Jay Martin

Jay Martin lives and works on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. She studied Asian languages (Indonesian and Vietnamese) and worked in a range of roles including in community development, government policy and consulting. This included positions in federal government in Canberra, as well as in consulting firms in Australia and in Alberta, Canada. Her first book, Vodka and Apple Juice: Travels of an Undiplomatic Wife in Poland, won the Hungerford Award and was published by Fremantle Press in 2018. Her second book and first novel, Boomtown Snap (May 2025) is set between Western Australia and Canada — countries on the opposite sides of the globe, the hearts of which beat to the common rhythm of the resources industry, and explores human connection, corporate greed, and the harsh, rich landscapes that shape our destinies.  Jay’s short-form writing has been featured in European and Australian publications including 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.