July 8th 2024.
A former English teacher and avid reader, Martin recalls his childhood love for Roald Dahl's books and the joy of discovering new stories. One of his earliest memories is reading "Spot the Dog" and feeling like a part of something special. From there, he became a natural and independent reader, always surrounded by words and language. His mother would take him to the library every weekend, where he devoured every book he could get his hands on, with Dahl's books standing out as some of his favorites. But when it comes to the first book he read on his own, Martin's go-to is "Fantastic Mr Fox" for its solid and reliable memory of his early reading days.
As an adult, Martin recommends "Jaws" to everyone, not just for its gripping story, but also for its ability to surprise even those familiar with the film adaptation. He admires the film's genius in cutting down the narrative to fit the new medium perfectly. Plus, the main character, Chief Brody, is one of the best in fiction, in Martin's opinion. In the past year, Martin has found comfort in reading non-fiction, particularly about naval exploration. He highly recommends "Erebus: The Story of a Ship" by Michael Palin for its fascinating insights into the determination and struggles of sailors in the 19th century Arctic. He also loved "Grimmish" by Michael Winkler, a brutal and compelling read that explores the violent world of boxing with a touch of elegance. And for something closer to his love for "Jaws," Martin recently finished "Quint" by Robert Lautner, with its gripping voice and complex characters.
While Martin has read many books multiple times, the one that stands out is "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" by Michael Chabon, which he often turns to for inspiration while writing. He loves the precision of its language and the way it charges him up with words. When it comes to authors who have inspired him, John Steinbeck takes the cake. "Cannery Row" had a profound impact on Martin's writing style and even led to his first book deal. He fondly remembers Steinbeck's words in the introduction, urging readers to let the stories come to them on their own. In fact, Martin's son's middle name is Steinbeck, a subtle tribute to the author's influence on his life.
As a busy father with two young children, Martin's favorite place to read is in bed. With the chaos of everyday life, he cherishes the quiet and sense of retreat that comes with settling into bed at the end of the day. He can read until his eyes blur and the book becomes too heavy to hold, allowing him to drift off into a peaceful sleep...until one of his kids wakes him up, that is.
Martin's latest novel, "Double Proof," has been shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut Prize. He eagerly awaits the winner to be announced at the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival in Stirling. In the meantime, he encourages readers to subscribe to Scottish Field to keep up with the latest book news.
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