Legends After Dusk (Short Stories of Dark Lore & Magical Fantasy)

By Martin W. Francis

Collection of short stories that contain myth, magic, fantasy, mystery, and dark tales that will keep you up after night falls.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dark Storm Press
• Release date: Dec 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463734308

Martin W. Francis

Martin W Francis+ FollowMartin Wylie Francis was born in Lubbock, Texas in 1975, the first son of Gary Lee and Carol Ann Horn Francis. His parents separated when Martin was eleven. During the same year, he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Disease (cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system). Martin was excused from the rest of the 5th grade school year to begin undergoing chemotherapy and radiation therapy. He returned to school the following year, but was not in complete remission form the cancer until the following year. During the time that he underwent treatment, Martin lived with his mother and his younger sister, Valeri. Parts of his years to follow were spent with his father and brothers (younger brother Steven and older half-brother Billy). He also spent much of his free time with his mother's parents, Betty and Charles Horn. Betty, his Mema, took Martin with them anytime they traveled across the country. Whether white water rafting, exploring massive petrified forests, historic civil war sites, amusement parks, Elvis's estate, or camping and fishing at the lakes; it was always an adventure.Martin attended Lubbock High School, but dropped out his senior year because they changed the graduation requirements (which would not have allowed him to graduate with his class). He began working various jobs around town and eventually met his first wife, Ashlee Anne' Dean. They were married for five years before getting a divorce. (Years later, she ended up in prison for life for murder). Martin obtained his G.E.D. and began college classes at South Plains College at the old Reese Airforce Base and at the main campus in Levelland, Texas. He acquired an AA and AS degrees (English and Science), as well as, Dean's Honor Roll and President's Honor Roll for 4.0 GPA.Martin married for the second time in 2007, to Nicole Marie Potter. Their marriage lasted for ten years before ending with divorce in 2017. Martin has worked for the City of Lubbock in the Code Enforcement department for over twelve years now.Martin had a love for reading from the moment he picked up his first book. He obtained numerous awards for reading during his younger years. Martin began writing when he was twelve years old after obtaining his first typewriter. His first story was about a camping trip in a large cave that was secretly connected to a mythological world. That story and dozens of others vanished over the years during the hundreds of moves with his parents. Martin later found that writing was in his blood. His father's mother, Dorthy Cox, shared with him mystery stories that she had written in the 40's and 50's. Martin published his first book, Rise of the Fallen, in 2015. He has published thirty-three works over the last five years, some under pseudonyms. He obtained best seller status on Amazon and Audible a few times during that time. Martin doesn't care if he makes a fortune from writing or ever receives prestigious awards. He writes to share stories that create a temporary escape from reality. Martin wants others to enjoy reading and learn from the words he writes. He believes that books are an endless treasure that embed a part of the writer's soul and mind, for others to experience throughout the ages to come, even after death.Martin has lived alone with Kira (his black cat) for the last few years. He remains in Lubbock, Texas where most of his family still reside. His mother passed away in 2017, from not being properly diagnosed (with major Diabetic Ketoacidosis that she was suffering from) and being given an overdose (of a medication to help with feeling nauseated) by a state medical facility. Unfortunately, the protection for the medical field in Texas allows them to legally get away without any real punishment. The medical board gave one of the responsible parties a temporary suspension and life goes on.Martin has an extensive and interesting genealogical ancestry. He is blue-eyed (various shades of blue and on rare occasion might be green) with black hair. He believes this is likely due to genetics and his Mema's heterochromia (one green eye and one blue). He has worn glasses since he turned eleven.