30 Days 30 Authors- LaToya C. Martin

Happy Sunday everyone!! Today’s author during the  30 Days 30 Authors event is LaToya C. Martin! Here is her story into the literary world as she talks about her life away from writing, as well as her inspiration for becoming an author.

Now, here’s LaToya! 🙂

The first-time novelist LaToya C. Martin has loved writing since childhood. LaToya hails from Houston, where she raises a precocious daughter and teaches students with hearing loss, all the while remaining an active member of her church and community.

1.   Besides writing, what else do you like to do?

I’m a single parent so my daughter keeps me pretty busy but I love to travel. I went to Hawaii for the first time this summer and loved it! I also love spending time with family and friends.

2. What inspired you to become an author?

I’ve always loved writing since I was a child. I recall winning first place for a writing competition in elementary school and the sense of accomplishment even at a young age. It took many years (17 years to be exact) for me to go through the publishing process but I wanted to become an author because even though Pain’s Purpose is fictional, I know that there is a message embedded within its pages and I want to share that message with the world.

3. What was your first reaction when your debut novel was published?

I went through a gamut of emotions. Holding my first novel in my hands was surreal. I was overwhelmingly grateful to God for my dream actually becoming a reality.

4. Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?

In the next 5 years, I want to have published at least 3 more books.  I’m new to the “author world” and I know it takes time for people to trust the quality of your work enough to purchase it so in the years to come I see myself with an established and growing readership.

 5. Do you have any new projects that you are currently working on?

I wrote a children’s book and am currently searching for an illustrator. I’m also working on the sequel to Pain’s Purpose!

6. What advice can you give to anyone who wants to become an author?

Be ready for rejection even when you feel that your work is brilliant. There are so many people who write and do it well so traditional publishers can’t accept everything. Research and take time to think about the right option for you. The hard work really comes after you publish. We think about all of the time and effort that it takes to write the book but they energy required to promote your work intensifies especially if you are self published. Don’t be discouraged if you’re not selling as many copies as you would like. It’s a marathon not a sprint so continue to put yourself out there and you’ll find the people who will support your work!

http://www.christianfaithpublishing.com/books/?book=pains-purpose

Excerpt from Pain’s Purpose:

After drying himself off, he wrapped the towel around his waist, exposing his toned frame. He stood in front of the sink and wiped off the blanket of fog that covered the mirror. Staring into the mirror, he pondered on the man he had become—a man who solved his problems with a bottle of beer; a man who occasionally beat his wife out of his own frustrations; a man who couldn’t find a job if his life depended on it, even with a degree from a prestigious black university; a disgrace, worse than his absentee father. The list of failures was endless. He felt sick to his stomach. His own reflection disgusted him. What kind of man was he? Did he even deserve to have her back in his life? At this point, the answer was crystal clear: no. As he stood there, taking a hard look at himself, his eyes were finally opened. It was time to do an about-face and make some serious changes in his life. Then and only then would he be worthy enough to be an upright husband and father, one his son or daughter deserved.

 Win an eBook copy of Pain’s Purpose, as well as books from each participating author during the 30 Days 30 Authors giveaway!

To enter, please click on the link below:

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2d93349b14/

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