Let your motivation be, “I really want to read this story that I am writing.”

Martin Baggen – 21 November 2016

The Back Flap

A young, rightful queen returns from exile to her homeland. Her mission is to reclaim her country from the grip of an oppressive foreign occupation. To achieve her goal, she must find a king. Her quest leads to a charismatic and gifted man who possesses the ability to help her lead a nation to freedom. But the mission comes at a cost greater than anyone can predict, and the misunderstood legacy of their secret rebellion will endure for thousands of years. A failed political movement that gave birth to a new religion.

About the book

What is the book about?

It’s the New Testament as a political thriller. The events are told from multiple perspectives (consistent with the New Testament story as we know it today) as a small band of revolutionaries attempt to liberate their country from the tryranical grip of Rome.

When did you start writing the book?

The idea for the story was in my head for years. The actual writing took place a few years ago.

How long did it take you to write it?

The first form of the work was a screenplay and it was largely completed during a three day ferry trip to Alaska.

Where did you get the idea from?

The idea that the New Testament principals were mortal and there must have been some underlying mysteries going on is certainly not my idea. I just wanted to take it a step further and constuct a story that explained the motives and perhaps a little bit about how it was done.

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The process of going from screenplay to manuscript was daunting. I am not a writer, especially in the technical sense, but I had a very good editor to help with a lot of that.

What came easily?

The easiest part was development of the premise and the characters themselves. Historical fiction is the best of both worlds…. you’re telling a new story about characters that are known.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

The principal characters are lifted directly from the New Testament.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

I’m not sure I entirely agree with the premise. I think storytelling is a craft that can exist in songwriting, oral storytelling, art, and every day conversation. If you are an effective communicator, the rest is mostly mechanical.

Do you have a target reader?

Not in particular, at least not one that I can think of.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Not many… I attended a pitch-event and while the response was universally “wow”… it was also universally, “it’s just not the project for us right now.”

What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

After a very brief foray into the world of seeking a publisher, I opted to take the direct route of self-publishing. The topic is a thorny one for many in the business and even if I had decided to dedicate myself to finding a publisher, there’s no guarantee that would have happened. That’s just the reality of the industry… you have to have something that is going to sell in good numbers before someone will get behind you.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?

It was a collaboration.

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Let your motivation be, “I really want to read this story that I am writing.”

About You

Where did you grow up?

I was born and raised in Alaska.

End of Interview:

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Get your copy of In the Shadow of David from Amazon US or Amazon UK.