Meet Don Martinez

First off, I want to thank you, Don, for taking the time to talk with me today.

Thank you too, Evelyn, for agreeing to be part of the tour.

 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

When I'm not writing, I'm a developmental writing professor at a small East Texas college, so every aspect of my professional life deals with writing. I'm also getting the hang of being a father, with my six-month-old daughter.

When did you begin writing?

At a very early age, probably around seven or eight years old. My first memory regarding writing was getting a Young Authors Conference selection in fifth grade, which started me on the path I walk  now. I was a Young Authors selection for two years in a row, and in fact recently while rearranging my house I found the second year's manuscript, which now has a place of honor on my bookshelf.

What inspires you to write and why?

I get affected by the events and people around me. To give an example, the crux of Phantom Squadron stemmed originally from the 9/11 attacks, and my own reflections on how evil someone would have to be to perpetrate such an atrocity. Starting with the third book, the focus shifted to looking at how American politics has changed the landscape of society, in particular how partisan dogma on both sides is threatening our nation as we know it. I use my writing as a coping mechanism, to make sense of the world around me.

What do you do when you are not writing, besides taking care of that lovely daughter of your?

Honestly, I haven't been able to do much that doesn't involve writing lately, other than keeping up with housekeeping, car maintenance, and such. Of course, keeping up with Kahlan is a big chunk of my life now, so it sometimes gets hard to do any writing at all. When we do get the chance, though, me and my wife enjoy travel and movies.

Why did you choose to write this particular storyline?

I'm reaching a point in my writing life where I need to resolve some stories. Phantom Squadron has been a part of my imagination, and thus part of my existence, going on twelve years now. I've reached a point where I can't raise the stakes much higher. What could be higher than trying to find your captive family? Why, if one of them happens to be held, literally, in Hell. I'm also known as a writer who likes to torture his characters, and this seemed like a really good wringer to put my heroine through.

How did you come up with the titles for your novels?

It feels right and matches a theme. My first one was intended to be a prequel of sorts to the series, so I chose the title "The Advance Guard" to reflect that it's the origins of the team, kind of like the advance guard of an army going into battle. The second one just sounded neat, to use a Navajo word for their own people which just happened to have good alliteration with the word "dragon," so I went with it. The three books that are concluding the series are going to be thematically linked because all of them will include an important word starting with an I, just as a stylistic practice.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I have three themes that run through all of the Phantom Squadron books, three core values that my characters cherish: honor, family, and love. "Infernal Eighteen" focuses on the last two of those core values, particularly Alanna's family and her love for her father, which is what drives her to go into Hell. The single biggest message I want to give readers with this book is to never underestimate love's power.

How and where can we purchase your book?

We're doing a simultaneous print and digital release, like we've done with other books from Desert Coyote Productions, so readers will be able to buy the books through two websites (http://desertcoyote.weebly.com or http://phantomsquadronofficial.weebly.com), through Smashwords, or through any fine online book retailer like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and the like. We've thus far had some rough luck getting the books into brick-and-mortar stores, but we're still trying!

Thanks again, Don, It was great speaking with you.

The pleasure's all mine, Evelyn. Thank you again!

Meet Brinda Carey

 First off, I want to thank you, Brinda, 

for taking the time to talk with me today.

 

Can you tell my readers a little bit about yourself?

I’ll share some of my standard information first. I grew up in rural Texas during the 60's as the oldest of six children. Sexually abused by my father from a very young age, his relentless demands eventually resulted in two pregnancies. One child was stillborn; the other died in my arms a month before his third birthday. My book tells more about what my life was like growing up.

Since then, I have been married to my wonderful husband, Dennis, for 30 years and we have a great family. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from UTT and am a retired probation officer from Smith County, Texas.  

Now here are some things about me on a more personal level: 

I love to go on cruises. We just returned from one to the Southern Caribbean.

Favorite part of the writing process: The thing I like best about writing is when I just let the thoughts flow from my mind to paper without worrying about grammar or plot. My motto comes from Nora Roberts who said that it is easier to revise a bad page than a blank page.

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday! It is a time for family, traditions, and reflections on our Savior...and, yes, I love gift giving!

I'm a chocoholic! It is definitely my drug of choice.
Sesame Street was one of my favorite shows when I was young, to enjoy with my children as they grew up, and now to watch with my grandchildren. 

Favorite:
Color of Skittle- Purple/Grape
Type of music- Country
Food- TexMex
Color- Green
Pets- Dogs. We have two: A Springer Spaniel named Maggie Mae and Jasmine, a chihuaha and terrier mix.

When did you begin writing?

I believe the love of writing has been part of me most of my life. As a child, I found pleasure in perfecting my handwriting~ the thrill of a new tablet and the feel of ink gliding across a clean sheet of paper. My freshman year of high school, I had an English teacher, Sarah Morrison, who regularly gave us writing prompts and encouraged us to develop our imagination. I’ve often wished I still had the stories I came up with that year. 

It wasn’t until I retired from my position as a probation officer that I pursued my dream to write my memoir, Don’t Cry, Daddy’s Here, and be an advocate for other survivors of child sexual abuse. This was a long jump from the fictional stories of my youth. With increased counseling appointments  and the aid of a support group at Celebrate Recovery, I began this daunting task.

Most of my writing, even those of fiction, usually contain some reference to child abuse. I feel that it helps keep the public aware of this ongoing problem. Plus, you know they say, “write what you know.”

What inspires you to write?

Mostly, my desire to help in the education, prevention, and healing from child sexual abuse and spread awareness to the public. It’s going to be uncomfortable for some people, but as a society, we must take the blinders off and realize that everyone must play a role in preventing this from happening to the children in their lives. 

What do you do when you are not writing?

Read, of course I also love spending time with my husband; we often go to movies and dine out. I tell him all the ways in which the book was better than the movie and we both laugh as we recall the funniest parts of a comedy. It’s fun to spend time with my grown children and their families, serve in church and my community, do crafts and crochet, and shop…anywhere, but especially estate sales and flea markets.

How did you come up with the title?

I struggled with the title, actually. As I worked on the book, I knew that I wanted to share how I longed for a Daddy that may me feel safe and loved and how I found that in my Heavenly Father. Then, while writing the segment in my book where my dad rapes me while I cry and beg for him to just be my daddy, what he said to me resounded over and over in my mind: Don’t cry, Daddy’s here. At that point, I knew it was to be the title of my book.

Who designed the cover?

I wanted a young girl crying in a field, reaching up to the heavens. The background would be black and white to reflect her despair, while she, being an innocent child, would be in color. You and Janice Ernest both helped me have a clearer idea of what to present to Don Bristow, my photographer and graphic design artist. I took him sketches and photos of me as a young girl on the farm and asked a woman from church if she would approve of my asking her daughter to model for the shoot. This girl looked much like I did in my youth, but was living the kind of life I had always dreamed of. I assure you, she is a very happy and healthy child.

During the shoot, my husband was standing out by Don and at one point, he raised his hand and the shadow fell upon her. I recalled that Janice had mentioned something to this effect, but I had rejected the idea at the time. Yet, the shadow of a man’s hand upon her looked so right, so Don positioned Dennis and shot a few more pictures. It was one of these that I selected in the end before Don went to work on the cover.

Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?

Definitely~ HOPE! That no matter the harshness of our trials in life, whatever they may be, we can overcome adversity through the hope found in Jesus Christ. 

What are you most proud of accomplishing in your life?

Raising four of the most beautiful children on Earth! They are strong happy adults who are such wonderful parents to my gorgeous grandchildren. I’m so very proud of them. They bring such joy into my life. I thank God often for blessing Dennis and I with the ability to break the cycles of abuse we grew up in. The glory is truly God’s.

Can you share a little of your current work with us?

I’ve partnered with Voice Today, Inc. and am currently co-authoring a workbook on intimacy for survivors of child sexual abuse and their partners. Having found it difficult to find children’s books that I’d want for my grandchildren, I am working on a series of children’s books. The first is titled Who Will Listen and others will cover topics such as boundaries and bad secrets. Dennis and I are working on a book about breaking the cycles of abuse and developing a close relationship when the spouse is an abuse survivor.

I have a novel that is in much need of revision at the moment. I’m planning on getting it completed and ready for publication by the end of the year. The working title is Twins. It is full of twists and turns as a young woman with two uteruses finds herself pregnant  by two different men…but, she has only one boyfriend. When it is closer to publication, I hope you will invite me back to tell you more about it.

That is all the writing projects I have in the works, but I am also starting a support group for survivors here in NWA and planning on having a healing retreat especially for these women. I’ll continue to give prevention workshops and attend speaking engagements. 

I’ll continue learning all I can about writing and sharing what I learn at conferences and writers organizations.

How and where can we purchase your book?

 

It is available in on Kindle.

Hardcover and paperback books are available at Amazon,  Barnes and Noble, White Bird Publications,  or you can go into any bookstore worldwide and they will order it.

Reader may receive a signed copy from me by sending a money order for $18 in the US or Canada, $27.00 outside the US to:

Brinda Carey
P.O. Box 2095
Bentonville, AR 72712

Please indicate the name of the person it is to be addressed to with your payment. 

Also check out Brinda's  short story Grandma's Cactus Garden on Kindle

Thank you again, Brinda.