Author Biography | Interview | Books by this Author | Read-Alikes
Steve Martini was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Bay Area and Southern California. An honors graduate of the University of California at Santa Cruz, Martini's first career was in journalism. He worked as a newspaper reporter in Los Angeles and as a correspondent at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, specializing in legal issues, before gaining his law degree from the University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law.
In 1974 he entered private law practice in California where he appeared in both state and federal courts. During his law career he worked as a legislative representative for the State Bar of California, served as special counsel to the California Victims of Violent Crimes Program, and was an administrative law judge and supervising hearing officer.
In 1984, Martini turned his talents to fiction. Compelling Evidence, the novel that introduced attorney Paul Madriani, was published by Putnam in 1992. A national bestseller, that novel earned Martini a critical and popular following.
Steve Martini's website
This bio was last updated on 01/07/2014. In a perfect world, we would like to keep all of BookBrowse's biographies up to date, but with many thousands of lives to keep track of it's simply impossible to do. So, if the date of this bio is not recent, you may wish to do an internet search for a more current source, such as the author's website or social media presence. If you are the author or publisher and would like us to update this biography, send the complete text and we will replace the old with the new.
How did you begin writing?
I actually started writing as a journalist in 1969 for a newspaper in Los
Angeles. At the time I was not a lawyer, but had just graduated from the
University of California and intended to enter law school. I wanted a couple of
years in the real world before plunging back into studies. What started as a
brief diversion became an obsession. I found something almost therapeutic about
composing at a keyboard. At the time it was an ancient manual typewriter. The
news stories I wrote were converted into print for the paper on an old hot lead
"Linotype" machine. I became hooked on writing, though at the time I
had not ventured into fiction. All of my writing was on a daily deadline and
intended for publication in the newspaper. I covered the courts and local
government, and in 1970 I was transferred by the newspaper to the State Capital
in Sacramento where I became a capital correspondent and ultimately bureau chief
covering state government and the courts.
Did you intend to become an author, or do you have a specific reason
or reasons for writing each book?
For many years I thought about writing fiction, but couldn't seem to find the
time to do it. I actually crafted several story ...
The Antidote
by Karen Russell
A gripping dust bowl epic about five characters whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages their small Nebraskan town.
Raising Hare
by Chloe Dalton
A moving and fascinating meditation on freedom, trust, and loss through one woman's friendship with a wild hare.
Fagin the Thief
by Allison Epstein
A thrilling reimagining of the world of Charles Dickens, as seen through the eyes of the infamous Jacob Fagin, London's most gifted pickpocket, liar, and rogue.
The Dream Hotel
by Laila Lalami
A Read with Jenna pick. A riveting novel about one woman's fight for freedom, set in a near future where even dreams are under surveillance.
Jane and Dan at the End of the World
by Colleen Oakley
Date Night meets Bel Canto in this hilarious tale.
Girl Falling
by Hayley Scrivenor
The USA Today bestselling author of Dirt Creek returns with a story of grief and truth.
Wherever they burn books, in the end will also burn human beings.
Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.