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Christy Martenson

Author of the Halstad House series and Love, Mary Elisabeth

  • Halstad House
  • Love, Mary Elisabeth

The Dream

by Christy Martenson

“Someday I want to write a children’s book.”

When I graduated from high school, we seniors were asked to share some of the things we wanted to accomplish in our lives. I don’t remember imparting any lofty goals such as discovering a cure for a horrible disease or brokering world peace, but I do remember my dream of writing and publishing. I used to regale a couple of high school friends with an ongoing story of a talking elephant named Hogarth. (What can I say? I was seventeen at the time.)

Majoring in English would have made sense when I enrolled in college. I chose music education instead––after all, I could always write in my free time. I managed to squeeze four years of college into six and landed a teaching position when I graduated. I worked with second graders every day, reading them tons of children’s books––just not one of my own. I figured I still had plenty of time. And of course when I wrote my book, publishers would clamor to sign me on as a client. I might have to give up on Hogarth but it would be easy to find new characters, right?

I taught for several years, married, began to raise two daughters. A few years more and I entered the joyful ranks of homeschoolers, which became a twenty year project.

The dream persisted.

Half-finished stories littered file folders, desk drawers, and my imagination. One day, excited and expectant, I took a correspondence course in children’s literature, after which the harsh reality of writing and publishing hit. I submitted many of my remarkable stories to publishers. And received equal amounts of rejection letters. Even though Hogarth didn’t appear in a single one of them, editors, as far as I could tell, didn’t find my submissions remarkable at all. Discouraged and disillusioned, I turned my attention to family, homeschooling, and music.

By the time my daughters had grown up and left the nest, though the embers of my dream smoldered, I thought I was probably too old to pursue this desire anymore. But when a friend invited me to a local writers’ group, I stepped out of my comfort zone, squared my shoulders, and joined them. The ladies––some published, some not––were lovely. I kept attending; they kept encouraging me to forge ahead.

One day a breeze seemed to stir those dream embers.

I remembered tales of my dad’s adventures as a boy on the family farm. A story began to take shape. I began to write.

There were setbacks and times of frustration but also times of pure joy as I penned the adventures. No talking elephants but a few silly barnyard animals lived on the pages.

Chapter after chapter I shared with the writers’ group. They critiqued, edited, encouraged me to persevere. They even fell in love with my characters. The stories multiplied until I finally held in my hand a full-length middle grade historical fiction novel.

The years have flown by since I voiced my ambition in high school. The time between then and now has been full of life––joys, sorrows, ups, downs. But the desire has remained, waiting patiently to be fanned into bright flames.

The dream. I can say it now and I will.

“Someday is here. I wrote a children’s book!”

Love, Mary Elisabeth by Christy Martenson

Love, Mary Elisabeth

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Photo of Christy by Michael Sheets

 

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Filed Under: Love, Mary Elisabeth October 3, 2017

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Comments

  1. Gretchen Louise says

    October 3, 2017 at 11:32 pm

    Congratulations, friend! You did it.

    And we couldn’t be more excited for you as Mary Elisabeth makes her way into the world!

    Reply
    • Christy Martenson says

      October 4, 2017 at 9:43 am

      Thank you, Gretchen! AND thanks for all your help and encouragement!!

      Reply

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Hello, I’m Christy.

Christy Martenson

I see stories everywhere.

I wrote Love, Mary Elisabeth based on actual stories from my father’s growing up years on the family farm.

I wrote Halstad House to highlight the importance of family, friends, and faith, all in my favorite corner of northeast Washington state.

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Halstad House by Christy Martenson
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Halstad House
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Praise for Halstad House

brings the characters to life

Christy has a unique voice and a true storyteller's gift.

Brenda Gates, author

Christy Martenson
2019-11-26T10:39:46-07:00

Brenda Gates, author

Christy has a unique voice and a true storyteller's gift.
https://christymartenson.com/testimonials/brings-the-characters-to-life/

a heartwarming family story

Christy's writing is like a bird thrilling high in a Ponderosa Pine on a warm summer morning.

Carmen Peone, award-winning author

Christy Martenson
2019-11-25T14:38:17-07:00

Carmen Peone, award-winning author

Christy's writing is like a bird thrilling high in a Ponderosa Pine on a warm summer morning.
https://christymartenson.com/testimonials/a-heartwarming-family-story/

a delightful cast of characters

Christy Martenson has woven an intricate journey of the heart into a story you won't soon forget.

Rachelle Rea Cobb, historical fiction author and editor

Christy Martenson
2019-09-10T19:24:33-07:00

Rachelle Rea Cobb, historical fiction author and editor

Christy Martenson has woven an intricate journey of the heart into a story you won't soon forget.
https://christymartenson.com/testimonials/a-delightful-cast-of-characters/

the characters draw you in to their own stories

The characters draw you into their own stories and make you root for the desired outcome.

Sara L.

Christy Martenson
2019-10-18T11:13:40-07:00

Sara L.

The characters draw you into their own stories and make you root for the desired outcome.
https://christymartenson.com/testimonials/the-characters-draw-you-in-to-their-own-stories/

one family’s struggles and God’s faithfulness

The careful character development and vivid word pictures quickly drew me in and had me laughing, crying and cheering.

Karen Cleghorn, retired medical editor and avid reader

Christy Martenson
2019-10-18T15:24:19-07:00

Karen Cleghorn, retired medical editor and avid reader

The careful character development and vivid word pictures quickly drew me in and had me laughing, crying and cheering.
https://christymartenson.com/testimonials/one-familys-struggles-and-gods-faithfulness/
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Christy Martenson
Love, Mary Elisabeth by Christy Martenson
Buy This Book Online
Buy from Amazon
Buy from Amazon Kindle
Buy from Barnes and Noble
Buy from Book Depository
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Love, Mary Elisabeth
Buy now!

Praise for Love, Mary Elisabeth

Everything comfortable about a whimsically relatable childhood, but with magical surprises along the way.

Jenni Marie, photographer and storyteller

An entertaining and original read!

Jennifer Church, teacher, missionary, and voracious reader

From its tender beginning to the heartfelt climax, the author engages her readers with wit, charm, and endurance.

Carmen Peone, award-winning author

Christy has captured the innocence and joy of a childhood spent navigating the triumphs and trials of country life that...

Emily C. Gardner, book blogger

Real-life tales skillfully woven into a fictional setting, these country adventures ring true to life and human nature.

Elisabeth Adams, writer and editor

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