John Martel's New Memoir DRIVEN is About to Hit Bookshelves. You've Likely Seen His Face in a Very Cool Place...
DRIVEN: A Memoir Investigating Nine Decades of Stop-at-Nothing Ambition by New York Times bestselling author JOHN MARTEL is now available for pre-order
Attorney John Martel's forthcoming memoir, DRIVEN, explores 92 years of relentless ambition, high-profile legal cases, and his indefatigable search for true love. As his developmental editor and memoir coach, I couldn’t be more excited to see John and his epic memoir cross the publishing finish line.
Born during the depression in rural Modesto, with no family encouragement, Martel became a college athlete, then an elite U.S. Air Force pilot, a top trial lawyer, a successful singer-songwriter, a national bestselling author, and an international Masters Track and Field high hurdling champion.
Now, at the age of ninety-two, the New York Times bestselling mystery and suspense writer invites his readers to join him in a candid investigation of his life as he tries to solve the mystery of who or what drove him to a lifetime of frenzied preeminence, in total disregard for his health and happiness.
Combining literature, law, and life lessons, Martel’s memoir reveals the heartfelt reflections of a man who achieved uncanny success in an unprecedented five different vocations, only to discover that he had become a victim of his success, a prisoner of his need for recognition and fame. It’s a story of manic ambition, of love lost and regained, and emotional redemption.
What People Are Saying about DRIVEN:
“Extraordinary writer John Martel is back with a must-read memoir—the capstone to his astonishing career.”
—John Lescroart, New York Times best-selling author
”As an attorney, I stand in awe of John Martel’s legendary accomplishments in the courtroom, and as the author of a legal thriller, I appreciate his commitment to the craft. It’s no surprise that his memoir is a page-turner, powered by the intense energy and unstoppable drive he has brought to every aspect of his remarkable life.”
—Brian Cuban, attorney, author of The Addicted Lawyer, Tales of the Bar, Booze, Blow & Redemption and The Ambulance Chaser, and addiction recovery advocate
If John Martel looks vaguely familiar, you’re likely a fan of Comedy Central’s award-winning sketch comedy series Key & Peele (K&P) and you recognize him from the show’s production cards:
The story of Martel’s image making it onto that final clip is fantastic, and I heard the whole thing from Martel’s son, Jay Martel, winner of Emmy, Peabody, WGA & American Comedy Awards — and a co-writer and executive producer of K&P, starring Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key.
According to the younger Martel, “The clip [above] consists of the production cards that appeared at the end of every Key & Peele episode. Production cards are what you get when you have enough clout as an executive producer. The first represents Jordan and Keegan's production cards (Keegan's on the left, Jordan's on the right), and they're singing to fill the space: ‘I'm gonna sing my one line here.’” Jay Martel noted that Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has since become an entertainment industry behemoth, employing dozens of people and generating hit series and movies.
Those production cards are then followed by the famous photograph of his father, John Martel.
As the younger Martel explained, his writing partner at the time, Ian Roberts, generously agreed to accept his dad’s photo as their production card. “I've always loved the photo, and I came back into contact with it when I was putting a book together for my dad's eightieth birthday. I asked Dad if I could use it, and he said it was okay with him, but he wanted me to contact the photographer, Robert Altman (not the director Robert Altman). I somehow tracked him down and he said it would be fine.”
Jay Martel continued: “The editor putting together the first [K&P] episode was messing around and animated Dad's jaw, and Ian put in the voice: ‘Oh yeah.’ We were just goofing off in the editing room, probably not thinking that this image would end up at the end of around a hundred episodes of three different series (K&P, then ‘Teachers’ on TV Land, then ‘Alternatino’ on Comedy Central).” The image is now the cover of John Martel’s memoir.
Back in January 2022, I was watching plenty of re-runs of K&P and completely unaware that my newest memoir coaching client, John Martel (who’d found me through a Google search), was the father of the show’s co-writer/executive producer. I finally put two and two together after working with the senior Martel for a year. It happened when I was watching (yet another episode of) K&P and realized that my client’s photo was literally IN THE SHOW.
I emailed John Martel immediately, and though I don’t remember what I wrote, it was something along the lines of — OMG, crazy question, but is that your picture at the end of every episode of my favorite TV show???
John wrote back something like, LOL — guilty as charged!
When I first met John Martel via Zoom in January 2022, I was a relatively new memoir writing coach and developmental editor. I was also shocked when he asked me to help him shape his latest book. Why, I wondered, would a New York Times bestselling author need my — or anyone’s — help?
Here’s why:
Not only had the publishing industry drastically changed since Martel’s last release, but he was also now 92 years old and battling Parkinson’s Disease. John Martel knew this would likely be the last book he’d ever write. He was determined not only to publish it, but to hold the book in his hands. And, he had the good sense to appreciate that thriller writing and memoir writing are completely different beasts.
From our first meeting, I felt the clock ticking. John and I immediately built an easy rapport and got to work making his memoir the best it could be. I loved learning about his life during the Depression and as a U.S. Air Force Pilot. I learned about how he tried to balance his love for his children while also rising to prominence in his professional life, working on high-profile cases with the likes of O.J. Simpson, the Menendez brothers, the Hearsts, and the Mondavis. I read how Martel traveled the world and built successful side hustles in music and in writing. And, I learned how he kept searching for the love of his life until he finally found her. Martel’s story is a rare, sweeping triumph in perseverance, with incredible storytelling filled with self-reflection and inspiration.
In July of 2022, I began researching publishers for John and sent him a template for his book proposal, which he worked on while finishing his book. Many of my clients dread (and put off) writing their proposals, but Martel attacked his with gusto. By February 2023, with a completely polished manuscript, a solid book proposal, and a query letter ready to go, we began shopping DRIVEN around.
By June of 2023, we were four months into querying and corresponding with various literary agents when I visited John and his wife, Bonnie, at their beautiful home just north of San Francisco. I’d already prepared John for the inevitable slog that is the querying process and reminded him that finding the right literary agent and publisher would be a test of patience and faith. But, John turned to me at lunch and said in a shaky voice softened by Parkinson’s, “With your help…do you think we can get the book published within the year?”
Until that moment, I’d been resigned to the notion that quality book publishing, at its core, was a maddeningly long and agonizing process (it still is, but I didn’t yet believe there were any reputable workarounds). However, John — and his driven nature — changed everything for me.
With John searching my eyes in earnest, I was reminded that he’d started drafting his memoir during the pandemic (in his 90s!)… and that he’d actively and willingly sought me out as a developmental editor to refine his already remarkable manuscript… and that he’d not only been accepting my editorial recommendations and suggestions but also quickly and seamlessly incorporating them into his pages — all while managing his Parkinson’s Disease.
I have never known someone with such understated-yet-infectious determination, and I became more driven than ever to help John get his epic story across the publishing finish line.
“We’ll get it done within the year,” I said, giving John and his wife, Bonnie, my word.
I had no idea how, but I knew I’d figure it out.
After lunch, John and Bonnie gave me signed copies of every book John has ever published, then, Bonnie took this photo of John and me standing in his home office overlooking the San Lorenzo River:
Flying back home to Chicago, I considered the promise I’d made to John. What had I done? How on earth could I keep that promise?? What reputable publisher could produce a quality book in less than a year’s time?
Thankfully, I had a strong hunch that Christmas Lake Press might be the ideal publisher for John, and that they’d love and honor Martel’s epic life story. Thankfully, my instincts were right, but I had no idea how hard Christmas Lake Press would work to ensure John’s publication wishes came true. If I’m ever asked what devotion to an author looks like, I’ll point to Christmas Lake Press, because DRIVEN hits bookstores in hardcover in May of 2024 — less than one year after I gave John my word it would happen.
It’s been a privilege working as John’s developmental editor, memoir writing coach, and de facto literary agent — but my new favorite title is FRIEND OF PUBLISHED MEMOIRIST JOHN MARTEL.
DRIVEN: A Memoir Investigating Nine Decades of Stop-at-Nothing Ambition
by New York Times bestselling author JOHN MARTEL
Published by Christmas Lake Press, available May 2024
We had been watching K and P and kept wondering if that was my father-in-law's law partner. And now we know it was! I'm adding his memoir to my reading list. I had no idea what an extraordinary person he is.
The story about getting the book published could be its own inspirational tome. Great work Christine Wolf and John Martel!