Meet Author Cheryl Linn Martin's Maile

Author Cheryl Linn Martin's third mystery in The Hawaiian Island Detective Club series is Ukulele Undercover.

 

 

Included in The Hawaiian Island Detective Club are Leilani, Kimo, Sam, and Maile. Featured in today’s interview is Maile. 

Maile, you just helped solve a third mystery for The Hawaiian Island Detective Club. Do you have a favorite memory?

Not really a favorite memory. I mean, I can laugh about it now, but at the time it was the grossest, wildest ride I’ve ever had in a truck. That old fishing bucket and empty milk carton smelled super yuck-o. And don’t even ask me about how we got out of there. I think I still have bruises! But at least we got some good evidence and discovered a few clues to help solve the mystery.

Were there any other gross moments for you? 

Oh, yeah! You see, someone was leaving threatening notes around the music school and me, Leilani and Sam were taking ukulele lessons with Kimo like undercover detectives. Anyway, some kid took one of the bad notes and threw it in the garbage. Of course Leilani wanted the note, but before we could get to it, another kid threw wet gunk all over it. (Maile scrunches her nose) And that garbage can really stunk big-time!

So, Maile, what do you think of Brandon?

New Guy? He’s totally cute and super nice. (Maile smirks) I think he likes Leilani and I’m pretty sure she likes him too.

How is it working with Leilani, Kimo and Sam on these mysteries?

Leilani is the best. She keeps me sane when I feel like totally freaking out. Even though Kimo irritates Leilani, he’s always a huge help with the mysteries. I hope Leilani makes him a real member of The Hawaiian Island Detective Club. Then there’s Sam . . . well, Sam’s a guy. Most of the time he’s funny and crazy, but so gross with all his eating and belching.

Some readers seem to think you like Sam.

(Maile shrugs and avoids eye contact) Sam’s cool.

(I cock my head and grin) Maile, this is the third mystery you kids have solved. You can tell me how you really feel.

(Maile sits up tall and sets her jaw) No comment.

(I chuckle) I understand, and thanks for visiting, Maile.

 

Look for all of Cheryl Linn Martin's The Hawaiian Island Detective Club novels at:

Ukulele Undercover at Amazon - The Hawaiian Island Detective Club by Cheryl Linn Martin

 

Barnes and Noble (Pineapples in Peril and for Nook)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hawaiian-island-detective-club-cheryl-linn-martin/1111143437?ean=9781938388156

 

Barnes and Noble (Menehunes Missing)

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/menehunes-missing-cheryl-martin/1112546982?ean=9781938388248

 

Order Signed Copies Through Me

cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

 

Website: http://www.cheryllinnmartin.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why I Self-Publish in the Face of Delusion

Donald Maass, head of the Donald Maass Literary Agency, says if you don’t want to reach readers, then by all means, self-publish. (see Mark Coker’s post )

He sticks by his guns in the face of Mark Coker’s telling Mr. Maass that he thought he was underestimating the transformative impact self-published authors will have on book publishing. He looked Mark Coker in the eye, smiled, and said, “and I think you’re delusional.” to which Mark replies, “Touché!”

But think about it. I have 800+ ebooks in my Kindle archives right now. How many of those are good books, and how many are great books, and how many are not worth my time of day? If an editor, publisher, and book store had vetted these books, I wouldn’t have to do the work myself. You wouldn’t have to do the work yourself, and you and you and you. That’s the picture I see when I look at self-publishing.

Am I against self-publishing? No, I am all for it . . . for myself. I have always been a do-it-yourselfer, from sewing clothes, to giving myself pedicures/manicures, even at one time cutting my own hair.  Why? Money, or lack of same. Do I plan to make money writing and publishing my own novels? No, that is not my goal.

My question to Mr. Maass is, “If I wait until an agent agrees to represent me, then wait for said agent to find a publishing company interested in my novel, then wait for said book to be edited, formatted, and published in the image of said publishing company, then self-market said book - as will be my responsibility - how many more readers will I reach and how much more money will I net than if I self-publish?

I have a feeling his answer would be, “There is no way I can answer that question, Gail.” (I love Mr. Maass’s book, The Fire in Fiction, and just know he would respond to me by name) “And,” he would add, “I think you’re delusional.”

 

 

The Fire In Fiction by Donald Maass