Mike Martin was born in Newfoundland on the East Coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a longtime freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand. He is the author of Change the Things You Can: Dealing with Difficult People and has written a number of short stories that have published in various publications including Canadian Stories and Downhome magazine.
The Walker on the Cape was his first full fiction book and the premiere of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. Other books in the series include The Body on the T, Beneath the Surface, A Twist of Fortune and A Long Ways from Home.
A Long Ways from Home was shortlisted for the 2017 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award as the best light mystery of the year. A Tangled Web is the newest book in the series.
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Would you call yourself a born writer?
I was a born reader, at least a very young one. I had 3 older sisters who would drag me to the library with them and I was hooked early. Writing came a little later, and fiction writing much later. But as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be a writer.
What was your inspiration for A Tangled Web?
In all of my books there has been an image that inspired me. That was true of the very first book in the Sgt, Windflower Mystery series, The Walker on the Cape, when the image of the lighthouse in Grand Bank appeared in the fog and Sgt. Windflower himself walked out and started talking to me. At least in my head. In A Tangled Web there was a large truck with its back doors wide open and no driver in sight. I thought that would be an interesting place for a child to climb inside and explore. And so little Sarah Quinlan did, and the story had a starting point.
What themes do you like to explore in your writing?
I like to weave history and local customs with Sgt. Windflower’s native background. And all stories are really about relationships. Sometimes loving, sometimes not. But always interesting.
How long did it take you to complete the novel?
It takes me about 3 months to write the first draft of a book. Then there’s another 6 months of editing and tweaking before it’s ready for production.
Are you disciplined? Describe a typical writing day.
You have to be disciplined to write a book. So, when I’m doing that I set a word count for the day. Usually about 1500 to 2,000 words a day. I start writing early in the morning, my best time to write. If I get my quota I get a break. If not, I have to go back at until I hit my word count.
What did you find most challenging about writing this book?
This book has a set of scenes that were very emotional because of the main characters was in a dangerous, life or death situation. It was tense, even for me, just to write about it. I can’t tell you the outcome. Only that things were and are as they were supposed to be. But it was tough to write, because, like some readers, I too have an emotional attachment to the characters.
What do you love most about being an author?
I love the interaction with readers, online or in-person. Without readers, writers would have no echo to their words. Our characters would never come to life. That’s what the readers do as part of the bargain in fiction writing. So, I love to meet them and thank them for the gift they have given me.
Did you go with a traditional publisher, small press, or did you self publish? What was the process like and are you happy with your decision?
I have used small presses and self-published. Both are viable options that I would choose again. I have been pleased with both choices and the truth is that for every author, big publisher or indie, we all have to do our own promotion. No publisher does much of that anymore unless you are JK Rowling or somebody. The most important thing for a writer is to write the best book you can and to invest in professional editing and proofreading services as your budget permits. Then you will be a successful writer.
Where can we find you on the web?
Website: www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com
Twitter: @mike54martin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
About the Book:
Life is good for Sgt. Windflower in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. But something’s missing from the Mountie’s life. Actually, a lot of things go missing, including a little girl and supplies from the new factory. It’s Windflower’s job to unravel the tangled web of murder, deceit and an accidental kidnapping that threatens to engulf this sleepy little town and destroy those closest to him. But there’s always good food, good friends and the love of a great woman to make everything better in the end.
A TANGLED WEB is available at Amazon.
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