I didn't know Katherine Martin personally.

I never met her, or even spoke to her. But in her words I recognized a kindred spirit. She was, in many ways, the inspiration for this website. Two of her books, Women of Courage and Women of Spirit , were the sparks that reignited my passion for telling women’s stories.

Both books are anthologies, collections of stories of courageous women from around the world. Ordinary women who did extraordinary things. Extraordinary women who did ordinary things.

Martin captured the essence of their stories with insight, compassion and a simple appreciation for the power of the human spirit. She was a gifted writer and editor, and I sense that she must also have been a woman of great courage herself. Her words show that she had a thirst for learning and a desire to plumb the breadth and depth of the human spirit.

In the introduction to Women of Courage , the first in her series of three books about inspirational people, Martin said:

“I learned greatly from these women. I was humbled by them. As it turns out, courage is not about climbing unscaleable mountains crossing unfordable rivers, flying to unreasonable heights. Even in the most bold and daring acts, courage is a matter of the heart. And, for me personally, more than anything, this book has brought me home to my heart and home to myself as a woman.”

In the foreword to Women of Spirit , she wrote:

“The spirit of the feminine is being reborn. As women, our voices are growing strong. Our intuition is astute, our resolve powerful. Courage is at our core. This book is a tribute to the inspiring, courageous acts of the women in these pages. But this book is not only about them – it’s also about us. As we celebrate their courage, we must also claim it for ourselves.”

Besides being the author/editor Women of Courage, and Women of Spirit, Martin wrote People Who Dare, which comprised stories of men as well as women.

She was a Senior Editor of New Realities magazine, and wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle’s Sunday Supplement, Women’s Sports & Fitness, Ms., Parents, Parenting, Working Mother, Fit, Young Miss, Mothers Today, New Mother, Monthly Detroit magazine, and San Francisco magazine.

She also wrote the Showtime movie Last Exit to Earth, with film director Katt Shea, as well as the feature film The Clearing, written with Russian director Vladimir Alenikov, starring George Segal.