Writing 

Martin recently completed The Cost of Loving - a novel that explores our responsibilities to the planet, to posterity, and to ourselves as individuals - with National Lottery funding. His short fiction has appeared in a wide range of magazines, journals and anthologies, some of them globally renowned. These include Esquire Magazine, New Writing (Picador), A Little Nest of Pedagogues – Selections of British Short Stories (British Council; published in the People’s Republic of China with dual English and Simplified Chinese texts), 3 AM, Tell Tales and The London Magazine.

Martin has reviewed books for the Observer, the FT and the Sunday Times. His article ‘How writers benefit from creative writing courses’ appears in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 editions of the Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook – available now in bookshops and online.

Prizes and Awards

At the University of East Anglia, Martin received end of year prizes for outstanding achievement (UEA BA) and the Alumni Prize for Fiction (UEA MA). He has been a Hawthornden Fellow and is a Wingate Scholar in literature. He has received backing for literary projects on two occasions from Arts Council England.

Teaching 

Martin has taught widely, for the British Council, Arts Council England, at City, University of London, Kingston University, Imperial College London, UEA and elsewhere. He has created and delivers independent writing courses and 1:1 mentoring programmes that run throughout the year. Alongside his other activities, Martin volunteers at the Chelsea Community Hospital School, bringing creative writing workshops to young people grappling with mental health issues including anorexia and dissociative identity disorder.

Editing and Mentoring

Martin has provided editorial and mentoring services to numerous writers at all levels, through Jericho Writers, The Literary Consultancy and independent routes. ‘The best editing stems from the underlying presence of all the great literature you have ever read, and thus a deep knowledge of the language and of story; a passion for new writing and new ways of witnessing life; and a sensitive ear for the unique voice of every manuscript that wings its way to your desk.’

Music

Martin has fronted Indian Summer, writing, recording and performing new material in the USA and Europe, since forming the band in the crucible of the new wave years. Indian Summer reached the top 40 in Europe with the single 'Just Like Lovers'. Martin has also written and performed with IDM - The Infernal Desire Machines - a group that emerged during the UEA years and whose name pays homage to one of Angela Carter’s great novels. He currently performs with his new group, The Cost of Loving, a blend of semi-acoustic arrangements and close vocal harmonies. 

For further information you can contact Martin at martinouvry.com or call him on 07905 062 204.