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The Truth Is…

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I forgot my kids at school yesterday.  Completely.  At 3:40 p.m., almost an hour after they were released, the school tracked me down here in my office, (I wear headphones to drown out the noise).  The lady said, “Ummm…Mr. Martin, we have your sons in the office.”

I jumped up.  Oh Crap!  Son of a…

Actually,I think I thought something else but you get the picture.  “I’ll be right there.” Christy was off doing some stuff with her sister on a much-needed break. She’d left me with strict instructions.  Even texted me a little after noon to remind me.  This one was ALL me. 

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Monster Trucks

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Saturday, I took the boys to the Monster Truck show here in Jax.  One of the cooler things I’ve ever witnessed.  Sort of like NASCAR on some serious steroids.  We actually witnessed history.  Saw this happen.  The first time in Monster truck competition it’s ever been done.  The place went berzerk! 

What I listen to when I’m working…

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...changes frequently.  I listen to alot of different music when I’m working. My playlists are varied and eclectic.  I’m pretty big on acoustic stuff.  For a year or so, I’ve been listening to these guys.  They put out something new called ’The Outsiders.’ Good stuff. 

Some Thoughts on Mountain

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My 7th book, The Mountain Between Us, releases June 1st.

It’s set in the mountains between Salt Lake and Denver but that’s not really the mountain I’m talking about. Most, if not all, of my stories, follow the arc of a character from a real bad place of being broken to a place of not broken. If you ask me ‘what fires me up as a writer,’ it’s that. That arc. From messed up to maybe not so messed up. Why?  Because at the other end is hope. 

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The Funniest Thing I’ve Ever Heard…

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The other night, we were all getting into the car.  Coming back after dinner.  Evidently, dinner had…affected the kids.  The boys were kidding around, racing to the car, first one in, claiming the backseat, etc..  John T. (10) elbowed his way in front of Rives (7).  John T. climbed in and made Rives climb over him. When Rives did climb in, John T. then tickled him or poked him in the ribs or something.  Rives brushed his hand aside, waved his finger like a windshield wiper in front of his face and said, “Don’t mess with me or I’ll gas you so bad your grandchildren will stink.”

So help me, this really happened…

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The other night I was the guest speaker to a group of men at the University Club here in Jax.  A rather historic group.  They call themselves the P.O.E.T.S.  They’ve been meeting for more than forty years.  Fathers have passed it down to sons, and now grandsons.  They asked me to be their guest.  Prior to the dinner, my dad and I were milling around, meeting some of the regulars.  One man, a tall, handsome guy in his sixties, wings on his lapel, introduced himself and we struck up a conversation.  Turns out he’s a retired Admiral.  Flew everything, including F-18’s.  As luck would have it, he did not know my name or that I was the guest. Didn’t know me from Adam.  The conversation turned to books, his Kindle and a story he’d recently downloaded.  What people are reading is a constant curiosity to me.  I said, “Tell me about the story.”

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One of My Favorite Things…

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With all due respect to the large chains—for whom I am grateful --there’s just something really cool about an independent bookstore.  Like the people that own them, each has a personality.  And nobody, and I mean nobody, handsells like an Indy.  Last week, I spoke at one of Georgia’s finest.  The Book Shelf in Thomasville, Georgia.  Check here for pics and a story, and maybe even a tease. 

Random Rules For Writers

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I’ve been asked to speak at a few schools lately.  The topic has centered on writing and my process.  With that in mind, I’ve written my “Random Rules for Writers.” You may or may not find them helpful but I’ll post them here for you to look at.  Comments welcome. 

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“The Mountain Between Us”

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A link to my next book.  Due out June 1st, 2010.  ;-)

Highland’s, North Carolina This Weekend

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Aug. 8th, 3-5 pm.  I’ll be signing, talking, and shaking hands at Cyrano’s.  One of my all-time favorite bookstores.  If you’re in the neighborhood, come see us.  Main Street. Can’t miss it. 

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