Monique Martin-Interview and Giveaway with the Author

Today, The Reading Cafe welcomes fantasy author MONIQUE MARTIN

TRC: Hi Monique and welcome to The Reading Café. Congratulations on the release of your third novel in the Out of Time series-FRAGMENTS. We would like to start with some background information. Would you please tell us something about yourself?

LINK to Monique Martin’s Website

Monique:  Hi and thanks for having me. I was one of those annoying kids who insisted on reading Nancy Drew out loud to the family on long road trips. (Imagine the points I scored with my older brother; I still have the scars.) I loved books and movies and TV. I was always writing goofy little stories like The Case of the Missing Underwear and later, during the joys of puberty, fanfic of my adventures with the Dukes of Hazard and my very own episode of the Love Boat. Aspire to greatness! The shame…

For some reason, I got it into my head that I wanted to be an actress and gave up writing until college. (I even auditioned for the part of Mallory on Family Ties. Yeah. Didn’t get it.) At university, I majored in filmic writing and pursued that for several years before eventually being sucked into the vortex of a struggling family business.

TRC: Your bio states that you worked in television for several years-would we know any of the TV shows that you are connected (with)?

Monique: I was lucky enough to work as an assistant to one of the writer/producers and eventually become post-production coordinator for Murder, She Wrote and In the Heat of the Night. Working on the Universal Studios lot was even more fun than it sounds. I got to have lunch on the steps of the Psycho house!

TRC: You have a degree in BFA in the Filmic Writing department. Do you feel that your education has helped with your writing style?

Monique: Absolutely. Part of me still feels like I’m writing screenplays in prose form. That’s both good and bad, but mostly good. I hope. I know that my education gave me a terrific sense of story structure and plot. Screenplay format is very “just the facts”. Being allowed to wax on is both a gift and curse. I’m still learning. I hope I never stop.

TRC: What do you feel is your particular writing style and what does it say about you?

Monique: Good question. I’ve always been a “Jack of Trades, Master of None” sort of person and I think that comes across in my writing. It’s a mishmash of styles and genres. Hopefully, there’s enough of each to please or at least the strange lovechild that comes out is appealing. What that says about me? I’m not sure. I didn’t really set out to have a style and I really haven’t thought much about what style I might have, hence my tap-dancing around this question. *jazz hands*

TRC: Currently you have written three books in your Out of Time series? Would you please tell us about the premise of the series?

Monique: The books are part romance, part time travel and part mystery. The basic setup is that Professor Simon Cross, a sexy, broody British professor of the occult who sees the glass as half empty falls in love with his fun-loving, charming assistant, Elizabeth West, who sees it as half full. The two of them travel back in time, at first by accident, and later by choice where they fall in love, solve mysteries and work to set things right.

TRC: OUT OF TIME is the first book in the series. Would you please tell us about the premise?

LINKS TO ORDER
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Monique: The premise is that love is the most powerful thing on earth; it can provide redemption, conquer fear and no one can ever take it from you.
My hero, Professor Simon Cross, has spent his life searching for proof of the occult that will clear his grandfather’s name and avoiding emotional entanglements. A mysterious accident transports Simon and his assistant, Elizabeth West, back in time, to 1929 New York City where Simon finally finds both the proof that he’s been looking for, and the romance that he hasn’t. Wackiness ensues. Maybe not wackiness, but adventure, romance and a little dab of the paranormal.

 

TRC: What challenges did you face writing this series e.g logistics, research, historical accuracy?

Monique: I love research. Too much. It’s far too easy for me to get caught up in the minutia of a time period because it’s so damn interesting, but, in the end, isn’t vital to the story. I try to be as accurate with the time period and location as I can. I think it’s so much fun to see history at “ground level”, so to speak. I use books, films, photographs and phone calls to various museums and historical groups to make sure my history is accurate. Immersing the characters and the readers in the setting is half the fun!

One of the difficulties in writing time travel is the inevitable paradox. It gives me a headache. All you can really do is establish a set of rules and stick to them as best you can. Paradoxes be damned!

 

TRC: FRAGMENTS is your latest instalment in the Out of Time series. Would you please tell us about the premise?

LINKS TO ORDER:
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paper books
B&N Paper Books

Monique: I suppose the premise is that you can go home again, but you don’t have to! Or, more to the actual point, as Kennedy or Churchill said depending on whom you believe, “A man does what he must–in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and danger and pressure–and that is the basis of all morality.”

In Fragments, Simon and Elizabeth are drawn back to 1942 war-torn London to save a fellow time-traveler. In the midst of rescuing him, they realize something far bigger is afoot. A mysterious artifact that could change the outcome of the war is missing and the Nazis will do anything to find it. Simon and Elizabeth risk their lives to find it first.

TRC: I must commend your writing on the romance between Simon and Elizabeth. The sensuality of Simon’s love for Elizabeth is almost palpable, yet in Fragments, there is very little one on one time due to the nature of the storyline. Will we see their relationship, once again, brought to the forefront of a future storyline?

Monique: Thank you! My friends and I call him Sighmon for a reason. *sigh* It’s true; the story in Fragments didn’t lend itself to much romantic time. Although, I hope there’s enough to satisfy. I do plan on increasing the romance quotient in book 4. It’s always a balancing act. The mystery/adventure has become more important as Simon and Elizabeth’s relationship has steadied. But, there’s always room for love. I have plans to bring that a bit more to the fore in book 4.

TRC: Um, without giving away too much about Fragments ending, will the visitor from the past, remain in the future with a possible story to tell?

Monique: I can say that he does not return to his own time. He will play a role in book 4 and might have a book or two of his own in the future (ours and his). 😉

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the series?

Monique: It’s an open-ended series, which is writer-speak for I have no idea! I have lots of stories that I’d love to tell for future books. I love writing Simon and Elizabeth and could easily see three or four more books.

TRC: What challenges or difficulties have you faced as a writer?

Monique: Trusting myself. I think anyone who does anything creative knows what I mean. You’re your own worst enemy. It’s an emotional roller coaster. Having faith in your ability, day after day, especially in the vacuum that writing often is, is the hardest part. The other big challenge is finding an audience. As an indie, I don’t have a marketing department. I’m it. Getting exposure is an enormous challenge.

TRC: Writer’s Block is a very real phenomenon for many authors. How do you handle the pressure and anxiety of writer’s block?

Monique: I cry a little, and then mope. Seriously though, it is a very real thing and can be paralyzing. I don’t have any magic bullet. I know, for me, sometimes I just need to step away from it. Stop trying so hard and do something else. Read. Go the movies. Clean the house. Sometimes, just shifting gears and writing something else works. A trick I learned recently is to write what wouldn’t/couldn’t happen next. Surprisingly, that can get the juices flowing again. Also, it helps to have friends who are writers, who understand, and can lend an ear and then kick you in the pants when the time is right.

TRC: Many authors bounce ideas between other authors, and family and friends. With whom do you bounce ideas?

Monique: I’m a very talky writer. Some of my friends go into the bat cave and emerge with a book. Not me. I love, need, to talk about it. I bounce ideas of friends and family, especially my mom and dad. My mom is a voracious reader and my dad is a terrific editor, and they’re both very supportive. I also have a long-time friend, Robin, who helps me explore ideas without any fear of looking like an ass. That’s a gift!

TRC: On what are you currently working?

Monique: I’m currently working on a literary fiction novella and book 4 in the Out of Time series. I’m in the research mode and loving it. It’s like getting paid to learn stuff. How awesome is that?

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Monique: I just want to thank you and your readers for giving me this opportunity. There are so many talented writers out there and fabulous books, I’m honored you’ve given me the chance to show you a little bit about my books and me.

LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite Food – Lobster (Note to self: make reservations to visit father in Maine)

Favorite Dessert – An old-fashioned, hot fudge Sunday

Favorite TV Show – Too many. M*A*S*H, Foyle’s War, Gunsmoke. On-air now? 30 Rock

Favorite Movie – Another toughie. This week, To Kill A Mockingbird

Last Movie you saw – In the theater, Spider-Man (yay!). On Netflix – Transformers 3 (wtf?)

Dark or Milk Chocolate – Yes

Favorite Flower – Gardenia

Do you have any pets? – Yes! I have one thoroughly insane Siamese cat (is there any other kind?) named Monkey.

TRC: Thank you Monique for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to your next storyline in the Out of Time series. Best of Luck with all of your future projects. Keep us in mind when you release book 4 in the series.

Monique: Thank you!

Monique Martin is offering an e-copy of her latest novel-FRAGMENTS to ONE lucky member at The Reading Cafe.

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the log-in at the top of the page, or by using one of the social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in such a Twitter, please leave your email address with a comment, as Twitter does not allow for email addresses.

3. The giveaway is open internationally.

4.  The giveaway is August 21-23, 2012