“Wounded Tiger is an amazing, enthralling story of how the once obscure lives of an Oregon farmhand and a young co-ed intersected with the Japanese pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbor. With cultural insight and deep pathos, Martin Bennett brings to life this powerful true chronicle of hatred, surrender, and transformation. Wounded Tiger reveals how ordinary lives lived out faithfully to their calling can impact the destiny of a people and a nation. I wholeheartedly recommend Martin’s work and know that you will find it equally compelling.”

Ravi Zacharias
Author and speaker

Seventy years ago today, December 1, 1941, Emperor Hirohito made the ultimate decision for Japan to go to war with the United States. Six days later, the world would never be the same again. Six million members of the Japanese and America military would die, along with eighteen million civilians by the end of the Pacific War.

This scene of Hirohito is depicted in the opening chapter of "Wounded Tiger" and you can read the first five chapters of the book by clicking the link here. This is the extraordinary true story of Mitsuo Fuchida, the pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, whose life was changed by an American  prisoner of Japan, and by a girl he never met.

Fuchida's daughter, Miyako, now 74, read the book and said, "I have read the complete book manuscript. He is a tiger. He was born in the year of the tiger. You describe his posture and behavior so well and precisely, I can feel my father's presence. I have no idea how the world accepts him today. Some will call him a villain, others will call him a proud warrior who found redemption. I will always admire his guts, his intellect, and his sincerity."

I've moved to Tucson, Arizona!

In case any live in AZ, I've packed up and for the time being will be living in Tucson and will head to Los Angeles as soon as I'm able. No book deal yet, but my agent and I are working on it.

No film funding either, but I've received encouraging correspondence from three investor contacts with huge potential. Also, the project is in the process of getting in front of a number of key film people as well. Sorry I can't mention names until we have something solid ... Stay tuned.

A friend and fellow WWII aircraft buff just posted a nice blog about the Wounded Tiger project. Check it out and let him know what you think. Thanks!

New Year's Update, January 1, 2011

It's been said that "luck" is when preparation meets opportunity. I don't believe in luck, but I do believe in preparations. After thousands of hours of work and preparations, I'm convinced 2011 will see new things begin to take shape in a way they haven't in the past. As of today, this is where things stand:

• The "Wounded Tiger" film project: I have ten or so people who are very interested in funding the project in one way or another, all of whom have the ability to bring a large amount of funding into the film, but none of whom have done so as of yet. One Hollywood studio offered to purchase the film script for a figure in the high sixes, but I wasn't interested as I would lose all ability to protect the integrity of the story. Some want to see the book in print first, which is understandable. And one group believes they will be able to assemble significant funding in the next month or so. We'll see ...
• The "Wounded Tiger" book: The manuscript is complete and I continue to receive helpful critiques (some even from Japan!) and make minor edits as I consider the best way to approach the right publishing companies - those with the vision and horsepower to do with the book what needs to be done. I also have ideas to convert the story into a graphic novel. Some very experienced people have offered to help me make connections and I'm grateful for how things are developing.

When I have solid news on either project that I'm allowed to disclose, I'll post it here. Until then, may each of you have a wonderful and productive 2011!

- Martin

Below photo: Me at the Yasukuni War Museum, Tokyo.

"Wounded Tiger" book is now complete.

The novelization of the screenplay into book form is complete and I'm seeking the right publisher.

Here are the first five chapters of "Wounded Tiger."  

First draft of "Wounded Tiger" book complete.

As of this week, after 3 1/2 years of work on the film script and another 18 months on just the book, the novelization of the story "Wounded Tiger" is now complete. That said, the manuscript will go into a phase of editing and polishing for about eight weeks, then onto the quest to find the right publisher.

On an earlier entry (below) you can download the first five chapters if you're interested.

Regarding raising funds for the film project, many of you know that if I were to sell the film script to a studio, I would then lose all ability to protect the integrity of the story, which I don't believe would be in the best interest of the film, so I have been in a process of cultivating those with an interest in this film project who also have the capacity to bring a substantial amount of capital into Hungry Kitty, LLC. As of now, there are six investors/investment houses/brokers who have expressed a keen interest in the project, all of whom can bring enough capital to ensure that I (Hungry Kitty, LLC) would retain creative control of the film. That's about as much as I can say on that front. Any news in this area will be posted here, so save the link if you'd like to stay informed, or "friend" me in Facebook.

That's it.