Books with author Raul Martinez

He is a legend. He is a mystery. And he can only be seen by children. He is the Gray Man.Ten year old “TJ” is about to embark on a journey that no one in this small Florida town has ever taken – and lived. Strange things are going on and it all leads to one thing for TJ and his family: a one on one encounter with the most feared Urban Legend in town. Will he be the only person who has ever seen the Gray Man and lived?

It’s tough being fat; it’s even tougher being a fat vampire. Once you’ve been turned, you’re stuck with the body you’ve got for all eternity; the classic vampire deathstyle, with its elegantly tailored clothes and throngs of willing, waiting, winsome victims, is forever beyond your reach. At least, that’s what Luis, a morbidly obese Colombian vampire, has always heard. When he and his best friend Carlo see an ad for the New Blood Diet, which promises that they, too, can be slender, sexy, swoon-worthy vampires just like in the movies, they’re convinced their deaths will never be the same again. They may be right, but possibly not the way they think. Follow Luis, and other vampires with a craving to change, for a fang-in-cheek adventure that will take you through the perils of the jungles of Colombia, the graveyard shift at a burger joint, and everywhere in between, as you enjoy this first short episode of the Red Cerberus series.

A trip through Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America leads Rob Martinez to rethink "absolute truths" and, on the way, discover where all the smiles of the world are kept; how the Dutch experience the power of the wind; what is the price we must pay to achieve our goals, and how much do we know about inspiration, dreams, and our capabilities. Also, you will get to know the ups and downs of living together with some teenagers in Buenos Aires, which will give rise to reflection on love, friendship, and ultimately, our way of relating. The tour is completed with stories that address -from humor, while always leaving the door open for debate- the process of spiritual, creative and professional growth. The articles that make up the "Time and the Place of Things" are not simple stories without an exact chronology. If the texts sound different from each other it is because they were written years apart, along which the ideas mutated, the capacity for observation was sharpened and a voice, with which we can identify at all times, was consolidated.

People are dying in Danica. An age old historical event that brought this rural Florida town together is slowly tearing it apart, an event that bonds six fifth graders together on a quest. These kids from different backgrounds and families are brought together by one linking fact - they are children of dead people. And this fact pushes these friends to take on a mystery that might very well make them the next victims, of the Curse of Danica. Daphne, the new girl in town who is still adjusting to life in a new state and a new school, is thrust into a group of what she refers to as 'misfits', but she realizes that she has a bond with them since she too is an "orphan". Together as a group they attempt to solve the age old curse that has ripped into the fabric of this 'perfect' little town.

This story is about a girl who lived near the beach during a time when there had been lots of change with our country, communities, and households. Some referred to this time as the Age of Aquarius. Despite all that was happening such as the anti-Vietnam War protests, Civil Right movements, drug abuse, Chicago 68, just to name a few, she was willing to be used by God to go reach out to a group of people with the gospel of Jesus Christ and pray for them. Izzy was a girl who was courageous. She loved Jesus with all her heart and was obedient to the call that she had on her life. Because she allowed God to use her life in a mighty way, it would start a revival among the hippies and those who had been to the Vietnam War. The love of her life would eventually come alongside her to reach out to the hippies, love them, and preach Jesus to them and to all who were willing to come and hear the gospel. God is still continuing their labor of love to this day.

The Poor Man and His Princess is a children’s short story about unconditional love, and the connection made between a poor old man and the young orphan girl he took in when her parents could not be found.In this story set in West Africa some centuries ago, an outcaste is awakened by a noise outside his small, humble home. When he investigates the noise, the poor man finds a little girl who was lost and tired. Attempts to find this child’s parents were unsuccessful, resulting in the young girl remaining under the poor man’s care. Although the man is resistant to his fate, he becomes quite attached to the girl; and after years of raising her, the young girl grows to love him as her father. Unfortunately, the day comes when the poor man and his little girl are visited by a group of soldiers from a faraway kingdom, looking for a princess who was lost many years prior. The events that follow in this heart-warming story demonstrate that riches and class cannot rival love. The Poor Man and His Princess is a children’s tale that teaches us about the greatness of selflessness, humility, and love that is found in all humans of all classes and backgrounds. The reader also finds that we do not always need to look far to find our worth, for our worth can always be found at home.

What happens when four tween BFFs get together? Anything! Really! Meet the Juniors (aptly named because they have their parents names): 'Derik' David Markum - saxophonist, auto-junkie and impulsive-adventurer with adrenaline running through his veins; Angela 'Christine' Lopez - leader-extraordinaire, nature-lover, texting-champion and hyper-talker; 'Marion' Katherine Morgan - the brains of the outfit (her dad works for NASA), computer-addict, animal-lover, laid back 'goody-goody' of the bunch, and classical pianist; and finally, but not least, 'Dylan' Rutherford Daniels - mild-mannered rich kid, yo-yo expert, comedian and master voice impersonator. Somehow, trouble always seems to find them, and NOT the other way around. They fight crime and solve mysteries. Their talents and character get them through most of it, but it's usually teamwork that saves the day. Danger is at their every step, but they manage to fight the bad guy and still make it through school.