Interview With Author Darryl Martel
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Darryl Martel brings a wealth of life experience to his writing, having enjoyed a varied career within the police service, fostering, and the financial world. Now with the freedom to devote his time to creativity, he has turned his passion for storytelling into a pursuit that allows his imagination to flourish.
He writes across fiction, historical, and romantic genres, drawing upon both real-life insights and boundless invention. His stories invite readers to step into vivid worlds where human emotions, timeless dilemmas, and the intrigue of history intertwine. Each narrative reflects his belief in the power of words to uncover truths, spark curiosity, and paint unforgettable pictures of the human condition.
Darryl’s fiction blends emotional depth with engaging storytelling, guiding readers through landscapes both familiar and fantastical. With a mind brimming with creativity and a voice that celebrates the art of narrative, he continues to craft works that inspire, entertain, and linger long after the final page.
Take a look at my books. Follow me “Darryl Martel” on Facebook, Instagram, tiktok, twitter X, wordpress and LinkedIn.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Under The Tenko Sun
By
Darryl Martel
Under the Tenko Sun is a sweeping historical novel of survival, loss, and the fragile threads of hope, set against the brutal backdrop of World War II in Southeast Asia.
In February 1942, as Singapore falls to the Japanese, a group of British, Australian, and Dutch women are torn from their families and thrust into captivity. Herded first onto a doomed evacuation ship and then into the depths of the jungle, they find themselves in a makeshift internment camp on a remote island in the Dutch East Indies.
Among them is Eleanor Whitmore, the reluctant leader, a colonel’s wife whose steel is tested beyond imagination; Margaret Evans, a young nurse whose compassion collides with the daily cruelty of starvation and disease; Sally Harding, a grieving widow whose fragile bond with nurse Nell Dawson blossoms into a forbidden love; and Dorothy Clarke, sharp tongued and resourceful, whose bargains with guards blur the line between survival and betrayal.
As the war grinds on, the women are forced through a series of camps, each harsher than the last. They endure malnutrition, illness, and the constant shadow of violence. Rivalries and betrayals fracture their fragile community, an informant trades secrets to curry favor, a failed escape attempt ends in tragedy, and hunger strips away the last comforts of humanity. Yet amid the despair, moments of resilience shine through: a shared scrap of food, a whispered prayer, a Christmas carol sung in defiance of their captors.
Their greatest battle is not against the enemy, but against hopelessness. And when the war’s tide finally turns, the women must endure not only the chaos of liberation but also the painful reckonings that follow—reunions with husbands who no longer recognize them, friendships scarred by betrayal, and the haunting truth that survival carries its own kind of guilt.
Atmospheric, harrowing, and profoundly moving, Under the Tenko Sun explores how ordinary women, abandoned by empire and forgotten by history, discovered extraordinary strength. It is a story of endurance at the edge of humanity and of the unbreakable bonds forged in the darkest of times.
With the recent remembrance of World War 11 and what happened. We should never forget, what people did for us, experienced, during those times. Tenko was something I watched as a child and now, I thought I would write, my take on it.
Take a look:
https://books2read.com/u/bogjW9
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, don’t believe I have any unusual writing habits! But ask my family! I don’t believe in waiting for inspiration to strike, I believe in showing up. Most of my writing is done in the quiet of the early morning, often with a strong cup of coffee by my side. I aim for steady progress, even if it’s just a page or two each day, because consistency builds stories far better than bursts of energy followed by silence.
I carry a notebook with me everywhere, as ideas tend to arrive at the most inconvenient times, during a walk, a conversation, or even while cooking dinner. Some of those scribbled thoughts later become the spark for a scene or even the seed of an entire book.
I write with a balance of planning and discovery. I usually sketch out the historical framework or emotional arc I want to follow, but I also let the characters surprise me along the way. For me, the joy of writing comes in that blend, structure to keep the story moving, and imagination to keep it alive.
Above all, I try to end each writing session at a point where I know what happens next. That way, when I return to the desk, I can slip back into the story without hesitation. Writing, for me, is both discipline and delight, a daily practice of stepping into other worlds and bringing them back to life on the page.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I’ve always been inspired by writers who can transport readers into another time or place and make it feel utterly real. Historical novelists such as Hilary Mantel and Ken Follett showed me how history could be brought to life with depth, humanity, and drama. On the romantic side, I’ve admired authors like Rosamunde Pilcher and Nicholas Sparks, who capture the beauty and heartbreak of human connection in ways that linger long after the final page.
Beyond those, I’ve drawn influence from storytellers such as Daphne du Maurier, with her mastery of atmosphere and intrigue, and Sebastian Faulks, whose novels balance history, love, and the fragility of the human spirit.
I also find myself returning to the classics, Jane Austen for her wit and timeless observations of love and society, and Charles Dickens for his unforgettable characters and his ability to weave social commentary into powerful narratives.
Together, these voices have shaped how I see storytelling: as a bridge between the real and the imagined, a way to explore both the struggles and the joys of being human.
What are you working on now?
That would be telling! But all I can say, it’s a book!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m a newbie to the writing world, so I’m learning all the time. I simply promote my books on social media and use, book2read.com lulu.com and use The Book Network and now here.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Never give up. It’s not easy starting out, there are good and bad moments, but thats in everything. Write and rewrite, even if at times, your in the middle of a story, if it doesn’t feel right, change it….I have many times! But all in all, have faith, believe in yourself and you will finish that book!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
This might sound strange, but someone told me once, “it’s crap!” “You’ll never write anything good” Then, I had…”That’s a fantastic story, We’ll publish it…and heres an invoice for £5,000! Writing is a minefield. Why was this the best advice? Because I got better, I learned more and I believe in myself. So if you get rejected, and it happens to everyone, keep going.
What are you reading now?
The Cut by Richard Armitage.
You can’t escape your past. The cut always reopens.
In the sleepy village of Barton Mallet, the old ruins of Blackstone Mill watch over the residents as they go about their quiet lives. Ben Knot and his friends are looking forward to a summer of fun and freedom once their last year of school is over. The class of 1994 have been through a lot together, good and bad, but teasing turns to bullying when the Knot gang target younger boy Mark Cherry. As tensions rise and violence escalates, the group fractures and tragedy strikes. Before the summer is over, one of them will be killed. Murdered by someone they called a friend.
It’s a great read.
What’s next for you as a writer?
For me, I’m still reshaping into a new way of living. But I’m enjoying having a more relaxed way of living, being able to concentrate on writing and whatever else, comes along. After working the 9 till 5, shift work and everything else, that we all know about! So for the time being, finding, working in my space, working on my stories, is for me.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Cut by Richard Armitage.
The Murder at World’s End by Ross Montgomery.
The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie. You can’t beat the classics!
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