Jim Martin's Blog: Author News
June 3, 2017
Book Giveaway!
Hey, guys and gals!
Amazon is giving away 3 Kindle editions of my newest work, Dark Nights On Shadow Lake. There are no requirements or hoops to jump through to win, all you need to do is enter. Hit up the link below for your chance to get a free digital copy. Contest ends June 15.
Good luck!
Enter Here
Amazon is giving away 3 Kindle editions of my newest work, Dark Nights On Shadow Lake. There are no requirements or hoops to jump through to win, all you need to do is enter. Hit up the link below for your chance to get a free digital copy. Contest ends June 15.
Good luck!
Enter Here
April 16, 2017
New Novel Available June 1
Good afternoon!
I am pleased to announce that after a long 2 1/2 year journey, my newest novel is set for release on June 1st.
Pre-order is available now on Amazon.
Thank you to everyone who has supported my work. It is my hope that you will enjoy this new book as well. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments, as it's always great to hear from my readers.
As always, happy reading!
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Nights-Sh...
I am pleased to announce that after a long 2 1/2 year journey, my newest novel is set for release on June 1st.
Pre-order is available now on Amazon.
Thank you to everyone who has supported my work. It is my hope that you will enjoy this new book as well. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or comments, as it's always great to hear from my readers.
As always, happy reading!
https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Nights-Sh...
April 7, 2017
That's a wrap!
I'm happy to report that work on the new novel is complete. Final round of edits is in process and then there is formatting for both Kindle and print and dust jacket design. If all goes well, I'm hoping for a release date in May or early June. Pre-orders will begin soon and I will let you know when that happens.
In the meantime, here is the synopsis for Dark Nights On Shadow Lake. . . .
Children disappear from a school bus without a trace, an old woman strokes the head of a rag-tag doll while offering cryptic warnings about the 'people of the lake', a radio bulletin resurrects a ghost from the past, and an old artifact found at a flea market brings dire consequences to its new owner.
From the author of, A Madman's Song, comes three new tales of terror set within the sleepy town of Shadow Lake, Oregon. Travel with four friends who make camp in the hills of Shadow Lake and discover the legend firsthand. Listen to the news bulletin on the radio which forces one woman to confront her violent past, leading to a cat-and-mouse game that will threaten her very sanity. Lastly, follow a man obsessed with Halloween and experience first-hand the deadly consequences of his ill-fated wishes.
Afraid yet? Then come along. Shadow Lake awaits you.
In the meantime, here is the synopsis for Dark Nights On Shadow Lake. . . .
Children disappear from a school bus without a trace, an old woman strokes the head of a rag-tag doll while offering cryptic warnings about the 'people of the lake', a radio bulletin resurrects a ghost from the past, and an old artifact found at a flea market brings dire consequences to its new owner.
From the author of, A Madman's Song, comes three new tales of terror set within the sleepy town of Shadow Lake, Oregon. Travel with four friends who make camp in the hills of Shadow Lake and discover the legend firsthand. Listen to the news bulletin on the radio which forces one woman to confront her violent past, leading to a cat-and-mouse game that will threaten her very sanity. Lastly, follow a man obsessed with Halloween and experience first-hand the deadly consequences of his ill-fated wishes.
Afraid yet? Then come along. Shadow Lake awaits you.
November 26, 2016
An Early Look
Curious about the new book? I have just made the first chapter of the story, Dead Things, from Dark Nights On Shadow Lake available on my Facebook page. So head on over for an early look.
Dead Things Chapter 1
Happy reading!
Dead Things Chapter 1
Happy reading!
November 15, 2016
A Bit of Good News
Well, folks, it's been six months since my last post and, as you may have guessed, I have been hard at work on the new anthology ever since.
Mostly.
I do have to take occasional time outs for things such as new episodes of the Walking Dead, the binge watching of Stranger Things (the entire season, three times . . . I admit it), and the intermittent outing with friends in order to maintain some semblance of a social life.
That being said, and as the title of this blog alludes, there is a bit of good news! If the fact that I actually have a social life wasn't already cause for joyous celebration, I am also happy to report that my story, Dead Things, has been completed!
This short story turned novel ended up coming in at 68,000 words, consuming a hefty amount of time and energy as I, in turn, consumed hefty amounts of coffee in order keep up the pace.
Tack on the already completed second story, and we are currently over 100,00 words. By the time story number three gets added in the near future, this anthology should make a a wonderful paper weight and/or door stop. It will also, I hope, turn out to be an engaging, albeit, terrifying, read.
Stay tuned for updates on the finished book!
Jim
Mostly.
I do have to take occasional time outs for things such as new episodes of the Walking Dead, the binge watching of Stranger Things (the entire season, three times . . . I admit it), and the intermittent outing with friends in order to maintain some semblance of a social life.
That being said, and as the title of this blog alludes, there is a bit of good news! If the fact that I actually have a social life wasn't already cause for joyous celebration, I am also happy to report that my story, Dead Things, has been completed!
This short story turned novel ended up coming in at 68,000 words, consuming a hefty amount of time and energy as I, in turn, consumed hefty amounts of coffee in order keep up the pace.
Tack on the already completed second story, and we are currently over 100,00 words. By the time story number three gets added in the near future, this anthology should make a a wonderful paper weight and/or door stop. It will also, I hope, turn out to be an engaging, albeit, terrifying, read.
Stay tuned for updates on the finished book!
Jim
May 18, 2016
Book Update
It's been quite some time since I've posted here and, I dare say, long overdue. So long, in fact, that I have come to the conclusion that I'd make a terrible blogger. Should you ever see a blog site with my name attached, you'd probably be better off not subscribing (unless you're either a very slow reader, or simply a glutton for punishment). But I digress. Let's move on to the updates.
I began work on my second novel, Dark Nights On Shadow Lake in late 2013. The idea was to create an anthology of short stories centered around the cursed town of Shadow Lake. The first of these stories, Fear Alone, was completed in early 2014. Because of varied circumstances, I knew it would be some time before I would be able to continue with the writing, so I released that first story as a standalone novella. I did little to no marketing, however, as the story will still be included in the full anthology. Given that, the consensus of those who did pick up a copy was, for the most part, very positive.
Flash forward to summer of 2015. I was able to begin work on the next story entitled, Dead Things, and am happy to report that it is three-quarters of the way complete. Now, I know you may be thinking, "Man, he finished the first story in five months, and this one has taken nearly a year just to reach the 3/4 mark." And you would be correct in that assessment.
But here's the thing: stories often take on a life of their own once you begin writing. New ideas pop up, things you thought would be pertinent to the tale end up in the trash, and your characters take you in unforeseen directions. So, what started out as "just another short story" is already approaching novel length.
That being said, it is shaping up nicely and I have been able to devote a good deal of time to the writing. When it is finished, I will have one more story to knock out in order to complete the anthology. The final tale, tentatively titled, Halloween House, should be a quick composition, much like Fear Alone, due to the fact that it involves only two main characters, requires very little setup and, also like Fear Alone, unfolds over the span of a single day.
I had posted awhile back about a fourth story that was to take place in the Elmhurst asylum on the outskirts of Shadow Lake but, due to both time constraints and not wanting the final print book to weigh in at forty pounds, I have placed that one on hold for the time being. (Shadow Lake Vol. II, perhaps?)
So there you have it. My goal was to have the book ready to go to print by October. If I am able to continue at my current pace, that is still feasible. If the legs of the nest story run in new directions, it might be a bit longer. One thing I do not want to do is rush the writing, as that would be a disservice to both me and you, the reader. As we get closer, I promise to update again.
A big thanks to all of you that have liked my work and those who take the time to follow my posts.
Happy reading everyone!
I began work on my second novel, Dark Nights On Shadow Lake in late 2013. The idea was to create an anthology of short stories centered around the cursed town of Shadow Lake. The first of these stories, Fear Alone, was completed in early 2014. Because of varied circumstances, I knew it would be some time before I would be able to continue with the writing, so I released that first story as a standalone novella. I did little to no marketing, however, as the story will still be included in the full anthology. Given that, the consensus of those who did pick up a copy was, for the most part, very positive.
Flash forward to summer of 2015. I was able to begin work on the next story entitled, Dead Things, and am happy to report that it is three-quarters of the way complete. Now, I know you may be thinking, "Man, he finished the first story in five months, and this one has taken nearly a year just to reach the 3/4 mark." And you would be correct in that assessment.
But here's the thing: stories often take on a life of their own once you begin writing. New ideas pop up, things you thought would be pertinent to the tale end up in the trash, and your characters take you in unforeseen directions. So, what started out as "just another short story" is already approaching novel length.
That being said, it is shaping up nicely and I have been able to devote a good deal of time to the writing. When it is finished, I will have one more story to knock out in order to complete the anthology. The final tale, tentatively titled, Halloween House, should be a quick composition, much like Fear Alone, due to the fact that it involves only two main characters, requires very little setup and, also like Fear Alone, unfolds over the span of a single day.
I had posted awhile back about a fourth story that was to take place in the Elmhurst asylum on the outskirts of Shadow Lake but, due to both time constraints and not wanting the final print book to weigh in at forty pounds, I have placed that one on hold for the time being. (Shadow Lake Vol. II, perhaps?)
So there you have it. My goal was to have the book ready to go to print by October. If I am able to continue at my current pace, that is still feasible. If the legs of the nest story run in new directions, it might be a bit longer. One thing I do not want to do is rush the writing, as that would be a disservice to both me and you, the reader. As we get closer, I promise to update again.
A big thanks to all of you that have liked my work and those who take the time to follow my posts.
Happy reading everyone!
October 19, 2013
The Switchboard
Inspiration, it seems, often comes at the oddest times. For me, I've noticed, that time is on those off days that I awake - for no good reason - at 5:30 in the morning. It is in those moments, as I stare at the ceiling and wonder why sleep has abandoned me, that creativity hits me the most.
Just this morning, I woke early with another story bouncing around inside my head. I immediately grabbed my notepad, furiously scratching away and trying to will my hand to move at the same speed as my brain. The end result was the bones of another short story, which will meld beautifully with the other three I have already drafted for the next book.
This one involves a young nurse named Jessie, who works in an asylum and begins receiving strange phone calls. The calls, it would seem, are originating from the still functional, but no longer used, old switchboard down in the basement. There's the old town matriarch inquiring about a New Year's Ball from a time before, when the asylum was a grand hotel, and the custodian who wants to know if maintenance has checked on the old furnace that has been acting up. Jessie soon learns that the callers have been dead for some time now, and begins to question her own sanity. But the horror truly begins when she receives a call from a man who used to haunt her dreams - a man she used to see outside her window - who says he's been watching...and now he's coming for her.
Just this morning, I woke early with another story bouncing around inside my head. I immediately grabbed my notepad, furiously scratching away and trying to will my hand to move at the same speed as my brain. The end result was the bones of another short story, which will meld beautifully with the other three I have already drafted for the next book.
This one involves a young nurse named Jessie, who works in an asylum and begins receiving strange phone calls. The calls, it would seem, are originating from the still functional, but no longer used, old switchboard down in the basement. There's the old town matriarch inquiring about a New Year's Ball from a time before, when the asylum was a grand hotel, and the custodian who wants to know if maintenance has checked on the old furnace that has been acting up. Jessie soon learns that the callers have been dead for some time now, and begins to question her own sanity. But the horror truly begins when she receives a call from a man who used to haunt her dreams - a man she used to see outside her window - who says he's been watching...and now he's coming for her.
October 2, 2013
It Begins
I am happy to report that the second book is now underway. Entitiled "Dark Nights On Shadow Lake", the book will be comprised of shorter stories which all occur in the fictional setting of Shadow Lake in the Pacific Northwest.
Four traveling friends make camp and learn the legends of the lake firsthand, a woman with a violent past is stunned by a radio announcement and comes face to face with her worst fear, and another man who makes a buy from a flea market just before Halloween learns that some wishes can have dire consequesnces.
Supernatural horror, psychological terror, a dash of monster, and a sprinkling of fun are all to be found in and around Shadow Lake.
So to all of those who have asked me time and again if I have started the next book, to them I can finally say, "Yes!"
Four traveling friends make camp and learn the legends of the lake firsthand, a woman with a violent past is stunned by a radio announcement and comes face to face with her worst fear, and another man who makes a buy from a flea market just before Halloween learns that some wishes can have dire consequesnces.
Supernatural horror, psychological terror, a dash of monster, and a sprinkling of fun are all to be found in and around Shadow Lake.
So to all of those who have asked me time and again if I have started the next book, to them I can finally say, "Yes!"
