I first met Mike Martin at the Ontario Library Association Super Conference in Toronto. At the time, we were both Regional Reps (Mike for Ottawa, me for Toronto/Southwestern Ontario) for Crime Writers of Canada. Mike would go on to become Chair, and with his encouragement, I accepted the responsibility of Vice Chair. When Mike finished his 2-year stint, I took over as Chair. It’s been an honor and privilege, and it’s opened more than a few doors for me, but I don’t think I would have ever considered it without Mike’s mentorship. Mike is also an award-winning author of the Sgt. Windflower Mysteries, and he’s set them in his home province of Newfoundland. He joins me today to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the process. Take it away, Mike:
Before I’d even written the first Sgt. Windflower Mystery, I knew that the story would be set in Newfoundland, my home province. I had no idea what kind of book it would be and certainly no clues about characters or plot development. But I knew that even though I hadn’t lived there for twenty-five years, I wanted to have the story set in Newfoundland.
If you’re from there, or have visited even once, you know the appeal of Canada’s newest province. It is relatively small, lightly populated and very friendly. I thought that my book (I didn’t know it would be a series) would be set in St. John’s, the capital city. That’s my hometown and a place I know well. But while Sgt. Windflower does visit St. John’s occasionally, almost all of the series is set in the small community of Grand Bank on the southeast coast of the island.
Why? That’s a good story in itself. As Shakespeare said “Fortune brings in some boats that are not steered.” My partner, Joan, was not from Newfoundland, I was pretty sure of that. But as I got to know her more I found out that her father was. From Grand Bank. We started visiting Grand Bank during the summers and eventually she bought and lovingly restored her grandfather’s original house in Grand Bank. We started visiting more and soon were spending the month of August there.
One night, in Grand Bank, in the fog, Sgt. Windflower came to me and started telling me his story. Where he was from, what he was doing in Grand Bank. I started writing his story down and now I am getting ready to release Book 10 in the series, Safe Harbour.
As the stories unfolded, Newfoundland itself became a character and I was able to add a little bit of the food, geography, culture and history into every book. So, too, has the weather, which if you’ve been there, you can understand why. It’s often foggy and damp, almost always windy and sometimes it’s sunny and fine. All in the same day. The old saying about the weather in Newfoundland is that if you don’t like it, don’t worry. It’ll change in the next 10 minutes.
The newest book in the series, Safe Harbour, is the first book that’s not set in Grand Bank. It’s set in St. John’s. And I have to tell you how much fun it was to write about Bowring Park, Signal Hill and Marine Drive, just outside of town. Still my hometown, after all these years. I hope you can come and visit. There’s always another seat at the table in Sgt. Windflower Mysteries.
Mike Martin is the author of the Award-Winning Sgt. Windflower Mysteries. The latest book in the series is Safe Harbour. You can buy it on Amazon all over the world, Chapters/Indigo in Canada and fine independent bookstores like Sleuth of Baker Street in Toronto. Find him at https://sgtwindflowermysteries.com.
Many thanks to Judy for this opportunity.
Keep up the good work at CWC
Happy to have you! Love the cover.
I love Newfoundland. I’ve been to St. John’s, and I’ve been to Grand Bank several times. My mother is from Burin (Lewin’s Cove, to be exact), her family having settled there almost 200 years ago. This community — for those not familiar with the Rock — is a short drive from Grand Bank.
Thanks for the intro into Mike’s mysteries.
Hi Diane, start at the beginning if you can. I know that Mike’s books are in digital and paperback and a few are in audio, too. Enjoy!