Charles Martin (writer)
Encyclopedia
Charles Martin an American novelist and journalist whose novels often explore underground cultures, urban fantasy and, in the case of “Edward and the Island,” the afterlife. He is also the founder of Literati Press, an independent press that puts out both novels and comic books.
“Despite rumors that the team was splitting up after only one book, the pair have committed to three books in three years starting with 2010’s ‘Edward and the Island’.”
Martin has confirmed that he will continue writing under the pen name for at least the next two novels and plans on furthering the Martin and Weinke storyline within the books.
After Shadow Conspiracy disbanded in 2008, artist cooperative Rampage Artist funded a second printing featuring a photo of Rampage co-founder, Jason Moan, on the cover as a stand-in for Jim Jacobs.
In 2010, Martin put out his second novel, “Edward and the Island” under his pen name. The dark comedy set in heaven was a sharp departure from “the dominant hand,” setting aside the revolving perspective in favor of a linear narrative. In a blog on his website entitled “An Evening with Will Weinke and Charles Martin,” Martin explained “I started off in the same ‘dominant hand’ style, but the story was already so weird that I wanted a more traditional storytelling style to make the book more accessible.”
Martin revealed through his official website that he will be releasing two novels concurrently in 2011, both set in Oklahoma City and both loosely tied to the “reality you (Will) and I had begun to construct through our first two novels.” According to the post, “Deviants” will be a sex comedy along the lines of Woody Allen’s “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)” and the second, “Pets” is a horror novel and “our attempt to score that elusive Sci-Fi Channel movie deal!”
“Edward and the Island” was the press’s first release along with a comic book adaptation by Art of Destruction. Art of Destruction released the first issue of “World Wide Tribune” in April 2010, a comic book version of gossip tabloids with the first storyline unveiling a vampire Elvis Presley. “WWT” and the “Edward and the Island” adaptation were included in the “Uncanny Adventures of Okie Cartoonists” exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center which debuted in the summer of 2010. Illustrator Brad Gregg is currently adapting “the dominant hand” into a serialized comic book series. Cartoonist Eric Gorman released a mini-comic called “Long Distance” in 2010 as a preview for his upcoming series entitled “Eggs.”
Compton’s second novel, “Crucible of Happenstance” is scheduled for a 2010 release and both of Martin’s upcoming novels are both slated to be released through Literati Press.
Martin often read at non-traditional venues such as the second and third annual Norman Music Festival and at the Nightingale Theatre in Tulsa, OK with experimental, modern dance troupe Kabaret Falschtanz. After a joint performance with dancers planted in the crowd at NMF 2 who portrayed drug-addled fans, an onlooker dubbed Martin the “Andy Kaufman of book readings.”
Martin continues to travel extensively with various members of Literati Press.
Will Weinke
Will Weinke is the pseudo name for Charles Martin and the name refers to a pensive music journalist that is a central character in “the dominant hand.” Weinke is portrayed as a counter to the more gregarious and opportunistic character that Martin named after himself. In the book, Weinke describes Martin as “a well dressed penis with eyebrows” and spends much of his time trying to ditch Martin who he believes is trying to steal his story. On Martin’s website, the author bio refers to the tension in “the dominant hand” as if it is an ongoing conflict:“Despite rumors that the team was splitting up after only one book, the pair have committed to three books in three years starting with 2010’s ‘Edward and the Island’.”
Martin has confirmed that he will continue writing under the pen name for at least the next two novels and plans on furthering the Martin and Weinke storyline within the books.
Author
Charles Martin claimed to have written eight failed novels prior to publishing his first “success” through Shadow Conspiracy Publications in spring of 2007. The novel, entitled “the dominant hand” was the first appearance of “Will Weinke” as a writing partner, though Martin openly admitted that he’d created Weinke as a thematic tool and to distinguish himself from other similarly named authors. The novel was set in the music scene in and around Norman, Oklahoma and retraces the footsteps of Jim Jacobs, a fictional musician turned apocalyptic cult leader. Utilizing revolving perspective to assemble thirteen different eye-witness accounts, the book received positive critical response and was predicted to be a cult hit by Jennifer Chancellor of “The Tulsa World” and Shar Grant of Artbeat.After Shadow Conspiracy disbanded in 2008, artist cooperative Rampage Artist funded a second printing featuring a photo of Rampage co-founder, Jason Moan, on the cover as a stand-in for Jim Jacobs.
In 2010, Martin put out his second novel, “Edward and the Island” under his pen name. The dark comedy set in heaven was a sharp departure from “the dominant hand,” setting aside the revolving perspective in favor of a linear narrative. In a blog on his website entitled “An Evening with Will Weinke and Charles Martin,” Martin explained “I started off in the same ‘dominant hand’ style, but the story was already so weird that I wanted a more traditional storytelling style to make the book more accessible.”
Martin revealed through his official website that he will be releasing two novels concurrently in 2011, both set in Oklahoma City and both loosely tied to the “reality you (Will) and I had begun to construct through our first two novels.” According to the post, “Deviants” will be a sex comedy along the lines of Woody Allen’s “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (But Were Afraid to Ask)” and the second, “Pets” is a horror novel and “our attempt to score that elusive Sci-Fi Channel movie deal!”
Journalist
Martin graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1998 with a BA in journalism with a minor in Creative Writing, but delayed his career path so that he could focus on his creative endeavors. In 2006, he began working at the Edmond Sun, writing predominantly arts and music profiles and reviews. In 2007, he moved to the Oklahoma Gazette and continues to work as a freelance writer.Rampage Artist
Rampage Artist was an artist cooperative formed in 2007, founded by Nicole Moan, Jason Moan and Martin, but with an array of creative minds from differing mediums and disciplines tied into various events organized by the cooperative. Carnality Ball was the group’s central event, an erotic art event that originated in Nicole and Jason’s Rampage Studio exhibition space in 2007 but quickly grew into one of the region’s largest art happenings. Quixotic, Psychopomp and Literati Indie Book Fair were among the many events organized by members of the group. Other central members include photographer Bryan Crump, dancer Lynna Schneider of Pseudodance and Kabaret Falschtanz, Chad and Mel Wooden-Phillips of Simple Tree and J.T. Hawk.Literati Press
After working with novelist Jackson Compton to put on the three book fairs, Martin decided to team up with Compton to start a small press that would focus on fiction and comic books. Martin has said that the press “is not built to make money since everyone involved is an author or an artist. The only way to make money in Literati Press is to create. We don’t want to own anyone’s work and we don’t want anyone owning our’s and we hope that we lose each and every member to larger presses and multimillion dollar book deals.”“Edward and the Island” was the press’s first release along with a comic book adaptation by Art of Destruction. Art of Destruction released the first issue of “World Wide Tribune” in April 2010, a comic book version of gossip tabloids with the first storyline unveiling a vampire Elvis Presley. “WWT” and the “Edward and the Island” adaptation were included in the “Uncanny Adventures of Okie Cartoonists” exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center which debuted in the summer of 2010. Illustrator Brad Gregg is currently adapting “the dominant hand” into a serialized comic book series. Cartoonist Eric Gorman released a mini-comic called “Long Distance” in 2010 as a preview for his upcoming series entitled “Eggs.”
Compton’s second novel, “Crucible of Happenstance” is scheduled for a 2010 release and both of Martin’s upcoming novels are both slated to be released through Literati Press.
Literati Indie Book Fair
Martin suggested a book fair to Rampage Artist members in 2009 as a way to promote small press authors within Oklahoma. The first Literati Indie Book Fair took place in the Individual Artists of Oklahoma Gallery on June 27, 2009. A second book fair was held at the McBirney Mansion in Tulsa on November 14, 2009 and the event then returned to the IAO Gallery on May 15, 2010.Appearances
While a member of Rampage Artist, Martin traveled on promotional trips to California, New York, Louisiana, Michigan and Alabama, often paired up with founder and ceramic corset designer Nicole Moan.Martin often read at non-traditional venues such as the second and third annual Norman Music Festival and at the Nightingale Theatre in Tulsa, OK with experimental, modern dance troupe Kabaret Falschtanz. After a joint performance with dancers planted in the crowd at NMF 2 who portrayed drug-addled fans, an onlooker dubbed Martin the “Andy Kaufman of book readings.”
Martin continues to travel extensively with various members of Literati Press.