InterMatWrestle: Pinned is your first novel, why did you go with a wrestling story?

Martino: As a former youth, high school and collegiate wrestler, I felt I had the experience and desire to write a novel on high school wrestling. I wrote Pinned with two objectives in mind: To offer wrestlers and wrestling fans something fresh and interesting to read, and to put the sport of amateur wrestling in a positive, but realistic, light. I am very pleased to say that wrestlers of all levels have responded very positively to Pinned for its authenticity and storyline.

InterMatWrestle: Your background in New Jersey wrestling is legitimate, what made this story easy to write?

Martino: I found it relatively easy to write about the wrestling action and the difficulties (and glory) that wrestlers experience both on and off the mat—ie, cutting weight, dehydration, grueling practices, the pressures of winning and losing. However, I also knew that the novel had to be about more than just wrestling. It had to delve into the lives of these two teenagers outside of the sport, and how participation wrestling at such a high level would complicate, and enrich, their life’s experiences.

InterMatWrestle: What made it difficult to write?

Martino: I found it much more challenging to develop parallel story lines like how these two teenagers would deal with academic demands, relationships with girlfriends, pressures from parents, and how—even within a team framework—a wrestler can become very isolated within himself. It was these areas—when I used some of my own personal experiences—that were more difficult (and sometimes painful) to write. Of course, that’s also what makes Pinned a far more interesting read than if it was simply about wins and losses.

InterMatWrestle: What’s your current level of involvement with amateur wrestling?

Martino: My involvement is primarily as a fan and observer, particularly of New Jersey wrestling. This should be a very exciting season in the Garden State as Mike Grey of Delbarton goes for his 4th state championship, which has never been done before—an achievement all the more remarkable given the wealth of talent that New Jersey has produced over the past seventy years. I am also fascinated in the shift of high school wrestling power from, generally, the northwest part of New Jersey to the Shore and central areas of the state.

At the same time, I am excited by the growth of women’s wrestling on the high school, collegiate and Olympic levels. I think this can only be a good thing for our sport. While I don’t agree with boys and girls wrestling one another, I do think that girls should have opportunities to compete in their own dual meets, tournaments, etc. In many states, this is already happening.

Finally, I enjoy following the success that wrestlers have in mixed martial arts competitions. Fighters with wrestling backgrounds continue to show how effective our sport can be for self-defense, and how remarkably athletic wrestlers tend to be. I believe wrestling has changed the sport of mixed martial arts combat more than any other single factor.

InterMatWrestle: Are sales what you expected so far?

Martino: The sales of Pinned have been outstanding, and have surpassed what my publisher, Harcourt Inc., and I imagined. I am proud to say that Pinned has received a number of literary honors, which has exposed the novel to an wide audience. School and public librarians have also taken to the novel quite nicely. I have been told there isn’t nearly enough literature written for teenage male readers, so, in a small way, Pinned helps to fill that void. More importantly, with wrestling season approaching I think Pinned will make a nice holiday gift for any aspiring wrestler.

InterMatWrestle: How have you promoted the release of Pinned?

Martino: I have done a considerable amount of work regarding the marketing and promotion of Pinned. A have made author appearances at public and school libraries, in addition to speaking before a number of wrestling groups. I enjoy discussing writing and the sport of wrestling with students. In addition, I contact libraries and schools across the country by phone and mail soliciting Pinned. The bottom line is, regardless of the excellent work my publisher is doing for Pinned, it is my responsibility, as the author, to use whatever marketing and sales abilities I have to expose the novel to as many people as possible.

InterMatWrestle: Which character resembles your own personal career as a high school wrestler?

Martino: Ivan and Bobby, and their respective coaches are combinations of a number of wrestlers and people who I have come across over my lifetime, though none of the characters is modeled exactly off of any one person. At the same time, the storyline is not my life. However, I think most wrestlers identify with many, if not all, of the situations and experiences that I have written about. I have found that wrestlers typically have unusual ways of wrestling, or losing weight, or weighing-in, or getting prepared for a match. I tried to incorporate some of these quirks into the two main characters, their opponents, their coaches and their teammates.

InterMatWrestle: Did you draw any inspiration from other wrestling books on the market?

Martino: I did not. I have read many of the other wrestling books on the market, but found them to be unrealistic on so many levels. Perhaps I am a wrestling purist, but I loathe reading about cartoonish wrestling coaches, and plotlines that make no sense from a wrestling standpoint. The sport of wrestling is grueling, obsessive and incredibly difficult, but it also compelling, inspiring and glorious. I wanted Pinned to show the warts, but also the beauty, of our sport. I don’t believe other wrestling novels do this as well.

InterMatWrestle: Where is your ideal niche for the book?

Martino: My goal from day one has been to write the finest wrestling novel ever put to paper. I realize the conceit in that statement, however, I very specifically wanted to make my mark in sports literature, in general, and wrestling literature, in particular. Have I done that? That’s for readers to decide, though I am very pleased with the reaction I have received from former and currents wrestlers—and that means a lot to me. Secondly, I wanted Pinned to be read by as many people as possible, which meant promoting the novel to librarians, teachers and bookstore owners. Awards, appearances, and interviews help in this vein, but it is still word-of-mouth that works best. So far so good.

InterMatWrestle: Without giving away the ending for the folks that haven’t read the book, why did you end it the way you did?

Martino: As most wrestlers know, it is in the journey where we are able to look inside ourselves and fully understand our own abilities, strengths, limitations and dedication. That is, ultimately, the point I wanted to make with Pinned.