Bernadette M. Martinez is a freelance writer, educator, and storyteller. An activist by nature, much of her fiction focuses on telling stories of strong women and social justice in YA and fantasy settings. She writes flash fiction, short stories, novels, and comic and film scripts. 

Bernadette’s education growing up on Chicago’s south side revealed twin passions: writing and teaching. After earning her BA in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida, she spent four years in South Korea as an English language teacher where she emphasized communication and cultural enrichment. Her travels brought her back stateside where she continued teaching ESL while she pursued her MFA in Creative Writing from Full Sail University. 

Bernadette currently writes and teaches independently in Denver, Colorado, where she resides with her partner and two dachshunds. When she’s not writing or teaching, Bernadette can be found spoiling her dogs, practicing guitar, obsessing over a new boy band, hiking, traveling, playing D&D, or learning new languages.