Background
Martha C. Lawrence was born on March 20, 1956, in Waukegan, Illinois, United States. She is the daughter of Frank H. and Carroll Horton Driggs.
Martha C. Lawrence
1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
University of California, Santa Cruz, where Martha C. Lawrence received her Bachelor of Arts degree.
1156 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, United States
University of California, Santa Cruz, where Martha C. Lawrence received her Bachelor of Arts degree.
(On the island of Nantucket, the Nantucket Lightship Baske...)
On the island of Nantucket, the Nantucket Lightship Basket developed over many decades into the distinctive basket so highly prized by collectors today. The baskets evolved in the mid-nineteenth century from wooden splint baskets made by Algonquin Indians and were adapted by Nantucketers, who introduced hardwood bottoms, utilized wooden molds, and replaced wooden splints with rattan. The fascinating history of this basket and its makers is richly illustrated with color photographs that detail the construction and show beautiful examples of the craft. Special emphasis is given to depicting the rigorous life aboard the New South Shoal lightship, the crew of which produced beautifully constructed baskets, many of which are shown here. The history of the basket is updated to the present day, including the 1940s development of the covered "pocketbook" basket and the work of contemporary basket makers.
https://www.amazon.com/Lightship-Baskets-Nantucket-Schiffer-Collectors/dp/0764308912/?tag=2022091-20
1990
(Intricate, painstaking, sturdy yet incredibly delicate, s...)
Intricate, painstaking, sturdy yet incredibly delicate, scrimshaw has been a beautiful tradition on the sea and at the sea-side for centuries. Far from the comforts and distractions of land, whalers from America, England, Australia, and Portugal could spend the long hours of attention necessary to perfect the scrimshander's art. They forgot their loneliness and discomfort as the crafted pieces like those shown in over 400 vivid color photographs in this new, fascinating book. Martha Lawrence's research covers every facet of the art of scrimshaw, from its origins on whaling ships to the daily life of the sailor/scrimshander to the materials, themes, and tools used for creating these objects. She also discusses modern scrimshaw artists.
https://www.amazon.com/Scrimshaw-Whalers-Legacy-Martha-Lawrence/dp/0887404553/?tag=2022091-20
1993
(Licensed Private Investigator Elizabeth Chase is used to ...)
Licensed Private Investigator Elizabeth Chase is used to skeptical glares and sarcastic comments when she's working on a case. Her unorthodox methods tend to surprise people: Dr. Chase is also a double-Ph.D. parapsychologist who uses her understanding of the paranormal in her investigations. Certainly, some of her techniques do stand out a bit from those of the average P. I., such as her ability to see auras around witnesses or pluck important clues from her own dreams. So naturally, Escondido Police Department Sergeant Tom McGowan has some internal doubts about consulting Elizabeth on a case involving the so-called accidental death of his old high-school friend Janice Freeman. As her investigations cast an increasingly suspicious light on Janice's death, Tom quickly gains more than a little respect (and affection) for Elizabeth.
https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Scorpio-Elizabeth-Chase-Book-ebook/dp/B07N91ZH8N/?tag=2022091-20
1995
(Now Elizabeth Chase returns in a case more dangerous than...)
Now Elizabeth Chase returns in a case more dangerous than ever: An increasingly violent rapist has been terrorizing San Diego, but the lack of physical evidence at the scenes gives the police very little to go on. Skeptical but desperate as the rapist edges ever closer, the cops turn to Elizabeth for paranormal assistance. Her first step is to hypnotize the victims, hoping to unearth clues buried in their subconscious memories. But when her interpretations have devastating results, she tries to back off the case - only to find herself drawing nearer and nearer to the deadly conclusion.
https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Heart-Capricorn-Elizabeth-Chase-ebook/dp/B07SGXW3XQ/?tag=2022091-20
1997
(Tom McGowan, Elizabeth's cop boyfriend, asks her to take ...)
Tom McGowan, Elizabeth's cop boyfriend, asks her to take on a case that seems to be more in her line of work than in his. The father of Tom's ex-fiancee has come to him in desperation: He fears a mysterious package he's just received means that his daughter, who has disappeared in The Bliss Project, must be dead or in terrible trouble. Although Elizabeth is not too keen on the idea of accepting a case so close to home - she didn't even know Tom had an ex-fiancee, and The Bliss Project's efforts at mind control threaten to wreak havoc on her finely attuned senses-she agrees to investigate. But infiltrating a cult is no easy matter, especially one that seems to have as many secrets as this one, and soon Elizabeth finds herself in a life-and-death battle that will lead to a shocking conclusion.
https://www.amazon.com/Aquarius-Descending-Elizabeth-Chase-Mysteries/dp/0312972849/?tag=2022091-20
1999
(Psychic private eye Elizabeth Chase finds her unique tale...)
Psychic private eye Elizabeth Chase finds her unique talents pitted against her most brutal and baffling case yet - the pursuit of a vicious murderer wanted in connection with the scalping of a Native American casino owner. Elizabeth soon learns that the tranquil setting of the Temecu reservation belies a dangerous undercurrent of political scheming, racism, and pure human greed. As she struggles to figure out who can be trusted, Elizabeth must call upon all of her resources not only to solve the crime but to restore her own spirit.
https://www.amazon.com/Pisces-Rising-Martha-C-Lawrence/dp/0312202989/?tag=2022091-20
2000
(When Matthew Fielding, the four-year-old son of a San Die...)
When Matthew Fielding, the four-year-old son of a San Diego telecommunications mogul, turns up missing, the psychic skills of P.I. Elizabeth Chase are requested. The stakes are raised soon after Elizabeth begins her investigation when a wildfire breaks out in Rancho Santa Fe, the secluded community where Matthew and his family - and Elizabeth's own parents - live. Aided and abetted by the Santa Ana winds, flames rage out of control, consuming thousands of acres and dozens of homes. Before the ashes can be cleared away, another fire blazes through everything in its path. Are the kidnapper and arsonist one and the same? Will Elizabeth be able to find the clues she needs in the dying embers around her? It's a race against time as man and nature combine to wreak destruction on Elizabeth's community and keep a little boy lost forever.
https://www.amazon.com/Ashes-Aries-Elizabeth-Chase-Book-ebook/dp/B07V2191FR/?tag=2022091-20
2001
Martha C. Lawrence was born on March 20, 1956, in Waukegan, Illinois, United States. She is the daughter of Frank H. and Carroll Horton Driggs.
Martha C. Lawrence received a Bachelor of Arts degree in American studies with honors from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1978.
Martha C. Lawrence made her living as an astrologer for several years before turning to writing. She also helped to solve the crimes thanks to her psychic ability. Prior to writing full time, she worked as an assistant editor at Simon & Schuster in New York City from 1981 till 1983 and for several years, from 1983 till 1987, served as an acquisitions editor for Harcourt Brace. Then she was a business writer and astrologer till 1995.
Lawrence's first book Murder in Scorpio (1995) features Elizabeth Chase, a former psychotherapist who uses her psychic powers to help San Diego police solve crimes. The character of Elizabeth Chase came to Lawrence when she was standing in the mystery section of a bookstore. She realized that, although she had read many mystery novels in her life, she was "hungering to read the adventures of a detective who used the intuitive, right side of her brain as brilliantly as Sherlock Holmes had used his logical, left brain".
Chase again starred in Lawrence’s second mystery 1997’s The Cold Heart of Capricorn in which she is called upon by the police in a case involving a vicious serial rapist. She had first contacted them when she had a clairvoyant dream about an attack that later came true. Now she is assigned to work with police detectives on the case.
In the third novel Aquarius Descending, Chase takes on a case close to home when her boyfriend, police officer Tom McGowan, asks her to help him find his missing ex-fiancée, Jen Shaffer. Jen joined a cult called the Bliss Project a number of years ago and has not been heard from for some time. When a package containing her Medic Alert bracelet arrives in the mail, Tom and Jen's father both fear the worst. Reluctantly, Chase goes undercover and joins the Bliss Project.
Lawrence's fourth novel Pisces Rising finds Chase investigating the murder of a Native-American casino owner on the Temecu Indian Reservation. Not only does the psychic sleuth have visions of events that have not yet happened, but she begins seeing the spirit form of a shaman named Sequoia, who guides her throughout the investigation.
In Lawrence's fifth "Elizabeth Chase" mystery, titled Ashes of Aries, Chase's psychic abilities are used to help find the missing four-year-old son of media mogul Frank Fielding.
In addition to her Elizabeth Chase mysteries, Lawrence has written two books on the history of Nantucket crafts: Lightship Baskets of Nantucket (1990) and Scrimshaw: The Whaler's Legacy (1993). She also reviewed fiction for The San Diego Union-Tribune and has made numerous television and radio appearances. She contributed short stories to magazines and co-authored the book Trust Works! Four Keys to Building Lasting Relationships (2013) as well.
Martha C. Lawrence's books were published around the world. Her book Murder in Scorpio was nominated for the Edgar Award, the Anthony Award, and the Agatha Award for Best First Mystery, all in 1996. The novel Pisces Rising won the San Diego Magazine award for best fiction in the year 2000 and was nominated for the Nero award.
(Psychic private eye Elizabeth Chase finds her unique tale...)
2000(Now Elizabeth Chase returns in a case more dangerous than...)
1997(On the island of Nantucket, the Nantucket Lightship Baske...)
1990(Intricate, painstaking, sturdy yet incredibly delicate, s...)
1993(When Matthew Fielding, the four-year-old son of a San Die...)
2001(Licensed Private Investigator Elizabeth Chase is used to ...)
1995(Tom McGowan, Elizabeth's cop boyfriend, asks her to take ...)
1999
Quotations:
"The most common misconception is that a psychic has superhuman powers. This myth has been promulgated by the media and false advertising. Not all psychics have the same level or types of abilities and no one is infallible. As in any other profession, psychics have good days and bad days."
"I believe everyone has far more psychic power than they realize. However, the extreme psychic experiences - precognitive dreams, encounters with light beings, etc. - are rare, even for so-called gifted psychics like me. Still, those everyday psychic insights can really enrich your life."
"I get lots of letters from people who share their own psychic experiences. Many readers say they're complete skeptics, but they love my books. I cherish those."
"From an early age, I’ve experienced psychic events: vivid dreams and premonitions that later came to pass, apparitions, telepathy. Random, unpredictable, yet profound, these experiences have shaped my worldview. I believe the current cultural bias against the existence of psychic Phenomena is based on ignorance, and that one day the scientific paradigm will expand to include what is now referred to - somewhat pejoratively - as the paranormal."
Martha C. Lawrence was a member of Mystery Writers of America, Private Eye Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.
Quotes from others about the person
Lawrence writes a gripping, believable story, distinguished by a wise and sensitive narrative voice, that even those skeptical of psychics will enjoy.
reading, yoga, gardening, snorkeling, watching movies, psychology, history, astrology, comparative religion, and hanging out with friends
Ross MacDonald, Michael Connelly, Harlan Coben, Lev Raphael, Sparkle Hayter, Sue Grafton, Tony Hillerman, Kaye Gibbons, Anne Lamott, Stephen King, Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson
Martha C. Lawrence married Wayman C. Lawrence on June 24, 1978. The marriage produced one child, Clark Lawrence. The couple divorced in 1987.
