Heather’s Bookshelf: Author Interview with Mike Martin
Book Title: Better Safe than Sorry
Released: 05/10/24
Genre: Adult Mystery/Police Procedural
Interview by Heather L. Barksdale
What inspired you to write “Better Safe than Sorry”?
Martin: Better Safe Than Sorry is the 14th book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. But it is a standalone story and I believe an important one that deals with a crisis facing so many towns and cities today. But it also continues to tell the story of Sgt. Windflower and his life and family and community. Maybe that's just as important.
How did you come up with the names of your main characters?
Martin: The characters come from the creative ether. That great place inside of us where stories reside, waiting to be told. I do admit to using some friends and family names for secondary characters. They seem to like that.
Is there anything that you want readers to know about you, your writing process or your book?
Martin: One thing that's a little different about me and my writing is that I am a true panster. I write from the creative flow and I have no idea how the story ends. I think that makes it more fun for me and the reader.
If "Better Safe than Sorry" was adapted into a movie, who would you like to see cast to play your lead characters?
Martin: There's a great Canadian indigenous actor, Adam Beach who would be perfect for Sgt. Windflower.
When you encounter writer’s block, what do you do to break yourself out of it?
Martin: I seldom get blocked, but I do get stuck. When that happens I take a break. Go for a walk. Do the laundry. Anything. That seems to break things up and then I can go back to my writing.
Are there any tips that you would like to share with other aspiring authors?
Martin: Read, write and share. Read so that you can find authors you like and then try and emulate. Write, because practice makes everything better. Share your writing, with someone you trust so that it is not just in your head, but out in the world.
What is your favorite genre, book, and/or author?
Martin: I love Dickens and Tolkien. Dickens for his fabulous characters and Tolkien for his ability to create a whole new world that we would all like to go visit.
What are you working on next?
Martin: Book 15 in the Sgt. Windflower series. Too Close for Comfort
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