I'm Just Her Father: A Father and Daughter's Alaska

Merle (Mel) Martin (Libbie Martin's father) was born in San Francisco, became an Air Force officer and subsequently had assignments to Texas, Montana, Virginia, and Alaska. He was Director of Statewide Logistics for the Alaska Air National Guard, resigning his commission as a Lt. Colonel in 1977. He has taught at the University of Alaska Anchorage and directed technology for the Alaska Court System. Merle spent a total of 15 years in Alaska. He left in 1984 to earn his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University. Merle has taught in Alaska, Texas, Mississippi, California, Washington, Thailand, and the Russian Far East. He has been Managing Editor for Remodel Spokane and Poetry Editor for SpokeWrite – both magazines in Spokane, Washington. His wife Dotty died recently after a marriage of 26 years. The Martins had a blended family of 9 children, 19 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Merle has published 12 prior books (five on poetry) including Nomads Chant, BigTable Press (2012). Elizabeth (Libbie) Martin grew up on Air Force bases in Montana, Virginia, and Alaska. When her parents divorced, her mother moved from Anchorage to San Francisco. After graduating from University of Pacific with a BAIS in International Studies, she spent 14 years raising three daughters. She joined the staff of a small press science fiction magazine where she learned editing, layout, and how to be a writer. Libbie earned a bachelors degree in Journalism at California State University, Sacramento. Upon graduation, she worked as a reporter for the Roseville Press Tribune. She returned to Alaska in 2005 to become a copy editor for the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. She has been Market Coordinator for Shannon and Wilson and consultant for the Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. Libbie is a book reviewer for the Daily News-Miner. Libbie's writing has won several blue ribbons at the Alaska State Fair. She has written three books. Her latest is Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race, Arcadia Publishing (2013).