PD Martin

PD Martin — Phillipa Deanne Martin — was born in Melbourne, Australia. A big reader from an early age, Phillipa particularly loved reading fantasy books and children’s detective books like the Famous Five and Nancy Drew books. She moved on to Agatha Christie at eight years old and wrote her first mystery novella in Grade 5.

“I was probably too young to be reading Agatha Christie, but maybe I can thank her for some of the crazy dreams I have.” (Body Count is based on a dream Phillipa had several years ago.)

Phillipa went on to study psychology at university and started singing. After finishing a Bachelor of Behavioural Sciences, Phillipa studied music full time, gigged a bit and started writing songs, rediscovering her love of writing. A couple of years later she completed a postgraduate certificate in creative writing and started writing in earnest. But it was not an easy or fast road to publication!

“I’d written three books and received lots and lots of rejection letters. I was beginning to doubt myself and even seriously thought about giving up. But I still had way too many ideas that I couldn’t let go of, so I decided I’d write one more book.” The result was Body Count, her first crime fiction novel (unless you count the attempt in Grade 5).

Body Count was first released in Australia and New Zealand in May 2005 by Pan Macmillan, and is now available in Germany, America, Canada, the UK and Ireland.

Her second novel, The Murderers’ Club, was released in November 2006 and will be released in Germany and North America in late 2007.

Phillipa also worked as a corporate writer for over 10 years, for companies such as Genesys Wealth Advisers, AXA, BHP Billiton and Momentum Technologies Group, writing award-winning copy for flyers, brochures, web copy, newsletter articles, etc.