Hi, I’m Linda Jo Martin. I was born in Oakland in 1952, and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area towns of El Cerrito and El Sobrante.
I love to read. I realized I had a problem back in first grade when my teacher couldn’t find any Dick and Jane books I hadn’t already read. I switched to biographies and Nancy Drew while in elementary school. My mother gave me a copy of Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell soon after it was originally published, which left a lasting impression of what good writing can be.
In high school I kept a notebook for a variety of writing projects and in early adulthood, started to journal. I also carried on heavy correspondence with dozens of pen pals and remember many times they encouraged me by making positive comments about my writing abilities and interesting letters. If you are a former pen pal of mine, please do not hesitate to leave a comment here or on my Facebook fan page.
I attended Shasta Community College in Redding, California, graduating with an AA degree in Early Childhood Education in 1977. I also attended College of the Sequoias in Visalia, California, graduating with an AS degree in Legal Assisting in 1991.
For over twenty years while having and raising children I made multiple unsuccessful attempts at writing novels. During this time I wrote quite a few short stories, poems, songs, memoirs, diatribes, legal documents, opinion editorials, and articles. One short story was published in a children’s magazine. Multiple articles were published in newspapers. Later I started and wrote for Happy Camp News.
My children and I enjoyed middle grade and young adult novels which I read out loud to them while we were homeschooling. I now often write in these genres. I also read and love historical fiction, mysteries, mainstream, literary, and classic novels. I read lots of non-fiction too, especially autobiographies and memoirs.
My most important writing project now is editing my young adult adventure novels. I’m also transcribing my old journals and intend to publish them for my family members only.
I lived most of my life in California, where I was born, but moved to North Idaho in 2013. Two weeks later I surrendered my life to the Lord and became a Christian. I moved back to the far-northern part of California in 2020. My main activities aside from writing, are worshiping, reading, gardening, art, and crochet.
At one time I participated in Nanowrimo. Here are some of the awards I got, 2001-2007.
you are a treasure and I know, oh, so little about you. Thank you , thank you and thank you again for your review on goodreads on When you trap a tiger. I am so disappointed and somewhat enraged that the author tossed in this lesbian relationship. My 4th grader finished the book. I was so proud of her and then she shamefully and disappointedly told me about this feature to the ending. I wish that I had read the reviews but thought that the librarian at the Catholic Grammar School would do her homework. I plan to follow you as best I can even though I don’t use Twitter
Hi Thomas, thanks so much for letting me know you appreciate that review. I was distressed when I got to the final chapter and saw that unnecessary information was tossed in. Though I don’t have any young children anymore, I was angered on behalf of Christian parents who would unknowingly give this book to their children. If we can’t trust the Newbery Committee and American Library Association to promote decent and good literature for children, at least we should be aware that they’re not trustworthy. That’s why I wrote the review. I also rarely use Twitter/X but I use YouTube a lot and have a channel there. Also I use Goodreads, and to a lesser extent, Instagram.
Hi Linda,
Thankyou for all you have shared. Our daughter was stolen from us 15 years ago by a mental case much older man who was a sexual predator and was grooming our 16 year old for sex when he was 36. He taught her how to use the system so he could steal her from foster care as it was easier than stealing her from our home. We told CPS in Marin County California where we lived that a mental case was using them to steal our daughter. They refused to believe us. We were not found guilty of anything. There was no abuse in our home yet our daughter was stolen just one week before she turned 18. The foster mother who had our daughter was terrified the day that Billy my daughters mental case predator came to her door with a weapon . He said, I am hear to get Stephanie and there is nothing you can do about it. The foster mom turned to my daughter and said, “how is it that you don’t know how to use public transportation but you knew how to use the system to get to this man”? She then kicked them both out of her house and she ran to a neighbor to call 911. By the time the police came my daughter was gone with the man who used the system to steal her. I haven’t seen her for 15 years. I worry about her and long to see her. I fear what the man has done to her. I believe he has brain washed her and that she is a victim of human trafficking. Please help if you can. I want to sue CPS and the man who stole my daughter . I am devastated. I long to see my daughter. We need help.
Susie
Susie, I’m so sorry you’re missing your daughter and it is causing you pain. I had a similar situation in my family except that I have seen my daughter, but now we’re avoiding each other. The way they (daughter and the old man) treated me was nothing short of extreme verbal/emotional elder abuse. Maybe you are lucky that you aren’t being confronted by them! The elder abuse I experienced was verbal and threatening (they didn’t actually touch me) but it was pretty bad and even though she is back in town (a small town) I’m not making any efforts to see her or visit, not even to see my grandchildren. I did, at the time, look up statutes on elder abuse and sent them to my daughter and her spouse, telling them if it ever happened again we would be going to court. It has not happened again since that time.
In your situation, the old man showed up to get your daughter with a weapon. This does not sound like a person you would want to be around. What surprises me about what you wrote is that CPS took her just a week before her 18th birthday. They were in such a hurry to get together they couldn’t wait until she was 18?
I have another daughter who chose to estrange from me many long years ago. She’s now over 40 and I haven’t talked to her since before she was 18. That was over the phone because she was living with her father and his girlfriend. That was a PAS situation (Parental Alienation Syndrome). It is really hard to deal with being abandoned by a child – it carries so many demeaning feelings and insinuations. Like many estranged children, my daughter refused to give me any explanation of why she was doing it. There was never a time when we discussed the issues, whatever they were (I still don’t know.) Over the years since then I’ve been through all of the stages of grief (Elizabeth Kubler Ross stages of grief) and I’m sure you have too.
In recent years there have been groups formed on Facebook that help abandoned parents deal with their grief. I suggest you connect with some of those groups to find solace in the company of other suffering parents. I hope this helps. There’s also a book that you might want to read: Done with the Crying, by Sheri McGregor.
I’m a grandmother of a beautiful 2 yr old little girl. Cps had me take her full time because of her parents drug problems & a couple weeks ago she somehow got access to a narcotic pill in my home while I’m remodeling my bathroom. I’ know it had to be her mother whom had it stashed and forgot about it. Cps took her from me and not giving me a chance at all to get her back! I need info how to fight them so she s back with me. I’m heartbroken just as I was 7 years ago when I lost my oldest son in a car accident,, any info to help me greatly appreciated. Thank you
Hi Lisa, I’m sorry, I know the pain of losing a child to CPS. I know you did nothing intentionally wrong to deserve that. Have you seen an attorney? Are you the “de-facto parent?” You might have trouble getting your grandchild back; the parents are more likely to get children back. Do you know the people who have your granddaughter now? I think the best course of action is to create a good relationship with whoever has your granddaughter, ongoing. Please see an attorney who would know the CPS policies in your area, if you can afford that. But don’t go broke over this… there are no “grandparents rights” written into the laws. Most family law attorneys will offer a free initial consultation, and give you some information about what they think can or can’t be done in your situation.
Thank you, no cps places my granddaughter with me originally because of her mother losing her 2nd child at birth due to drug addiction. While I had my granddaughter cps made sure to terminate the parents rights; they refuse to give me any info and now say my granddaughter was state custody. After 2&1/2 years of my raising her alone they now say I’m basically nobody and refuse to give me any court orders from past or anything stating why they will not let me have her back. They cannot prove me unfit but they also know my income is limited. Allowed me to have an mdt meeting making accusations against me untrue statements and told me end of meeting have a nice day. Granddaughter is in foster care and refuse to tell me where or with whom. CPS is definitely not on my side at all. Although I don’t know why except they’re going to get paid to adopt her into another home. That’s a fact already proven from investigating I’ve done. I’m not quitting no matter what I’m told until I get her back and that’s a fact. I’ll fight until I die. I’m trying to get an attorney but cannot afford most yet that I’ve tried but I’m still going on
Thank you
If you know anybody in California that can help save my grand children from CPS in Sacramento before it to late. Judge is determmed not let anyone in family to adopt my grand. He has rejected everyone except the sheriff that has filed for adoption, he is foster parent. I feel my grand children has been kid napped. The under linning factor for taking children has been dismissed in court..
The only lawyer near you that I know … is Robert Powell https://www.rrpassociates.com/ … he has a good reputation for cases involving CPS. If he can’t represent you, ask for a referral. If you can’t get your grandchildren, try to be on friendly terms with the adopter so you can visit them.
I really envy you because I can’t wait to retire and head up to the mountains of Idaho. I dream of days filled with reading, writing, art, and wandering the woods. Before I was kind of dreading retirement, but you are so inspiring! I have five more years. Meanwhile, I get to take notes from you!
Hi Linda,
Really appreciate your thoughtful reviews. I’m the author of a book you reviewed recently, and I like your insight. I’d be happy to send a couple of free books your way, if you are interested in newer books 😉
Drop me an email, and I’ll be happy to pop some books in the mail to a PO box or mailing address.
Thank you, Ned … I am looking forward to reading (and reviewing) your other two books. I really do like your writing style and the books look intriguing!
Dear Linda,
I am looking for a lost relative in Siskiyou county and you seem to be knowledgeable about the area. I am sorry for the unorthodox approach, but would you be able to drop me an email?
Thank you
George
Yes – I sent you email and will be happy to help if I can. I no longer live there, but still maintain contacts within Siskiyou County.
Linda,
Thank you for helping me out. My self-confidence is low and i do need to start convincing myself that i pretty. You have helped and so has your website.
Thank you so!!!
Marissa Jane
You seem like a very talented woman. I do admire the effort you put towards writing. It’s people like you, that are an inspiration to people like me.
Thank you
I think your website is neat. Just wanted to say hello. I wish I could be as diligent and focused as you in your writing aspirations.
Thanks for stopping by, Cassie, and thanks especially for leaving a comment. I love to know who’s been by to visit. I’ll visit your site too. Thanks for leaving a link.
Hi Linda,
I saw your post on the Mike’s writing workshop forum and thought I’d check out your website. Very nice! It looks like you’ve done a lot of good writing. I wish you the best with your publication efforts.
-Cassie