In the profession of education, it is often that a teacher is more than simply an educator. Teachers wear many hats, sometimes having to step into the role of a nurse, psychologist, coach, and even an adult role model to students. However, two Smith County educators can add the title of published author to their list of accomplishments.
Gordonsville High School Teacher Amanda Mason and Carthage Elementary Teacher Kelly Martin have more in common that teaching. Each have inspired to be a writer since they were young children and both now have published successful novels.
Author Amanda Mason
Author Amanda Mason
Mason has two novels published, A Mountain Worth Moving and The Long Road Home. She is currently writing her third, Sing Me Back Home.
Although, she admits she wrote her first book at the age of 6.
“I remember cutting out pieces of cardboard to make the cover and illustrating it myself,” recalls Mason. “I guess you could say that I have just always written and made up stories.”
Her first book took her four years to complete while the second novel only took a year.
All of Mason’s novels are Contemporary Christian Fiction. When writing her books, Mason’s goal is to create stories that are believable and relatable real-life struggles that she would enjoy reading herself. Themes of faith and love are common in her novels.
Mason admits her favorite self-published book is her first, A Mountain Worth Moving.
“I love the story itself, but I also love the themes of faith and redemption in it. I think a lot of us have struggled in our lives at some point in time, thinking we have just done too much or been too bad to be useful to God and that is the battle that the protagonist, John, faces in this book. I loved seeing him come to a confident faith,” said Mason about A Mountain Worth Moving.
Aside from being her favorite, A Mountain Worth Moving has been on Amazon’s Top Ten eBook Bestsellers list.
In fact, signed copies of Mason’s books can be purchased locally at Gordonsville Drugs, Hackett’s Drugs, Smith County Drug Center and Hashtag Holly’s for $12.
Readers can also order eBooks for $3.69 or paperback copies for $9.99 on Amazon.
In the future, Mason hopes to have a book release event planned for her third book.
“If God has put a story in your heart, you won’t be able to rest until you get it out on paper, so just keep going,” Mason advises future writers. “Not everyone will love what you write and that is okay; stay true to yourself and your story.”
Author Kelly Martin
Author Kelly Martin
Martin has been a teacher for 18 years; however, her students have no idea that she has been a published author for the past nine years.
“I don’t mention it to my school parents. They are there for their kids and so am I. It’s fun when they find out though,” admits Martin.
As a student herself, Martin’s favorite assignment was when her teacher, Mrs. Radke, had her write stories using ten words from the weekly spelling list.
As a teen, she wrote fan fiction, and later as a young adult, she began to challenge herself to write original pieces.
Martin published her first novel in 2012. Since then she has published at least 27 more novels that are categorized as Young Adult Christian, Young Adult Contemporary, Historical Romance, Paranormal, and MG Horror, and a few romance fiction.
Some of her titles include Crossing the Deep, Saint Sloan, The Deception of Devin Miller, Trinity Row, Heartless, and What Rachel Did.
Her latest, The Never Series, concludes on September 21 with the release of the last 3 books in the series.
Martin admits her favorite self-published book is Crossing the Deep.
“It was my first book, and it made me realize that I can do this. I love all my books in different ways. What Rachel Did was my first MG Horror. Dark and Deadly Things has been a fan favorite,” said Martin.
Martin relies on dark chocolate almonds, a fidget cube, water, and tons of notebooks to get her through the writing process in her nursery-converted-to-office.
“I’m either a feast or famine writer, meaning I either write 2,000-5,000 words a day, maybe even 10,000 words a day, or I’ll write nothing,” explains Martin. “I’m not much of a plotter. If I know how the story will end, I have a difficult time writing it. I write like I’m watching a movie; from the first word to the last word.”
Aside from writing in her office, Martin often participates in book events across the United States. However, due to Covid, Martin had to cancel many this year. She is scheduled for future events in New Orleans and Michigan in 2021.
Martin won the Imadjinn Award in 2018 for Best Horror Novel. She has also been nominated for several Utopya Awards and Once Upon a Book Awards.
All of Martins books can be purchased online via Amazon or from Martin herself.
A complete list of her novels can be found on Martin’s website www.kellymartinbooks.com.
Martin admits it takes time to write a novel. “Learn as much as you can about publishing before you get into it,” advises Martin to future writers. “It is rewarding and fun, but it’s a lot of work.”
