By Jessica Starks
Author Martina Boone is a woman who is passionate about books and writing. She’s on the Board of the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and runs the CompulsionForReading.com program to distribute books to underfunded schools and libraries, the founder of AdventuresInYAPublishing.com, a three-time Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers Site, and YASeriesInsiders.com, a site dedicated to encouraging literacy and reader engagement through a celebration of series literature. And in addition to all of that, she is a YA author!
The native of Prague knew that writing was her calling from the very beginning: “[I knew] at a very early age, but I never had the courage or self-belief to really pursue it as I needed to–leaving nothing on the table–until my daughter inspired me to write.”
Martina’s writing process is actually quite simple: “Butt in chair (or rather, in the butt-shaped indentation that I’ve worn into the couch) and sheer grit and determination. Also, lots of chocolate-flavored tea!”
However, there are times when writer’s block can get in the way. Thankfully, this author has a different way of looking at it: “Writer’s block is usually a subconscious signal that I’ve forced my characters to do something that isn’t in their nature, or that I’ve overlooked a big opportunity or an inherent problem in the plot. I’ve learned to view any reluctance to write as a warning signal.”
Because of Boone’s love for books, it is no surprise that she can’t name just one author that she loves: “Laini Taylor, Maggie Stiefvater, Victoria Schwab, Erin Morgenstern, Marie Rutkoski, Sally Green, Nancy Werlin, George R. R. Martin, and many, many others.”
It is evident that these authors inspire her, as shown in one of her books, Persuasion:
Grieving the death of her godfather and haunted by her cousin Cassie’s betrayal, Barrie returns from a trip to San Francisco to find the Watson plantation under siege. Ghost hunters hope to glimpse the ancient spirit who sets the river on fire each night, and reporters chase rumors of a stolen shipment of Civil War gold that may be hidden at Colesworth Place. The chaos turns dangerous as Cassie hires a team of archeologists to excavate beneath the mansion ruins, because more is buried there than treasure.
A stranger filled with magic arrives at Watson’s Landing claiming that the key to the Watson and Beaufort gifts—and the Colesworth curse—also lies beneath the mansion. With a mix of threats and promises, the man convinces Barrie and Cassie to cast a spell there at midnight. But what he conjures may have deadly consequences.
While Barrie struggles to make sense of the escalating peril and her growing and forbidden feelings for Eight Beaufort, it’s impossible to know whom to trust and what to fight for. Millions of dollars and the fate of the founding families is at stake. Now Barrie must choose between what she feels deep in her heart and what will keep Watson’s Landing safe.
In Persuasion, Barrie is her favorite character. “She is truly struggling to understand herself, find herself, and accept who she is in the way that many teens struggle. Placed in danger and under immense pressure, which is made worse by the magic she has to protect, she has to feel her way through hard choices between her family, her own honor, her own magic, and the safety and happiness of the people she loves most.”
Persuasion, as well as Boone’s other works, are available on Amazon.
Martina Boone is the epitome of passion, persistence, and hard work. Her love for books and reading combined with the passion she puts into each and every one of her works shines through to readers of all ages.
Martina can be found on her website, Twitter, or Facebook.
[…] Jarvis told us that he knew that writing was his gift and passion when he was a young teenager, very similar to other authors featured in our blog, such as Hannah Pittard and Martina Boone. […]