Tag: Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series

It Takes a Community to Win an Award

Motivation and the Writing Life, Uncategorized

by Mike Martin, @mike54martin

Darkest Before the Dawn won the 2019 Bony Blithe Award as the best light mystery of the year. Wow!!

I was more than a little surprised to win. Mostly because of the competition. Alan Bradley who writes the fabulous Flavia DeLuce series with a precocious and adorable 12-year-old female sleuth and fun-loving trouble maker. Vicki Delany who is uber-famous as the author of 34 books and is currently writing three mystery series. Elizabeth Duncan who is a two-time winner of this award and who writes the coziest of mysteries set in Wales. Plus, a brand-new crackerjack author in Auralee Wallace who is destined to win many awards before too long.

So, I was shocked and delighted to win and mumbled a few words of thanks to the organizers and an even more bungling acknowledgement to my daughter who gave me the gift of being there with me to witness this miracle. And to my partner, Joan, without whom, I can say with certainty that there be no Sgt. Windflower, let alone awards and accolades.

Since I didn’t think I was going to win I had no acceptance speech prepared. Now that I’ve had a few days to think about it I have a few more things to add. I hope you’ll bear with me.Continue reading

The Story Always Comes First

Motivation and the Writing Life

by Mike Martin, @mike54martin A Long Ways from Home is a Sgt. Windflower mystery from author Mike Martin.

In some ways it’s easy to write a series. You already have a frame in which to sketch your story. Usually, that means you have a general location or part of the country and you have a cadre of characters that accompany the main character on his or her journey. There’s a familiarity, a comfort in that. It makes both the writer, and hopefully the readers, want to come right in, sit in that nice, comfy chair and slide into the story.

I always have that feeling when I start a new Sgt. Windflower Mystery. Like I’m home. Then I start writing and all the characters come streaming into my head at once. It’s exhilarating and frightening at the same time as my brain tries to process both the story that is starting to unfold, and all of the voices of the characters who are asking for my attention. Sometimes it feels like the old woman in the shoe. So many characters, I really don’t know what to do. And mostly I just feel stressed and crazy.Continue reading

Scroll to top