An Interview with Martyn McGrath

This month we continue our series of author interviews with Martyn McGrath, creator of the Trials of the Hopebreather series.

KM: Can you tell us a little about why you write for a middle grade audience?

MM: I write middle grade because I remember that time of life fondly – particularly the magic of reading – and I want to engage that audience with my writing. I keenly remember searching and searching for new authors whom I could trust, especially fantasy authors. They always seemed to be so rare, so when I found one that I liked, it was as if I’d discovered the secret room and picked the lock on the time-worn chest, only to find that the treasure within was even more valuable than I’d dared imagine. The middle grades are vividly experienced years; I was greatly impacted by what I read, and knowing that, I cherish the opportunity to have an impact on young, vivacious minds. 

KM: As a person of faith, I’m particularly interested in how/if faith plays a part in other writers’ experiences. How does your faith inform what you write and/or how you approach writing?

MM: As a reader, I believe there are stories that matter and stories that don’t. The stories that reveal something amazing about my God – whether they do so implicitly or explicitly – those are the stories that matter to me. Those are the stories with real power because they are directed to the highest purpose of language: the glory of God. So, when I write by faith, it means that I do so approving of what God approves, disapproving of that which is sin, and striving to engage my readers in thinking about heavenly things. As Job notes, God sometimes sets darkness in our paths, so writing by faith is not always light and joyous. But to write about a way of darkness is not to take gratuitous pleasure in it, which is a key distinction between what is good and what is evil. 

KM: Would you mind sharing with us a little about your writing journey?

MM: My love for writing began at a young age. But pursuing writing seriously, and put together a plan of what I hope to accomplish with my writing? That came much later. I’m still in the early stages of my writing endeavors, so by no means have I hit all those goals. But sooner or later, I had to stop practicing and hesitating, and just go for it. I decided to go indie so that I could take things at my own pace and experiment with how and what I wanted to write. Proverbs 29:25 says that the fear of man is a snare, and I had to face that truth, because when I started, I was almost paralyzed by a fear of what others would say about me and my work. I still struggle with that from time to time, as I’m sure many authors do, but every time I do, it’s a reminder to be sure of my motivations before God. Being right with him enables me to go forward boldly, trying to do the best I can. 

KM: What advice, encouragement, or suggestions do you have for aspiring writers?

MM: There is no one path for writers. For a long time, I thought there was, as if there were secrets known only to a special and enlightened few. But you are unique; don’t try to force yourself into a mold or solve problems the way that everyone else does. Be patient with yourself and your work, and understand that a master writer is decades in the making – savor the journey, be ready to learn, and you’ll find it to be a deep and rich pursuit!

Martyn McGrath’s debut novel Door to Altharia is the first book of Trials of the Hopebreather series. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta and currently resides in Ontario with his wife and two daughters.

Kell McKinney earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and an M.S. in documentary studies from the University of North Texas. She’s a part-time copywriter, double-time mom and wife, and spends every free minute writing and/or hunting for her car keys. Connect with her on Twitter @Kell_McK or kellmckinney.com.