Linda Jo Martin

Writer, Artist, YouTuber

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Linda Jo Martin – My Bio

January 19, 2005 By Linda Jo Martin 19 Comments

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.

Linda with Neo at Laughing Waters

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.

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Comments

  1. Thomas Roughneen says

    October 13, 2024 at 8:14 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Linda Jo Martin says

      October 21, 2024 at 2:54 pm

      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.

      Reply
  2. Susie says

    July 5, 2024 at 1:56 am

    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

    Reply
    • Linda Jo Martin says

      July 30, 2024 at 9:07 am

      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.

      Reply
  3. Lisa Mackey says

    February 25, 2019 at 7:37 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Linda Jo Martin says

      February 25, 2019 at 10:41 pm

      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.

      Reply
      • Lisa Mackey says

        February 27, 2019 at 9:49 pm

        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

        Reply
    • Ronald Kershaw says

      April 22, 2019 at 3:08 pm

      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..

      Reply
      • Linda Jo Martin says

        April 22, 2019 at 6:55 pm

        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.

        Reply
  4. Leslie A Schippert says

    April 18, 2018 at 8:58 am

    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!

    Reply
  5. N Hayes says

    December 12, 2017 at 3:01 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • LJ Martin says

      December 12, 2017 at 10:38 pm

      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!

      Reply
  6. George Sfougaras says

    October 1, 2017 at 8:36 am

    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

    Reply
    • LJ Martin says

      October 2, 2017 at 12:21 pm

      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.

      Reply
  7. Marissa Jane says

    September 20, 2013 at 3:59 am

    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

    Reply
  8. Trina says

    August 9, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    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

    Reply
  9. lily says

    October 9, 2007 at 2:53 pm

    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.

    Reply
  10. Linda says

    October 8, 2007 at 10:43 pm

    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.

    Reply
  11. Cassie Zaruba says

    October 8, 2007 at 5:16 am

    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

    Reply

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A recent video on my Booktube channel, at YouTube

About Me

Hi, I'm Linda, the Book Lady, and I'm excited about reading. A book is a gift you give yourself. It is so much fun to open that cover and discover what was hidden within. Books share the wisdom of the ages with us. Who wouldn't want that? So I read frequently and encourage reading. If you're a reader, let me know by becoming my friend on GoodReads.


My novel, River Girl, is about a girl living in the Klamath River Valley.

All about Linda's Life.

Here's a link to my prayer website:
Prayer Power.

My childhood memoirs: ljm memoirs.

Professional Reader
I use Amazon affiliate links on this site and appreciate it very much when you purchase from my links.

My Art

Water Girl - by Linda Jo
Acrylic Ink / Sketchbook
Sanctuary, by Linda Jo Martin
Acrylic Ink / Sketchbook
Ready to Sail, by Linda Jo Martin
Acrylic Ink / Sketchbook

Flowers Forever - art by Linda Jo Martin
Acrylic Ink / Sketchbook
Mother-Daughter Dance, by Linda Jo Martin
Acrylic Ink / Sketchbook
Mary and Jesus - art by Linda Jo Martin
Acrylic / Junk Journal

Watercolor
Bird Art by Linda Jo Martin - http://lindajomartin.com
Acrylic
Wild and Precious - art by Linda Jo Martin
Watercolor / pen

Summer Afternoon - art by Linda Jo Martin
Pen / Watercolor
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” ? Cicero - Art by Linda Jo Martin http://lindajomartin.com
Acrylic
Angel art by Linda Jo Martin
Sketchbook

Psalm 91:9-11 - Angel art by Linda Jo Martin http://lindajomartin.com
Sketchbook
Art: Idaho Hills, by Linda Jo Martin
Acrylic / Junk Journal
March Mystery Madness 2020, art by Linda Jo Martin
Gouache journal

Plan A to Z - lettering by Linda Jo Martin
Lettering class project
A daring adventure - art by Linda Jo Martin
Fountain pen ink journal
Small Joys
Watercolor sketchbook

Watercolor sketchbook
Valley of decision.
Bible journaling
Mount Glittery by Linda Jo Martin - mountain climbing quote by John Muir
Acrylic painting

Watercolor sketchbook
“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ? Ralph Waldo Emerson ... watercolor painting by Linda Jo Martin
Watercolor sketchbook
Imagination Soars, by Linda Jo Martin - http://lindajomartin.com
Watercolor sketchbook

Plant Seeds
Watercolor sketchbook
The Prayer by Linda Jo Martin
Acrylic painting
A basket of flowers, by Linda Jo Martin - http://lindajomartin.com/writing/art
Fountain pen ink journal

California Reading

California Reading

California Reading
5 members

This group is for anyone wanting to read California based fiction or nonfiction.

Our recommended shelf

The World Rushed In: The California Gold Rush Experience
The World Rushed In: The California Gold Rush Experience
by J.S. Holliday


Hillinger's California: Stories from All 58 Counties
Hillinger’s California: Stories from All 58 Counties
by Charles Hillinger





View this group on Goodreads »


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