or may be rediscovered, and unconfirmed mystery animals of all types.
Next, Matt returned to his public efforts on behalf of space. Matt presented with Kris Winkler to the AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites on “Microspacecraft and the Vision for Space Exploration,” in 2006. On the 50th anniversary of the Sputnik launch, he published (with Erika Lishock), the article “Sputnik – the Human Story,” in Questmagazine.
Then, he appeared on the opening panel of the American Astronautical Society’s Annual Conference in Houston, presenting, “50 Years of Space History: A Resource for the Future,” in 2007.
Matt interests are many, with specialties on space, cryptozoology, and national defense, which he continues to write about at Matt’s Sci-Tech Blog.
What is upcoming for Matt?
Right now, he is finishing a novel (topic unknown), while collecting items for his blog, source volumes for his library, and other original material for his next zoology/cryptozoology book, which has the working title, Edges of Existence. He is shooting for it to be published in 2015.
Otherwise, he keeps aware for local accounts around the Colorado Rockies of sightings of “African lions” and undiscovered bears.
This post was written by
Loren Coleman no longer writes for Cryptomundo. His archived posts remain here at Cryptomundo.
Thank you, Loren, I am most honored!
(And the novel in progress, Apex Predator, has (what else) a cryptozoological theme.)
Regards,
Matt
I absolutely love Rumors and Shadows, I also can’t wait for the next book in the series. Happy Birthday Matt Bille!
Happy Birthday, Matt. Wow, I wasn’t aware of your interests and expertise in the areas outside of cryptozoology. Pretty fascinating stuff. I wish I could juggle my other professional areas with my interest in cryptozoology like you can. Then maybe I’d get my own long in progress cryptozoology book out.
I admire how you are able to do that, and I always respect and appreciate the contributions you make to this field. Keep up the good work.
I think I’ll go and stop by your Sci-Tech blog some time.
Read Rumors of Existence when it first came out in 1995. Since then I’ve considered Matt to be the most rational, pragmatic, common sense writer on cryptozoology out there.
Still have all my issues of Exotic Zoology. Still wonderful.
2015 is too long to wait for another book. Can’t you speed it up? Ever tried Meth?
Thank you to everyone for your comments. This is a fascinating business we are in, even if I can’t spend as much time on it as I’d like.
Happy Birthday! Recently viewed episode about Monster Fish in a lake in Alaska and I recognized you Matt. We went to school together in Vero Beach, Florida during the 5th through 8th grade. I just wanted to say hello. I enjoyed your insight on the program. Best wishes. Doug McRae