Martha Attema

376 Voyer Rd., Corbeil ON P0H 1K0

martatte@vianet.on.ca

Place/Date of Birth:    Menaldum, Netherlands, December 22, 1949

Activity/Profession:    Artist - Writer: short story writer, novelist, children's juvenile books, poet

Years Lived in Northern Ontario:    19

Years as an Artist:    30

Time spent per week:    10 hours or less

Other areas of work:    Full-time primary school teacher

How and when art was learned:    Canadore College, Artsperience

Artistic Influences:    The Second World War

For hire performer:    Available for readings and presentations

Biographical Sketch

    I was born in the Netherlands, December 12, 1949, as Martha Hoogterp and grew up on a farm.  After completing High School, I trained and worked as a kindergarten teacher.

    In 1971, I married Albert Attema.  We have three children:

        Romkje (female), born June 2, 1973

        Sjoerd (male), born June 18, 1975

        Rikst (female), born May 25, 1978

    In 1981 we immigrated to Canada and lived in North Bay. One year later we moved to Corbeil.

    I worked at Tot Town Cooperative Nursery School, while working on a B.A. and B.Ed. In 1987, I was hired by the former Nipissing Board of Education as a Junior Kindergarten teacher. I have since worked as a Senior and Junior Kindergarten teacher and for the last six years I have been working as a Grade One Language Arts teacher at Vincent Massey Public School in North Bay.

    I have been writing stories and poems for children since I was a teenager. In 1986, I started taking courses in Creative writing and at Artsperience.

    I am a member of CANSCAIP and the Writers Union of Canada.

    I write mostly historical fiction and I enjoy readings and presentations for audiences of all ages.

Check out Martha's website at:  www.marthaattema.com

Publications/Performances:

Fiction Publications

Poetry