MAPLETON – This recently graduated high school student became an author at 16 and is already set to release her second book.
Tori Martin, 17, entered the writing industry last December with a push from a friend and an idea – an unplanned idea that turned into a novel.
“When I wrote it I wasn’t necessarily planning to publish it, but I’m glad I did,” Martin told the Community News in an interview.
The book is called The Summer of Us and it tells the story of twin sisters Taylor and Mackenzie who, after months of “grueling” treatments, are now in remission from cancer and are ready to have the “best summer of their lives.”
When the twins find an old diary hidden on their property, they are drawn into the story of another teen whose life, in some ways, mirrors their own.
The diary follows a teenager named Nora Mae who lived on a Louisiana plantation 170 years ago.
“The story itself … I just wrote it down, note-booked it and didn’t plan to do anything with it,” she added.
After deciding to publish her work Martin took months turning a short idea into a 160-page young adult (YA) novel.
Her fictional book wasn’t the first time Martin sat down to write. She had been creating “little” stories since she was in Grade 2.
Because Martin self-published instead of using a publishing company, all of the marketing landed on her shoulders.
“I don’t have anyone in my family or friends who have done this before, so … doing it on your own can be hard,” she said.
She noted the most difficult obstacle was getting her book noticed by people outside her circle of supporters.
Near the beginning of her release date Martin’s sales were high but they ultimately dropped.
“It’s starting to pick up again now as I’m starting to get more reviews,” she added.
To promote The Summer of Us, she created an Instagram account called Torimartinauthor where she posts book content, sneak peaks of future stories and her current reads.
Martin has also been reaching out to other people in the book community for reviews and exposure.
A second book by Martin is currently in the editing process and is set to be released around February.
“The one I’m writing right now maybe has a little more of a romance woven through it,” she said.
“Very slow burn because the characters are fairly younger.”
As of now her genre of choice is YA as she herself is a young adult.
“As I get older I might expand or write other genres,” but for now writing YA works best, she noted.
The upcoming book’s title was released on Oct. 23. It will be called Chasing the Shadows and will be approximately 240 pages.
This book is not a sequel and is unrelated to her first release.
“I’m excited about releasing the second book and it’s definitely been a long journey, but it’s been a lot of fun,” Martin said.
“I am thankful for all of the support [and] all of the people who have wanted to read it.”
Those interested can find her book on Amazon for $16.99, Barnes and Noble for $12.99 U.S. and at the Living Waters Book and Toy Store in Elmira.
