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‘Ask Charles’ No. 1
Posted in Ask Charles on Fri, March 12, 2010
Q: Do I work out of the house?
A: Sort of. Our house doesn’t have a garage. Because of that, we bought a portable, metal shed and had it dropped in the back corner of our yard when we moved in. Christy liked the aesthetics of it so much that she quickly surrounded it with shrubs and bushes which now conceal it quite nicely. Anyway, we stored all the normal garage stuff in there. I.e., Christmas decoration boxes, flashing reindeer, ski clothes, kayaks, lawnmowers, backpack blower, etc. I took a closet in the house and turned it into my office…
That served as my office until about three years ago when the boys got ‘growed enough’ (it’s a great southern word, only really makes sense if you’re from around here) to start making more noise than my closet door could block. So, one day they were running around the house, being boys, and rather than scream and yell, I just figured, ‘the problem ain’t them. It’s my location.’ So, I walked out of the house and found myself staring at the shed. Thirty minutes later Christy found me unloading it and putting all that stuff in the middle of our yard. She helped me move my desk in there and moving the laptop was rather simple. Today, it’s carpeted, painted, and even has a window a/c unit. As for the stuff I spread across the yard, we got rid of a bunch of stuff we didn’t need, I built a kayak rack behind the shed and moved everything else to one closet in the carport. Thus far, I’ve written three books in here. Working on my fourth.
I knew there had to be a better purpose for that ugly building in the backyard. I’ll tell my husband. Maybe it’ll encourage him to spend some spare time on the “great American novel” he’s got running through his head.
I just finished your book “The
Mountain Between Us”. Great book the first I have read by you, now I will look for the others and any new ones. Thanks it was truly a great book.
I am curious as to what kind of medical training you have or how you became so knowledgeable about Orthopedics. All the observations made in “The Mountain Between Us” had to have had some medical background ?
Do most of your stories come from events in your life or family lives? You have a true gift from God. Keep him in your front of you and he will provide all your needs for writing. I am glad you do not use profanity in your books. That is a turn off for me. I end up throwing books away. So many writers and movie producers think cuss words add something to the script it doesn’t. I can read your books and put myself in that place along the river or in the house. I can feel the happiness and sadness in your writing. Thank you Charles. God bless your family for sharing your work with the world. Always remember your gift is from above. I live in Panama City but raised in Georgia. I can relate to the river.
When is your next book coming out? I need my Charles Martin fix.
What is the significance of “Down Where My Love Lives” if the two stories in your book are titled The Dead Don’t Dance and Maggie? Is it a series title? Thanks.
The title, “Chasing Fireflies”, caught my eye at Barnes and Noble, several years ago. Before I was finished reading that time, I had bought or borrowed (from the library) all the books you had at the time. I think there were five. I read them all within two weeks! Soon, # 6 came out, and then, I waited about a year before finding the last one.
Now, I await the next one and any others in the future, and look forward to seeing you at the Miracle Hill Banquet tonight!
Please keep sharing your gift with us, Charles! Thank you!
i was just wondering if you have a specific regiment with your writing?
i see so much material out in the world ...characters, places, voices, actions, etc and i just want to stop what i am doing and write about each one so i dont forget them but i would be stopping all the time. How do you hold on to all the things you encounter daily? i thought about a tape recorder but i am in the public so much it may be hard to do....maybe i would look like a secret agent...hmmm. i would just like some input on how you retain your ideas. i do take my notebook anywhere i am going to be sitting down like restaurants and have gotten quite a lot of ideas such amannerisms and voice....even parts of conversations…
i really enjoy reading your books and they have really inspired me as a writer .
thankjs
I was sitting in Chapters/Indigo when I found your book. I don’t read much, but your book sucked me in. I can’t put it down!
I’m reading “Where the River Ends” and I was wondering if you write your books in any particular order…
Charles/ Mr. Martin, you can really write!
(((I should be preparing for my MCAT so I could get into Medical School, but instead your book has me hooked!)))
Your book “The Mountain Between Us” was the first book of yours that I have read. I cannot wait to get to the library and find ALL of your others. This was a fantastic book. Thank you so much for making me a fan! Good luck and God bless!