Showing results by author "Martin Francom" in All Categories

August, 1934. The Great Depression has turned the red clay of Georgia into dust and desperation. For Ray Stubbins, a good man with a back made of iron and a heart too soft for his own good, the world is shrinking. With a 47 dollar tax bill threatening to take the family land, Ray leaves his young wife, Lurene, and his watchful sister, Jessie, to take a dangerous logging job on Candletop Mountain.

In an era when fantasy novels often rely on epic battles and world-ending stakes, Gig Harbor: The Enduring Mystery offers something far more sophisticated: a meditation on the quiet heroism of ordinary people protecting extraordinary secrets. This remarkable debut weaves together Pacific Northwest history, environmental conservation, and elements of magical realism into a narrative that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary.

History is not a line; it is a wheel. London, 1936. Edward Blackwood is a man drowning in the grey fog of failure. A writer whose words find no home, he stands on the precipice of despair until a mysterious invitation leads him to the oak-paneled sanctuary of the St. Francis de Sales Club. There, he meets the Senior Steward—a man known only as Arthur—who offers him a terrifying gift: the ability to see the invisible clockwork of human history. For three centuries, the Stewards have guarded a secret that the world has forgotten. History moves in predictable, seasonal cycles called "Turnings."

The Clockwork Murders: Sherlock Holmes and the Coterie Plot is a masterful blend of Victorian mystery, steampunk intrigue, and classic detective storytelling. The author crafts a gripping narrative that seamlessly integrates historical accuracy with speculative technology, making for an immersive and thrilling read. The story begins with an elaborate murder at a prestigious London gala, where an esteemed scientist, Professor Silas Blackwood, falls victim to a mechanical spider brooch.

Valhöll Brewing: The Mystery of the Golden Red Ale is a wildly original and heartwarming fusion of Norse mythology, small-town Americana, and modern magic. Set in the cozy harbor town of Poulsbo, Washington, this story follows master brewer Lyndsi Stubb as she ventures from the warmth of her brewery into the misty wilds of Iceland...and back again...guided by heritage, hope, and one very unexpected hatchling.

In a literary landscape saturated with predictable ghost stories and superficial historical fiction, Port Gamble: Shadows of the Sound emerges as a revelatory achievement. This meticulously researched novel transforms a real Washington lumber town into a setting where history and the supernatural intertwine with rare sophistication and emotional resonance. The narrative spans from Port Gamble's bloody founding in the 1850s to the present day, where historian Emily Walker discovers her ancestral connection to the town's supernatural legacy.

"Shadows of History: A Century of Secret Influence" by Marty Francom is an ambitious and intriguing blend of historical fiction and speculative thriller. The novel follows Edward Blackwood, a young writer in 1930s London who becomes embroiled in the clandestine activities of the St. Francis de Sales Club, a secret society dedicated to shaping world events from the shadows. The narrative spans the tumultuous 20th century, from the eve of World War II to the dawn of the digital age.

Chronicles of Qhapaq Pacha is a fantasy novel that masterfully weaves Inca mythology and a cosmic adventure into a captivating narrative. The story follows three protagonists, Killa, Inti-Coya, and Ayar, as they navigate a world threatened by a malevolent entity known as Supay.

Tale Of Two Tribes is a beautifully crafted historical novel that weaves together themes of love, identity, and cultural reconciliation. Set against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, it follows Aiyana, a young woman of the Smulkamish tribe, as she navigates the deep-rooted conflicts between her people and the Skopamish. Through her secret meetings with Nakoda, a Skopamish young man, Aiyana begins to question long-held divisions and seeks a path toward unity between the tribes.

Enter a realm where the boundaries between science and the supernatural blur, where the audacious theories of visionary minds like Nikola Tesla are not dismissed as mere fantasies but as gateways to unveiling the profoundest mysteries of existence itself. This is the dimension where our epic odyssey unfolds, chronicling the extraordinary voyage of an unlikely duo - Carl Halliburton, a relentless and daring journalist ever in pursuit of the next earth-shattering exposé, and his rebellious sister Shama, a virtuoso hacker who maneuvers the shadowy labyrinths of cyberspace with unrivaled prowess.

Secret Echoes in the Cascadia Deep is a tense, intricately plotted conspiracy thriller that blends elements of military fiction, investigative journalism, and Cold War history into a compelling narrative about truth, sacrifice, and institutional secrecy. The story follows sonar technician Sarah Chen, historian Michael Torres, and journalist Rebecca Wu as they unearth a decades-long naval conspiracy—the existence of a secret submarine base beneath Puget Sound, covered up since World War II and protected at the cost of numerous innocent lives.

Under Color of Law is a devastatingly tense legal thriller that operates on two levels: as a gripping, high-stakes race against time and as a profound meditation on loyalty, corruption, and the integrity of the American justice system. The result is a novel that is impossible to put down and impossible to forget. The Core Conflict • The story begins with a brutal act of political self-preservation.

When Professor Finch's groundbreaking experiments with etheric energy draw unwanted attention from the mysterious Coterie of the Cog, he is forced to flee London with his street-smart assistant Ada Lovelace and the charming diplomat Tristan Byrne. Together, they become known as the Gearsmiths, pioneers in the revolutionary field of etheric science. But their innovations have made them targets of those who would use such power for nefarious purposes.

In an alternative Victorian era where aetheric science and steam-powered marvels shape society, the brilliant but eccentric Professor Erasmus Finch and his unlikely allies find themselves at the heart of a conflict that will determine the future of technology and spirituality alike.

"The Battle of New Orleans: The Story of Three Cajun Teenagers" is a captivating historical fiction that brings the War of 1812 to life through the eyes of young Cajun heroes. Set against the backdrop of the Louisiana bayou, this tale follows Jacques, Marie, and Henri as they embark on a journey from mischievous teens to unlikely war heroes.

In the heart of the Olympic Rainforest, two adventurous 10-year-old boys stumble upon a treasure map that leads them on a journey of a lifetime. With their trusty companion, they set out to find hidden gold, and other treasures encountering perils and wonders beyond their wildest dreams.

In the city of New Eden, 1928, the lines between man and machine blur. Detective Mark Thompson, a veteran grappling with his own cybernetic augmentations, faces a chilling series of murders. Sents, the city's synthetic workforce, are being brutally killed, each body marked with a tarot card. Partnered with the enigmatic Sent detective, RB-2219, Thompson delves into the underbelly of New Eden, where pleasure houses cater to humanity's darkest desires and whispers of a Sent uprising simmer in the shadows.

"The Tunguska Incident" is a thrilling steampunk adventure that bends historical events, speculative science and mystical forces into man engaging narrative. Set against the backdrop of the early 20th century, the novel reimagines the famous Tunguska event as the result of powerful and secretive technological experiments, intersecting with ancient, ethereal forces.

"Game Over: The Ultimate Gaming Experience" plunges readers into a chilling, philosophical Sci-Fi thriller that blurs the lines between virtual reality and existential dread. What begins as a seemingly revolutionary full-dive VR game quickly unravels into a terrifying exploration of consciousness, free will, and the very nature of reality. The story introduces Derek Hoffman, a jaded gamer whose solitary existence is disrupted by a mysterious neural headset. This device promises unparalleled immersion in the "Cosmic Realm," a world so real it's indistinguishable from life itself.

The Mirror Whispers is that rare literary gem that manages to be both profoundly moving and genuinely magical without ever feeling contrived or saccharine. The story is a masterpiece that sounds like a lost collaboration between Ray Bradbury and Nicholas Sparks, filtered through the philosophical lens of Rod Serling's Twilight Zone.