2024-04-11 22:49
The below entry has been cross-posted to my www.justlikeyousaiditwouldbe.com site. With Microsoft Designer in free preview I recently fooled around with the software purely for fun and ended… Read More
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C. K. Kelly Martin Blog
ckkellymartin.blogspot.com
Official website for author C.K. Kelly Martin with book info, trailers and blog posts on writing, politics, media awareness, sex ed and health, movies and more
2023-09-23 23:37
Today is the 15th anniversary of the release of my first book, I Know It's Over. To celebrate I've designed and released a fresh cover and put e-copies on sale for $1.99 U.S. (or equivalent… Read More
2023-02-06 18:57
The following is aimed at residents of Canada. If you live here you already know we're in a health care emergency across the country. As Prime Minister Trudeau and Health Minister Duclos go… Read More
2022-10-25 17:21
I'm temporarily deactivating my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts for a much-needed social media break. I expect to be back on at least some of these platforms late next month. In the… Read More
2022-06-10 18:49
After arriving home in Ontario last Friday (June 3rd) I received an email from the federal government Monday morning saying that I’d been randomly selected for Covid testing post-trave… Read More
2022-05-03 20:06
Since I’m not an Irish resident I had no vote in Ireland’s 2018 Abortion Referendum but I was in Dublin when the vote to overturn their abortion ban came in, and I rejoiced at th… Read More
2022-02-13 01:59
I don’t know understand how this has been allowed to continue for so long but we’re on day SIXTEEN of Ottawa’s occupation. I’m not sure how much people from out… Read More
2022-02-06 00:16
Trump 2024 flag carried on horseback in Ottawa's occupation.Things are deteriorating even further in occupied downtown Ottawa. The city councillors and MPPs doing safe community walks downto… Read More
2022-01-31 20:35
For the third day in a row Ottawa City is being held hostage by a convoy of white supremacist fascists (and their sympathizers) seeking to oust a democratically elected government. The convo… Read More
2020-11-02 23:43
2020-10-29 18:38
I'm massively behind on the WIP so it's time for a social media hiatus, except perhaps for the odd photo on Instagram (undoubtedly rare as I won't be doing much except taking a Carleton U co… Read More
2020-10-24 23:50
If there's one time of year you want to lose yourself in a book that will make you shiver, it's October, when the light is fading and the spirits raise their voices loud enough that we can h… Read More
2020-07-07 03:47
While happy for mandatory mask orders that take effect in Ottawa tomorrow to limit coronavirus spread, I really wish Public Health had included a face shield as an allowable option. Asthma g… Read More
2020-06-07 00:28
As people across the U.S., Canada and numerous other countries around the world protest racism and police brutality, Chantel Moore, a young Indigenous woman from B. C., was shot dead by a po… Read More
2020-05-14 00:01
About six months have passed since I finished up my previous cover version of Just Like You Said It Would Be. Between the coronavirus pandemic and other worrying things going on in my life i… Read More
2020-04-04 01:08
I was so sad, this morning, to hear of the passing of the great Bill Withers. I was feeling edgy walking down narrow pharmacy aisles yesterday trying to pick up all the things on my list… Read More
2020-03-17 19:02
Happy St. Patrick's Day! It's by far the strangest one any of us have ever seen but we can still celebrate Ireland. Here's one of my favourite Irish songs in honour of the day.I can't get tw… Read More
2020-01-23 01:26
Eleven years ago I spent a lot more time blogging than I do these days. MySpace had just lost its place as the largest social networking site in the world, Barack Obama was the Preside… Read More
2019-12-01 11:00
Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home.— Carol NelsonYuletide decorations and festive lights are going up everywhere, the air's turned cold, Charlie Brown, F… Read More
2019-10-21 00:11
“Every election is determined by the people who show up.” —Larry Sabato So see you at the polls tomorrow, fellow Canadians! This has been one tough & stressful election… Read More
2019-09-23 16:33
On September 23, 2008 my first book, a contemporary YA novel called I Know It’s Over was released in the U.S.A. and Canada. Today, eleven books, eleven years and one day later, my firs… Read More
2019-09-06 17:35
Waiting to see a doctor at the U of Ottawa walk-in clinic earlier today an older woman with a Caribbean accent touched my shoulder, leaned over me and said, "It's an excellent thing you're d… Read More
2019-08-13 20:37
Yes, I borrowed the title of this post from the great Leonard Cohen. I miss him terribly but we were so lucky to have him among us for a time. If you want to read more about my Leonard Cohen… Read More
2019-07-25 18:04
If you want to catch up on some of my books, now is a good time. Find the above titles for $1.99 for a limited time at Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple and Amazon Read More
2019-07-05 16:19
For any bloggers interested in reviewing my YA horror, Shantallow: Giselle is doing sign-ups for the review tour at Espresso Reads. And here's what Kirkus thought of the book: Read More
2019-06-07 21:19
While I was in Dublin with minimal Internet access I happened to notice an interesting tweet from YA author Brent Hartinger (Geography Club, Three Truths and a Lie) that I filed away in the… Read More
2018-12-21 22:41
From now on if you'd like info about my upcoming May release YA horror book, SHANTALLOW, you can find it on www.caramartin.ca but just this once I can't resist shouting about it here too. If… Read More
2018-12-21 22:41
This year I'm participating in Smashwords big end of year sale, which means you can download a bunch of my ebooks for half price, only $3. Or purchase my sci-fi duology Yesterday and Tomorro… Read More
2018-09-11 00:22
It’s been raining all day in the GTA, as if even the weather is protesting Ontario premier Doug Ford’s asinine and tyrannical decision to invoke the notwithstanding clause to get… Read More
2018-07-04 19:02
Chapter by Chapter (thank you, Mary Ann!) is running a blog tour for my middle grade sci-fi book Stricken from July 2 - 13. I hope you'll drop by to learn more about the book and enter to wi… Read More
2018-04-04 19:21
Every time I think the wind's died down another gust threatens to blow my apartment windows in. It's definitely a good day to be indoors, staring askance at the outside world which actually… Read More
2018-03-27 23:41
Recently I was at the dentist three times in the space of a month. It appeared likely that a root canal was in my future, but my bite-wing X-ray and panorex were both inconclusive. Similarly… Read More
2017-12-31 22:55
Good riddance to one hideous year. 2017 was the year Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States adding fuel to the flames of misogyny, racism, homophobia and a whole host… Read More
2017-12-04 15:28
I'm having a flash e-book sale for I Know It's Over and Come See About Me (get either for $2.99 or equivalent prices internationally until Wednesday night) to celebrate their new looks: &hell…Read More
2017-10-20 00:25
Re-posting from my Tumblr yesterday:This is what’s on my mind today as is the case with most of my countrymen: did anybody ever understand what we could be at our best and reflect it… Read More
2017-07-17 17:43
A couple of months ago I mentioned receiving a black and white rough sketch of the cover for my upcoming middle grade sci-fi book, STRICKEN. Well, the actual cover came in a few weeks… Read More
2017-05-19 18:04
My editor sent me a black and white rough sketch of the cover for my upcoming middle grade sci-fi book STRICKEN last week and I hope I'll be able to share the final cover image in not long… Read More
2017-04-01 22:55
The Just Like You Said It Would Be blog tour ends today and I want to thank Xpresso Book tours and all the bloggers who took part in the event and made it such a wonderful week for me. This… Read More
2017-03-23 19:22
I'm excited to pass on details of the Blog Tour for Just Like You Said It Would Be. It's starting in only a months' time and if you want to learn more about the book, and read various blogge… Read More
2017-02-25 22:49
I'm excited to pass on details of the Blog Tour for Just Like You Said It Would Be. It's starting in only a months' time and if you want to learn more about the book, and read various blogge… Read More
2017-02-17 18:54
Most years February is my least favourite month. It’s generally dreary and cold, and being that I live in Canada, by the time February rolls around it’s been cold for months alre… Read More
2017-02-15 10:30
Most years February is my least favourite month. It’s generally dreary and cold, and being that I live in Canada, by the time February rolls around it’s been cold for months alre… Read More
2017-02-08 19:57
My new contemporary YA Just Like You Said It Would Be is out next week and if you'd like to be part of the upcoming review tour (and I'd love it if you would!) head on over to Xpresso Book… Read More
2017-02-01 20:39
I'm excited to point out the cover reveal for Just Like You Said It Would Be is tomorrow (Big thanks to Xpresso Book Tours for organizing this on such short notice!) ! I'll be linking to the… Read More
2017-01-26 20:33
Sometimes you hear writers talk about the book of their heart, the one they love beyond all others. The book I'm about to tell you about is the book of my heart. I began writing the first ve… Read More
2017-01-18 16:24
I'm not going to lie, life has been rough on multiple fronts lately. But I'm immensely grateful to have some wonderful writing news to share. Monday afternoon I received notification from th… Read More
2016-11-08 16:53
I'm not American but globally I think we all feel we have a stake in this election and so many of us—both inside the United States and out—have watched with unease and disgust as… Read More
2016-09-29 17:53
It’s the kind of dreary rainy day where everything looks gray, and feels cold and slow. The kind of day where you don’t have much energy, but force yourself to march along regard… Read More
2016-09-02 23:30
Being back in Ireland I always feel as though I'm visiting my previous self. Of course, in some ways our past selves are always with us. I'm still a twelve year old with braces, a film stude… Read More
2016-08-12 20:11
I've been waiting a long time to finally, finally be able to package my sci-fi YA Yesterday and its sequel, Tomorrow, together but that's in the works right now. The book cover and interior… Read More
2016-08-09 20:13
It looks like I need to do some dusting around here. Yep, it’s been a long time since I posted to this space. Mostly I’ve been saving up the words for my fiction writing. In rece… Read More
2016-04-20 12:41
Recently I was thrilled to learn that School Library Journal had written an extremely positive review of my latest contemporary young adult book, Delicate. They call it a “fascinating… Read More
2016-04-07 17:36
The U.S. giveaway for Delicate is now underway at Goodreads so if you'd like to enter, head on over. These books are waiting for good homes to go to! They are housebroken, independent-minded… Read More
2016-04-03 21:07
Mostly these days I'm writing and trying to stay away from Internet distractions and also, like, limit my attempts to catch up to the current season of Nashville to a couple of episodes a we… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
I've just come from a rather long appointment with my GP. Cost to me: FREE. Then follow-up blood-work. Cost to me: FREE. Nex… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
Yes, February made me shiver. This winter has been unusually brutal, extremely cold and snowy with very few breaks. And I can't… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
I'm currently awaiting a revision letter for my new contemporary young adult book, The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing, and g… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
Alien C.K.We've come to the end of another year and once again I'm without a favourites of the year list of any sort (although I… Read More
2016-03-19 17:44
Mostly these days I'm writing and trying to stay away from Internet distractions and also, like, limit my attempts to catch up to the current season of Nashville to a couple of episodes a we… Read More
2016-02-22 20:57
Technically I'm in the middle of an Internet break, working on a new young adult book that I'm very excited about and is unlike anything I've done before. I have miles and miles to go before… Read More
2016-01-26 01:16
Filmmaker’s Deniz Gamze Ergüven horrifying portrait of patriarchy and it’s impact on five free-spirited Turkish sisters is the most powerful film I've seen this year. In my… Read More
2015-12-21 18:15
I’ve been—and will continue to be—mostly staying offline in an effort to avoid Star Wars: The Force Awakens spoilers until I get a chance to see the movie on Monday night… Read More
2015-12-20 17:12
It's been a good couple of days for Delicate reviews so if you're thinking of picking up a copy and want to know more about the book, you may want to check out The Globe and Mail and Quill … Read More
2015-12-20 17:12
It's been a good couple of days for Delicate reviews so if you're thinking of picking up a copy and want to know more about the book, you may want to check out The Globe and Mail and Quill … Read More
2015-12-07 17:41
This week and into next the DELICATE blog tour rolls on. There have been some fantastic tour stops already. Thank you and Liz, Jenn and Amanda for your insightful reviews—they made las… Read More
2015-11-19 21:20
The Canadian Goodreads giveaway for DELICATE opens November 24th, so if you'd like to know about Ivy and Lucan, and their respective and combined togetherness, you should head over there to… Read More
2015-11-19 21:20
The Canadian Goodreads giveaway for DELICATE opens November 24th, so if you'd like to know about Ivy and Lucan, and their respective and combined togetherness, you should head over there to… Read More
2015-11-19 21:16
Last Monday, Election Day, was gorgeous in my neck of Southern Ontario. And what a glorious night it was too, with Stephen Harper's government at last being swept into memory and our next Pr… Read More
2015-11-19 21:16
Last Monday, Election Day, was gorgeous in my neck of Southern Ontario. And what a glorious night it was too, with Stephen Harper's government at last being swept into memory and our next Pr… Read More
2015-10-23 20:58
This is me at seventeen in the summer of 1986. If the photo extended as far as my feet you'd see that not only am I in a Late Night with David Letterman sweatshirt, I'm also wearing the same… Read More
2015-10-18 16:42
It's the weekend before Canada's federal election and the Canadian Federal Collectibles series has issued a new Stephen Harper action figure to represent this year's election campaign. But… Read More
2015-10-17 14:58
CANADIAN ELECTIONAccording to Elections Canada there were 3.6 million advance federal election votes cast in four days. It's clear Canadians want CHANGE. I can't be sure precisely what time… Read More
2015-10-15 17:55
If you know much about my writing you're probably aware that most of my published work has been contemporary YA, very realis… Read More
2015-10-15 17:17
Have you ever wondered how Conservative Party of Canada politicians and their supporters (perhaps to your horror this even includes some of your unfortunate loved ones and friends!) have con… Read More
2015-10-15 14:31
Yesterday Paddy and I were driving along Hurontario (near Steeles Avenue) through Brampton and noticed a cavalcade of cars sporting red flags and stickers. They seemed to be protesting somet… Read More
2015-10-15 12:10
This is week 2 of The Sweetest Thing You Can Sing's blog tour and I want to say an enormous thank you to Giselle of Xpresso… Read More
2015-10-15 12:08
COME SEE ABOUT ME $2.99 at Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | * equivalent prices at other Amazons: £ 1.95 at Amazon.co.uk | Euro Amazons € 2.77 until e… Read More
2015-10-15 12:07
At one point, for several months after finishing Come See About Me, I considered writing another book focused on a main character in his or her early adult years. I had a couple of ideas flo… Read More
2015-10-15 12:05
If you haven't already, please sign the Amnesty International petition and Change.org petition asking for blogger Raif Badawi’s unconditional release. Raif Badawi was imprisoned for 1… Read More
2015-10-15 12:04
Now this was a shame. On Friday February 13th Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper assaulted Quebec icon Bonhomme outside Hôtel de Glace near Quebec City. The visit started out… Read More
2015-10-15 12:02
Yesterday I was at Niagara-on-the-Lake for the first time in about a year. If the dictionary sported photos along with definitions under ‘picturesque’ you’d find an image o… Read More
2015-10-15 12:01
In Stephen Harper's mind the refugee crisis is just another episode of his reality show, The Grinch who Stole Canada. The program's cancellation is long overdue and I know many Canadians wis… Read More
2015-10-15 12:00
I stumbled across a couple of articles about a month ago that I want to share with people who are experiencing problems with severe heel pain that won’t resolve, like I’ve been… Read More
2015-10-15 12:00
I had to groan inwardly when I read this section of an article on my local candidates' debate: When asked about his party’s plans to help youth joblessness, Terrence Young told the mo… Read More
2015-10-10 21:31
Sadly, I missed the Toronto International Film Festival this past September because I wasn't capable of standing in line for… Read More
2015-06-29 16:53
Recently I had the chance to read Carol Riggs's cool new YA sci-fi book, The Body Institute, due out September 1st. I'm a big fan of sci-fi whether we're talking about the Across the Un… Read More
2015-05-11 16:36
“...almost before Anne realized it, spring had come again to Green Gables and all the world was abloom once more.”— Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery… Read More
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