A Miami Mixtape Poem
Growing up in Miami was a Celia Cruz song With the sweltering hot timbales Of late afternoon suns beating strong. The rhythms of families:
December 5, 2022
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Ileen Martin is a life-long Miami native with Cuban roots; a public middle school language arts teacher of more than 18 years who was published five times in the Idea Education Fund teacher magazine; and new Indie author of the YA series A Nightmare in Elmridge. Her two books, Nightmare Beauty (2019) and Nightmare Hunt (2022), are available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook on Amazon, and through other major distributors like Apple Books, Barnes&Noble, Rakuten Kobo, and Smashwords in e-book format. Both books republished in 2024 with new special edition covers. The third book, Nightmare Kiss, is next in line to be published.
Ileen Martin is a life-long Miami native with Cuban roots; a public middle school language arts teacher of more than 18 years who was published five times in the Idea Education Fund teacher magazine; and new Indie author of the YA series A Nightmare in Elmridge. Her two books, Nightmare Beauty (2019) and Nightmare Hunt (2022), are available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook on Amazon, and through other major distributors like Apple Books, Barnes&Noble, Rakuten Kobo, and Smashwords in e-book format. Both books republished in 2024 with new special edition covers. The third book, Nightmare Kiss, is next in line to be published.
From young teens to adults who savor the sweet and spicy comedic clash of Anne of Green Gables meets Mean Girls, readers will love this saga filled with teen angst, slow-burn romance, and ‘firsts,’ all wrapped in a Beauty and the Beast paranormal twist of murder mystery, burgeoning superpowers, and haunting family secrets.
"The wrapping of spirituality, fairytales, science fiction, and supernatural aspects into one novel [Nightmare Beauty] is absorbing and avoids some of the more traditional fantasy routes.... Belle Montague holds her own as a heroine, never settling for the role of damsel-in-distress. While the supernatural creatures don't all stand apart as unique, they'll have no trouble rooting for Belle's success and happiness...even if it means just graduating high school unscathed.... Nightmare Hunt blends a bevy of supernatural dangers into an enjoyably frothy story of navigating high school dramas and dilemmas.... Martin has a clear handle on storytelling, even as the chaos erupts at the highest decimals. Well-played dark humor and believable interactions between characters, human and otherwise, keep the story sailing along.... Nightmare Hunt relies on paranormal romance tropes, but the action is non-stop and Martin more than delivers on romantic and dramatic expectations."
"Author Ileen Martin has crafted a charming and enjoyable YA novel that perfectly balances elements of mystery, romance, and the supernatural to create a compelling narrative that hooks readers from the very first page. Belle's journey of self-discovery and resilience in the face of adversity is both relatable and empowering, making her a protagonist that readers will root for until the end. I loved the close narration and her dialogue and attitude, shaped by the events around her as she grows and learns to cope with the new surprises in store. The intricate plot, filled with twists and turns, keeps readers guessing with well-laid clues and some really satisfying reveals later on. The vividly depicted setting of Elmridge goes beyond the cinematic to realize a fully multisensory immersion into the story world. Overall, Nightmare Beauty is a must-read for fans of young adult fiction who enjoy a mix of suspense, romance, and paranormal intrigue, and I can’t wait to see what the series has in store next."
Growing up in Miami was a Celia Cruz song With the sweltering hot timbales Of late afternoon suns beating strong. The rhythms of families:
Tonight, I had my first talk with my seven-year-old about romantic love. Tucking him into bed, he said, “Mommy, I’m sad about something,
