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Martin Roy Hill

Goodreads Author

Born

in The United States

Website

http://www.martinroyhill.com

Twitter

martinroyhill

Genre

Mystery & Thrillers, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Crime

Member Since

September 2012

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/martinroyhill

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Martin Roy Hill has led an eclectic life. Soldier, sailor, journalist . . . well, not a spy, but he has written about them.

Martin joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve when he was 19, the same year he sold his first published piece to Reader's Digest. He spent a total of 13 years as a Coastguardsman, in two tours, involved in small boat search and rescue, emergency medical response, port security, and maritime law enforcement.

In between those tours, he served in a counter-insurgency unit in the U.S. Navy Reserve. After a final stint of Coast Guard active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin was offered a commission as a medical service corps officer in a component of the California National Guard, where he trained combat medics for Iraq an Martin Roy Hill has led an eclectic life. Soldier, sailor, journalist . . . well, not a spy, but he has written about them.

Martin joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve when he was 19, the same year he sold his first published piece to Reader's Digest. He spent a total of 13 years as a Coastguardsman, in two tours, involved in small boat search and rescue, emergency medical response, port security, and maritime law enforcement.

In between those tours, he served in a counter-insurgency unit in the U.S. Navy Reserve. After a final stint of Coast Guard active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin was offered a commission as a medical service corps officer in a component of the California National Guard, where he trained combat medics for Iraq and Afghanistan. Later, Martin converted to the military police, retiring in 2016 as a major and executive officer of an MP unit.

Martin also served as a wilderness medic and operations sergeant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department Wilderness Search and Rescue Detail, where he was cross trained as a tactical (SWAT) medic. Martin also spent several years as a medic and security specialist with a federal Disaster Medical Assistance Team.

Martin received a bachelor's degree in journalism from CSU Dominguez Hills, and spent more than 20 years as a writer and editor for newspapers and magazines. His investigative reporting earned him numerous journalism honors, including two William Allen White Awards. His stories were included in three of the Investigative Reporters and Editors' annual compilations of the best investigative reporting. He also worked as a freelance correspondent for LIFE and Newsweek.

After serving on active duty following the 9/11 attacks, Martin switched careers, becoming a U.S. Navy analyst in combat casualty care. He left that position after 16 years and became a full-time writer and freelance editor.

Between his military, public safety, and journalism careers, Martin experienced many adventures. In the Coast Guard, he participated in dozens of rescues, chased Russian spy ships and smugglers, protected dignitaries, and once was nearly lost at sea in a storm. In the Navy, he was assigned to liaison with a USCG patrol boat during war games, and ended up participating in what at the time was the largest drug bust in U.S. history.

He's been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, and once followed a migrant trail from the U.S. into Mexico (at that country's request) to locate the remains of a woman who died along the trail so the smuggler leading her group could be prosecuted for her death. As a journalist, he covered disasters, air crashes, wild fires, as well as national and international leaders.

Martin's freelance credits include Reader's Digest, LIFE, Newsweek, Omni, American History, Writer’s Digest, Coast Guard Magazine, Retired Officer Magazine, The Compass, Aviation History, Mother Jones, the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times Sunday Opinion, and Travel sections, and many more. He was a lead contributor to the 1995 WWII anthology, "From Pearl Harbor to Nagasaki: America at War," published by the Retired Officer Association, and a contributor to the 2013 American Civil War anthology "Gettysburg: Three Days that Saved the United States," published by I-5 Publishing.

Martin's background plays a significant role in his writing, which many reviewers have noted has a sense of realism not often found in fiction. His first book, DUTY, a collection of short stories centered around national service, was named the 2012 Best Short Story Anthology/Collection by the San Diego Book Awards Association. His Linus Schag, NCIS, thriller, The Butcher's Bill, received the 2017 Best Mystery/Suspense Award from the Best Independent Book Awards, the 2017 Clue Award for Best Suspense Thriller, the 2018 Silver Medal for Thrillers from the Readers Favorite Book Awards, and the 2018 Adult Fiction Award from the California Author Project.

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Martin Roy Hill’s books

Average rating: 4.1 · 223 ratings · 100 reviews · 21 distinct works • Similar authors

	Eden 4.09 avg rating — 32 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Empty Places 4.13 avg rating — 30 ratings — published 2013 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Killing Depths 4.08 avg rating — 50 ratings — published 2012 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Last Refuge really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 24 ratings — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Polar Melt 4.35 avg rating — 17 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Fourth Rising 3.85 avg rating — 13 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Butcher's Bill (Linus Schag, NCIS, #2) 4.31 avg rating — 16 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Duty: Suspense and Mystery Stories from the Cold War and Beyond 4.33 avg rating — 6 ratings — published 2012 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Last President it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Hitler Is Coming really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2015	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Martin Roy Hill's Blog

Three Tips for Moving Your Writing Forward

There’s an old saying that goes, “Every novel has three parts—the beginning, the end, and the muddle.” Anyone who has ever written or tried to write a novel knows this saying is as true as it is humorous. You start off knowing how the book begins and how it ends, but somehow no matter how much you plot, the middle remains amorphous. You know where you’re going but you’re not sure how to get there. Read more of this blog post »

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Published on January 31, 2021 16:35 • Tags: plotting, tips, writing

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Martin’s Writing

The Killing Depths (Mystery & Thrillers)

1 chapters — updated May 13, 2015 06:33PM

Description: A sneak preview of my new novel. A Navy investigator must hunt down a serial killer aboard a nuclear submarine engaged in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a renegade Iranian sub.

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Martin’s Recent Updates

Martin Roy Hill wrote a new blog post Three Tips for Moving Your Writing Forward There’s an old saying that goes, “Every novel has three parts—the beginning, the end, and the muddle.” Anyone who has ever written or tried to write a Read more of this blog post »
Jan 31, 2021 04:35PM · like
Martin Hill made a comment in the group Underground Knowledge — A discussion group — New book on the Fourth Reich topic " I haven't been around lately, but I wanted to let you all know I haven't forgotten this topic. My latest Peter Brandt thriller, The Fourth Rising, wil ...more "
May 07, 2020 07:41AM
Martin Hill rated a book it was amazing Origin (Black Heart #3) by Jay Allan Storey (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Carmine Cleary is a news blogger in snow-bound Los Angeles, one of few Angelenos remaining the city since an environmental disaster called the Big Chill has turned most of the earth into a frigid wasteland. While investigating the mysterious death of ...more
Mar 21, 2020 12:17PM · 1 like · like · see review
Martin Hill rated a book it was amazing Arrival (Black Heart #2) by Jay Allan Storey (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Earth sixteen centuries into the future is a frozen wasteland thrown out of its orbit by a mysterious force called Dark Matter. What remains of the human race, as well as plant and animal life, dwells beneath the surface in a cavernous hollow called ...more
Feb 11, 2020 10:09AM · 1 like · like · see review
Martin Hill added a status update: Attending Left Coast Crime in San Diego this March? I'll be on a panel w/ Frank Zafiro, Bruce Robert Coffin, Neal Griffin, & T.K. Thorne called: Inside the Mind of a Cop: Law enforcement officials talk reality versus fiction. Join us! http://www.leftcoastcrime.org/2020/in...
Feb 03, 2020 08:27AM · like · see status
Martin Hill made a comment in the group Advanced Copies for Review & Book Giveaways — Review copies available for new mystery thriller, The Fourth Rising. topic " Nicole, thanks. But you need to send me your email via Goodreads direct message. "
Jan 22, 2020 07:12AM
Martin Hill made a comment in the group Reviewers United — Review copies available for new mystery thriller, The Fourth Rising. topic " My third Peter Brandt mystery thriller, The Fourth Rising, will be released May 10. I am offering free advance reading copies to anyone willing to giv ...more "
Jan 21, 2020 12:05PM
Martin Hill made a comment in the group Goodreads Authors/Readers — Review copies available for new mystery thriller, The Fourth Rising. topic " My third Peter Brandt mystery thriller, The Fourth Rising, will be released May 10. I am offering free advance reading copies to anyone willing to giv ...more "
Jan 21, 2020 12:01PM
Martin Hill made a comment in the group Authors & Reviewers — Review copies available for new mystery thriller, The Fourth Rising. topic " My third Peter Brandt mystery thriller, The Fourth Rising, will be released May 10. I am offering free advance reading copies to anyone willing to giv ...more "
Jan 21, 2020 11:58AM
Martin Hill answered Rory's question: Hey, Martin. I have read BUTCHER'S BILL and would love to listen to one of your later books on Audio if you have some download codes? Thanks Rory Hi, Rory. Your timing is impeccable. The audiobook for The Last Refuge went on sale just this week. I can send you a download code for that one, or for Empty Places. They both feature Peter Brandt. I'll need your email to send you a code.
Jul 19, 2019 07:26AM · 2 likes · like Rory church.rory@gmail.com Aug 11, 2019 07:28PM

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Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Goodreads Authors...: Wanted: Author Interviews and Book Snippets!	16	214	Nov 08, 2012 01:48PM
How to Promote YO...: Great Promotion!	31	100	Dec 30, 2012 03:44AM
Making Connections: 673. DUTY: SUSPENSE AND MYSTERY STORIES FROM THE COLD WAR AND BEYOND by Martin Hill	5	67	Mar 06, 2013 05:06AM
Making Connections: 746. THE KILLING DEPTHS by Martin Roy Hill	18	114	Apr 20, 2013 01:26AM
Virtual Writers: Martin Roy Hill - Mystery and Suspense	1	4	Jul 06, 2013 01:12PM
San Diego Bibliop...: ONLY 12 Members!?	5	17	Jul 11, 2013 08:21AM
San Diego Bibliop...: Welcome all!	3	20	Jul 11, 2013 08:24AM
San Diego: Hello	1	9	Jul 11, 2013 08:36AM
The Mystery, Crim...: New Mystery Short Story Now Online	1	8	Jul 27, 2013 11:03AM
San Diego Bibliop...: Homegrown Mystery Story on Plan B E-magazine	1	5	Jul 27, 2013 11:26AM

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Martin’s Quotes

“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow
Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead
Walk beside me… just be my friend”
― Albert Camus

tags: attributed-no-source, friends, friendship, misattributed-albert-camus

87561 likes

“Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.”
― Narcotics Anonymous

tags: humor, insanity, life, misattributed-ben-franklin, misattributed-mark-twain, misattributed-to-einstein

62023 likes

“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

97863 likes