Mystery, Mayhem and Magic! Blog Tour with Marion Martineer

I've been tootling around writers' groups for over eight years or so now. They are always seeping with new knowledge, eager scribes and unbridled passion to pen something wonderful which often spills over into exciting writing projects.  

The Ten Penners is a group of dedicated writers that encompasses all these elements of story telling and more. Today I welcome one of the founding members of this group, Marion Martineer to discuss more about their latest project, Mystery, Mayhem and Magic! 

Ten Penners Co-ordinator and children's author, Marion Martineer
Come with us as we launch into their Blog Tour.  


Mystery, Mayhem & Magic is an anthology of amazing adventures for young readers!
"Take a path through the forest of imagination into mysterious journeys filled with mayhem and a kaleidoscope of magical creatures. From the authors of "Shock! Horror! Gasp!" and "Fan-Tas-Tic-Al Tales", "Mystery, Mayhem & Magic" is the new anthology written by The Ten Penners ... Come and explore!"

Blog Tour Dates:
 
15/10/17   Sunday -Marion Martineer - https://marionmartineer.wordpress.com/
        Dimity Powell - author The Fix-It Man http://dimswritestuff.blogspot.com.au/
                         content Marion Martineer

16/10/17    Monday - Yvonne Mes, www.yvonnemes.com Elaine Ousten – author Mystery of Nida Valley https://elaineoustonauthor.com/

17/10/17    Tuesday - Jill Smith – https://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com/
                Candice Lemon-Scott, author https://candicelemonscott.com.au/
Content – Jill Smith

18/10/17    Wednesday- Kate Russell - https://katharinerussell.wordpress.com./
Teena-Rafa Mulligan - In Their Own Write https://intheirownwrite.wordpress.com
Content Kate Russell

19/10/17  Thursday - Julie Baythorpe https://juliebaythorpeauthor.wordpress.com/
Gretchen-Bernet Ward – Thoughts Become Words Blog https://thoughtsbecomewords.com/ Content – Julie Baythorpe

20/10/17   Friday – Jill Smith – https://authorjillsmith.wordpress.com/
                                content Louisa Wright
                    Artelle Lenthall www.journeygirlontheroadtopublication.com 
                                                content Sharron Alexiou

21/10/17    Saturday - GCW book launch announcement
                          
 23/10/17   Monday Aleesha Darlison - author of Fox and Moonbeam-
Greenleaf Press http://www.greenleafpress.net/ Content interview Elli Housden


Special Announcement – book giveaway!!
There will be a giveaway of a copy of Mystery, Mayhem & Magic! At the end of the blog tour, those who have left a comment on this page, or on any of the other hosts’ pages during the blog tour, will be in the running to receive a free copy! The announcement of the winner will be at our book launch at Broadbeach Library on the 4th November. 
So, please make a comment to be in the running! Good luck!

Marion Martineer is coordinator and one of the two remaining founding members of The Ten Penners. She loves escaping into the various worlds and lives of her characters. Among other scratchings, she has two children’s fantasy stories in the pipeline that may make it into the big world of publication someday. 

You can find Marion on her blog at www.marionmartineer.wordpress.com 

Welcome to the Dim's Write Stuff, Marion!

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them? I think I start writing for children in about 2002. I had a young toddler and thought it would be nice to create some stories to share. I also, dabble in a bit of romance and steam punk. Maybe one day I will finish them.

What are some of the references that you used while researching this book? For Spook Sleuths III, I did a bit of Googling on Celtic symbols, what meaning trees may have and I needed a special plant for Sally to use for her brew. I love doing a bit of research but in all the material that is gathered only 1% is used. I hope kids might look up what some of these things are, to find out if it is real or fiction. If that happens then my job is done as a storyteller because there is always something else to find out from a story.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book? I loved the way the group pulled together to get everything happening. The ideas, the editing, the fun storytelling. It is great having a group to support you and help each other grow. We are all very proud of our efforts to actually have this produced.

What is the biggest thing that people THINK they know about your subject/genre, that isn't so? Writing a kid’s book is simple! Right! No, it is harder than you would think but it certainly is fun.

 Are you a full-time or part-time writer? How does that affect your writing? Part-time. My life is very full. I work as a bookkeeper and an Avon Sales Leader. It keeps me extremely busy and working from home means that even though I work I still get to help out or get distracted around the house. It is a battle to find an equilibrium. My husband is a carer for his ageing mother and if it’s my turn to help out, I can find a few hours get sucked away from my schedule that I didn’t plan. Usually, that time is taken out of any possible writing time.

How do you feel about e-books vs. print books and alternative vs. conventional publishing? I think e-books are great but I much prefer a lovely hard copy to hold and smell! I have downloaded several e-books. I am still to read them because I am always working on computers and I prefer to have a rest from another device. Mind you one of my e-books, is a book I have already read, Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman’. I read it years ago as a library loan and it came up on iBooks as a freebie. So I snatched it up because I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Do you write more by logic or intuition, or some combination of the two? Summarise your writing process. I guess intuition is the first step. It’s something inside you that needs to come out and that is a great feeling. Logic always needs to be mixed in to get everything flowing properly. For complex stories, I mind map, plot, write up full character profiles and draw the places, houses, castles and such. More so, that I keep consistency. It would be terrible if Sally was going left from the back door into the kitchen and all of a sudden in chapter six turning right, the reader would remember.

What are some ways in which you promote your work? Do you find that these add to or detract from your writing time? Ah, yes, ‘marketing’. Beginner writers think the hard part is the writing. Then, they realise they need the effort to market their story because if they don’t, no one will know they made something in the first place! I really enjoy marketing but it does detract from my writing time. I am already time poor. So the effort required keeps me away from that creative project. On the other hand, my writer profile goes up, which is a good thing.

What is your role in the writing community? For the Gold Coast Writers Association, I am the coordinator for the adults writing for children subgroup. The Ten Penners. I have been in this role since 2005. It is a voluntary position. I was once, also, the youth group coordinator and publicity officer but I was spreading myself a bit too thin, so now I just stick to the one group. My husband is thankful for that I think.

The Ten Penners
What projects are you working on at the present? For The Ten Penners, we are hoping to make another anthology next year. We shall see how that one goes as the year progresses but we always have fun, even though it is hard work!

For my individual project/s, I am currently working on a steam punk novel for kids. I have a fantasy princess’s story that has been shelved for a while now. I’d like to get that out again. I am hoping to give NA-NO-WRI-MO a go again this November to help me complete my steam punk story. I have never completed the 50,000 words for the month. So, maybe this year it will happen!

Wow, can't wait to read more of you, Marion. Thank you so much for visiting today and GOOD LUCK with all the Mayhem!

Thanks Dimity, I have totally enjoyed the opportunity to talk about our book and myself.

Don't forget to leave a comment for your chance to be in the running for a copy of this enigmatic new anthology.

Comments

Maud Fitch said…
Brilliant!
jillwrites said…
Thanks Dimity for being a host for The Ten Penners blog tour. You have the first comment on the blog tour and Maud Fitch is in the draw to win a copy of Mystery, Mayhem & Magic! - Jill
This comment has been removed by the author.
Elli Housden said…
Thanks, Dimity for supporting our blog tour. Hope your readers like our quirky characters in MMM!
DimbutNice said…
Pleased to be part of this exciting new launch for you all. Thanks for stopping by ladies and good luck in the competition draw!!
Unknown said…
Hi Dimity
Thanks for supporting us with the new book, it is a great achievement for us all. hope to see you at the launch on the 4th of November at Broadbeach Library. Loved your Fix it Man book too it was awesome
DimbutNice said…
My absolute pleasure, Lousia! Always great to see you, too. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it to the launch although I have shared the invitation already. :-) Wishing you every success with this new title. x
Kate Russell said…
Thanks Dimity for being our host yesterday! We’re very excited! (BTW I loved The Fix-It Man - it made me cry.) Cheers, Kate
DimbutNice said…
Ah shucks, Kate that's lovely. I owe you some tissues :-D. Great to be part of this marvellous venture with you all. Thanks for having me.
Unknown said…
Thanks Dimity, you are a treasure! xo

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