About
Jay Martin is a writer, writing facilitator and presenter who lives and works on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar (Perth, Western Australia). She writes stories that engage with contemporary, complex topics in unique and distinctive landscapes.
Her first book, Vodka and Apple Juice: Travels of an Undiplomatic Wife in Poland, was published by Fremantle Press in 2018, winning the TAG Hungerford Award. Her second book, Boom Town Snap, is out in May 2025. She was also included in the anthology Women of a Certain Rage edited by Liz Byrski.
Jay’s short-form writing has been featured in European and Australian publications including the Warsaw Insider, Warsaw Business Journal and news site Crikey, and she has been an invited guest at literary events in Australia and Canada.
Jay designs and runs writing workshops and programs around Western Australia, and loves helping others discover the joy and power of writing.
A message from Jay:
G’day, how’re you doing, thanks for stopping by!
I grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. Quite early on, I took off to see what else was out there. It was a journey that took me on quite a ride.
To Perth, where I soaked up a wonderful arts education at Murdoch University and the sun of the endless, brilliant-blue west coast skies. To Canberra, where I immersed myself in the churn and dynamism of politics, and heard ministers repeat words I’d crafted. To Poland, where I was – at best – a mediocre diplomatic wife, but I managed some success at Polish grammar and pickled herring.
Returning to Fremantle to thaw, I joined the throngs of ex-public servants who moved into consulting. I learned to work at a pace that’s not for the faint hearted, and saw a lot of the country from thirty-thousand feet. I also vowed never to live anywhere cold, dark, or more than a direct flight from Australia again. So when the opportunity to move to Alberta, Canada, presented itself … I jumped at it. And so I discovered Edmonton, a kindred-spirit city thousands of miles and seventy degrees from home.
I’m now settled back into Fremantle, where you may find me around the town, most likely with a coffee in one hand and a laptop in the other, tap-tap-tapping away at some story or other.
I’d love to hear about your own adventures, your own journeys, your own books and stories. Please drop me a line here – or if you see me around town, do tap me on the shoulder and say g’day (or if you’re from Canada, ‘how’re you doing!’).
Behind the Scenes
Some of the real-life research behind BOOM TOWN SNAP
There's a point in BOOM TOWN SNAP where Georgie finds herself in the middle of a snow-covered frozen lake, footsteps leading to where she is. This is what I was thinking of - this is at Wabamun Lake, near Edmonton, Alberta.
The gorges of the Pilbara are some of the most stunning places I've ever been. They had an effect on me not unlike the wonder and awe Georgie talks about.
Launching my first book - with Simone McGurk, MLA. This night passed in such a blur, I barely remember anything about it. I'm glad someone had a camera!
Near Yellowknife, NWT Canada. It's 40 degrees below here - if you look closely, you will see ice crystals on my eyelashes.
Kermit Gorge, near Karijini National Park. I had no idea we had landscape like this in WA. It blew me away.
Presenting at a panel at LitFest Alberta, there is nothing I love more than talking about writing - other than writing, of course!
Having a cheeky read in an ice library in Yellowknife, NWT.
Top of Jarndunmunha, which is also known as Mount Nameless.
Ice Highways in the north of Canada
Everything about WA seems gigantic - and the further north you go, the more gigantic things seem to get.
Snowy Edmonton, including the cityscape and the frozen river that feature in BOOM TOWN SNAP, along with the trademark Albertan bright blue sky.
I'm presenting here at When Words Collide, a writer's festival in Calgary, Alberta. It was a session on writing settings - unique and distinctive settings feature in all my books.
There's a small, snowy cabin by a frozen lake that also features in BOOM TOWN ... Anything like this one, in Dalton? Perhaps, but I'll leave the rest to the imagination.
From the shore of Dampier, near Karratha. The ships wait for the iron ore they will cart off to the rest of the world.
I LOVE Western Australia for so many reasons ... including reaching the Billabong Road House, up the Great Northern Highway. After that, it's all bogan, all the time.
A snowy Edmonton wakes up - not unlike in Chapter 2 of BOOM TOWN SNAP.
The WA Pilbara coastline, not far from Dampier. The whole coast is stunning, precious and dramatic.
I even gave outside ice skating a red hot go. Does it look like I succeeded?
Between Dampier and Karratha lie these ancient petroglyphs, some estimated to be up to 40,000 years old. Something comes over you when you walk among them.
When Georgie is trying cross-country skiing, this is the kind of place I was imagining - Blackfoot Reserve, near Edmonton. There are no photos of me skiing - for good reason!
Contemplating fish eating my toes. Millstream National Park, between Karratha and Karijini. Time seems to slow down when I'm here.
WA is mining, and mining is WA .... and Alberta.
Rockpools just near Dampier - one of the many, many beautiful places along that rugged coast.
