Maggie St. Claire

As I approached my 75th birthday, I realized I had spent my life writing everything but fiction. I wrote for magazines, was a broadcast journalist, wrote and produced television documentaries, personal histories, and grant requests.

So, why not try fiction? The idea for Martha had been bothering my brain for some time and I suspected the only way to get rid of her was to let her have her say. The novel Martha is the result. And I loved writing the book. I should have discovered fiction 50 years sooner.

However, even though I am old and retired, and was born and raised in Wyoming, I am not Martha. I have a loving and extended family and live across the street from my daughter and her husband. They have four children (two sets of twins!) and I am involved in their lives as ubergram, chief cheerleader, etiquette arbiter, fashion consultant and sometime cook.

My son and his wife live in Los Angeles and provided information and location tours which made Los Angeles a technicolor character in Martha.

I remain a Wyoming girl, except for my politics which are much more liberal than most Wyomingites. I find peace in the wild, windswept landscape and isolation. I intend to have my ashes spread there, although my children warn me I will probably end up in Nebraska because of the wind.

I am an environmentalist, feminist, and dog lover--especially border collies.

I love beauty from the natural amazement of nature in all its forms to music (country, folk and opera), incredible writing (The Goldfinch and To Kill a Mockingbird are my favorite novels), photography, fine art and friendships. I like old cars and art deco design.

My goals are to write a second novel, buy a pair of cowboy boots and a nail gun so I can fix my fence.