Delphi received a 4+ star review, making it an IndieReader Approved title.
Following find an interview with author Karen Martin.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Delphi, Oct 2024
What’s the book’s first line?
Athena scrutinized the pebbles as they danced around the bowl.
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
Four years after Cressida sought refuge in a timeless Minoan cave, the appearance of an unknown aunt spirals her into chaos. Childhood wounds resurface, compelling Cressida toward a crucial decision. Will she trade her newfound life for love and financial security? Inspired by dreams, she travels to Delphi seeking counsel from the Oracle, unaware of her pivotal role to save humanity from catastrophic misery.
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
Delphi is the sequel to Dancing the Labyrinth. The inspiration for that novel was the question: How do I raise my son to be a decent human being within a patriarchal society (provoked by the rising rates in domestic violence). Delphi is both the back story to Cressida, forward story of Ashtar – who founded the Sanctuary of Gaia at Delphi – and resolution to the healing journey that Cressida began in the first novel.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
It is inspiring on many levels – healing journey of childhood wounds, female friendship, stepping out of ‘traditional’ constraints, women’s ancient history, the missing gap in the founding of Delphi, and a great story with many layers.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
Cressida is flawed but she is honest and struggles to become the best version of herself
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
Florence Pugh and Angeliki Papoulia
When did you first decide to become an author?
2016 following a career as a playwright and theatre director
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Delphi is my third novel.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I am an author.
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Depending on what stage I am in the process, I can write daily up to 6 hours, or as little as twice a week
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best is the independence as an entrepreneur and small business operator – I can choose my timeframes and not stress over deadlines. The worst part is the discrimination within the industry and the difficulty in distribution
What’s a great piece of advice that you can share with fellow indie authors?
Love what you do.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
I chose not to approach publishers for my last two novels. My next book is a memoir so as a creative non-fiction it might be interesting to subject this to the demands of trad publishing, but it is not a deal breaker. I enjoy and celebrate being an indie author.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Unveiling women’s history that has been retold to benefit the “conqueror’s voice”We need more stories that reflect women’s perspectives.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Paulo Coelho. His novel The Alchemist is a fable of how to live your life
Which book do you wish you could have written?
100 Years of Solitude.