Every author has a different journey on the path of becoming a storyteller. Tina Martin found her love of the craft while honing her voice. Learning that she wanted share that voice, and the stories that it created, led her into the world of Romance writing.
Drawn to the sizzle and pop of chemistry, and the twists that love can bind us in, Martin devoted herself to pouring the passion of a great romance onto page. She shares her love of the genre, what readers can expect from her novels and what advice she stands by for aspiring writers.
PC: As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
TM: I wasn’t one of those kids who knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. I was busy being a kid, and gave no thought to future career plans. In high school, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in interior design, but I ended up pursuing information systems and writing.
PC: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
TM: I realized that writing was for me when I was sitting in a creative writing course penning an essay about hiking through the woods – something I used to do a lot as a teen. I surprised myself with how descriptive I was able to be. I realized that I wanted to use this talent to tell longer stories.
PC: Will you share a little about what inspired your novels Another Man's Treasureand Secrets On Lake Drive?
TM: I love reading Romance and Chick Lit novels and I get a kick out of creating a story that I haven’t read yet. Secrets On Lake Drive is about secrets, of course. The hero in my novel, Sean Beauvais, is not only incredibly attractive, but he’s carrying a secret that the heroine, Monica Smith, desperately needs to know. She’s no angel. She has a few secrets of her own.
Another Man’s Treasure is a very engrossing, touching novel about two best friends – Reggie Howard and Tiphani Water. Tiphani is in love with Reggie, but he only sees her as a friend. It’s not until another man takes an interest in her that he wants to make a move, but by then, it may be too late. You’ll have to break out the Kleenex for this one!
PC: What genres are you drawn to when reading?
TM: Romance! What woman doesn’t love romance? You can never go wrong with a good love story and a glass of wine.
PC: Are your characters real to you?
TM: My characters are very real to me. I’m glad that’s one of the things that reviewers point out to me. They appreciate how well-developed my characters are. Real life characters makes for one great read!
PC: Are your novels message-driven?
TM: Yes. Secrets On Lake Drivereinforces the reminder in all of us that we should never ‘settle’ when it comes to love but we should believe and know in our hearts when love is pure. Another Man’s Treasure teaches us to love the people in our lives while they’re there.
PC: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?
TM: Just being a published author and actually seeing my book in Borders and Barnes & Noble is a dream come true. I never imagined I would make it that far, but I’m so glad I did.
PC: What, in your opinion, are the most important elements of good writing?
TM: In romance, the most important element is chemistry and I talk about this on my blog. The reader has to feel the chemistry whether it’s mad love, a conflict, touching, a kiss – there has to be a lot of chemistry between your characters.
PC: Would you share a little advice for aspiring writers?
TM: Don’t take rejection personally.I cannot tell you how many rejections I received, whether it was from a publisher or literary agent. If writing is something you really want to do, you have to be able to take the rejection and press forward.
PC: How do you feel about workshops, critique groups or conferences-would you say these are must-have tools for writers?
TM: I’ve never been to a workshop. I do, however attend a lot of literary festivals, book fairs, etc. It’s always great to meet new authors.
PC: What are you reading now?
TM: I am reading At First Sightby fellow North Carolinian, Nicholas Sparks. So far, so good!
To learn more about Tina Martin, visit: www.tinamartinbooks.com and check out her blog at: http://ibetterfindyourlove.blogspot.com/
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