Mike Martin's Blog

I have now published sixteen books in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series (plus Christmas in Newfoundland: Memories and Mysteries Vol 1 and 2) and each time I have chosen to give away a number of copies, absolutely free. Not only that, but I actively seek out strangers or near strangers on social media to give them away to. Now, I am not giving away all copies of my books. I am neither rich nor daft and I am not particularly altruistic, but I do believe in helping people to read my book.

And quite honestly not everyone can afford to buy a book, especially new books. Tons of people are living on a tight budget, on social assistance or on a fixed income because of disability or not being able to work anymore. It’s hard to comprehend in this world of plenty, but twenty bucks is a lot of money if you haven’t got it and one of the ‘luxuries’ that many people give up is purchasing new books. They wait until they are available from the library or get them from friends or from the second-hand bookstore. I support libraries, but why do some people have to wait?

I realize that I can’t give anybody a raise in their monthly stipend to help them with their book budget, but I can help at least a few of them enjoy my new books, fresh out of the printer’s box. I believe in an idea called Reading Equality, a radically new concept that everyone should have access to quality, new release books. That’s why I am making 20 copies of Friends are Forever available to people on a low or fixed income. I am advertising this offer on Facebook and Twitter and as the time of writing there are still a few copies left.

If you want one or know of someone who could use one but can’t afford it, just message me with the mailing address and I will send a copy in the mail. And yes, I will even sign them. No questions asked. You can send me a message thru Sgt. Windflower Mysteries or Facebook.

Of course, if you have the money, I hope you will consider buying a copy for yourself. Maybe even one for somebody you know doesn’t have the cash. Pay it forward. It works for me.

And if you want to help get this book into even more hands, ask your local library to order a copy. They’re looking for your suggestions. And if they don’t have the budget, tell them to contact me and we’ll make them an offer they can’t refuse.

You will soon be able to buy Friends are Forever from Chapters/Indigo/Coles bookstores in Ottawa and Atlantic Canada and you can get a signed copy these fine independent bookstores:

Ottawa

Books on Beechwood

Perfect Books

Toronto

Sleuth of Baker Street

And of course, you can Friends are Forever from Amazon all over the world

Follow Sgt. Windflower on Facebook

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The purpose of writing a book is so that people can read them. And, while I love seeing people buy my books, I also love the fact that they can read them, for free, at their local library. That’s why I actively support libraries. I do that by providing copies from my own supply to the Ottawa Public Library and the Kemptville Branch of the North Grenville Library. I spend part of my working time in both communities. So why not give a little back to those who support readers and writers? And I sent a couple of copies of the latest book, Friends are Forever, to the Grand Bank Public Library, because, well… you have to read a Sgt. Windflower book to figure that out.

The reason I do this is because libraries gave me one of the greatest gifts I have ever received. A love of reading. The ability to travel the world and visit other worlds. A way to not just escape boredom and drudgery but to live other lives and meet a wider range of people and characters that I could never have accomplished on my own. So, it’s an easy decision to give back to libraries. They may have saved my life.

But public libraries are like every other public service these days. Under-staffed and under-funded. Many do not have the budget to buy new books and those that do can only afford to purchase one or two copies. That means long wait times for almost any new release. So, please ask your local library to consider buying some copies of Friends are Forever so that they can be available to all readers. Or maybe donate your copy after you read it. Sharing the gift that you have received with someone else will bring new pleasure. Guranteed.

I hope that you will read Friends are Forever, the new Sgt. Windflower Mystery. And I don’t care if you get it from the library, from a bookstore, or from a friend. More than that, I hope you enjoy it. Let it take you away to little Grand Bank, Newfoundland where the locals are friendly, the cheesecake is wonderful and the weather… well, we won’t talk about the weather.

Thank you for supporting my writing and Sgt. Windflower Mysteries.

Friends are Forever

Friends are Forever expertly weaves together small-town charm with high-stakes intrigue. Set in the picturesque backdrop of Newfoundland and Labrador, the story follows Sgt. Winston Windflower, as he navigates not just a celebration of RCMP promotions, but also the aftermath of a sophisticated heist involving international mobsters and local biker gangs.

The vivid cultural and geographical details transport readers to Marystown and Grand Bank, where por’ cakes, lighthouses, and family gatherings are as much a part of the tale as the unfolding crime. While the stakes are high, Friends Are Forever is a story of resilience, camaraderie, and the enduring power of human connection. Both longtime fans of Sgt. Windflower and new readers alike will find themselves captivated by this compelling blend of small-town life and crime-solving adventure. With its unique setting and heartfelt storytelling, Friends Are Forever is a must-read for cozy mystery enthusiasts.

Friends are Forever is available as always from Amazon all over the world or directly from Ottawa Press and Publishing. https://www.ottawapressandpublishing.com/

Copies are also available from these fine bookstores:

Sleuth of Baker Street bookstore, Toronto

Books on Beechwood, Ottawa

Perfect Books, Ottawa

Soon from select Chapters/Indigo stores as well

Follow Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore

Twitter

@mike54martin

@mike54martin

Upcoming Events Mike Martin and Sgt. Windflower Mysteries

There are a number of up-coming events in Toronto and Ottawa where people can get their personalized copy of Friends are Forever.

Bony Blithe Mini-Con Friday May 9

Friday, May 9, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The High Park Club, 100 Indian Road, Toronto. I will be appearing on a panel called Funny You Should Say That

Book Launch Wednesday May 14, 2025 7-8 pm Perfect Books Ottawa

Readings and Live Music by the amazing Victoria Vlad

And there will be Cake!!

Ottawa Small Press Book Fair June 21

Saturday, June 21, 2025 at Tom Brown Arena, 141 Bayview Station Road.

Friends are Forever

Friends are Forever expertly weaves together small-town charm with high-stakes intrigue. Set in the picturesque backdrop of Newfoundland and Labrador, the story follows Sgt. Winston Windflower, as he navigates not just a celebration of RCMP promotions, but also the aftermath of a sophisticated heist involving international mobsters and local biker gangs.

The vivid cultural and geographical details transport readers to Marystown and Grand Bank, where por’ cakes, lighthouses, and family gatherings are as much a part of the tale as the unfolding crime. While the stakes are high, Friends Are Forever is a story of resilience, camaraderie, and the enduring power of human connection. Both longtime fans of Sgt. Windflower and new readers alike will find themselves captivated by this compelling blend of small-town life and crime-solving adventure. With its unique setting and heartfelt storytelling, Friends Are Forever is a must-read for cozy mystery enthusiasts.

Friends are Forever is available for order from Amazon all over the world or directly from Ottawa Press and Publishing. https://www.ottawapressandpublishing.com/

Signed copies are available at:

Sleuth of Baker Street bookstore, Toronto

Books on Beechwood, Ottawa

Perfect Books, Ottawa

Follow Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore

Twitter

@mike54martin

Why I Continue to Write Sgt. Windflower Mysteries

Friends are Forever is the 16th book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. Fans of the series always ask me when will the next book be out? Others ask when are you going to stop writing the series? Both are very interesting questions that I have thought a lot about.

I want to share a secret for those of you who will read this blog post past the first few lines. I already have a first draft of Book 17 in the series. It’s rough, but ready to go to my fine group of beta readers later this month. They will start to help shape and mold this draft into something that more resembles a Sgt. Windflower Mystery. Publication date tdb, but probably sometime in 2026.

(Also, if you read this far, I will tell you that there will be another Windflower Christmas adventure later this year. A Windflower Christmas in Newfoundland will likely be out in September. So, stay tuned for that as well.)

Back to the questions, I think I may have answered the first one. And to start getting into the second one, I am already thinking about Book 18. Still a bit of a dream but I have some ideas. Will it turn into a book? Only time will tell.

The truth is that I don’t know when the series will end. My process so far has been to publish a book while writing the next one. So, I have one book for sure and maybe another one. But after that, I just don’t know.

There are a couple of factors that I am trying to take into consideration when it comes to the series. The first is do I have the energy and ideas to carry another book forward? That’s not inconsequential because the process of writing a book become all consuming at some point and it does require a level of mental acuity to stay with it and most importantly to bring it to a satisfying conclusion.

Secondly, and this may be even more important. I want all the books in the Sgt. Windflower series to be of a certain, fairly high quality. Especially in content and staying true to what readers think or feel is the core nature of the series. My beta readers will be my first indication if I don’t make that grade. And they have worked with me long enough to give me their honest opinion.

So, there will be at least one more WF book. After that, we’ll see. But maybe that’s the best way to do it. One book at a time. Maybe that would make a good slogan for something…

Don’t forget: Book Launch Wednesday May 14, 2025 7-8 pm Perfect Books Ottawa

Readings and Live Music by the amazing Victoria Vlad

And there will be Cake!!

Other Events TBA

Friends are Forever

Friends are Forever expertly weaves together small-town charm with high-stakes intrigue. Set in the picturesque backdrop of Newfoundland and Labrador, the story follows Sgt. Winston Windflower, as he navigates not just a celebration of RCMP promotions, but also the aftermath of a sophisticated heist involving international mobsters and local biker gangs.

The vivid cultural and geographical details transport readers to Marystown and Grand Bank, where por’ cakes, lighthouses, and family gatherings are as much a part of the tale as the unfolding crime. While the stakes are high, Friends Are Forever is a story of resilience, camaraderie, and the enduring power of human connection. Both longtime fans of Sgt. Windflower and new readers alike will find themselves captivated by this compelling blend of small-town life and crime-solving adventure. With its unique setting and heartfelt storytelling, Friends Are Forever is a must-read for cozy mystery enthusiasts.

Friends are Forever will soon be available for pre-order from Amazon all over the world or directly from Ottawa Press and Publishing. https://www.ottawapressandpublishing.com/

Signed copies will be available after May 1 at:

Sleuth of Baker Street bookstore, Toronto

Books on Beechwood, Ottawa

Perfect Books, Ottawa

Follow Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore

Twitter

@mike54martin

Early Reviews for Friends are Forever are Fabulous!!

We are getting fab early reviews for Friends are Forever which will be released on May 1, 2025.

“While the stakes are high, Friends Are Forever is a story of resilience, camaraderie, and the enduring power of human connection. Both longtime fans of Sgt. Windflower and new readers alike will find themselves captivated by this compelling blend of small-town life and crime-solving adventure. With its unique setting and heartfelt storytelling, Martin’s latest is a must-read for cozy mystery enthusiasts.”

The Reading Room

“It’s the balance between the touching private moments and the intensity of the hunt for criminals that makes the book so gripping and enjoyable, and an excellent addition to the series.”

Kelly Young, Author

“It feels like going home again each time I visit with these characters who I have come to feel close to. I have read all of this series and have enjoyed each one. I recommend this series to all who love cozy mysteries.”

Jem’s Books

“The dialogue feels original, the narrative highlights the tense interview sessions, and contrasts them with the creative verbal jousting between Windflower and Tizzard. The detective sequences will attract crime genre enthusiasts due to their meticulous attention to detail in the resourceful methods Windflower and Quigley employ to manage their limited resources. Friends Are Forever is very enjoyable with its witty commentary and Martin’s unique ability to interweave the ethereal with the tangible aspects of the investigation in this one-of-a-kind crime novel.”

Readers Favorite

Don’t forget: Book Launch Wednesday May 14, 2025 7-8 pm Perfect Books Ottawa

Readings and Live Music by the amazing Victoria Vlad

And there will be Cake!!

Other Events TBA

Friends are Forever

Friends are Forever expertly weaves together small-town charm with high-stakes intrigue. Set in the picturesque backdrop of Newfoundland and Labrador, the story follows Sgt. Winston Windflower, as he navigates not just a celebration of RCMP promotions, but also the aftermath of a sophisticated heist involving international mobsters and local biker gangs.

The vivid cultural and geographical details transport readers to Marystown and Grand Bank, where por’ cakes, lighthouses, and family gatherings are as much a part of the tale as the unfolding crime. While the stakes are high, Friends Are Forever is a story of resilience, camaraderie, and the enduring power of human connection. Both longtime fans of Sgt. Windflower and new readers alike will find themselves captivated by this compelling blend of small-town life and crime-solving adventure. With its unique setting and heartfelt storytelling, Friends Are Forever is a must-read for cozy mystery enthusiasts.

Friends are Forever will soon be available for pre-order from Amazon all over the world or directly from Ottawa Press and Publishing. https://www.ottawapressandpublishing.com/

Signed copies will be available after May 1 at:

Sleuth of Baker Street bookstore, Toronto

Books on Beechwood, Ottawa

Perfect Books, Ottawa

Follow Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore

Twitter

@mike54martin

Cover Reveal: Friends are Forever

Friends are Forever is the 16th book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. I know that sounds like a lot, but the series started in 2012. The old writer’s joke is: How do you get to be an older, established writer? Keep writing and don’t die! And don’t worry if you haven’t read any of the previous books. All books can be read as standalones. There is always a little back story to bring you up to date and back into the small and beautiful community of Grand Bank, Newfoundland.

You certainly can’t judge a book by its cover. But the cover should give you a hint of what’s inside. Over the course of 16 books we’ve done a couple of different things. But everything we hope, has led you back to Grand Bank and to this most beautiful corner of Canada. This has included ice bergs and boats and fishing stages and sheds. But the most touching covers, I believe have come from pictures. Particularly ones that we and our family have taken while visiting Newfoundland.

We are fortunate indeed to be able to visit Newfoundland every year for most of the month of August. That means we get to enjoy the people and the scenery that make this place so special. And of course, we get to eat. A lot. Homemade raisin bread toast almost every morning. Fish every meal we can. Jiggs Dinner at the wonderful Garnish Bakeapple Festival. Cheesecake of all types, including Sgt. Windflower’s favourite chocolate peanut butter at Sharon’s Nook and Tea Room aka the Mug-Up.

To try and compensate for this orgy of eating we walk when we are in Newfoundland. A lot. We do hikes in Gros Morne National Park, to the shipwreck site in St. Lawrence and up to the top of the hill at Cook’s Lookout in Burin. Of course, we do tons of walking in Grand Bank. On the hiking trail up to the lookout and up to the Cape on every fine day. But some of the best walks are after supper when we and the dog try and stroll off some of the extra calories that we’ve consumed during the day.

It is also a calm and peaceful way to end another glorious day in Grand Bank. That is exactly what we were trying to show you in the cover for Friends are Forever. We hope you enjoy it and the book, too.

Coming May 1 from Ottawa Press and Publishing

Save the Date

Ottawa Book Launch

Wednesday May 14, 2025 at Perfect Books on Elgin Street.

There will be readings and signings and live music. And of course, there will be cake.

Follow Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore

Twitter

@mike54martin

https://mike54martin.com/2025/02/03/w...


The best way to describe why I wrote Hope and Love and Other Dreams is to share the Introduction from the book with you.

Introduction

I have always written poetry. A lot of people have and still do. But for most it is kept personal, maybe even secret. Like many people, I have shared my poetry only with a few select individuals. Family, people I could trust. Because poetry is intensely personal and to share it publicly means to lower our shields and be vulnerable. But love came into my life and changed everything for me and poetry.

This collection of poetry comes from the last four years. It started during the first lockdown of Covid. Maybe because I had the time. But even more I think that I ended up spending the first lockdown months in the beautiful countryside outside of Ottawa. There were 3 humans and a dog in an old farmhouse and I spent many hours walking the fields and exploring the gardens.

As the flowers and shrubs came to life that Spring, so did I. I started writing a poem every day to share with Joan, the love of my life. They became our poems. Shared together, equally. Poems about the darkness, yes. But more about the hope, love and other dreams we shared.

Hope is all we have when the skies grow dark. Love is hope made human and real. Dreams are the safe places we go when we are alone in the nighttime.

Covid has passed, mostly. It will live on as some form of regular illness that hurts the most vulnerable among us. But it does feel like some of the darkness from that period has lingered. Some feel that there may be even darker days ahead for us, for our communities and for Mother Earth.

My hope is that these poems will shine a little light onto your darker moments and brighten even your darkest nights. Be safe. Be well. And love each other. If no one has told you yet today that they love you, I love you.

Peace

Mike Martin

Poems to lift your spirits

https://mike54martin.com/2025/01/22/c...

Acceptance
A whisper of white in a sky that's so blue
I can cry when I see it
Its heart is so true

A blinking of magic at the edge of the earth
Suspend disbelief
For all that it's worth

A soupcon of sadness at what we have lost
Into this soft current
Our fortunes are tossed

Falling forever into the make believe sea
The rivers are wider
Than they appear to be

The boundaries are human and all in our minds
We cross them like nomads
Then leave them behind

And gathering our wisdom like a long soothing drink
We swim to the bottom
And walk to the brink

We find our true bottom when we learn to accept
That seeing is only half
Of the truth that is left

Happy New Year from Sgt. Windflower Mysteries
Many thanks to readers, family and friends who supported my work again in 2024. A new year will bring many new things to both myself and Sgt. Windflower Mysteries. And it’s all good news.
There will be a new Sgt. Windflower mystery in 2024. Scheduled to be out in May, 2025, Forever Friends will be Book 16 in the series. How did that happen? See below for a blurb.
For those of you who have been asking there will also be a third volume of Christmas in Newfoundland. This one with more Windflower and gang Christmas stories to fill your Christmas stockings. Scheduled for October 2025.
And as always, a few surprises. One is that there will be a book of poetry coming out this Spring. Hope and Love and Other Dreams: Poems for Darker Days will be published by Mezzo Publications, hopefully next month.
And, and, and, we’re not allowed to tell you about it, but there’s a special project involving all your favourite Ottawa mystery writers. I could tell you more, but then I’d have to kill you…. Stay tuned.
May 2025 be filled with health, happiness and success in all your endeavours!! Thank you again for all of your support, love and encouragement. Thank you for being part of the Windflower family.
Forever Friends
Winston Windflower is attempting to enjoy his idyllic life in Grand Bank when a crime spree breaks out in Marystown and all over Newfoundland. Once again, he and his team are called into action and Windflower puts his own safety on the line to try and stop a nefarious and cunning criminal. As he works to resolve the case, Windflower must face an even larger conflict, one that won’t be won in his RCMP uniform. He will need to look to his ancestors and Cree traditions to guide him on a journey through tears so he can still see the stars.
“In this, the sixteenth novel in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, author Mike Martin continues to craft intrigue in the cultural and geographical setting unique to Newfoundland and Labrador. Readers new to the Windflower mysteries and those returning will experience the joys of a close-knit community that thrives on the simpler things in life: por’ cakes, a lighthouse in serious need of a facelift, TV movie nights and the warmth of get-togethers with family and friends.”
Follow Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnT...
Twitter
@mike54martin

Happy New Year from Sgt. Windflower Mysteries

Many thanks to readers, family and friends who supported my work again in 2024. A new year will bring many new things to both myself and Sgt. Windflower Mysteries. And it’s all good news.

There will be a new Sgt. Windflower mystery in 2025. Scheduled to be out in May, 2025, Forever Friends will be Book 16 in the series. How did that happen? See below for a blurb.

For those of you who have been asking there will also be a third volume of Christmas in Newfoundland. This one with more Windflower and gang Christmas stories to fill your Christmas stockings. Scheduled for October 2025.

And as always, a few surprises. One is that there will be a book of poetry coming out this Spring. Hope and Love and Other Dreams: Poems for Darker Days will be published by Mezzo Publications, hopefully next month.

And, and, and, we’re not allowed to tell you about it, but there’s a special project involving all your favourite Ottawa mystery writers. I could tell you more, but then I’d have to kill you…. Stay tuned.

May 2025 be filled with health, happiness and success in all your endeavours!! Thank you again for all of your support, love and encouragement. Thank you for being part of the Windflower family.

Forever Friends

Winston Windflower is attempting to enjoy his idyllic life in Grand Bank when a crime spree breaks out in Marystown and all over Newfoundland. Once again, he and his team are called into action and Windflower puts his own safety on the line to try and stop a nefarious and cunning criminal. As he works to resolve the case, Windflower must face an even larger conflict, one that won’t be won in his RCMP uniform. He will need to look to his ancestors and Cree traditions to guide him on a journey through tears so he can still see the stars.

“In this, the sixteenth novel in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, author Mike Martin continues to craft intrigue in the cultural and geographical setting unique to Newfoundland and Labrador. Readers new to the Windflower mysteries and those returning will experience the joys of a close-knit community that thrives on the simpler things in life: por’ cakes, a lighthouse in serious need of a facelift, TV movie nights and the warmth of get-togethers with family and friends.”

Follow Sgt. Windflower Mysteries on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore

Twitter

@mike54martin

Bluesky

@mike54martin