Nell Martin


Nell Martin was an American author from Illinois specializing in light-hearted mysteries and short stories.

Early life

Her full name was Nell Columbia Boyer Martin. Having worked as a strawberry picker, newspaper reporter, taxi-cab driver, lawyer's assistant, laundry worker, singer, actress and press agent before becoming a writer, she referred to herself as a "Jill of all trades."

Career

In her career as a writer she also published under Columbia Boyer as well as her full name Nell Columbia Boyer Martin.
Her "Maisie" short stories were published in Top Notch Magazine in 1927-1928 and later inspired a movie and radio series starring Ann Sothern.
Her 1928 novel Lord Byron of Broadway was made into a movie of the same title by MGM in 1930.

Personal life

She was at one time the lover of the mystery writer Dashiell Hammett and he dedicated his 1931 novel The Glass Key to her. She was married to Ashley Weed Dickinson, a journalist and author.

Works

Martin wrote eight novels and over 200 short stories. Her novels include: