Molly:
Henry Martin; I've just read/reviewed your The Mad Days of Me: Escaping Barcelona. Please will you tell us why you chose this particular setting/genre for this work? We are not relatives are we?

Henry:
First, let me thank you for this opportunity, and no we are not relatives. The story was partly inspired by homeless teenagers I encountered while waiting for the subway in Boston. There was something fascinating in seeing the same people, day after day, prancing nonchalantly about the station, seemingly without a care in the world, yet, I knew, there had to be more to their story than just the visible apathy to the world around them. There had to be a reason for them to live on the outskirts of society, being neither a part of it, nor obsolete from it. What I imagined is just one possible scenario, however, it does not come from any person or event. As far as the setting, I had the pleasure of passing through Barcelona while on a vacation. Although only a brief visit, the city's ambience stuck in my mind. Its architecture and diversity, its mixture of cultures, foods, scents, people. From the modern, shiny bright boulevards to the dark alleys of the Old City, the parks and seaboard, Barcelona had it all. A place where anything could happen.

Molly:
Thank you Henry; This is not the first book of yours that I have reviewed. Please if you will, tell us which of your books you are most happy with. And why.

Henry:
At this moment, I am most happy with the third book in The Mad Days of Me trilogy, however, you'll have to wait to read it to see why. The first book you reviewed, my poetry collection, has been since taken out of print to undergo some revisions in text and to include additional material. Not that I was unhappy with it, nevertheless, looking back at the first dive into the world of publishing, it wasn't as good as I would like it to be.

Molly:
Most interesting, Henry. I find your books are filled with rich details, how much time do you usually spend doing background research before you begin a new book and what does your research involve?

Henry:
I spend a lot of time on research, particularly locations. Living in a small town in the middle of nowhere does not exactly provide me with interesting settings, unless I was writing nature books (well, maybe someday), so I tend to spend countless hours browsing the net. My research usually involves several bottles of wine, a few packs of cigarettes and a notepad. For The Mad Days of Me trilogy, I found Google Earth to be the most helpful tool. For example, when a character walks from a hotel to a subway station, I zoom on the city and look at the streets, their names, their locations, how they intersect. Then, if the character sees something interesting, like a cathedral, I search online for photos of that building and describe what the character sees as he walks past it. I have a cork board above my writing table with maps and photos, and I circle locations I want to use in setting the background for the story. Even writing fiction, the setting has to be accurate. What if someone who knows, or lives in, Barcelona, reads the first book.

Molly:
Henry, beginning writers may not realize how difficult it is to get a book together. How long would you say it takes on average for you to write a book from start to finish?

Henry:
Rudy's story originally started as a short story written while at work (don't tell that to my ex-employer). I put it in the drawer and sat on it for about a year. Somehow, during that year, the character sneaked under my skin and I began imagining all the possible scenarios. I took it out and started writing again, hoping for perhaps a novella. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would become a full blown trilogy. All in all, book one took about six months to complete and then, once I found the publisher, another eight months or so was consumed with edits and rewrites. In writing the trilogy, I have been living with the character for almost three years now.

Molly:
Most interesting insight Henry. I find that I particularly enjoy writing series because when one book is finished I don't have to say goodbye to the characters I know as friends, rather I follow them as they enter their next adventure. Have you considered writing a series?

Henry:
Oh no! As I have said, I have been living with Rudy (in my head) for about three years. That is about all I can stomach. Since I do not write from notes, but rather from start to finish, the character "lives" in my mind, and, inevitably, there comes the time when the thin line between reality and fiction blurs out and I begin to question whether it is me or Rudy who thinks or says something. Sounds creepy, I know. In book two, for example, I introduced a female character. After a few months I began comparing the real women in my life to her; let me tell you, it wasn't a good thing for my marriage.

Molly:
I understand, now lets look in another direction if you will; Henry what do you attend to first? Write your book or seek out an agent or a publisher? And, if you will please tell us of trials or successes you may have had in trying to find agent or publisher.

Henry:
Definitely the writing process. One cannot worry whether a book will be marketable or not when writing it, so the trials come after. When book one was completed, I submitted a fair share of query letters and started writing book two. Eventually, the responses started coming back -- no, no, no, thank you but no. One agent even told me that I cannot write a single sentence. That was a punch under the belt. I understand my writing may be unconventional, breaking some rules in sentence structure and tense shifts, but I didn't expect to hear that. So, after about fifty rejections from both publishers and agents, I was ready to give it a rest. At least for some time, while I continued writing book two. Fortunately, I came across Chevalier Editions, a small, independent publisher who was more concerned about the meaning of the story than its marketability. Working with a small press was the best experience I have had with the industry thus far.

Molly:
please tell us something about yourself, about your life

Henry:
I am a very private person, so I won't tell you much. I lead a quiet, uneventful family life with my wife, daughter and a dog. I enjoy working with my hands, gardening and spending time outdoors. My wife tells me I am decent cook, but she is my wife, so I won't know for sure. A few years back we moved from the city to the country and I have no desire to go back. Life is just much simpler without the chaos and noise of civilization.

Molly:
Your life sounds lovely and satisfying Henry, Thank you. Henry, what rewards do you find from being a writer?

Henry:
Completing something. Writing "The End" at the bottom of the last page. Fortunately, or unfortunately, this joys doesn't last long because there is yet another idea buzzing in my head. The most enjoyable thing in being a writer is seeing readers' comments next to my book, their reviews. It is an amazing feeling knowing that someone has enjoyed your work and it meant something to them. That is priceless.

Molly:
Henry, do you plan to do book signings within the next few weeks? Do you enjoy signings

Henry:
So far I haven't had a single book signing, so I can't comment on this. However, I would probably enjoy it, if the opportunity came. I am terrified, though, of public readings. They never allow wine in there and my voice trembles too much without it.

Molly:
Chuckle, Now Henry, what one bit of advice do you have for beginning writers?

Henry:
Well, after a decade of writing and throwing stories out, I am still a beginning writer, so I am not the best person to give any advice other than: Write, write and write without being concerned how your work will be received. Dive into the story and write from your heart. There are way too many books on the aspect of writing, style, form, et cetera, and while some may be helpful, they will end up limiting you if you are too concerned to fit into a certain "bracket". Join a local authors group instead and share your work with as many honest people you can. Just be sure you can swallow the criticism.

Molly:
Is there anything else you would like to add Henry?

Henry:
Haven't you had enough of me already? I thought so....I would like to thank you for taking the time to read and review the book as well as for this interview. Your support to the lesser known authors out there deserves a round of applause (I am alone now, so it would seem silly if I clap). On a serious note though, as I mentioned earlier, the most rewarding thing for an author is to see readers' comments about their work, so I would like to invite everyone who read the book and feels like commenting, to do so. Amazon is probably the best place as I check the comments section at least once each week. Also, if anyone is interested, West of Mars is holding its summer "Hidden Treasures" contest and one of the prizes is an autographed hardcover of The Mad Days of Me: Escaping Barcelona. Again, thank you for allowing me to talk about my book.

Molly:
thank you Henry Martin for a most interesting interview.