5 Questions with J.C. Martin

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5 Questions with J.C. Martin

J.C. Martin is a butt-kicking bookworm: when she isn’t reading or writing, she teaches martial arts and self-defence to adults and children. She balances her time between putting her 2nd degree black belt in Wing Chun to good use, with writing dark mysteries and gripping thrillers with a psychological slant. Oracle is her first novel.

Born and raised in Malaysia, J.C. now lives in south London with her husband and three dogs.

Now on to the FIVE QUESTIONS

1. Congrats on the publication of Oracle. What was the spark of inspiration for Kurt Lancer?

Thanks, LS! My inspiration for Kurt Lancer is the people of London! The city is such a melting pot of cultures, I wanted a protagonist who reflected the multi-ethnicity of London, which is why Kurt is mixed-race: part White British and part Nigerian.

2. Kurt knows Wing Chun kung fu. Could you explain what this is and how you chose it for your main character?

Wing Chun is an ancient Chinese martial art originating from the Shaolin Temple hundreds of years ago. It is also what Bruce Lee first learned as a child, and the basis of the martial art he eventually created, Jeet Kune Do. I wanted Kurt to be able to defend himself in the many perilous situations I put him in, yet don’t want him to achieve this through his pure size and brute strength. Just to add a touch of paradoxical complexity to his character, I got him to learn Wing Chun, a ‘soft’ martial art, purported to be invented by a woman! Why Kurt practises Wing Chun is also a matter of writing what I know: I’m a Wing Chun instructor who has been practising the art for over 8 years.

3. What’s next on the horizon?

I sure hope people will take to Kurt and company, as they’ll be making a return in a second book …

4. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

If you have a story to tell, then write it. There will always be naysayers, but the most important person you must convince must be yourself.

5. Finally, Beatles or Rolling Stones?

Urk, they’re both before my time! I’m more a Frank Sinatra girl, but if I really have to choose, I’d say Beatles, only because I’m more familiar with their songs (even though I may not be a fan of some of them!).

http://jc-martin.com/fighterwriter/

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13161249-oracle

https://twitter.com/#!/JCMartin_author

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