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The Plight of the Homeless

Busted Flat follows a veteran of the Afghanistan wars with PTSD who takes in a homeless, orphaned teenager, and together, they travel the U.S., surviving by stealth and theft. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I’m not sure if there was a specific inspiration – a specific flashpoint that ignited the story. I’ll see or hear something that stays in my head and rolls around until my subconscious molds it into shape and sends it up to me to consider as a possibility. For some time, I have been thinking about how this sort of potentially violent, lawless underclass is more proof of the decline of American society thanks to unfettered capitalism. I’d written one or two of the chapter flash stories as standalone work and they were published and so I had the idea to write a novella told in flash fiction.

What was your inspiration for the characters and their relationship?

Once I was sold on the idea of a flash fiction novella structure, I liked the growing contrast between the two – Hap and Shiner. They come from different worlds and are different generations, but there is a crossroads where they come together as fellow lost travelers at the margins of society.

What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?

The plight of the homeless stands out. In this case, they are willfully homeless. I made Shiner a veteran because I wanted to explore the life of someone summoned to war and then left damaged on his own. America gives lip service to veterans – “Thanks for your service.” – but largely turns a blind eye once they are back.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when can your fans expect it to be out?

Earlier in 2024, my novella Donovan’s Revolution came out. It’s set during the 1980s revolution in Haiti. In January my novella Night Hawks will be released. It’s the story of how four people’s paths in a small town keep crossing and their lives become intertwined.

I just finished writing a new novel, I Just Don’t Get Karaoke, and another novella, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. I’m shopping them to publishers.

And I recently reached a milestone – 50 published short stories.

Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Amazon

Busted Flat is gritty coming of age story of Hap, a homeless orphaned teenaged boy picked up by Shiner, a veteran of the Afghanistan wars. Together they travel the U.S. surviving by stealth and theft. Masterfully told by the boy Hap, the boy’s experience with Shiner gradually leads to a dawning realization that the man who “saved” him from the streets, who sees that he is fed and has a place to sleep, is deeply troubled. PTSD makes Shiner’s behavior erratic and sometimes violent. Where will their relationship lead? Is the boy safe? What other option does Hap have? Told with humor and empathy, this cautionary tale reveals the impoverished dark side of the American Dream. Short flash fiction chapters lead the reader through this novella and paint a frightening picture of how many young runaways and homeless veterans try to survive in today’s America. Hap’s voice is heartbreakingly authentic, giving readers insight to how teen runaways experience life in the U.S.A.

Posted in Interviews

FARMERVILLE EPISODE 1: Till Those Cows Come Home

Mar 29

Posted by Literary Titan

Set against the backdrop of Halloween’s festive yet eerie atmosphere, Farmerville Episode 1: Till Those Cows Come Home by Marty Martin is a unique blend of absurdity and suspense. The story unfolds in a seemingly tranquil rural town, where Deputy Ron Farmer’s routine duty takes a horrifying turn. He intends to rescue a family from two convicts, only to uncover the true menace: the family itself. The Holcombs, with their sinister torture barn and a penchant for murder, thrust Ron into a vortex of unexpected challenges.

Martin skillfully shifts the narrative from the initial portrayal of an idyllic town to revealing the murky underbelly of Farmerville and its inhabitants. The novel’s brisk pace aligns with its shorter length, swiftly unveiling surprising antagonists and the grisly pastimes of the Holcomb family. Despite the grim subject matter, the portrayal of the Holcombs’ unhinged nature injects a peculiar lightness into the narrative. Sensitive themes are tactfully prefaced with a disclaimer, addressing the array of potentially triggering content within. The plot escalates as the convicts stumble upon the wrong targets, intertwining their fate with Ron’s, who harbors his own hidden history. Laura, Ron’s daughter, emerges as an unexpectedly strong character, though less entangled in the town’s mysteries than her father. The novel crescendos into an intense culmination of violence and suspense, befitting a cinematic Halloween thriller, leaving an open-ended suggestion of further mysteries and conflicts. The ending leaves readers pondering Ron’s ominous future.

Martin’s narrative is engaging and enjoyable, capturing the reader’s imagination with the promise of more secrets to uncover in Farmerville. The concept of each series installment focusing on different town elements is intriguing, promising an expansive and detailed exploration of Farmerville’s enigmatic character. Martin’s storytelling assures that future episodes will be equally compelling, making Farmerville Episode 1: Till Those Cows Come Home a captivating start to what promises to be an absorbing series.

Pages: 86 | ASIN : B0CFD39DQ8