Leonide Martin

Leonide (Lennie) Martin. Retired California State University professor, former Family Nurse Practitioner. Author and Maya researcher, Research Member Maya Exploration Center.

My books bring ancient Maya culture and civilization to lfe in stories about both real historical Mayans and fictional characters. I've studied Maya archeology, anthropology, and history from the scientific and indigenous viewpoints. While living for five years in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, I apprenticed with Maya Elder Hunbatz Men, becoming a Solar Initiate and Maya Fire Woman in the Itzá Maya tradition. I've studied with other indigenous teachers in Guatemala, including Maya Priestess-Daykeeper Aum Rak Sapper. The ancient Mayas created the most highly advanced civilization in the Western hemisphere, and my work is dedicated to their wisdom, spirituality, scientific and cultural accomplishments through compelling historical novels.

My interest in ancient Mayan women led to writing the Mayan Queens' series called Mists of Palenque. Three books of the 4-book series are published, telling the stories of powerful women who shaped the destinies of their people as rulers themselves, or wives of rulers. These remarkable Mayan women are unknown to most people. Using extensive research and field study, I aspire to depict ancient Palenque authentically, and make these amazing Mayan queens accessible to a wide readership.

My writing has won awards from Writer's Digest for short fiction, and The Visionary Mayan Queen received a Writer's Digest 2nd Annual Self-Published eBook award in 2015. The Mayan Red Queen was nominated for Dan Poynter's Global Ebook Awards for 2016.

My hobbies include gardening, walks in nature, wine tasting, cooking, and of course reading good books. I live in Oregon with a wonderful husband and two gorgeous white Angora cats, and keep up with grandkids through Facebook.