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Read about the very beautiful and talented writer, Kristen Martin

  • Writer: John Hamrick
    John Hamrick
  • Feb 17, 2017
  • 4 min read

Name: Kristen Martin

When did you start seriously writing?

I’ve been writing stories ever since I was six years old, but I started seriously writing in 2014. I had a manuscript I’d been working on every here and there, but it was nowhere near where I wanted it to be. In 2014, I really started to look at it and revise it to turn it into the story I wanted it to be. That manuscript was my debut novel that was published in 2015 called The Alpha Drive.

What genre are your books?

I write Young Adult books in the science fiction and fantasy genres. I am dabbling in some nonfiction projects as of late, so we’ll see where that takes me.

Do you write full-time or part-time?

I wish I wrote full-time! But I currently have a full-time career, so writing is part-time (even though it doesn’t always feel that way, but I’m not complaining).

What inspired you to write your first book?

I would say The Matrix movies and the Legend series by Marie Lu really got the wheels turning for the type of book I wanted The Alpha Drive to be. But I’ve always wanted to be an author, so I suppose I was inspired by myself and that vision to write my first book.

Do you aim for a set number of words/pages per day?

While it does depend on the project, I try to write 1,500-2,000 words a day. This seems to be a good stopping point for me where I feel like I’ve accomplished something, but haven’t overdone it to the point of exhaustion and not wanting to pick it up again the next day.

What is the hardest thing about writing?

Distractions! Since I (and most writers) write on their computers, it’s hard not to log into my email, my blog, and other social media sites. I’ve actually purposely driven somewhere where I couldn’t access the internet so that I could get more writing done. I’ve gotten better about checking social media, but it’s still a challenge at times.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

I really learned a lot about myself during my journey writing The Alpha Drive, most notably, how when I want something, nothing can stand in my way. When I set my sights on a goal, I go after it no matter how challenging it may seem, or what obstacles stand in my way. No doubt, you have to be very persistent and persevere through the process of writing a book – but imagine how much more perseverance you’d need to have in order to get that book published, marketed, and in the hands of many readers. Writing and publishing my first book taught me that I am able to persevere, even through the roughest of waters.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

Vivien Reis. She and I met within the Goodreads community and beta read for one another. We’ve become fast friends and any time either of us needs help with something or has a question, we’ve become each others’ “go-to” person. I would definitely consider Vivien a mentor.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Don’t wait to start. Start now. There will never be a perfect moment. There will never be a right time. Stop waiting for inspiration to hit; instead, open up your laptop, and just start writing. Even if it’s crap, even if you never want those words to see the light of day, write anyway. Because that’s how you’re going to grow. That’s how you’re going to get better. If it were easy, everybody would do it, so if you want it badly enough, you’ll make it happen. And I can tell you, it will be so worth it when you do.

What are you reading right now? Are there any authors (living or dead) that you would list as influences?

I’m currently reading Rebel Spring by Morgan Rhodes and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I would have to say that I’m influenced by the works of Sarah J. Maas, Marie Lu, and Laini Taylor. My favorite author is Chuck Palahniuk, but I wouldn’t necessarily say my writing is influenced by him – I’m just so captivated by his stories!

What influenced you to write The Alpha Drive and The Order of Omega?

After I wrote the final version of The Alpha Drive, I knew I wanted it to be a series. As I mentioned, reading the Legend series by Marie Lu and watching The Matrix movies helped get the wheels turning in my mind. But I remember sitting down with a giant piece of paper and starting to brainstorm any ideas that came to mind for stories beyond The Alpha Drive. Eventually, I was able to pull some of those ideas and expand upon them enough to write a sequel, and then a final installment. The concepts of a dystopia and alternate realities have definitely influenced my work.

Where can we buy, or see The Alpha Drive and The Order of Omega? (* include American, European and any other relevant links. Free, free promotions or prices can be included)

Amazon US The Alpha Drive: https://www.amazon.com/The-Alpha-Drive-Volume-1/dp/0996860517 The Order of Omega: https://www.amazon.com/Order-Omega-Alpha-Drive/dp/0996860525/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=BCE3ZB4BVQ6VBXESVKN2

How can readers discover more about you and your work?

You can find more about me and my work at the following sites:

Website: www.kristenmartinbooks.com Blog: www.kristenmartinbooks.com/index.html Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorkristenmartin Twitter: www.twitter.com/authorkristenm YouTube: www.youtube.com/authorkristenmartinbooks Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/authorkristenm Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kristen-Martin/e/B017BPSZ3A/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7523445.Kristen_Martin

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I just want to thank all of my readers, followers, and subscribers for supporting me on my writing journey. It has been such a neat and unique experience to share my path with others, and the kind emails and messages I receive on a daily basis make my heart so full. I truly believe being an author is the best job in the world, and I plan on writing and publishing as many books as I can in this lifetime. Thank you guys! You’re the best!


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