My father is Lithuanian, he and my grandparents immigrated to Canada when he was a young boy. My mother who was born in Toronto has an English and Scottish background. I have two older brothers. My brother David is five years older than me. Sadly, my brother Allan who is ten years older than me died at the age of 58 in his home in Orillia, Ontario.
I spent my early childhood living in Toronto and Wasaga Beach before moving to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario at the age of five. When I was 14-years-old my mother and I moved to Barrie, Ontario for several months before moving to Aurora, Ontario and eventually Toronto. I have lived in Bradford, Ontario for the past 24 years.
My mother has never been genuinely interested in or supportive of my writing. My father took little interest in my life until I was in my forties and he was battling cancer. He told me that he was proud of my poetry before his death in 2016, which meant a great deal to me. My four children, two stepchildren, and husband, poet John Mark Green are very supportive of my writing.
I have been dealing with general and social anxiety for as long as I can remember. I have anxiety and panic attacks as well as continual nightmares. I have personally chosen to take the holistic approach but am not opposed to the use of prescription medication for those who need it. I have seen it do wonderful things for others.
My anxiety has improved a great deal since I've ended contact with the abusive people in my life. I have learned that it is never worth it to keep anyone in my life who does not love and support me and treat me with dignity and respect.
Education
Due to my turbulent home life and constant moves (switching high schools) I dropped out of school at age 15 and went to work full-time. I later regretted my decision and at the age of 18 decided to go back and finish high school. I earned the majority of my high school credits over two years by attending school full-time as well as taking night school and correspondence courses. I had the opportunity to work as a Daycare Assistant and Teacher's Assistant for a primary school through the co-operative education program.
After graduating I attended George Brown College for Early Childhood Education but left at the end of my first semester after finding out I was pregnant. I had my first daughter at the age of 21. I have four children, three girls, and one boy. I took a correspondence college-level creative writing course in 2012 that helped me to improve my writing skills.
What Inspires Me to Write
As I child I loved to read and spend time in the forest. I spent hours writing short stories and plays. I wrote my first poem at the age of fifteen. My poems are inspired by many things including nature, art, real-life events, movies, and songs.
The writers who inspire me the most are Lucy Maud Montgomery, Robert Frost, Leonard Cohen, Billy Collins, Mary Oliver, and Christopher Poindexter.
Published Poetry and Creative Projects
My poetry, short stories, and articles have been published in a variety of online and print publications including True Real Estate Stories, The Cynic Online Magazine, Tickled by Thunder Magazine, Wynterblue Thunder Blue Sky Region Magazine, Poet's Ink, Paw Prints in Verse, O'Words Anthology, Be Wild Journal by Compendium Inc., The Gamemaster book from The Biodome Chronicles series, Latitudes Inspirations Nature Photography book, and more.
Over the past several years, my poems have been used in many exciting projects. They have been turned into choral songs that have been performed by high school and college students across the United States. My poem "Eternity" was featured in a full page jewelry advertisement in C Magazine's 2015 Bridal Issue. Most recently one of my inspirational poems was included in the 2024 Tiny Buddha Calendar by Lori Deschene which is published by Andrews McMeel.
My poetry has been shared by popular online magazines such as Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day, Country Living, Cosmopolitan, and Parade. It has also been shared on social media by celebrities including Julian Lennon, The Jacksons, Misha Collins, and Mena Suvari.
Working Online
I spent several years working as a freelance writer creating SEO articles and blog posts for a number of employers and clients. I also used my knowledge of SEO to create over a dozen income generating blogs. I was working part-time as an SEO Keyword Specialist when I discovered typewriter poetry on Pinterest. I began selling my hand typed poems and prints on Etsy in March 2014, and have sold over 5,000 poems as of 2023.
Abuse Survivor
I am a survivor of childhood physical, verbal and emotional abuse as well as many years of domestic abuse, which was very similar to the way I was treated as a child. It has taken me a long time to realize my self-worth and create a brand new healthy life for myself. I now hope to inspire others who have experienced trauma or other life challenges.
How to Contact Me
Feel free to send me a message on one of my social media sites. Business inquiries can be sent to my email christyannmartine@gmail.com.
Students
You have my permission to use my poetry in school poetry projects and artwork. As long as my name is kept with my poetry I don't mind at all.
I receive quite a few messages from students asking for more details about my life or specific poems for the projects they are doing. Although I am very grateful to be chosen for school projects I am not able to respond to every message I receive.
Teachers
You have permission to use my poetry as part of your class or school projects, and they can be used as part of your lesson plans.
Artists
You have permission to use my poems in your artwork as long as my name is kept with the poems and the work you create is not being sold.
Tattoos
There is no need to ask me for permission. I am very grateful to those who choose to get a tattoo of one of my poems or quotes. If you'd like me to share your tattoo photos on my social media send me a photo or tag me when posting.
Social Media
Feel free to share my poetry on your personal or professional blog, Pinterest, Facebook or other social media accounts as long as my name remains with the poem I've written. I appreciate you sharing! I appreciate being tagged or hashtagged so people can find me.
Song Writers and Musicians
I am no longer granting anyone permission to use my poetry as song lyrics or to create lyrics using pieces of my writing. If you would like to use my poem as part of a small non-profit creative project you can do so as long as my name is included with the poem.
Selling My Work
I do not allow anyone to sell my poetry in any form without my permission and a legal contract. I am currently not allowing anyone but three sellers to sell my work online. The authors that have included my poetry in their novels have received permission from me to do so. Using my poems in the work you are selling is copyright infringement. My poems and quotes are protected under Canadian copyright law.
I hope I've covered everything. Thank you so much for taking an interest in me and my poetry, I really appreciate it!
Love and Light ~Christy
Follow Me Online:
Etsy:
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/ChristyAnnMartine
www.instagram.com/christy_ann_martine
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/christyannmartine
The gender-neutral version of my poem "She'll Find the Sky" was included in the short film "Joan's Song" which appeared in a Texas Film Festival and my children's poem "Witches' Delight" was published in Gill Education's new Primary English Language Programme book "Over the Moon."
Working Online
I spent several years working as a freelance writer creating SEO articles and blog posts for a number of employers and clients. I also used my knowledge of SEO to create over a dozen income generating blogs. I was working part-time as an SEO Keyword Specialist when I discovered typewriter poetry on Pinterest. I began selling my hand typed poems and prints on Etsy in March 2014, and have sold over 5,000 poems as of 2023.
Arts Market
I am currently selling my hand typed poems and poetry books at the Danforth Arts Market located at 1856 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
I am currently selling my hand typed poems and poetry books at the Danforth Arts Market located at 1856 Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Books
My first book of poetry "She'll Find the Sky: A Collection of Poems can be found online here on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target.com, and BookDepository.com.
My second book "The Light You Need: Words of Hope and Encouragement" includes inspirational poetry by both me and my husband John Mark Green. The book can be found here on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and BookDepository.com.
Abuse Survivor
I am a survivor of childhood physical, verbal and emotional abuse as well as many years of domestic abuse, which was very similar to the way I was treated as a child. It has taken me a long time to realize my self-worth and create a brand new healthy life for myself. I now hope to inspire others who have experienced trauma or other life challenges.
How to Contact Me
Feel free to send me a message on one of my social media sites. Business inquiries can be sent to my email christyannmartine@gmail.com.
Students
You have my permission to use my poetry in school poetry projects and artwork. As long as my name is kept with my poetry I don't mind at all.
I receive quite a few messages from students asking for more details about my life or specific poems for the projects they are doing. Although I am very grateful to be chosen for school projects I am not able to respond to every message I receive.
Teachers
You have permission to use my poetry as part of your class or school projects, and they can be used as part of your lesson plans.
Artists
You have permission to use my poems in your artwork as long as my name is kept with the poems and the work you create is not being sold.
Tattoos
There is no need to ask me for permission. I am very grateful to those who choose to get a tattoo of one of my poems or quotes. If you'd like me to share your tattoo photos on my social media send me a photo or tag me when posting.
Social Media
Feel free to share my poetry on your personal or professional blog, Pinterest, Facebook or other social media accounts as long as my name remains with the poem I've written. I appreciate you sharing! I appreciate being tagged or hashtagged so people can find me.
YouTube
If you are making a video for YouTube you have my permission to use my poetry in your videos as long as my name is mentioned in the video. Feel free to post poetry readings of my poems. I've seen such lovely videos posted online and appreciate your creative efforts.
Song Writers and Musicians
I am no longer granting anyone permission to use my poetry as song lyrics or to create lyrics using pieces of my writing. If you would like to use my poem as part of a small non-profit creative project you can do so as long as my name is included with the poem.
Selling My Work
I do not allow anyone to sell my poetry in any form without my permission and a legal contract. I am currently not allowing anyone but three sellers to sell my work online. The authors that have included my poetry in their novels have received permission from me to do so. Using my poems in the work you are selling is copyright infringement. My poems and quotes are protected under Canadian copyright law.
I hope I've covered everything. Thank you so much for taking an interest in me and my poetry, I really appreciate it!
Love and Light ~Christy
Follow Me Online:
Etsy:
www.etsy.com/ca/shop/ChristyAnnMartine
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/christy_ann_martine
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/christyannmartine
Pinterest:
www.pinterest.ca/christyamartine
Twitter:
twitter.com/Christy_Martine
Tumblr:
christyannmartine.tumblr.com
www.pinterest.ca/christyamartine
Twitter:
twitter.com/Christy_Martine
Tumblr:
christyannmartine.tumblr.com
TikTok:
