The Now Me

"This work comes at the reader from every possible emotional direction. It is a book that will nourish the soul and enlighten the mind. It is at once a fierce lesson and captivating entertainment."
~ Michael C. Keith, The Next Better Place


This is an honest, well-crafted accounting of a world tipped from its axis, then righted again. Merle P. Martin has written a deft narrative, infused with poetry. One which not only lends insight into life's fractures, but its mending.
~ Robert Scotellaro, Measuring the Distance


This slender volume speaks with a steady, genuine, affectionate and insightful voice that transports the reader from childhood to maturity with unwavering strength and purpose. Who would not enjoy an autobiography that has no more qualms about self-deprecation than self-appreciation? That’s what I call honesty. I loved lines such as: “I had been the big hero in grammar school. That seemed now like I’d been the leader of an ant pack.” Or, a little later: “My mind was fine, but it had to drag my crippled emotional state through the battlefield of adolescence.” Here is a protagonist who writes of the women he loved: “Each of you is as a glorious sunrise different, yet no less spectacular than any before.” Much later, after a life of love and struggle and hard work the author manages to look down on himself when he’s in a disabled state, unable to even use a bathroom on his own, and writes, “You get used to it, because dignity is a memory.” As much as I admire the accomplishment of this book, I ended up admiring the author even more. The Now Me is a fast, fascinating and fabulous read.
~ Burgess Needle, Thai Comic Books