In addition to her fine art photography, Jennifer Martin is a published author. Here are her most recent publications:

BOOKS


MAGAZINE ARTICLES

BOOKS

Star Child:
A Mother's Journey Through Grief

Introduction

"Come with me," the angel said, "Return to the stars." And the child leaned into the angel's arms, her diamond blue-white wings enfolded him and covered him with stardust to warm him for the journey home. No cracking sounds of thunder or the shrill cries of a seagull mark this passage--only the still sound of your sweet soul leaving, as silent as your voice and beating heart. Fly now through the canyons, past the sun and the moon, remembering the way you came before.

Slip freely and softly through the ancient doorway into the realm of eternity. Take with you all the love you can carry, but leave enough for me to feel your presence; for I will need that love to find my way through the darkness. For the light that was your soul has left me. Years from now, I will find you again and together we will soar away from this place--this place that kept me separate from you. And I will leave behind my body, the pain and the tears, taking with me all the joy and spiritual wisdom I finally found amidst the vast brokenness of your death.

- Jennifer Martin
Written June 1997, on the beach in Port Aransas, Texas



Heaven's Stone

... a new novel ... coming soon ...






Magazine Articles



A Portrait of My Hero

Grief Digest Magazine, April 2006

"As I look at the old black and white photograph of him and me, I see an image of a handsome young man, age thirty-five, and his infant daughter. We lie side by side on a soft, chenille bedspread. He is asleep, turned on his left side facing me. His arms are folded across his chest, slightly creasing the front of his starched, khaki, army shirt. I am awake. Our heads lie on the same pillow – my face inches from his cheek. My eyes are fixed upon his face, gazing in wonder, memorizing him.. . . . "
to read "A Portrait of My Hero" click here
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Perfectionism and Creativity

Ceramics Monthly, May 2001

"It's locked," I said to the red-haired woman who had just shuffled up the flagstone walkway and grasped the brass handle of the door to the pottery studio. "We're waiting for the instructor," I offered as a bit of friendly warmth against the chill of the February morning.

Cupping a hand over his forehead to block the morning glare, my husband peered in through one of two glass panels that flanked the entrance door, and mumbled something about maybe spotting a custodian.

I glanced again at the flyers that were taped to the inside of the windows. They showcased photographs of pottery and advertised upcoming exhibitions. I wondered what it must be like to craft such objects of beauty from lumps of clay.
to read "Perfectionism and Creativity" click here
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A Place Called Grace

Bereavement: Living with Loss Magazine, March/April 2004

"The pneumatic doors of the hospital emergency room entrance opened to the touch of my feet. It was February 5, 1991, a Tuesday. Kelly, the essence of my life and only child, had been pronounced dead at 3:26 p.m. That afternoon, I became a lifetime member of a dreadful club. I became a bereaved parent. As I walked out of the doors of the hospital emergency room, I took my first step into a world governed by raw emotion and immeasurable tears. . . . "
to read "A Place Called Grace" click here
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The Freeing of Peggy Grace Hawk

Grief Digest Magazine, January 2006

"In less than an hour it would all be over. The oxygen in the car would be displaced by the carbon monoxide gas, depriving Victor's lungs of the air needed to sustain his breathing. His choice of self-deliverance to God would be fulfilled.
No more worries about his indebtedness or how he would tell his wife, no more quarrels with his business partners over floundering ventures, and no more doubts about whether his marriage was failing. Beyond his last breath lay Victor's new world, silent and unknown, but a journey he had meticulously planned and embarked on without fear ... "
to read "The Freeing of Peggy Grace Hawk" click here
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Pass the Potato Salad

Somos en escrito Blog, March 20, 2011

NOTE: If you are newly bereaved, the sensitive nature of this story might not be something you wish to read at this time.

Jennifer Martin, of San Antonio, Texas, is one of three children of a Mexican mother and a Caucasian father. She recalls there was a lot of struggle and shame in their young lives due to their mixed heritage. "One of my aunts managed to pass her shame on to me as a young child. I was 32 years old before I was able to let all that go and claim the beauty of my heritage. Now when I meet people, one of the first things I proudly say is, 'My grandmother was Mexican. She read tarot cards and made some of the best homemade tortillas and beans.' " This story seems very liberating as well. She is the author of "Star Child: A Mother's Journey Through Grief" and is currently at work on a mystery thriller that takes place in Mexico.
to read " Pass the Potato Salad " click here
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