Times Change by Gail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin #UrbanFantasy
Interview with Gail Z Martin
What inspired you to become an author?
A: I have wanted to be an author for as long as I can remember. When I was six years old, I dictated my first book (about a vampire) to my grandmother because I couldn’t spell yet.
Do you write in different genres?
A: Writing as Gail Z. Martin (or collaborating with my husband, Larry N. Martin) I/we write epic and urban fantasy as well as comedic horror and steampunk. As Morgan Brice, I write male/male paranormal romance/urban fantasy.
If yes, which is your favorite genre to write?
A: I like all of the ones I’ve chosen to write in, and switching among them keeps things fresh.
How did you come up with the title for your latest book?
A: Joe Mack became immortal in the 1890s, and the first four novellas (collected in Forged) tell stories from that time through the Roaring Twenties. Times Change brings us into the current era, fast-forwarding a century, so it’s an appropriate description!
Do you title the book first or wait until after it’s complete?
A: I usually title the book first because while I’m writing it, I also have to arrange for the cover art, so I need the title!
Is there a genre(s) that you’d like to write that you haven’t tackled yet?
A: Romantasy. I’ve written four epic fantasy series and they all have a strong element of romance, but the focus is primarily on the action/adventure. I have a couple of ideas for something that brings the romance to the fore in an epic fantasy setting, but I’m not sure when it’ll get written.
Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
A: Probably Martris Drayke from The Summoner because he was my first main character and it took me twenty years to get his book finished and published.
If this book is part of a series…what is the next book? Any details you can share?
A: Times Change is part of the Joe Mack Shadow Council Adventure series. We have three more books under contract to Falstaff Books, so there will be more! And if you’re new to the series, check out the first four novellas, collected in Forged.
What books/authors have influenced your life?
A: So many books have inspired me, and so many authors past and present continue to inspire and encourage me. I couldn’t name them all!
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
A: David Drake (no relation to my character, who was named long before I met him), was very kind to me when I was just starting out and shared a lot of knowledge and experience—and barbecue—with us. I am very grateful for his help.
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
A: I’m currently working on the next Night Vigil book (written under my Gail name), and under my MM romance name (Morgan Brice) I am working on the next Treasure Trail book—with plenty more in the queue for after that!
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
A: Fight scenes take a lot of mental choreography. It’s challenging to be telling people what is going on but try to do it in a way that they perceive it as action.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
A: Never give up.
What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
A: I have an MBA in Marketing and Management Information Systems from The Pennsylvania State University.
When you’re not writing, what do you do? Do you have any hobbies or guilty pleasures?
A: Larry and I love to go on cruises or go to the beach. It’s the ultimate chill-out. We also love to watch action movies with a lot of explosions.
What is next for you? Do you have any scheduled events?
A: I don’t have any conventions left in 2025 after DragonCon over Labor Day Weekend. The only con that is confirmed so far for 2026 is Coastal Magic Convention in February, but I’m hoping to get a couple more for next year. As for releases beyond what I’ve already mentioned, I try to bring out a new book in each of our active series every 1-2 years, which is a challenge with 12 active series!
Times ChangeJoe Mack Shadow Council Files Book FiveGail Z. Martin and Larry N. Martin
Genre: Urban FantasyPublisher: Falstaff BooksDate of Publication: July 23, 2025ISBN: 979-8293995790ASIN: B0DFDZ4S4TNumber of pages: 122Word Count: 30,000
Cover Artist: GetCovers.com
Tagline: When you ask a god for favors, be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.
Book Description:
Joe Mack is back, solving cold cases that eluded Eliot Ness and kicking demon butt.
Josef Magarac was a brave man, a strong man, a hard-working immigrant who only wanted a better life for his family. Then he was murdered, and an ancient Slavic god brought him back to life, gave him new abilities, and a mission to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Now he's Joe Mack, immortal thanks to the Slavic god, and a champion against dark magic, demons, and things that go bump in the night.
Joe's previous collection of adventures spanned the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition. Now he's in the modern era, working with new partners and adjusting to a whole new century. But old cases have resurfaced, and demons never die. A supernatural serial killer has returned, and some of the evil Joe thought was done and dusted has returned to wreak havoc. It will take all of the supernatural abilities, wit, and will of Joe and his partners—past and present—to stop the dark forces once and for all. If they fail, it will unleash a wave of demonic vengeance, blood, and death unlike anything Cleveland has ever seen.
Times Change is a non-stop thrill ride full of paranormal action, found family, dark magic, and loyal friends.
Excerpt2:
Shelit candles and seated herself across from me at a small table with ablock-printed covering with protective sigils blind stitched into its complexpattern. The area was well-warded and protected with powerful magic. I’dlearned a long time ago that Sicilian and Corsican witches had special talent,and I could feel the energy in the air as Mrs. Brandino settled into the chairand centered her magic.
“Takemy hands.”
Delicatefingers closed around my meaty digits, feeling fragile in my grip. I noted thethin, crepey skin mottled with age spots that contrasted with my rough palms. Iwas far older, but she seemed ancient.
“JackWest and Sarah Grace McAllen Harringworth, your friend has come to speak withyou.” She closed her eyes, and her features relaxed as she tranced to open theconnection to the Beyond.
Whenshe opened her eyes, I knew she had stepped to the back of her consciousnessand allowed the spirit of Jack West to move to the forefront.
“Hiya,Joe. Been a while.” The voice was Mrs. Brandino’s, but the tone and inflectionwere pure Jack West.
“How’slife on the other side?”
Sheshrugged, capturing West’s mannerisms perfectly. “Still can’t play a harp forshit,” he joked. “What brings you here?”
“Ifinally finished the Moonville case—for good, this time.” I told him about thefight with the woman’s ghost and the railroad spirit and how I torched thetunnel and took the spike. “I think it’s finally done.”
“Wethought that before,” West pointed out.
“Iknow. And for a while, things died down—I think it took a while for the spiritsto power back up again. But this time, I really believe I broke what washolding them there.”
“Nicework,” West said. “Glad to know you’re still on the job. Those new partnersworking out okay?”
Ihad told him about Adrian and Jenna the last time I’d come to Mrs. Brandino,and while I knew West wouldn’t begrudge me mortal companionship, I think hehated to be excluded. While he’d never admit it or want me to join them in the hereafter,I think he missed our adventures.
Apparentlyin heaven there are no heists to bust.
“They’renot bad—for kids,” I admitted, even though I had figured out that my newpartners were about the same age that West and Sarah Grace were when we workedtogether. “Pretty sharp, actually. But I miss hanging around like we used to.”
“Lookat you, getting sentimental over Prohibition,” West teased. “You might miss us,but I bet you don’t miss the bathtub gin.”
Hewas right about that, and recalling the taste made me shudder.
“True.Is Sarah Grace floating around in the ether?”
“Tiredof talking with me already?” West joked. “Yeah, she’s here. If you wrap up anymore old cases, let us know. The afterlife is pretty boring.”
Ifelt the energy shift, and Sarah Grace’s presence moved to the forefront.
“Hello,Joe. Nice of you to drop by. What are you up to these days?” Damned if shedidn’t sound just the same a hundred years after some of our best exploits.
“Stillon the job, not lollygagging like you two. I’m cleaning up loose ends. Wrappedup the Moonville case—and I think the fix will stick.”
Herlaugh was as infectious as I remembered. “Never a dull moment with you. Glad tohear it. How are you—really?”
Leaveit to Sarah Grace to get to the heart of the matter. I shrugged, uncomfortable.“You know. Same old, same old.”
“Um-hum,”she replied, and even channeled through the medium I sensed her disapproval. Inmy mind’s eye, I imagined the tilt of her head and her skeptical expression.“Being immortal isn’t a free pass not to take care of yourself. You can have apurpose and still be happy sometimes.”
Evenfrom beyond the grave, she had me dead to rights. Maybe that’s one of thereasons that West and Sarah Grace were so special to me. Our partnershipmorphed into deep friendship. While I had liked and respected all my partnersover the years, some were closer to my heart than others. West and Sarah Gracewould always be among my favorites.
“I’mhappy when I solve cases.” I knew it was a weak comeback.
“Joe—youknow what I mean,” she chided. “Even watchdogs chase a ball now and then.”
“Pointtaken. Fetch more, bark less?”
About the Authors:
Gail Z. Martin writes urban fantasy, epic fantasy, steampunk and more for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, Falstaff Books, SOL Publishing and Darkwind Press. Urban fantasy series include Deadly Curiosities and the Night Vigil (Sons of Darkness). Epic fantasy series include Darkhurst, the Chronicles Of The Necromancer, the Fallen Kings Cycle, the Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, and the Assassins of Landria. Together with Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of Iron and Blood, Storm and Fury (both Steampunk/alternate history), the Spells Salt and Steel comedic horror series, the Roaring Twenties monster hunter Joe Mack Shadow Council series, and the Wasteland Marshals near-future post-apocalyptic series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance, with the Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow series. Gail is also a con-runner for ConTinual, the online, ongoing multi-genre convention that never ends.
Larry N. Martin is the author of the new sci-fi adventure novel Salvage Rat, and the new portal fantasy series, The Splintered Crown, A Tankards and Heroes novel. He is the co-author (with Gail Z. Martin) of the Spells, Salt, and Steel: New Templar Knights series; the Steampunk series Iron and Blood; and a collection of short stories and novellas: The Storm and Fury Adventures set in the Iron and Blood universe. He is also the co-author (with Gail) of the Wasteland Marshals series and the Joe Mack - Shadow Council series from Falstaff Books.Website: www.GailZMartin.com
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