Local author Martens releases new novel

Kathleen L. Martens, Delaware-based author of “Wanderlust: A Wartime Search for Hope and Home,” has released a new novel, “The Wall of Hope,” from publisher Byzantium Sky Press. A continuation of the story and characters from “Wanderlust,” the novel centers on a strong young woman searching for her own way in the world.

It can be found at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, on the publisher’s website at byzantiumskypress.com and at major online booksellers.

“I loved returning to the characters from Wanderlust and following the path their lives had taken. Martens’ novel is a beautiful cross-cultural story of acceptance and persistence in following the path of what makes you happy,” said Crystal Heidel, owner of Byzantium Sky Press. “I believe we need to embrace that more now than ever before.”

Hope Lê Ketchum-James has struggled to find her place in the world. The daughter of an American soldier and a Vietnamese mother, Hope grew up as the indulged stepdaughter of a world-famous American singer in Boston. After graduating from Harvard Law, Hope finds that the memories of her early traumatizing years in an orphanage and dramatic wartime rescue begin to haunt her when she joins her father’s foundation as an adoption attorney.

Dominique, the foundation’s overseas operations manager, draws Hope out of her shell. As their romance grows, so does the dangerous and violent nature of Dominique’s overseas work. Hope’s passion to save children as she’d been saved and her painful past cause conflict as Hope and Dominique navigate their budding relationship. Hope finds solace in her art, painting smiling faces of rescued children from war zones. While pursuing a case in San Francisco, she stumbles upon her birth mother’s family and begins to uncover who she is and what she’s meant to be.

Will Hope and Dominique be torn apart by the very thing that brought them together? Can Hope build a bridge to peace and love through her creativity amidst the chaos in her world?

“Following the lives of Hope and Dominique in a world of chaos and seeing how each character’s creativity and purpose arises is a magical part of this book,” Heidel said. “It’s a beautiful story, whether you’ve read ‘Wanderlust’ or not.”