Local Author Mary Gilmartin Launches Debut Novel

Mary Gilmartin celebrated the launch of her first published work with a book signing at the  in Stone Mountain Village on June 2.  

Gilmartin, a 30-year Stone Mountain resident, has been writing since her children were born.  It wasn't until the recession hit and she left the corporate world three years ago, however, that she got serious about it.  Only three years passed between enrolling in a creative writing course at Emory and signing autographs.  

Her book, Adventures with Easton: The Magical Journey, is about a young boy who overcomes his adversities through his dreams and friendships.  

Stone Mountain Patch caught up with Gilmartin to discuss her book and writing career. 

Stone Mountain Patch: What inspired you to start writing Adventures with Easton: The Magical Journey?

Gilmartin:  The inspiration actually came from a script about a dream I wrote three years ago. For the next couple of years, I ventured into other genres of writings from autobiography to non-fiction. But, for some reason I kept thinking about this story. Last year I decided to finish writing the fictional story about a nine-year-old boy and his family relationships.

Six months later it became known as Adventures with Easton: The Magical Journey. This is my first book of a trilogy for 9-12 year olds. 

Stone Mountain Patch:  What do you love most about your book?

Gilmartin: The main character, Easton, is what I love most about my book. I enjoyed writing this book because it took me back to my own childhood. I had my own adversities to overcome.

Stone Mountain Patch: When did you start writing, and why?

Gilmartin: I have always had an interest in creative writing. Three years ago was a turning point in my life when I took a writing class at Emory University. Three months later I found myself unemployed due to the economy. Then I discovered by setting up my own home office I could start writing something every day. Now, I am the boss and can work fulltime as a writer.

Stone Mountain Patch:  As an author, where do you get your ideas?

Gilmartin:  Most of my ideas come from that exciting database stored inside my head. I sometimes wonder where my vivid imagination comes from, but actually I know. I am an extremely visual person and can honestly say that I have never had writer’s block. I am inspired by life and everything around me. The stories sometimes want to write themselves. The words seem to flow onto the screen when I sit down in front of my computer and start writing.

Typing is my preferred method for writing. Sometimes I will write a story idea that comes to mind on a piece of scratch paper. This usually gets transcribed, printed and filed to develop later.

Stone Mountain Patch:  What books do you personally enjoy reading? Which writers have inspired you?

Gilmartin:  I enjoy reading most everything. The books range from young children’s stories to adult fiction. I am constantly looking and discovering authors that I have never read before. Mem Fox is an Australian author that I started reading a couple of years ago. I love her children stories.

Another children and young adult author that recently inspired me is AVI. When I discovered his book, A Beginning, A Muddle, and An End: the Right Way to Write Writing, I wanted to know more about him. I ended up reading all of his Dimwood Forest episode books about Poppy, a deer mouse.

There are so many other authors that also inspire me. It would be impossible to list all of them.