Ask the Author: Ellen W. Martin
Answered Questions (7)
Ellen W. Martin
In mid-nineteen sixties I was a flight attendant for Saturn Airways. Our company, at that time, had the exclusive contract ferrying American soldiers and airmen from Clark AB in the Philippines into the warzones of Viet Nam. There were several incidents that could easily be turned into a mystery and/or suspense thriller novel. This might be the way I would start the book:
The charter airline dipped into a deep dive on approach to Bien Hoa Air Base. Ground-fire from the Viet Nam jungle below pierced the landing gear; hydraulics bled from the wheel-well like a stuck pig. When the wheels touched the tarmac, the aircraft with a cabin-full of crew and helpless passengers raced toward the minefield planted at the end of the runway.
The charter airline dipped into a deep dive on approach to Bien Hoa Air Base. Ground-fire from the Viet Nam jungle below pierced the landing gear; hydraulics bled from the wheel-well like a stuck pig. When the wheels touched the tarmac, the aircraft with a cabin-full of crew and helpless passengers raced toward the minefield planted at the end of the runway.
Ellen W. Martin
The walls close in as I lie on the wood plank floor staring at the ceiling, praying the swamp creatures will soon once again sing their melodic song — the signal that danger has once again passed. But the only sound I hear is the deafening silence scream, warn tonight may be my night to die.
The walls close in as I lie on the wood plank floor staring at the ceiling, praying the swamp creatures will soon once again sing their melodic song — the signal that danger has once again passed. But the only sound I hear is the deafening silence scream, warn tonight may be my night to die.
Ellen W. Martin
When I get writer’s block I walk away from my computer, play tennis, Pickle Ball, watch television, clean house (Yuck), or go for a walk, anything to switch my focus. Occasionally for a change of pace, I step away from fiction writing and write an essay on a subject I may be passionate about at the time or write letters to politicians to release pent up frustrations for whatever reasons – sometimes I send those letters, sometimes I don’t. The main purpose is to step away until my characters and/or the story speak to me again and the words begin to flow. The length of time writer’s block lingers varies.
Ellen W. Martin
My inspiration is usually triggered because I've had an emotional response toward a particular happening, and then I find myself digging for information and/or doing general research to try and understand the circumstances. Once I'm hooked on a subject, the characters I create almost write the story themselves.
My inspiration for the SONS OF CUBA series was influenced by a small Cuba boy, Elian Gonzalez, and his mother who were trying escape the tyranny of the Cuban government (i.e. Fidel Castro) in 1999. The end result was the boy's mother drowned before reaching the shore, and then he became a pawn between the Cuban and U.S. government.
When I started writing INTO THE DEVIL'S DEN - Snared by Their Own Lies in mid 2000, terrorism throughout the world was on the rise. On 9/ll terrorism had reached the shores of the United States and made me consider there possibly could be sleeper cells embedded throughout the country just waiting to strike within our borders when the timing was right.
The inspiration for SHATTERED LOYALTIES was answered in a previous question.
My inspiration for the SONS OF CUBA series was influenced by a small Cuba boy, Elian Gonzalez, and his mother who were trying escape the tyranny of the Cuban government (i.e. Fidel Castro) in 1999. The end result was the boy's mother drowned before reaching the shore, and then he became a pawn between the Cuban and U.S. government.
When I started writing INTO THE DEVIL'S DEN - Snared by Their Own Lies in mid 2000, terrorism throughout the world was on the rise. On 9/ll terrorism had reached the shores of the United States and made me consider there possibly could be sleeper cells embedded throughout the country just waiting to strike within our borders when the timing was right.
The inspiration for SHATTERED LOYALTIES was answered in a previous question.
Ellen W. Martin
Powerful men who take advantage of others and abuse their power. Current politics and The Me, Too Movement was the inspiration to write about characters (both men and women) who are enticed by that power and fall victim when caught in a web of secrets and lies.
Ellen W. Martin
Developing great characters. I know it must sound crazy, but when you create a good one, during the writing process, they almost come alive and help you take the story and their part in it where "they" want it to go. Many a night I've been awaken and am compelled to get up and write down a new idea/thought that strikes me while sleeping. Sometimes the next day after I reread the chapter written the day before, I often am surprised the characters/story head in a totally different direction than "planned". It is so much fun!!!!!
Ellen W. Martin
I personally am ALWAYS looking for a good suspense/thriller (the exact genre I prefer to write). Right now I'm reading Guilty Husband and enjoying it very much. Most anything that Greg Isles writes I enjoy.
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