D.R. Martin's Blog
December 28, 2021
2021… Definitely less worse than that other year that ended with a 20
If I was in a tizzy in 2020—as most humans were—I was in perhaps half a tizzy in 2021. That is, the general craziness that started up in the winter of 2020 had moderated its behavior and the clamps on my brain had loosened a bit. But the irony is that in '20, I at least managed to finish and publish one novel; Johnny Graphic and the Ghost of Doom, the third and final book in the trilogy. Not so this year.
In 2021 I more or less finished a novel that I started many years ago—the first book in a fantasy adventure trilogy. But I didn't get it published for a very simple reason: I won't release the book (untitled as of yet) until the other two books are done. I plan on doing what the marketing experts advise—release each book with a month or so interval between them. Give the readers the total story in a nice, compact time frame. Epic magical adventure, no waiting.
The second book is under way and hopefully I will get it done by summer. If 2022's tizziness remains low-pressure—particularly that little guy covered with spike proteins—I'll finish the third by the end of the year and release the three books starting in early 2023. That, fingers crossed, is what I'll be doing a year from now.
Additionally, I hope to revive my photographic efforts—scan more negatives, post more old images, shoot more new images, and get out in nature far more than in the past two years. And I desperately want to take a few short road trips with my better half.
At any rate, I hope that if you have undertaken creative efforts this year, they have gone well. And if you love books and music and whatnot, that you have found refuge and joy in them during these crazy times.
From me, D. R. Martin, and my alter ego Richard Audry, please accept our warmest wishes for a wonderful 2022.
In 2021 I more or less finished a novel that I started many years ago—the first book in a fantasy adventure trilogy. But I didn't get it published for a very simple reason: I won't release the book (untitled as of yet) until the other two books are done. I plan on doing what the marketing experts advise—release each book with a month or so interval between them. Give the readers the total story in a nice, compact time frame. Epic magical adventure, no waiting.
The second book is under way and hopefully I will get it done by summer. If 2022's tizziness remains low-pressure—particularly that little guy covered with spike proteins—I'll finish the third by the end of the year and release the three books starting in early 2023. That, fingers crossed, is what I'll be doing a year from now.
Additionally, I hope to revive my photographic efforts—scan more negatives, post more old images, shoot more new images, and get out in nature far more than in the past two years. And I desperately want to take a few short road trips with my better half.
At any rate, I hope that if you have undertaken creative efforts this year, they have gone well. And if you love books and music and whatnot, that you have found refuge and joy in them during these crazy times.
From me, D. R. Martin, and my alter ego Richard Audry, please accept our warmest wishes for a wonderful 2022.
March 9, 2021
Johnny Graphic Box Set Now Available
One of the things I planned on doing when I wrapped up the Johnny Graphic Adventures last autumn was to create an e-book box set of the entire trilogy. And it's now available on Amazon and other e-bookstores, offering both Kindle and Epub versions. You can find the Kindle version by clicking here: Johnny Graphic Box Set
December 9, 2020
My Writing Plans for 2021
Well, how about that 2020? Quite the annus horribilis, wasn't it? Those of us who are still standing in 2021 will doubtlessly be hoping for a lot less horribilis, and a lot more goodness.
And if that happens, this novelist hopes to accomplish more in the new year than he did in this one. It was pretty darned hard to concentrate on writing. Not that 2020 was a dead loss. I managed to finish the third and final book in my Johnny Graphic Adventures series, which I started in 2006. And I'm very proud of it. But it's time to turn my attention back to one of my mystery series, as well as update the first novel I wrote many years ago.
My King Harald Mysteries series follows the adventures of a crime-sniffing pooch who lives in a small Minnesota tourist town with his human "boss," Andy Skyberg. In three successive tales, Harald manages to land Andy in all manner of merry mayhem. The whodunit I'm planning to write in 2021 embeds the two of them in a Beaver Tail County movie shoot, where the unseemly death of a well-known Hollywood figure sets the mystery in motion.
The first book I ever wrote was an epic fantasy yarn called The Queen of Thrones. (Yeah, I know. It sounds like I'm copycatting the title of a hugely famous fantasy series. But the fact is that I came up with the title several years before that other Martin revealed his.) And I plan on rethinking and repackaging the single 120k-word book as a new trilogy—aging my protagonists and giving the story a more mature POV. I may or may not succeed, but I'm going to give it a shot.
Last but not least, I have in mind tackling something totally new: A neo-noir, sexy ghost thriller. Wish me luck on that one.
Regardless of what happens in the new year, I wish you and yours all the best fortune and much happiness. And whatever you do, keep reading!
And if that happens, this novelist hopes to accomplish more in the new year than he did in this one. It was pretty darned hard to concentrate on writing. Not that 2020 was a dead loss. I managed to finish the third and final book in my Johnny Graphic Adventures series, which I started in 2006. And I'm very proud of it. But it's time to turn my attention back to one of my mystery series, as well as update the first novel I wrote many years ago.
My King Harald Mysteries series follows the adventures of a crime-sniffing pooch who lives in a small Minnesota tourist town with his human "boss," Andy Skyberg. In three successive tales, Harald manages to land Andy in all manner of merry mayhem. The whodunit I'm planning to write in 2021 embeds the two of them in a Beaver Tail County movie shoot, where the unseemly death of a well-known Hollywood figure sets the mystery in motion.
The first book I ever wrote was an epic fantasy yarn called The Queen of Thrones. (Yeah, I know. It sounds like I'm copycatting the title of a hugely famous fantasy series. But the fact is that I came up with the title several years before that other Martin revealed his.) And I plan on rethinking and repackaging the single 120k-word book as a new trilogy—aging my protagonists and giving the story a more mature POV. I may or may not succeed, but I'm going to give it a shot.
Last but not least, I have in mind tackling something totally new: A neo-noir, sexy ghost thriller. Wish me luck on that one.
Regardless of what happens in the new year, I wish you and yours all the best fortune and much happiness. And whatever you do, keep reading!
October 12, 2020
The Johnny Graphic Adventures Are Now Complete: Introducing Johnny Graphic and the Ghost of Doom
It’s been fifteen years since I started on it. And finally the Johnny Graphic Adventures trilogy is complete. Book 3, Johnny Graphic and the Ghost of Doom, is now available from most major e-book sellers. What are Johnny, Nina, and their pals up to on their final big adventure? “Action-packed” barely describes it. Here’s the blurb…
When a guy’s about to get sacrificed to the volcano god, he might have some second thoughts about the choices he made that landed him in this pickle.
But Johnny Graphic knows he couldn’t have done it any other way. Because these mountainous, frozen wilds are where his parents went missing. And being here is his only chance to find them.
That is, if he can manage to stay alive.
It’s the final chapter of Johnny Graphic’s great ghost adventure. And he and his sidekick Nina Bain have their work cut out for them.
Not only must they survive human-sacrificing tribesmen, they have to fight off murderous ghost warriors. Face down giant ice wolves. Stay alive when a massive volcano erupts. Stop a war before it starts. Help ghosts to really, truly, properly die. Defeat the most dangerous ghost of all. And, on top of everything, save the entire planet from doom.
It’s a heckuva lot for a twelve-year-old news photographer to handle. But Johnny Graphic’s up to the job!
“[Martin] does for ghosts what Asimov did for robots.” —Top 50 Amazon Reviewer
“[Book 1 is] a strong pick for young adult readers, highly recommended.” —Midwest Book Review
“[In Book 2 D. R. Martin] serves up a fast-paced adventure story that younger readers from ten up couldn’t help but love, as would older readers who grew up on fun adventure stories.” —Amazon UK Reviewer
When a guy’s about to get sacrificed to the volcano god, he might have some second thoughts about the choices he made that landed him in this pickle.
But Johnny Graphic knows he couldn’t have done it any other way. Because these mountainous, frozen wilds are where his parents went missing. And being here is his only chance to find them.
That is, if he can manage to stay alive.
It’s the final chapter of Johnny Graphic’s great ghost adventure. And he and his sidekick Nina Bain have their work cut out for them.
Not only must they survive human-sacrificing tribesmen, they have to fight off murderous ghost warriors. Face down giant ice wolves. Stay alive when a massive volcano erupts. Stop a war before it starts. Help ghosts to really, truly, properly die. Defeat the most dangerous ghost of all. And, on top of everything, save the entire planet from doom.
It’s a heckuva lot for a twelve-year-old news photographer to handle. But Johnny Graphic’s up to the job!
“[Martin] does for ghosts what Asimov did for robots.” —Top 50 Amazon Reviewer
“[Book 1 is] a strong pick for young adult readers, highly recommended.” —Midwest Book Review
“[In Book 2 D. R. Martin] serves up a fast-paced adventure story that younger readers from ten up couldn’t help but love, as would older readers who grew up on fun adventure stories.” —Amazon UK Reviewer
June 8, 2020
Wrapping up the Johnny Graphic Trilogy
It's been fourteen years since I started writing the Johnny Graphic Adventures. Book One came out in 2012 and Book Two the following year. Now I'm about to wrap up Book Three, JOHNNY GRAPHIC AND THE GHOST OF DOOM. To celebrate finishing the trilogy, I'm relaunching the series with new cover designs.
I'm especially psyched by the new style, which carries through all three books. My longtime designer Steve Thomas has done a terrific job of conveying the 1930s look and feel of the tales, while doing justice to Johnny and Nina's rip-roaring exploits. The two twelve-year-old protagonists appear on each cover, along with their favorite ghost, Colonel MacFarlane. The artwork for each book includes unique elements from that story—mushroom cloud, zombies, flying boat, volcano, dog sled. I love the period-style typeface and the exuberance of the colors.
I'm especially psyched by the new style, which carries through all three books. My longtime designer Steve Thomas has done a terrific job of conveying the 1930s look and feel of the tales, while doing justice to Johnny and Nina's rip-roaring exploits. The two twelve-year-old protagonists appear on each cover, along with their favorite ghost, Colonel MacFarlane. The artwork for each book includes unique elements from that story—mushroom cloud, zombies, flying boat, volcano, dog sled. I love the period-style typeface and the exuberance of the colors.
August 2, 2019
Fourth Mary MacDougall on the Way
It’s way past time for an update on my writing projects. I’ve managed to get a lot of words written—and rewritten—in 2019.
The big news is the upcoming publication of the fourth Mary MacDougall historical mystery, A Fatal Fondness. In it the intrepid young sleuth finally sets up her own detective agency. But with a caveat. Her father requires an older cousin to work there, too—not just as a secretary, but as a chaperone as well. A few trivial cases trickle in. And then one of them explodes into an affair of international intrigue and murder.
A Fatal Fondness will be out in November. In December, I’ll be doing a blog tour hosted by Escape with Dollycas—where there'll be a giveaway of all three print books in the series. So you may be seeing my mug pop up on some of your favorite mystery blogs.
This year I’ve also been working on the final novel in my Johnny Graphic ghost adventure trilogy. I set out on Johnny’s journey in 2006 and I’m happy (and relieved) to finally bring his story to a rousing, epic conclusion. The final book—as yet untitled—will be out sometime next spring.
And not that it has anything to do with book writing, but the acquisition of a nifty Olympus camera early this summer has totally reignited my passion for photography. The plan is to get up a website featuring all of my significant work, going back a long, long time. Meanwhile, I’ll be periodically posting some shots on my Facebook author page. Be sure to check it out.
The big news is the upcoming publication of the fourth Mary MacDougall historical mystery, A Fatal Fondness. In it the intrepid young sleuth finally sets up her own detective agency. But with a caveat. Her father requires an older cousin to work there, too—not just as a secretary, but as a chaperone as well. A few trivial cases trickle in. And then one of them explodes into an affair of international intrigue and murder.
A Fatal Fondness will be out in November. In December, I’ll be doing a blog tour hosted by Escape with Dollycas—where there'll be a giveaway of all three print books in the series. So you may be seeing my mug pop up on some of your favorite mystery blogs.
This year I’ve also been working on the final novel in my Johnny Graphic ghost adventure trilogy. I set out on Johnny’s journey in 2006 and I’m happy (and relieved) to finally bring his story to a rousing, epic conclusion. The final book—as yet untitled—will be out sometime next spring.
And not that it has anything to do with book writing, but the acquisition of a nifty Olympus camera early this summer has totally reignited my passion for photography. The plan is to get up a website featuring all of my significant work, going back a long, long time. Meanwhile, I’ll be periodically posting some shots on my Facebook author page. Be sure to check it out.
April 2, 2018
Fifty Shades of Evil
My villain is torturing me…
The first draft of the third and final Johnny Graphic novel was wrapped up a few months ago. I did a second draft and I’m now doing battle with the third draft. This one is the toughest so far, because I thought I would try making my antagonist—Percival Gorton Rathbone—a bit less evil than he was in the first two stories. I want to get him out of black-and-white and into shades of gray. Because even the most dastardly villain believes he has good reasons for doing what he does.
Well, it isn’t easy making someone like Percy sympathetic. I’m struggling to find the perfect balance—I’ve already redone his first chapter seven or eight times.
Fortunately, in between my battles with Percy, I’ve made progress on the fourth Mary MacDougall mystery. I’m about a quarter of the way through a first draft. After sending Mary to Upper Michigan in the last book, this time around I’m having my sleuthing heiress operate entirely in her hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. It’s late September, 1902. And as Mary tackles her first modest cases as a professional detective—stolen silver napkin rings, lost cats—she can’t resist sticking her nose in the matter of a drowning. Was it accidental? Or not?
The first draft of the third and final Johnny Graphic novel was wrapped up a few months ago. I did a second draft and I’m now doing battle with the third draft. This one is the toughest so far, because I thought I would try making my antagonist—Percival Gorton Rathbone—a bit less evil than he was in the first two stories. I want to get him out of black-and-white and into shades of gray. Because even the most dastardly villain believes he has good reasons for doing what he does.
Well, it isn’t easy making someone like Percy sympathetic. I’m struggling to find the perfect balance—I’ve already redone his first chapter seven or eight times.
Fortunately, in between my battles with Percy, I’ve made progress on the fourth Mary MacDougall mystery. I’m about a quarter of the way through a first draft. After sending Mary to Upper Michigan in the last book, this time around I’m having my sleuthing heiress operate entirely in her hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. It’s late September, 1902. And as Mary tackles her first modest cases as a professional detective—stolen silver napkin rings, lost cats—she can’t resist sticking her nose in the matter of a drowning. Was it accidental? Or not?
January 7, 2018
New Books for 2018
Winter’s always a productive time for me as a writer. I’m happy to stay inside in front of my computer, warm and toasty, typing away on my current project. This winter I hope to make a lot of headway on my 2018 goal of adding three new books to my backlist. First up, two Richard Audry novels.
Mary MacDougall Mysteries The fourth book in this series is finally under way. Mary sets up her own detective agency, under the watchful eye of her cousin Jeanette Harrison—her new partner in crime (solving). Of course, Mary’s fascination with a certain darkly handsome painter continues.
King Harald Mysteries For their fourth adventure, I’ve decided Andy and Harald deserve a little time in the spotlight—the movie spotlight, that is. New Bergen's the location for a movie shoot and Andy’s sister Kirsten is catering it. Naturally, handsome Harald, the crime-sniffing pooch, is cast as the movie’s canine co-star.
Johnny Graphic Adventures Under my real name, D. R. Martin, I’ve published two yarns about a 12-year-old boy who takes on ghost marauders in a 1930s alternate earth. I just finished the first draft of the final book in the trilogy, which makes me excited and sad. Excited, because I get to finish Johnny Graphic’s story. Sad, because it’s the end of the road and I’ll probably never again revisit this world.
Be sure to check out my Facebook author page for updates on Harald and Andy, and Mary MacDougall.
Best wishes for a wonderful 2018!
Mary MacDougall Mysteries The fourth book in this series is finally under way. Mary sets up her own detective agency, under the watchful eye of her cousin Jeanette Harrison—her new partner in crime (solving). Of course, Mary’s fascination with a certain darkly handsome painter continues.
King Harald Mysteries For their fourth adventure, I’ve decided Andy and Harald deserve a little time in the spotlight—the movie spotlight, that is. New Bergen's the location for a movie shoot and Andy’s sister Kirsten is catering it. Naturally, handsome Harald, the crime-sniffing pooch, is cast as the movie’s canine co-star.
Johnny Graphic Adventures Under my real name, D. R. Martin, I’ve published two yarns about a 12-year-old boy who takes on ghost marauders in a 1930s alternate earth. I just finished the first draft of the final book in the trilogy, which makes me excited and sad. Excited, because I get to finish Johnny Graphic’s story. Sad, because it’s the end of the road and I’ll probably never again revisit this world.
Be sure to check out my Facebook author page for updates on Harald and Andy, and Mary MacDougall.
Best wishes for a wonderful 2018!
October 29, 2017
King Harald on Tour!
Our bags are packed and we're ready to fly! Starting Wednesday, I'll be on a 12-day blog tour with Andy Skyberg and his crime-sniffing pooch King Harald. We'll be giving interviews, posting posts, and finding out what our hosts think of King Harald's Snow Job. Be sure to check in with all these great mystery book blogs!
November 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – COZY WEDNESDAY
November 2 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW
November 4 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST
November 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
November 6 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
November 6 – Queen of All She Reads – SPOTLIGHT
November 6 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
November 7 – Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf – REVIEW
November 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
November 8 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
November 9 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
November 10 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
November 11 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
November 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
November 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – COZY WEDNESDAY
November 2 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 3 – Island Confidential – INTERVIEW
November 4 – A Holland Reads – GUEST POST
November 5 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW
November 6 – Back Porchervations – REVIEW
November 6 – Queen of All She Reads – SPOTLIGHT
November 6 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
November 7 – Reviews by Martha’s Bookshelf – REVIEW
November 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT
November 8 – FUONLYKNEW – REVIEW
November 8 – Laura’s Interests – SPOTLIGHT
November 9 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
November 10 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
November 11 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW, INTERVIEW
November 12 – StoreyBook Reviews – GUEST POST
August 13, 2017
King Harald's Snow Job Is Now Available
I'm delighted to announce that the third book in my King Harald cozy series—King Harald's Snow Job—is officially available as a Kindle e-book. The print version is also available. To purchase your copy, just click on the cover art.
