Mike Martin's Blog, page 33

Happy New Year

                                                        

 Thank you!!!

Thank you to all readers and book buyers. In December I pledged $5.00 for every copy of The Walker on the Cape sold that month to OCISO, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization’s iContribute Campaign to help them assist newcomers have a happy holiday season too. As a result of your efforts I will be donating $250.00 to OCISO on your behalf.

For more information about OCISO please visit http://ociso.org/En/index.php/you-can-help/icontribute

New Locations to buy The Walker on the Cape

Three more East Coast locations to buy The Walker on the Cape:

St. John’s, NL:

Coles Village Mall

Dartmouth, NS:

Chapters Mic-Mac

Halifax, NS:

Chapters Bayers Lake

Book Review from OnlineBookClub

“The Walker on the Cape overall was a good book. It is a murder mystery about a man who walks on the cape every day and suddenly dies. It is up to the local sergeant in the small town to take over the investigation and find out who killed this man. Of course, he runs into some problems and there is a plot twist towards the end of the book.

Mike Martin is the author of The Walker on the Cape and he does a marvelous job of writing this fiction novel.

Sergeant Winston Windflower is put in charge of Elias Martin’s death. Elias Martin walked up and down the cape every day until one day he does not come back. He is found dead along the trail later that day. Sergeant Windflower takes over the investigation with his side-kick constable, Eddie Tizzard. Together, and with the help of the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) they find out who the murderer is, along with some other interesting things. There is of course a lighter side of the novel… Sergeant Windflower’s love life with local coffee shop owner, Sheila.

I thought this novel was well written, and overall a good book. Typically I do not like murder mystery books, but this one kept me interested and involved. The writing sometimes was very “cheesy” or “corny” at some parts of the book. Other than that, I thought that the book was good. I gave it a 3 out 4 stars because I did not think it was an excellent book, but I did like it. I would recommend to other people as well.

Mike Martin did a wonderful job putting together and writing this novel and he developed the characters very well. The Walker on the Cape was a good book that many people would enjoy.”

http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=223&t=12235

E-Books May Take Over the World… Just Not Quite Yet!!

E-Books May Take Over the World… Just Not Quite Yet!!

By Mike Martin

There is no doubt that we are moving towards a world of fewer printed books than before but the sky is not yet falling on the printed word, at least not as fast as we thought it was. My friend, Angela Hoy, at Writers Weekly pointed out this Publishers Weekly article on e-book reading habits of Americans.

http://publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/retailing/article/55291-e-book-reading-rises-print-reading-dips.html

They quote a survey from the PewResearchCenter’s Internet & American Life Project, which was conducted from October 15-November 10 among 2,252 Americans 16 and up.

It shows a couple of interesting trends amongst the reading public. First of all they report that the percentage of adult Americans who read a book this fall fell to 75% from 78% a year ago. This survey of Americans age 16 and older found that 23% of people in the age bracket read e-books in the previous 12 months, up from 16% a year ago, while the percentage who read print books fell to 67% from 72%. The increase in e-book reading was fueled by higher ownership of digital reading devices, with the survey finding that 33% of Americans 16 and up had either a dedicated e-reader or a tablet, up from 18% in late 2011.

To me this data shows that while e-books continue to be popular there is still a huge market for good old fashioned books in a print format. Maybe the real story here is one that is under-reported and that is that a lot of people have tablets and e-book readers and a ton more got them in their Christmas stockings this year, but having one doesn’t mean that you only read books on that device. It just means that you now have another way to read books. After all you can watch movies on your cell phone but it much nicer to see it at home or in the movie theatre with friends and some buttery popcorn.

Many people I know that have an e-book reader also read print books as well. They like the convenience of loading a ton of their favourite books before they head out on vacation or travel for work but they also love lying on the beach with a great murder mystery. E-books may eventually take over the world, just not right away.

Mike Martin is the author of The Walker on the Cape, a Sgt. Windflower mystery.

(Available in print or your choice of e-book versions)

www.walkeronthcape.com

Are We Satisfied Yet?

It’s always interesting to see what those big HR companies who survey people are asking and to me at least what Canadians in particular respond. One that caught my eye recently was from worldwide staffing giant Randstad whose Workplace Monitor interviewed workers in 32 countries earlier this year about employee commitment and personal relationships in the workplace.

First of all on the job security question Canadians are not as worried about it as the Greeks or Spaniards but they are concerned enough that about 40 percent would give back some of their salary if their enterprise faced closure. And in these trying economic times it is not a big surprise that most Canadians would trade a good salary for job security. Canadians in almost every sector of the economy have felt the brunt of the economic turndown and the “job less” recovery. Things may get back to normal but when they do there will be a lot fewer people carrying out the tasks.

But what is a surprise, at least to me, is that 82 percent of Canadians would give up some of their money to have job security and time to enjoy their lives. They agreed with the statement that ‘they worked to live rather than lived to work’ and if they were not happy at work they would quit. In fact 3 out of 10 Canadians surveyed said that they would quit if there was no room for their personal development.

Other interesting tidbits from this survey were that over half of the people from this country said that they would rather have pleasant work colleagues than more money and most meet up with some work contacts after work. Two thirds also claim that they have made friends at work. There is even an acceptance that romantic arrangements happen at work and only 20 percent of Canadians feel that is a cause for major concerns.

But like most surveys of this type there is not a whole lot new. Salary and benefits are important but they have never been the main reason why people join a company or organization and they are certainly not the biggest reason why people leave. People still want to be valued and appreciated at work and to grow to their full potential. They also like doing this with people who are pleasant and easy to get along with.

And if two people at work happen to become more than friends, then why not? Maybe that’s just another aspect of job satisfaction that needs a little more personal research.

This post first appeared on http://www.jobs.ca

Mike Martin is a writer and consultant and author of The Walker on the Cape, a Sgt. Windflower mystery.

First American Review of The Walker on the Cape

Here is the first American Review of the Walker on the Cape. More to come soon.

From M. Corley Online Book Review Club

The Walker on the Cape overall was a good book. It is a murder mystery about a man who walks on the cape every day and suddenly dies. It is up to the local sergeant in the small town to take over the investigation and find out who killed this man. Of course, he runs into some problems and there is a plot twist towards the end of the book.

Mike Martin is the author of The Walker on the Cape and he does a marvelous job of writing this fiction novel.

Sergeant Winston Windflower is put in charge of Elias Martin’s death. Elias Martin walked up and down the cape every day until one day he does not come back. He is found dead along the trail later that day. Sergeant Windflower takes over the investigation with his side-kick constable, Eddie Tizzard. Together, and with the help of the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) they find out who the murderer is, along with some other interesting things. There is of course a lighter side of the novel… Sergeant Windflower’s love life with local coffee shop owner, Sheila.

I thought this novel was well written, and overall a good book. Typically I do not like murder mystery books, but this one kept me interested and involved. The writing sometimes was very “cheesy” or “corny” at some parts of the book. Other than that, I thought that the book was good. I gave it a 3 out 4 stars because I did not think it was an excellent book, but I did like it. I would recommend to other people as well.

Mike Martin did a wonderful job putting together and writing this novel and he developed the characters very well. The Walker on the Cape was a good book that many people would enjoy.

http://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?f=223&t=12235

Thank you from The Walker on the Cape

This has been a fantastic year for me and The Walker on the Cape.  The book has allowed me to re-connect with dozens of people that I have somehow drifted away from. And the opportunity to meet dozens of others that I want to know even more.

I am still struck by the basic kindness of people, sometimes surprised as well. A couple of experienced and very busy writers took the time to share their wisdom and advice. Many friends offered support and love, ignoring my little book’s obvious faults and fousing on the strenghths to buoy my enthusiasm.

It reminds me to remember to always give a little back, to get my big head out of you know where sometimes, and to be grateful. There are tons of things to complain about but I would rather work for change than be paralyzed by fear, or even anger. There are mean-spirited and stupid people all over the place but I would rather spend my time and energy with people who believe in hope.

As the old year closes out I will try and remember the positive moments and not the wars or the masacres or the attacks, particularly on the poor and vulnerable, on children and women. I will remember Occupy, and We Are All Affected, and the millions of Irish and Indian and American and Canadian women who stood and walked and yelled for safety and justice.

Next year I will join an Idle No More activity. I will work for politicians and political parties that believe in hope and change. I will speak out when the stupidos of the world tell us that more guns and more violence and more greed is the answer. And I will write another book, and more stories and more poems and more essays about hope and love and forgiveness. Because we are the change we have been waiting for.

Mike Martin, author of The Walker on the Cape and believer in hope and change.

Please Santa… Save Collected Works Bookstore

Finally some good news on the indy bookstore front in Ottawa. Books on Beechwood will be staying open past Jan, 2013. A new owner has been found and B on B will continue to be there for local readers and authors.

See CBC Ottawa story:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2012/12/19/ottawa-beechwood-books-new-owner.html

All eyes are now on Collected Works which is scheduled to close on December 24 unless a new owner is found. Will it be ‘A Wonderful Life’ or the first half of ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’? Stay tuned.

And speaking of Christmas and The Walker on the Cape…

I will be donating $5.00 from every book sold in December to OCISO, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization’s iContribute Campaign to help them assist newcomers have a happy holiday season too.

For more information about OCISO please visit http://ociso.org/En/index.php/you-can-help/icontribute

Help me and OCISO reach my goal of 50 books sold in December.

As of Dec 19 we are now at 43.

Thank You and Happy Holidays!!

N.L. Libraries Order The Walker on the Cape

I just learned that the Newfoundland and Labrador Public Libraries Board has ordered fifteen copies of The Walker on the Cape for sitribution to librairies in that province. That is good news for me and for library users who want to meet Windflower and Tizzard and the gang.

It is also good new because it brings my December sales total up to 41 for the month. That means I only have 9 books to go to reach my goal of 50 as part of my seasona effort to help OCISO.

I will be donating $5.00 from every book sold in December to OCISO, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization’s iContribute Campaign to help them assist newcomers have a happy holiday season too.

For more information about OCISO please visit http://ociso.org/En/index.php/you-can-help/icontribute

Thank You and Happy Holidays!!

More East Coast Locations to Buy The Walker on the Cape

Saint John, New Brunswick

Indigo East Point

41 Fashion Drive

Saint John, New Brunswick

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Indigo-East-Point/124302677638047?fref=ts

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Coles Halifax Shopping Centre

7001 Mumford Road

Halifax, Nova Scotia

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Coles-Halifax-SC/182928001738654?fref=ts

Truro, Nova Scotia

Coles Truro

Truro Mall, 245 Robie St.

Truro, Nova Scotia

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Coles-Truro-Mall/167803159932087?fref=ts

And Don’t Forget……

I will be donating $5.00 from every book sold in December to OCISO, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization’s iContribute Campaign to help them assist newcomers have a happy holiday season too.

For more information about OCISO please visit http://ociso.org/En/index.php/you-can-help/icontribute

Help me and OCISO reach my goal of 50 books sold in December. as of Dec 9 we are now at 24.

Thank You and Happy Holidays!!

Holiday Offer for The Walker on the Cape

Just a reminder that the special holiday offer for The Walker on the Cape will run out on Monday Decemeber 10, 2012. You can still order the book after that but delivery by Dec.25 is not guaranteed by Santa or me.

For $20.00 a copy I will sign, wrap and mail a copy of  The Walker on the Cape anywhere in Canada. If you order by December 10 Canada Post and I will almost guarantee a gift to someone you care about under some form of plant or tree by December 25.

And I will be donating $5.00 from every book sold in December to OCISO, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization’s iContribute Campaign to help them assist newcomers have a happy holiday season too.

For more information about OCISO please visit http://ociso.org/En/index.php/you-can-help/icontribute

Help me and OCISO reach my goal of 50 books sold in December. as of Dec 7 we are now at 23.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!!

Summary of Newspaper Reviews of The Walker on the Cape

Here’s what the newspapers have been saying about The Walker on the Cape….

“The Walker on the Cape offers some foxily constructed plotting, a winning sleuth figure and an air of charming cheerfulness.”

The Toronto Star

“It¹s fun to read a mystery like this. The setting is nicely realized, the characters have some weight, and the details are telling, like the fog with a mind of its own.”

The Telegram

Writers try like Dickens to open their stories with a hook, some tasty bait to catch and hold the reader’s attention. Martin hooked me in the first paragraph with a description of Elias’ breakfast of, along with porridge, “thick molasses bread smothered in partridge berry jam.”

The Clarenville Packet

“The Walker on the Cape is worth picking up. It is a good read and Sergeant Windflower and Constable Eddie Tizzard are well drawn characters. It will be interesting to see how they and other characters develop in the next book.”

The Mystery Site

“Mike Martin has thought through his plot and provided a mixture of motives and suspects to keep it moving forward. And, he’s done his homework when it comes to RCMP procedure. He has a lot of room to grow his characters which should make the second book (I’m assuming and hoping it’s a series) well worth looking for.”

MysteryMaven.Com