Shade of the Maple is about a woman who must decide if she is going to follow the comfortable, but hollow American Dream or her dream. The story is unique because it captures a rare intimacy, which is much deeper than romance. The characters and their story had been living inside me for about a year. When I put pen to paper, they came alive and something magical happened. Writing the inner thoughts of a woman proved challenging, but once I "got into character"; Anna and Evan became real and spoke through me. I remember whispering to my wife on New Year's Eve 2001, "I wish I had more time to write."

Three days later, my wish came true! I got laid off from my job with an ad agency. I jumped into it wholeheartedly and began writing day and night. I turned down several job offers and kept writing, knowing (or at least thinking!) this was the time to go for it and pursue my dream. Eight months later, the manuscript was basically completed and the well had run dry. I received a call asking if I would be interested in developing new products and advertising for No Nonsense pantyhose. Yeah, I know, the dream job for any guy. They asked me if I would mind working on intimate apparel, I reminded them that I had once been the Brand Manager for Pamprin PMS!

So off to the corporate world I went again. But it was never the same. I couldn't shake the urge to write. So I worked virtually every night until 2am and every weekend to complete Shade of the Maple and publish it on my own. I like the independence, the creative freedom, the opportunity to own my work and influence everything from cover design to charities we support.

When I was 12, I wrote that my goal in life was to "float around making people happy". Writing is a way for me to accomplish that goal. I connect with people on a deeper level by revealing myself through my novels and have become friends with many readers. Part of the reason I chose to forego the traditional publishing route was so that I could donate a large portion of proceeds to charities. We have purchased school supplies for kids in Alabama, helped the family of Brandon Coker, and donated funds for breast cancer research. That is the most meaningful part for me.

Shade of the Maple is actually a metaphor for the strength a woman with breast cancer finds in the strength of unconditional love. I chose to highlight breast cancer to honor my mother, who is a survivor. A chance meeting at a dentist's office with an inspiring lady named Martha Kaley led to my partnership with Friends You Can Count On, the only national organization devoted solely to finding an early detection test for breast cancer. $2.00 from every sale through my website is donated to Friends.

I am extremely excited about my second novel, The Gravel Drive. It is a very personal story which captures the emotion of a father whose son is abducted. It is a story of transformation and redemption, and ultimately proves inspiring. Writing this novel changed me as a father.

One of the most exciting aspects of The Gravel Drive is that the Make-A-Wish Foundation agreed to let us partner with them. We will be donating $1.00 from every sale to help provide hope to children with life-threatening illnesses. Since the novel was written for my son, he chose the charity.

Writing provides a means for me to publish stories that have meaning, stories that can change the human heart. And there are many more inside me waiting to come out...

I am genuinely honored to be associated with Acoustic Outreach. AO's sole mission is to give selflessly to others and make a difference. There is nothing more cool than that.

If you are interested in purchasing one of Kirk's novels, please visit his web site at: www.kirkmartinbooks.com

Charity

To learn more about Friends...You Can Count On, see our Charity of the Month page or visit www.earlier.org