JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Tina Martin, editor of Secrets On Lake Drive
(Xpress Yourself Publishing)

Secrets On Lake Drive is an emotional story of Monica Smith and Sean Beauvais, two people who are seemingly rivals but may be just what the other needs to have a happy, meaningful and successful life.

Secrets On Lake Drive is a novel based on the secrets each person carries. In the end, those secrets may hold them together or drive them apart.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Secrets On Lake Drive?

Tina Martin: This is kind of a long story. The idea came along one summer when me and my husband were riding down Lake Drive (in Milwaukee, WI), heading to the Lake Michigan water front. I had been looking forward to roller-blading that day and anxious to be out on such a warm, sunny day.

So riding down Lake Drive, my husband proceeds to tell me how the rich people in the city usually occupy the houses in the area, and how people would sometimes come to the lakefront, just to see the big, fancy houses. I couldn’t help but wonder who lived in each one, how they were able to afford such fancy digs and if they had maids, personal chefs and other people who made their lives easier.

I also thought about the quote, “more money, more problems,” and then the secrets came along. What kind of secrets did these people have? Were they happy? Was their life as beautiful in private as it was in public? And that’s how the novel came about.

Secrets On Lake Drive is about secrets that we all have; that measure of privacy that we want to keep hidden in order to appear perfect in the public eye or to impress people.

JP: What sets Secrets On Lake Drive apart from other books in the same genre?

TM: What sets my book apart from others is that I actually give the story time to build. I also add suspense and make my characters come to life. Once you’re done reading, trust me – you will feel like you know these people.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Secrets On Lake Drive getting out to the public?

TM: Much success comes from just word-of-mouth advertising. One person will read my book and tell other people how good it is and they’ll read it too. It’s very exciting that I have readers promoting for me!

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Secrets On Lake Drive?

TM: When I first started writing, I didn’t have a process. I would just write (not type like most authors do) but literally, I would have a pen and notebook and write whatever came to mind at the time.

Now, I use an outline. That helps greatly, especially now that I work on different projects simultaneously. It must have taken me about four to six months to complete Secrets On Lake Drive. Tack on a few more months for editing.

JP: What’s next for Tina Martin?

TM: Another Man’s Treasure is my new novel, scheduled for release from Xpress Yourself Publishing on March 5, 2011. I am one-hundred percent in LOVE with this story. I’m so in love with it, I’m gonna read it again

It is an emotionally-charged novel packed with great intensity and heartbreak…a story about not appreciating the one you have until you see them in the arms of someone else. (How many of y’all can relate to that!) Read an excerpt at my website.

http://www.tinamartinbooks.com
http://www.ibetterfindyourlove.blogspot.com/
http://www.xpressyourselfpublishing.com
http://www.facebook.com/tinamartinbooks

tina@tinamartinbooks.com

About Tina Martin:

I am currently working on novels three and four and having the best time of my life. Stay up-to-date with me and my progress on my website. Also, for book signings, new releases, polls, contests & giveaways and to delve a little into my fun/wide side, visit my blog!

Finally, just would like to share a book review of Secrets On Lake Drive posted by a reviewer on Amazon.com:

“A great novel full of betrayal, heartache and redemption, Tina Martin’s Secrets on Lake Drive has it all: humor, romance, thrilling suspense and a movie quality plot line. Yep, I said it. Movie quality. This would make a good movie for Lifetime. This novel captures the reader and keeps them turning the pages til the end. A debut novel worthy of 4 stars and kudos to the author!”

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