Debra Martens recently completed her collection of linked short stories, Don’t Hold Your Breath. Some of its stories were published in The New Quarterly, Room magazine and Grain magazine. Although she has moved around a lot, in an international version of Stompin’ Tom’s “I’ve been everywhere,” (Nairobi, New Delhi, Vienna, London, and East Jerusalem), most of the stories are set in Niagara.
She is working on a novel set early in the 20th century, based on a court case in which a woman was charged under the Criminal Code for witchcraft and fortune-telling.
She also edits or curates the literary site, Canadian Writers Abroad, which promotes the work of Canadian authors spending time outside of Canada, through book reviews, interviews, and guest posts. For this she is always seeking new content and contributors.
Recently
The first chapter of my work in progress made the short list in the 20th Century category of the Historical Novel Society’s First Chapters Competition in 2026.
At the December 2025 Salon of the Refused, held at the Bytown Museum, I read my short story, “Jennifer, or is it Jen?” set in a near future of aging and alienation. As of September 2026, it has been refused ten times. Organized by Wayne Johnston, this event is a fun evening of listening to other refused or rejected works, and meeting interesting writers.
Interview by Rhonda Douglas at her podcast, Resilient Writers, on December 14, 2023.
Reading of “Not a Bad Man” at the Salon of the Refused, Arts Court, Ottawa, on December 10, 2023, organized by Wayne Johnston.
Six Questions interview #87 : Debra Martens at Chaudiere Books on August 29, 2021.
Graphic of head by Gail Geltner
Logo by Gail Geltner
