Monday, June 15, 2015

Guest Post and Giveaway hosted by - Mike Martin

What a great way to start a week. Mike Martin is here today talking about summertime. With summer approaching I can't think of a better way to get it started. Welcome Mike, I'm so glad you are joining us today. Mike is offering one lucky person a chance to win a copy of A Twist of Fortune, signed and mailed to the winner anywhere in the world, all you have to do is comment about the post and leave an email to be entered. You don't want to miss this series. 



Mike Martin

Mike Martin is the author of  Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. The Walker on the Cape is the first one in this series. 



Don’t Get the Summertime Blues
It’s summertime and the writing is, well sometimes it’s hard to write in the summer. That’s why I don’t even try anymore. I have learned that summer is supposed to be about relaxing and enjoying myself, visiting with friends and family and just lolling about in the garden or at the beach. But the craziest thing happens when I give myself permission to relax. I get these amazing ideas.
It’s almost like unlocking a safe. Once I open up my mind and loosen my grip on the day to day, the universe releases all of this energy about the possibilities, the writing possibilities, of the future. So as I relax by the water I take a notepad or a small notebook with me and I jot down these ideas as they appear. I don’t try and analyse them or make them fit into any particular order. I just watch them appear and I write them down. When I have some quiet time later in the day, or sometimes early the next morning I take a look at them.
I still don’t try and make sense of them or where they are going, or supposed to go. I observe them and then I put them away. But here’s the cool thing. After my summery days at the beach or lying in the hammock reading a good book are over I take them all out again. As I read these random notes I realize that they’re not really random at all. They have transformed into a story line or a series of activities or aspects of characters in my current series that that I had never thought of before. Sometimes even new characters and ideas for new stories are there. It’s kind of like Christmas morning for a writer!!
So I don’t write in the summer anymore. I have realized that’s not my job. My job is to listen and observe and take notice of what is happening underneath the surface. All I have to do is sit back and relax. I can do that. I’m actually quite good at it.
After the summer is over I have not only gotten myself back into a healthy frame of mind from just taking it easy, I also have these great ideas to work on. Some become the seeds that grow into the next Sgt. Windflower Mystery while others are left to ferment and grow inside of me. Still others never become anything more than that cool breeze you feel every so often on a hot summer day, they are not supposed to be anything but a thought, an idea, or maybe just a way to help you and your brain relax.
That’s how I’ll be spending my summer. Not really looking for inspiration but ready to jot it down when inevitably comes. How about you?
Mike Martin is the author of the Sgt. Windflower Mysteries which are set in Newfoundland at the easternmost tip of Canada. His latest book is A Twist of Fortune, available from Amazon in paper and Kindle all over the world.


Twitter @mike54martin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

22 comments:

  1. I would love to win! Thanks for the opportunity!
    sharonbabyme@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Julie and Good Luck!!
      Mike Martin
      Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

      www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

      Twitter @mike54martin
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

      Delete
  2. Thanks for this great feature and wonderful giveaway. This novel sounds captivating and intriguing and interests me greatly since I am Canadian and I am familiar with the fascinating locale and area. It interests me greatly. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great to hear from a fellow Canuck!!
      Mike Martin
      Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

      www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

      Twitter @mike54martin
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

      Delete
  3. Oh, looks great, thanks for the chance to win :)
    jslbrown2009 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Luck Lisa!!
      Mike Martin
      Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

      www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

      Twitter @mike54martin
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

      Delete
  4. A Twist of Fortune would be a treasure which I would enjoy very much for the storyline, the amazing setting and the characters which sound intriguing. Many thanks for this chance. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the kind words. Good luck!!
      Mike Martin
      Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

      www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

      Twitter @mike54martin
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

      Delete
  5. What a great post. I agree, summer should be a time to look around and observe, it goes by so quickly! Thanks for the chance to win!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Enjoy the summer!!
      Mike Martin
      Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

      www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

      Twitter @mike54martin
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

      Delete
  6. I enjoyed this post!! The body and mind always need to rest and recharge...Where would we be in life if we never slept? Summer seems to be your perfect siesta as it pays off for you and your readers! I love the sound of your books from the reviews. Small town life, mystery, good food and friends! Thank you for the Giveaway!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Sharon and good luck!!
      Mike Martin
      Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

      www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

      Twitter @mike54martin
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

      Delete
  7. Enjoy your summer of inspiration and relaxation. bobbipad@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mike Martin
      Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

      www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

      Twitter @mike54martin
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

      Delete
  8. These books are on my TBR list. Thanks!

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you and Have a great Summer!!
      Mike Martin
      Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

      www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

      Twitter @mike54martin
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

      Delete
  9. GREAT POST AND WOULD LOVE TO READ YOUR BOOKS! THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY! SHELLEY S. calicolady60@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for stopping by
      Mike Martin
      Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

      www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

      Twitter @mike54martin
      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore?ref=hl

      Delete
  10. Many thanks to Shelley for hosting me today and for everyone who dropped by to say hi. Enjoy your summer and happy reading!!
    Mike Martin
    Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mysteries

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sounds good.

    kaye dot killgore at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  12. WInner is ... Lisa Brown! Congratulations!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Sounds like a great read ... thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book :)

    ReplyDelete

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