Tag Archives: Writing

Another Five-Star Review of ‘YEAR OF THE DEMON’ From NetGalley!

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Here’s another amazing five-star review of my supernatural martial arts thriller, YEAR OF THE DEMON, from a NetGalley reviewer. https://www.netgalley.com/book/729579/review/142279

Get YEAR OF THE DEMON here: https://a.co/d/7KAnyh4

Description:

To his Taekwondo students, Vance Palladian is more than just a teacher; he is the Paladin, a man of warrior virtue. Now a widower, and with his finances in disarray, Vance feels disillusioned with his once noble life.

After thwarting a seemingly random robbery and the kidnapping attempt of a wealthy future heiress, Vance finds himself employed as her bodyguard by the young woman’s father, a mysterious businessman who holds the lineage of the last remaining esoteric school of ancient Japanese ninja fighting arts.

Vance is taught the deadly techniques of Japan’s invisible assassins, and finds the mythology behind these dark teachings is just as real, pulling him into a world of crime, deception, seduction, and vice, where nothing is quite as it seems.

Now, he must battle tengu and oni, along with the forces of organized crime and police corruption, to survive the…

YEAR OF THE DEMON

Get YEAR OF THE DEMON here: https://a.co/d/8R29F6a

Five-Star Review of ‘YEAR OF THE DEMON’ from NetGalley

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Here’s an amazing five-star review of my supernatural thriller, YEAR OF THE DEMON, from a librarian and reviewer on NetGalley. https://www.netgalley.com/book/729579/review/613923

https://a.co/d/8R29F6a

https://www.netgalley.com/publisher/title/729579

To his Taekwondo students, Vance Palladian is more than just a teacher; he is the Paladin, a man of warrior virtue. Now a widower, and with his finances in disarray, Vance feels disillusioned with his once noble life.

After thwarting a seemingly random robbery and the kidnapping attempt of a wealthy future heiress, Vance finds himself employed as her bodyguard by the young woman’s father, a mysterious businessman who holds the lineage of the last remaining esoteric school of ancient Japanese ninja fighting arts.

Vance is taught the deadly techniques of Japan’s invisible assassins, and finds the mythology behind these dark teachings is just as real, pulling him into a world of crime, deception, seduction, and vice, where nothing is quite as it seems.

Now, he must battle tengu and oni, along with the forces of organized crime and police corruption, to survive the…

YEAR OF THE DEMON

Get a Free Audiobook Code from Michael Cottam

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Now available on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes – DM Michael Cottam on Linkedin for an Audible code redeemable for a complimentary copy! Please review us!

I love how Michael breathed life into my characters. If you listen until the end, you’ll be treated to a hilarious bit with Sho! If you don’t, you’re missing out!

Year of the Demon: A Martial Arts Thriller Unleashed

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The day is finally here! My new novel, YEAR OF THE DEMON, is available from Crossroad Press in print and ebook editions!

Books2Read Ebook Links:

https://books2read.com/u/bzkKg9?fbclid=IwY2xjawI9LoVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXYl5m2Snngmrf-niNs6VdOm0V74jMYiRNAhhx13vbFV__atrZ50MsDbDg_aem_v1OKex3zFJjA_9mLcgnkEA

Description:

To his martial arts students, Vance Palladian is more than just a teacher; he is the Paladin, a man of warrior virtue. Now a widower, and with his finances in disarray, Vance feels disillusioned with his once noble life.

After thwarting a seemingly random robbery, and the kidnapping attempt of a wealthy future heiress, Vance finds himself employed as her bodyguard by the young woman’s father, a mysterious businessman who holds the lineage of the last remaining esoteric school of ancient Japanese fighting arts.

Vance is taught the deadly techniques of Japan’s invisible assassins, and finds the mythology behind these dark teachings is just as real, pulling him into a world of crime, deception, seduction, and vice, where nothing is quite as it seems.

Now, he must battle tengu and oni, along with the forces of organized crime and police corruption, to survive the…

YEAR OF THE DEMON

*******

PRAISE FOR YEAR OF THE DEMON

“David North-Martino’s Year of the Demon is a gripping martial arts thriller that masterfully blends ancient traditions, mythological intrigue, and contemporary challenges into a captivating tale of redemption and survival. With its richly drawn protagonist and relentless pacing, this novel is a must-read for fans of action-packed, character-driven stories.” – Alan R. Warren, NBC News Talk Radio, award winning, bestselling true crime author.

PRAISE FOR WOLVES OF VENGEANCE

“A paranormal wolf novel with real teeth…North-Martino’s a writer to watch for.” – Reb MacRath, award-winning author of The Suiting and Caesar’s Ghost.

“A satisfying novel of occult horror.” – David T. Wilbanks, co-author of The Dead Earth Series

PRAISE FOR “THE MIDNIGHT CLUB”

“A [story] which stood out for me: ‘The Midnight Club’ by David North-Martino – a serial killer who lives for the thrill of the hunt gets what’s coming to him when his prey turns to predator. – Heather Daughrity, author of Tales My Grandmother Told Me: Sixteen Unsettling Stories

PRAISE FOR “SAT DOWN INSIDER HER”

David North Martino’s “Sat Down Inside Her”; finds a female alien abductee learning she has become a breeder for future humans. This scifi/horror hybrid really gets the creeps going. – Nick Cato, author of Death Witch

Year in Review: 2024

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Each year I create a list of goals for every area of my life. Throughout the year I work my goals, track my progress, and commit to posting my top accomplishments (and some smaller ones). I hope to inspire others to do the same.

Writing Goals

Novels/Novelas

  • YEAR OF THE DEMON went up for Preorder this year in ebook and print from Crossroad Press! Audio coming soon! A mixture of horror, martial arts action, and urban fantasy, it’s sure to thrill and delight! ARCs are available for reviewers.
Year of the Demon available in ebook and print from Crossroad Press March 11, 2025
  • BLADE OF THE VAGABOND: HEAVEN, EARTH, & WOMAN now available for Kindle! Read it for FREE with Kindle Unlimited! Originally published as a Kindle Vella novella, with the program ending, I decided to put it up on Kindle as an ebook. A paperback edition is a possibility! An historical epic fantasy set in an alternate Warring States period Japan, this novella is filled with magic, Asian mythology, and martial arts. Get your copy today!
Blade of the Vagabond: Heaven, Earth, & Woman available on Amazon

https://a.co/d/2wEX6VO

  • Submitted opening of crime novel to Black Spring’s Big Bang Prize judged by Lee Child for best opening of a crime book.
  • Submitted Supernatural Thriller to the Berkley Open Submission Program.
  • Published Blade of the Vagabond on Kindle Vella.
  • Entered the Kindle Vella Vellys Contest.
  • Received Vella Bonus.
  • Year of the Demon: Read through and made edits. Approved final edits from publisher, Approved formatting for all editions. Approved cover. Sent information for audiobook narration audition. Began marketing.
  • Wolves of Vengeance continues to sell and be read on Kindle Unlimited eleven years after its publication! It also received another 4-star review this year! I’m considering creating a revised and expanded edition. Would you be interested? https://a.co/d/aMXwq1f

Short Stories

  • Sent a short story pitch to a top magazine.
  • Had a short story shortlisted for an upcoming anthology.
  • Submitted to 12 short story markets.
  • Wrote one new short story.
  • Edited all short stories before sending out.

Sharpen the Saw

  • Attended Thrills and Chills: Writing and Selling Horror: A Masterclass with Jonathan Maberry. A fantastic class!
  • Live Editing Session # 3 with Tom Bromley Reedsy’s Head of Learning.

Martial Arts

Crushing my martial arts goals in the Year of the Dragon!

Seminars

Meeting the legendary Guro Dan Inosanto.
  • Attended Coach Jeff Burger’s Trapping & Wooden Dummy (Mook Jong) Seminar at K.I.C.K. Karate in Salem, MA.
  • Attended Drowning in Jeet Kune Do Intermediate & Advanced Training at DAMA.
  • Attended Drowning in Kali Intermediate & Advanced Training at DAMA.
Drowning in Jeet Kune Do Intermediate & Advanced training at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts
Drowning in Kali Intermediate & Advanced Training at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts

Ranking

  • Earned Kali Level One at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts
  • Earned Kali Level Two at DAMA after earning Level Two in JKD. Yes, I took two tests during the same night! A martial arts teacher I know thought I was crazy for doing two tests in one night. I am, and I was!
  • Earned Jeet Kune Do (JKD) Level Two at DAMA.

Training 2024

  • Another year of training complete. Hard work but still a great time with great people. I’ve found my tribe!
  • Home solo training included Mook Jong, Bas Thai Boxing workouts, shadow boxing and drills, and free-weights.
  • Celebrated 37 years of martial arts training!

Broadcasting & Podcasting

  • Co-Hosted 50 episodes of the House of Mystery Radio Show (also on Podcast).
  • Since 2021, I’ve co-hosted 398 episodes of the House of Mystery Radio Show (as heard on NBC News Radio).
  • GoodPods awarded us #1 Best Crime Fiction Podcast of All-Time!
  • Received IMDb credits for all podcast episodes. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm16649941/

Acting

Youtube and Social Media

Martial Arts Main Channel

I didn’t do as much with my channel this year. Between writing and martial arts training I was full out! https://www.youtube.com/@davidnorth-martino

  • 26 short videos main channel.
  • 6 long videos main channel.
  • 37.7K Views.
  • 206.1 Watch time (hours).
  • +125 Subscribers.

HDaveMI https://www.youtube.com/@hdavemi6667/videos

  • 5 long videos.
  • 1 short video.
  • 2.2k views.
  • 70.4 Watch Time (hours).
  • +14 Subscribers.

I also posted shorts on Facebook (Rising Top Creator), Instagram, and TikTok.

Martino Movie Reviews

Family

  • Brought Patty for hand surgery.
  • Drove my dad to his surgery appointment.
  • Celebrated our birthdays.
  • Celebrated our 29th Wedding Anniversary
  • Celebrated our 32nd Anniversary of our first date.
  • Attended a Pow Wow with my mom and dad and celebrated my mother’s birthday.
  • Had dinner with my parents.
  • Called my parents twice a week.
  • Brought Diesel to all vet appointments.
  • Got Diesel a GPS so we could find him when he wants to play adventure cat.

Friends

  • Traveled to Flushing Queens New York with martial arts friends to attend the Guro Dan Inosanto weekend seminar. See Travel and Martial Arts.
  • Had a great time at the Asia Grill in Lincoln, RI for the annual end-of-year JKD/Kali get-together. We ordered entrées and drinks, shared apps and good conversations.
  • Continued a great friendship with Al Warren.
  • Built a cat tree for our neighbor’s cat.
  • Cat-sat for our neighbor’s cat.
  • Celebrated Thanksgiving with Patty. We got meals from Peppercorns Restaurant in Worcester.
  • Celebrated Christmas with Patty. I seared NY Strip and filled the house with smoke. Diesel was not impressed. Still, the steak turned out great!
  • Had neighbor over for a Christmas get-together.
  • Had neighbor over for New Years.
  • Kept in contact with my college English professor through email and social media.
  • Kept in contact with writer friends.
  • Gave feedback to a writer friend on his super secret writing project.

Health

  • Annual Physical went well. My labs are stable. My bad cholesterol has improved. My good cholesterol has increased. My triglycerides are about the same.
  • Eye doctor Appointments went well.
  • Cleanings with hygienist.
  • Lost 9 pounds using MacroFactor app.

Travel

  • Flushing, Queens, NYC: An amazing time with my DAMA family. The Compass rooftop tiki bar at the top of the Parc Hotel.
  • Bar Chuanryu. They had live music.
  • New World Mall Food Court.
  • Project Ke
  • Squid on a stick!
  • Jollibee and more!
  • Foxwoods Casino day-trip.

Cars

Patty’s Car

  • New Battery, front brakes, inspection, wiper blades, recall inspection, replace back camera mount under recall.

My Car

  • General maintenance. New battery. Install new sun visor.

House

  • Flue Cleaning & Inspection.
  • Changed lights in upstairs bathroom.
  • Changed lights in downstairs bathroom.
  • Assembled catio for Diesel.
  • Assembled bookcase for Patty.
  • Assembled folding exercises bike for Patty.
  • Installed security cameras.
  • Installed wine glass rack above sink.
  • Built ANOTHER cat tree for Diesel. Diesel rips through one of these per year.

That’s all I can remember for 2024. It’s been a fantastic year of personal and professional accomplishments! See you in 2025! Happy New Year!

Year in Review: 2023

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Each year I create a list of goals for every area of my life. Throughout the year I work my goals, track my progress, and commit to posting my top accomplishments. I hope to inspire others to do the same.

Writing

Novels

  • Signed publishing contract! I signed a contract with a publishing house and I’ll have a new novel out sometime next year. Top goal!!! More info once I’m allowed to publicly announce.
  • Wolves of Vengeance became a #9 Best Seller in free Occult Horror Top 100 Free Kindle Books. https://www.amazon.com/Wolves-Vengeance-David-North-Martino-ebook/dp/B00F3GU182/ Top 10, baby!
  • Participated in the 1st annual  Terrify your Tablet/Spook your Kindle promotion.
  • Another one of my novels made it through 1st cuts and the full manuscript was requested.

Short Stories

Writers of the Future Honorable Mention 2nd Quarter 2023
Writers of the Future honorable Mention 3rd quarter 2023
  • Earned two Honorable Mentions in the Writers of the Future Contest (see above). The top 10% of entrants get Honorable Mentions. https://www.writersofthefuture.com
  • I edited “Tracer” from a rejection with comments to an Honorable Mention.

Sharpen the Saw

  • Attended: The Novel: From First Draft to Bookshelf Workshop with Jonathan Maberry.
  • Attended: Writing and Selling Short Stories Workshop with Jonathan Maberry.

Martial Arts

Rank Promotions

Essential Filipino Martial Arts Level 3 Basic Instructor 2023
Pacific Archipelago Concepts Level 3 Basic Instructor 2023
Jun Fan/ Jeet Kune Do Level One
  • Promoted to PAC-FMA Level 3 Instructor under Guro W. Hock Hochheim 2023 (See Above).
  • Listed as a Level 3 Instructor on Website. ForceNecessary.com
  • Began official ranking in Bruce Lee’s Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do Concepts in the Sifu/Guro Inosanto Lineage.
  • Promoted to Jun Fan/Jeet Kune Do (JKD) Level 1 under Sifu Raffi Derderian.

Seminars

14-Hour Combination Seminar in Inosanto Kali and Presas Family Arnis 2023
Drowning in JKD Seminar at Derderian Academy of Martial Arts
Two-Day Double Impact Jeet Kune Do and Filipino Kali Seminar with Guro Raffi and Sifu Kevin Seaman
Chris LaCava’s Beat ‘Em & Treat ‘Em Tour (2023) at Coach Jeff Burger’s K.I.C.K Karate in Salem, MA. Stockton Multi-Style Escrima Sword & Knife Seminar.

Martial Arts Classes

Martial Arts Home Training

  • Began training Patty in JKD at home.
  • Continued solo home training utilizing Mook Jong, wife as training partner, Bas Thai Boxing workout, and free-weights.

Co-Host: The House of Mystery Radio Show on NBC

  • As heard on NBC News Radio in Los Angeles/Riverside/San Bernardino/Palm. Springs/Seattle/Tacoma/Salt Lake City/Phoenix and online podcasts. https://www.alanrwarren.com/house-of-mystery-radioshow
  • Interviewed James Patterson. 309,672 podcast plays/downloads, 30k Youtube views.
  • Interviewed Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child – 5th most popular interview in 2023! 173,000 plays/downloads/airing with a 2.1 ratings marketshare in L.A. (252,000 estimated listeners)!
  • Co-hosted over 100 new episodes.

Martino Movie Reviews on NBC

Youtube & Social Media

Interviews

Interviewed by Dominick Izzo on Them’s fightin’ Words! podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSDjS5a3Csw&t=1920s

My Martial Arts Channel & HDaveMI

  • Continued to make long form and short form martial arts instruction videos on Youtube channel and also on Reelz, Instagram, and Tiktok. https://www.youtube.com/@davidnorth-martino/videos
  • Began HDaveMI movie review and physical media channel.
  • Earned top 5% in Facebook rising creators.

Podcasts

  • Published 3 episodes of the Live Martial Podcast.
  • Had martial arts teachers reach out who want to be on the show. I hope to expand the show next year.

Family & Friends

  • Mother’s Day at North End Diner.
  • Helped family member move into new apartment.
  • Celebrated 28th Wedding Anniversary with dinner at Ted’s Montana Grill. 
  • Visited In-Laws for get-together.
  • Father’s Day at North End Diner. 
  • Celebrated 31st Anniversary of our first date.
  • Cat-sat for our neighbor’s cats.
  • Cracker Barrel Thanksgiving takeout.
  • Continued friendship with Alan R. Warren. 
  • Continued friendship through email and social media with my former English professor. 
  • Kept up friendships with writer friends, martial arts friends, high school & college. friends on social media.
  • Made new writing and martial arts friends.

Health

  • Annual Physical – besides an increase in weight (it’s all muscle) everything looks good!
  • Eye doctor appointments -everything stable.
  • Cleanings with hygienist and X-rays A+.
  • Two appointments for crown installation.

Cars

  • Patty’s car – inspection, oil change, tire rotation.
  • My car towed Breaks, rotters, oil change, fluids, new battery.
  • Installed Cover Craft Dashboard cover on my car.
  • Drove 100 miles to reset computer in my car after battery died.

House

  • Get new bedroom air cleaner replaced through warranty service. 
  • New chair for Diesel.
  • Replaced aging recliners.
  • Installed nest Protect Smokes and CO2 Alarms.
  • Installed throw rug with mat in living room.
  • Replaced patio door handle in living room.
  • Troubleshoot dishwasher wasn’t draining. Hose clogged. Cleared out and draining again.

Movies at Theater

  • IMAX: Mission Impossible Dead Reckoning: Part 1.
  • IMAX: Oppenheimer 15/70 70mm film.
  • 50th Anniversary of Enter the Dragon at the Bellingham Regal Cinema.

AV/Tech

  • Apple Store Providence Place Mall. Replaced Patty’s Airpods Pro under limited warranty. 
  • Upgraded to iPhone 14 pro.
  • Upgrade to Panasonic 4k blu-ray player.
  • Increased our collection of 4k and blu-ray discs.

That’s all I can remember for now. It’s been a fantastic year of personal and professional accomplishment! See you in 2024!

Writers of the Future Honorable Mention 3rd Quarter 2023

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I received another Honorable Mention certificate from the L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest, 3rd Quarter 2023. It’s always encouraging to get one of these certificates in the mail. Only approximately 10% of the entrants receive these from this very prestigious contest. Congrats to all the winners!

Also, I was able to edit this story from a rejection with comments into an Honorable Mention on the next go-around.

Writers of the Future Honorable Mention 2nd Q 2023

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I forgot to post about receiving an Honorable Mention certificate from the L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest, 2nd Quarter 2023. It’s always encouraging to get one of these certificates in the mail. Only approximately 10% of the entrants receive these from this very prestigious contest. Congrats to all the winners!