Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Martin.
Hi Madeline, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey to becoming a New York Times bestselling author took more than fifteen years, thirty books, countless rejections, and a whole lot of persistence.
I started writing over 20 years ago with historical romance. I wrote two books and decided I wanted to see about getting them published. When I was hugely pregnant with my second daughter, I went to my first writer’s group meeting and did a manuscript exchange with one of the women there. She was very kind, but it didn’t change the fact that I really didn’t know what I was doing as an author.
I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I stopped writing and spent the next five years learning everything I could about writing. That included attending conferences, reading about writing craft and construction, and taking workshops to improve my writing. After five years, I had written my first historical romance, Deception of a Highlander. I won several contests with this particular book, which gave me the courage to pitch to my dream agent at the time, who offered me representation. From there, I got my first three-book deal with a small press.
After the small press, I moved on to writing for Harlequin Historical, but I realized there were benefits to self-publishing at that point. Back then, in self-publishing historical romance, a book really needed to be published every month or two for an author to remain relevant to readers. So I was writing 6-8 books a year. While I was doing this, I was working a full-time job as a business analyst. I was also a mother of two daughters who are very active in sports and activities, and being a mom always comes first.
Suffice to say, I was tired and never had a day off. I probably had about a decade of only four hours of sleep (when I was publishing fewer books, those books took me longer to write as I was figuring out my process and my voice).
I had always wanted to write a historical fiction, but didn’t have the time to devote to the research needed. Until February 2020, when I was laid off from my job and decided to pursue a career as a full-time author. I confess, doing this during the pandemic was absolutely terrifying. I felt like I was free-falling without a safety net.
But that time gave me the opportunity to research my first historical fiction novel, The Last Bookshop in London. This would be the book that changed my career and changed my life.
The first week of a book’s release is the most important time to purchase, because that is when an author is more likely to hit a list. The Last Bookshop in London hit the USA Today bestseller list, and when I was driving my daughter to dance later that night, I got a call from my editor informing me that I had hit #8 on the New York Times bestseller list.
I will tell you that after 30 published books and over 15 years of writing, I never thought one of my books would ever hit the New York Times. So, after sobbing my eyes out on the drive home, I started a load of laundry (because mom life does not stop), and enjoyed a celebratory glass of wine.
I say that book changed my life because now I only have to write one book a year, and I am very fortunate to continue to be a full-time author.
I will also say that, because my path to success was so long and the journey so difficult, there is not a day that goes by that I do not appreciate what I have with soul-deep gratitude. To every reader who has bought one of my books, left a review, recommended a story to a friend, or chosen one of my novels for a book club – thank you. You have helped turn an impossible dream into reality, and I will always be grateful.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was anything but a smooth road.
The biggest challenge was trying to be a full-time business analyst, a full-time author, and a full-time mom all at the same time. There were never enough hours in the day.
I joke that I was the ultimate time scraper. I woke up at 4 a.m. so I could write before getting my daughters ready for school. I used my lunch breaks to go to the gym. After work, there were sports practices, homework, dinner, and all the normal chaos of raising kids. Then once everyone was finally in bed, I’d open my laptop and start writing again. I’ve even pecked out scenes on my Notes App while standing in grocery store lines. Not a second was wasted.
A major difficulty was back when I was writing historical romance, and publishing six to eight books a year. At any given moment, I was marketing one book, plotting another, writing a third, and editing a fourth. It was a lot. Looking back, I’m honestly not sure how I did it.
There were definitely times when I was exhausted and wondered if all the hard work would ever pay off. But I love writing – it feeds a part of my soul unlike anything else, and I couldn’t imagine giving it up. So I just kept going.
I think that’s probably the biggest lesson I’ve learned from this journey: success rarely happens overnight. Most of the time it’s showing up day after day, year after year, even when it’s hard, even when I was sick and exhausted and felt defeated. It was a hard road, but I’m grateful for every step I took that led me where I am today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I write historical fiction, and I’m particularly drawn to stories about ordinary women who find extraordinary courage during difficult moments in history.
Many of my books explore the power of stories, books, libraries, and the communities that form around them. Whether it’s a bookshop amid London’s Blitz like The Last Bookshop in London, librarians helping preserve culture during war like The Keeper of Hidden Books, or women banding together to read when they are told they shouldn’t like The Secret Book Society, I’m fascinated by the ways stories connect us and help us endure.
What readers often tell me is that while my books can be emotional, they also leave them feeling hopeful. I believe this is due to my interest in sharing resilience and community rather than hardships. I love how there is always light, even in the darkest times.
As for what I’m most proud of, it’s honestly the connection I’ve built with readers. Hitting bestseller lists has been incredible, but what means the most to me are the emails from readers who tell me the impact one of my books has left on them, whether it’s connecting with a loved one who lived through events I’ve written about, or someone who identifies deeply with one of my characters. I also love meeting readers in person at book clubs, festivals, and speaking events. Some of the friendships I’ve made through books have been among the greatest gifts of this career.
As for what sets work apart, I hope it’s that I combine meticulous historical research with deeply human stories that focus on hope. History can be heartbreaking, but I’m always looking for the moments of courage, kindness, friendship, and resilience that remind us what people are capable of. Whether my books are about bookshops, librarians, secret book clubs, or women accused of witchcraft, at their heart, they are stories about finding light in the darkness.
What are your plans for the future?
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that there is always more to learn. No matter how many books I’ve written or how long I’ve been doing this, I never want to stop growing as a writer. That’s one of the reasons I decided to pursue my MFA in Creative Writing, and I’m excited to be graduating this June from Drexel University’s low-residency program. It’s been such an incredible experience.
I’m also very excited about my next novel, A Time of Witches, which releases on September 1. Set against England’s 1645 witch trials, it’s a story that is incredibly close to my heart, and I can’t wait to share it with readers. I’m also looking forward to my book tour and to connecting with so many wonderful people at the various events I’ll be attending.
Beyond that, I’m already excited about the next book I’m writing. I recently spent time researching in Yorkshire and walking the beautiful moors that inspired my upcoming novel, The Forgotten Pages. Those research trips are one of my favorite parts of being a historical fiction author. Every book takes me somewhere new and teaches me something I didn’t know before.
The biggest change coming up is that I’m going to start book coaching. Writing can be such a solitary journey, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without the generosity of authors, teachers, and mentors who shared their knowledge with me through the years. I love encouraging writers, helping them grow in their craft, and reminding them that success doesn’t have to happen overnight. If I can help another writer move one step closer to achieving their dream, that would be incredibly meaningful to me.
More than anything, I hope to continue writing about lesser-known pieces of history and weaving them into stories that resonate with readers. Stories have changed my life in so many ways, and I feel very fortunate to be able to share that passion with both readers and writers alike.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://madelinemartin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madelinemmartin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MadelineMartinAuthor
- Twitter: https://x.com/MadelineMMartin
- Other: Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12062937.Madeline_Martin
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/madeline-martin
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Madeline-Martin/author/B00R8OGFN2
