Straight From the Mouth of 'Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir' Mike Martin

Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada as well as in the United States and New Zealand.

He is the award-winning author of the best-selling Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, set in beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 15 books in this light mystery series with the 2024 publication of Too Close for Comfort. 

He is also the author of 3 Chldren’s Christmas books. The Christmas Beaver, A Friend for Christmas and now Princess Sophie and the Christmas Elixir.

Let’s Connect!

X ➜ https://www.x.com/mike54martin 

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552604938333 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220363612-princess-sophie-and-the-christmas-elixir

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Thanks for letting us interrogate interview you, Mike!  Can you give us a go-for-the-gut answer as to why you wanted to be an author?

I was a reader at a very young age and discovered the magic of books. I always wanted to write and publish my own story.

Tell us (we won’t tell promise!) is it all it’s cracked up to be?  I mean what are the perks and what are the demands?

The perks are that people actually read and sometimes comment on your books. To get a message or a comment or a review is awesome!! The downside is that you get to spend a lot of time alone in your head without getting locked up.

Which route did you take – traditional or self-published – and can you give us the nitty gritty low down on what’s that like?

I have been an indie/hybrid author all my career. Being indie is tough because you have no outside support. But it gets easier as you learn the ropes.

Tell us for real what your family feels about you spending so much time getting your book written, polished, edited, formatted, published, what have you?

My family is amazing and supportive. They are happy I am sending them real books instead of my old, very bad poetry.

This is for pet lovers.  If you don’t own a pet, skip this question, but do your pets actually get their food on time or do they have to wait until you type just one more word?

Pets come first. Always have and always will. Otherwise, they sit and hover and stare at you.

In writing your book, how did you deal with the phone ringing, your family needing dinner or your boss calling you saying you’re late?

I usually write early in the morning so that’s not an issue. But if I’m writing a book, the phone will wait.

Out of all the people involved in getting your book published, which one would you say did the most for you? 

 

My partner. She believed in me when I did not believe in myself. She wouldn’t let me give up.

How about the social networks?  Which ones do you believe help and which ones do you wish you could avoid?

Facebook works for me and the type of books I write. Instagram works for other writers. Twitter is hit and miss.

Book sales.  Don’t you just love them (or lack of?)?  How are you making the sales happen for you?

Sales are great, but you can’t write or live for sales. You write first and sell later.

What is one thing you’d like to jump on the rooftop and scream about?

Big bookstores and chains don’t support local or indie authors enough!!

Okay, too much sugar for you today!  Here’s a nice cup of Chamomile tea and come on over and sit under the cabana and watch the waves roll in.  Now…can you tell us what you love about being a published author and how all those things above doesn’t matter because it’s all part of the whole scheme of things and you wouldn’t have it any other way?

I love being an author and sharing my words and stories with others. It feels like I am leaving a legacy in print. We are here to create and I can pass over happy.