News Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 7, 2007
Contact: Gayle Martin / Arizona Living History Press, LLC
Phone: 623-764-1162/ 520-723-4532 - Fax: 520-723-4532
E-mail: gayle@azlivinghistory.net
Website: www.LukeandJennyBooks.com

Arizona Author Featured at Hollywood Book Festival

Arizona author Gayle Martin got an unexpected surprise when she was invited to read excerpts from her novel, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral: Luke and Jenny Visit Tombstone, at the 2007 Hollywood Book Festival in Hollywood, California. The annual festival celebrates books that deserve greater recognition from the film and television industries. This year's festival was held this past July at the Barnsdall Art Park.

"I couldn't believe it when they called me and invited me to come to Hollywood," says Martin. "I sort of felt like I was a contestant on American Idol."

Martin is no stranger to performing. Since 2002 she has been taking audiences on 'time travel trips' by speaking as a historic character dressed in a period costume. She has performed for schools, universities, associations, convention groups, and corporations. One of her characters, an old west storyteller, shares tales of Tombstone and the famous gunfight that occurred near the O.K. Corral.

"I have been amazed at the overall positive response audiences of all ages have had for my old west character," says Martin. "Particularly the schools. There is a genuine interest out there in the O.K. Corral story, and youngsters can't seem to get enough of it." It was this interest that inspired Martin to write a version of the Tombstone story for young readers.

Writing a book for young readers requires a whole different approach than writing for adults.

"Young readers need characters they can make a personal connection with - characters like themselves. So I created two fictitious youngsters, Luke, and his sister Jenny, who visit Tombstone with their mother. First they find out the town is haunted, then they meet the ghost of the Swamper, who mysteriously sweeps them back in time. Before long they find themselves face-to-face with Wyatt Earp and his brothers."

Young readers are right there with Luke and Jenny as they learn firsthand the true story of the Earps and what lead to the historic shootout. Adults too can learn facts about this famous confrontation.

"I knew there must have been hundreds, if not a thousand or more entries in this competition," added Martin. "The judging criteria was on the storytelling ability of the author and the appeal of the book to the film and television industry. So for them to contact me was a real honor."

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral received an Honorable Mention at the Hollywood Book Festival.

Martin has just released the next installment of her Luke and Jenny adventures, Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War: a Luke and Jenny Adventure. This novel was recently named as a finalist in the 2007 Indie Book Awards of Excellence.

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral - Luke and Jenny Visit Tombstone (ISBN 987-1-58736-863-9, historical fiction, and Billy the Kid and the Lincoln County War - A Luke and Jenny Adventure, ISBN 978-1-58736-873-8/ historical fiction, are published by Wheatmark, Inc., 610 E Delano St, Ste 104, Tucson, AZ, 85705. The books are available through Ingram and Bertram Books, U.K. To request free review copies and/or to schedule an interview with the author, please contact Gayle Martin.



Publisher: Five Star Legends, a division of Five Star Publications, Inc.
Price: $15.95 / Historical Fiction
Size: 6" x 9"
ISBN: 978-1-58985-050-7
Website: www.LukeandJennyBooks.com