So, you’re one of those people who just has to click the “About” page, huh?

The ones who can’t resist poking around the digital corners, trying to figure out what makes things tick… or in my case, what makes the narrative wires cross and occasionally short-circuit.

…Yeah, I get it.

I’m precisely that kind of delightfully nosy individual myself. We’re drawn to the backstage, the hidden lever, the slightly unhinged author lurking behind the curtain.

But here’s the inconvenient truth, delivered with all the subtle charm of a goblin at a tea party:

Frankly, I’m not particularly interested in being a “public figure” in the traditional sense. You know, the kind who spills their deepest secrets for algorithmic validation or engages in performative social media dances.

Blech.

My creative expression makes me feel good about myself, and quite honestly, chasing fame for fame’s sake sounds like a particularly hellish level of the Underworld, probably involving endless TikTok dances.

No thank you, I’ll take the actual demons.

That’s why, if you’re just trying to suss out my authorial vibe—like, “Is this Michael Martin chap going to drag me through a mind-bending, genre-defying odyssey or just another tired trope-fest?”—you can find all the juicy details about my writing style, my utterly uncategorizable genre (because who needs boxes when you have an entire multiverse?), and why my books aren’t just trendy packages of tropes, right over on my homepage. It’s got the basic intel, the kind you give to a slightly suspicious but ultimately harmless stranger.

But for anything… well, anything more private. Anything that peels back the layers of my weird brain, revealing the inner workings of this particular professional fun-haver.

Including the deeply personal stories about my life (the good, the bad, and the utterly ridiculous), my slightly unhinged business philosophies (like why I write to be read, not to collect dust on your virtual shelves, and why I treat my early readers like the absolute legends they are), my increasingly alarming video game obsession (a recent, glorious re-entry after a 20-year hiatus, thank you very much!), the four years I spent charming the pants off (not literally, usually) cruise ship passengers, and so, so much more…

Well, my dear digital adventurer, I only share that kind of juicy, off-the-record intel with the very specific, passionate, and engaged individuals who are part of my private community: The Vaudrium.

It’s our cozy rebellion, a place where the air isn’t thick with algorithms but buzzing with genuine connection. And, as a deliciously rebellious bonus, that’s the only place you can get all my books, because my novels are not available on those retail behemoths like Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

We’re too busy building a living, interconnected literary universe to bother with mainstream trends and algorithmic approvals, aren’t we?

And here’s the kicker, the secret handshake, if you will: I only advertise my private community to the discerning, adventurous souls who are on my email list.

Call me old-fashioned, or just brilliantly unconventional, but I’m not so keen on sharing the peculiar private details about my life with total strangers who won’t even share their own name or email with me. It’s like showing up to a secret society meeting and refusing to give the password.

Unheard of!

So, if you’re really interested in reading the stories I publish—the ones that are transformative experiences, designed to challenge perceptions and leave you with profound intellectual and emotional impact—and if you crave that intimate rebellion and shared adventure, then I invite you to answer your Call To Adventure.

Go on, slingshot through the fourth wall and subscribe to my email list.

Just for taking that audacious leap, you get to immediately download the first chapter of Burn In Hades (Book 1 of my wild fantasy series, The Vaudeverse Saga) for free!

Consider it a taste of the glorious, sometimes terrifying, always intriguing world that awaits.

And trust me on this, because I’m building a meta-narrative here, and I always do the right thing by my readers: The way I’ve structured my innovative “Call To Adventure Sequence” (it’s a thing, embrace the weirdness), you will have ample opportunity to learn about me, to understand my authentic creative process, and to truly get to know my style of storytelling after you sign up.

In fact, it’s entirely up to you how far down the rabbit hole you choose to go, how deep you want to dive into the intellectual depths and historical/cultural layers behind my fictional world.

But here’s the non-negotiable truth of it all: you need to sign up first.

If you’re interested… and if you’re still reading this, you absolutely are…

Click the button below to download the first chapter of Burn In Hades for free and begin your Vaudeverse adventure.