We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rod Martinez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Rod, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I was drawing comics and writing short stories since childhood. It was always just a fun hobby and a way to pass the time. It wasn’t until my son – who was in the 6th grade at the time – challenged me to write a story “Like the Goonies, but based here in Tampa, with me and my friends from school.” I accepted the challenge. It grew from a 20 page booklet to a full fledged novel (because I was pushed to ‘keep the story going’). In the end, I pursued publishing and it became my 1st published book. That’s what got me to where I am today.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi, I’m Rod Martinez. I write middle grade and young adult fiction (and you have to check out my new picture book “Grandma Luther King”).Writing for kids is a challenge because as adults we think we know what they like. The trick for me was to hang out with kids, so my son and his friends had no idea I was studying them all the time. After the publication of that 1st book, I was invited by local schools to speak on literacy and authorship. Public speaking was the last thing I wanted to do – but proved to be a blessing in disguise. Nowadays, I can’t imagine NOT standing in front of a group of kids at a school, or adults at a writers’ conference, or an audience of hopeful writers at a Comic-Con – and preaching the word of literacy and authorship. You have a book in you, it’s a phrase we all hear but many people wonder where to start, how to start. It’s become my mission. All this from the comment of a 10 year old who wanted his dad to put him in a story.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Entering the writing world, most people have the preconceived notion that they will submit that first draft manuscript to a major publisher, receive the check for a million dollars and hob-nob with Stephen King and James Patterson. Then reality sets in and we realize there’s work to this, just like any other job. Writing becomes your vocation, not your vacation. If you really want it, just like any other career out there, you have to work at it. And not only on the writing portion, but the marketing and the hobnobbing and networking. After so many rejections, I was at the point like other authors who just wanted to give up. But what keeps you glued is the love for words, the passion for creative storytelling and bringing that reader into your world. Don’t give up.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
At first it was to write books for people to read. But the more I got into schools and talked to kids, and fired them up on possible authorship, that spark in their eye, that moment of awe I see when one of them realizes “I can do that”. It makes it worth it. I just spoke at a school a couple of weeks ago and in the question and answer portion, one of the fourth graders raised her hand and matter of fact stated “Mr. Martinez, I believe you have just inspired me to write a story.” That was all I needed that day. I have recently expanded my scope and volunteered to teach a class of senior citizens on creative fiction writing. I’m stoked. I enjoy writing, but teaching and talking about it has become my new love.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://rodmartinez.us
- Facebook: facebook.com/authorrodmartinez
- Other: goodreads.com/rodmartinez