A B O U T M E
Axel Martens – Self-published Author
Born in January 1972 in Germany
Moved to the USA in 2004
Works as Engineering Manager at Google NYC
Avid reader* of fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery,
(*mostly audiobooks these days)Member of Westchester Writers Workshop
Hobbies: Traveling, Scuba diving, reading,
and, of course, writing
Growing up as the fourth of five siblings, I enjoyed the privilege of my older brothers and my sister telling me stories. They took their annoying little brother along on make-believe adventures with pirates and cannibals. And when our parents went out, they let me stay up to watch fantastic and scary movies way beyond my age. In turn, I could do the same for my little sister, solidifying my life-long love of stories and the imagined worlds that lurk behind gnarled trees, hide under the bed, or have been imprisoned in grandma’s attic.
In some sense, I never had to grow up. I only needed to substitute my siblings’ bedtime stories with audiobooks. I am still drawn into the rich and vivid magical lands my favorite authors conjure, joining them on fantastic journeys while I commute into New York City or empty the dishwasher. This clash of the worlds sometimes creates weird connections. For example, Aunt Petunia’s revelation about the wizard prison Azkaban will forever be associated in my mind with a tiny Chinese takeout restaurant in a Berlin shopping mall.
About twenty years ago, I moved with my wife and my newborn son to the USA. We settled in the NYC suburbs, and I do have a day job as a software engineer, first at IBM and the last ten years at Google. Beginning of 2023, while spending a week skiing in France, I had a weird dream about an evil witch who wanted to be good. The very next morning, I started writing. This was my first-ever attempt to write something longer than a Christmas card. Eight months later, I finished the third draft of my book. In 100,000 words spread over 300 pages and divided into 26 chapters, I have transformed my dream into a story about good and evil, love and struggle, conflict and sacrifice, Vikings and witches – but most of all, about people with their hopes and dreams.
I don’t know yet where the journey will lead from here on. There are still many i’s to dot and t’s to cross before the draft magically evolves into a fully grown book. Still, I invite you to become part of this journey. The first chapter has been published as a short story here. Additionally, you can contact me if you want to be informed about the progress or if you like to beta-read the entire draft.
But be Careful What You Witch For!
Axel Martens, May 2023
M E E T N O B I L I T Y
As my noble and most ancient family* received an imperial heraldic letter almost 500 years ago, I thought I'd have some fun with Photoshop to give future historians a nice coat of arms—just in case someone would like to refer to the immortal wisdom in my upcoming book(s).
Send me an email, and let me know what you think ;)
Coat of Arms of
The Martens Family
The Martens Family
Awarded to my ancestors on June 3rd, 1545 by Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Coat of Arms of
Project Witchcraft LLC
Project Witchcraft LLC
Designed by me instead of riding on my Peloton
on January 28th, 2024.
*Obviously meant ironically in reference to the "The Noble and Most Ancient House of Black" from the Harry Potter Universe.
M Y I N S P I R A T I O N S
To my heroes of fantasy, who took me on eagle's wings into magical lands so vivid and rich, that I often preferred them to the disheartening reality of our daily existence. You have shown me that courage and compassion are universal values and that striving to be Good requires character regardless of magical powers.
Thank you, J.K. Rowling and Brandon Sanderson.
To the incredible narrators of my most beloved audiobooks, who have brought to life heroes and villains, elves, dwarfs, men, and dragons, and who have made them more real and relatable than many other individuals I only know from Zoom calls. You are, without any doubt, the most welcomed voices in my head.
Thank you, Michael Kramer, Kate Reading, and Tim G. Reynolds.
To my favorite artists of wordplay who made me laugh and made me cry, who made me root for a crippled torturer, fear for an immoral assassin, and curse the naivete of a peerless swordsman. Your dry humor made your stories a delight until you stabbed me in the heart with dark twists and oh-so-believable tragedy.
Thank you, Joe Abercrombie and Michael J. Sullivan.
To my family, who had to listen to my favorite stories on long car journeys, watched with me the extended versions of all my favorite movies over and over again, and heard me agonizing about the fate of imaginary characters. In doing so, you have allowed me to never grow up.
Thank you, Heike and Lennart.
