He is the author of the award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mystery series set in beautiful Grand Bank. There are now 12 books in this light mystery series with the publication of Dangerous Waters. A Tangled Web was shortlisted in 2017 for the best light mystery of the year, and Darkest Before the Dawn won the 2019 Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award. Mike has also published Christmas in Newfoundland: Memories and Mysteries, a Sgt. Windflower Book of Christmas past and present.
Some Sgt. Windflower Mysteries are now available as audiobooks and the latest A Long Ways from Home was released as an audiobook in 2022. All audiobooks are available from Audible in Canada and around the world.
Mike is Past Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers and a member of the Newfoundland Writers’ Guild and Ottawa Independent Writers and Capital Crime Writers.
His latest book is the mystery, Dangerous Waters.
You can visit his website at https://SgtWindflowerMysteries.com/ or connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.
Before you started writing your book, what kind of research did you do to prepare yourself?
Quite a lot actually. I had to research weather patterns for the Grand Bank area where the book is located, some ideas I had about the ability of insulin as a poison and if it was indeed deadly. And what are the most popular brands of single-malt Scotch whiskey that Windflower and his friend Doctor Sanjay have never tasted before. That was fun!
Did you pursue publishers or did you opt to self-pub?
I pursued publishers a little but they are such elusive creatures that I quickly gave up. I was in too much of a hurry to wait on their schedule. I still am.
If self-published, did you hire someone to format the ebook version for you or did you do it yourself? Can you tell us what that was like?
I always got somebody else to format the ebook version. I never wanted to learn how to do it and I wanted a professional job. It worked out great and didn’t cost nearly as much as I thought.
If self-published, how did you determine the price?
The price is pretty standard by now. For ebooks, readers expect them to be no more than the $2.99-$4.99 range. Some want them free but that’s another story. It requires a library card and a six month wait.
Did you purposefully choose a distinct month to release your book? Why?
I publish in the spring to catch the summer readers and the fall for Christmas buyers. Both work well.
How did you choose your cover?
I choose a photo that I would like to use and then work with the cover designer to bring in shading and colours.
Did you write your book, then revise or revise as you went?
I always write first and revise later. I find it’s much easier and more productive. I try and get a good chunk of writing done, maybe 10,000 words and then I see if it makes sense. My beta readers and editor will fix things up at the end.
Did you come up with special swag for your book and how are you using it to help get the word out about your book?
I have done bookmarks etc and quite honestly while they look nice, I don’t believe they sell a single book. Just my opinion…
Did you consider making or hiring someone to make a book trailer for your book? If so, what’s the link?
Dorothy from Pump up Your Book does excellent trailers.
What’s your opinion on giving your book away to sell other copies of your book?
This works only if you have a series. I would give away an earlier book in the hopes that people would buy the others in the series. I also heavily promote and give away a ton of books for every new book that is released. It is building up my brand and the market for all my books.
What are three of the most important things you believe an author should do before their book is released?
Get it professionally edited. Get it proofread. Establish a social media presence and follow every other author you find.
What are three of the most important things you believe an author should do after their book is released?
Keep your social media feeds alive but don’t spam people. Offer to help new authors. Write your next book.
What kind of pre-promotion did you do before the book came out?
I used a service that offered Facebook advertising, Twitter posting and a review service called NetGalley that got me early reviews. Then I booked a virtual blog tour with Pump up Your Books.
Do you have a long term plan with your book?
My plan for every book is to create the best book I can and work as hard as I can to help it reach as many readers as possible.
What would you like to say to your readers and fans about your book?
If you like a book that will inform you and keep you entertained all the way through, then buy and read my book, Dangerous Waters. If you want a book that makes you feel good at the end, this book may just the right one for you.
Inside the Book
Title: Dangerous Waters
Author: Mike Martin
Publisher: Ottawa Press and Publishing
Pages: 288
Genre: Mystery
Book Blurb
Old habits die hard…
Sgt. Windflower tries his best to ease away from life as a Mountie, but the lure of an investigation is too hard to resist.
After a missing man turns up
dead, Sgt. Windflower is pulled in to investigate. Meanwhile, the
arrival of a group of unique foreign visitors during a snowstorm in
Grand Bank offers up another mystery. Even with so much going on,
Windflower can’t resist the enticement of a good meal and a trip to the
island of Saint Pierre off the coast of Newfoundland.
But when things get rough, Windflower can always rely on Eddie Tizzard and the gang to have his back.
As always, Windflower’s wife Sheila and their daughters are beacons of love and support as he navigates dangerous waters.
Grand Bank beckons you to another great story in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series.
Book Information
Release Date: April 30, 2022
Publisher: Ottawa Press and Publishing
Soft Cover: ISBN: 978-1988437828; 288 pages; $16.95; eBook $4.99: FREE Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RczNNA
~WATCH THE TRAILER~
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