Meet Cory Martin | Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cory Martin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cory, how do you define success?
As a writer, the amount of books sold or clicks on an article don’t really equal success to me. To me success comes when I get DMs or emails from readers who are helped by my work. Those messages make me feel like I’m on the right path. I write a lot about living with chronic illness and I share my low and high points openly because I want others to know that they’re not alone. When I was twenty-eight years old, I was told I had multiple sclerosis. There weren’t a lot of young people sharing what it was like to live with illness and I didn’t know where to turn for information or solidarity. My career as a writer was just beginning. I had been working in TV, but now felt called to start writing my story. Those writings became my fifth book, my memoir, Love Sick. It was that book that taught me that success wasn’t having my name on screen or winning awards, success was helping others.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I was the kid that stayed up late reading. I wrote poetry on my bedroom walls in high school. I kept a journal hidden under my bed for years. I just couldn’t stop writing.

Today, I am the author of seven books including the bestselling Yoga for Beginners and the award-winning memoir Love Sick which chronicles my dating life with chronic illness. My most recent book The Yoga Prescription: A Chronic Illness Survival Guide was released in January 2022. I have ghostwritten over fifteen other books and write regularly for Verywell Health as a chronic illness expert. My essays have appeared online with CNN, HuffPost, Psychology Today, Everyday Health and more. I am the writer behind the documentary Titans of Yoga and wrote two episodes of the hit show The OC in the early 2000s.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love a good rooftop bar or a spot by the beach. High and On the Waterfront in Venice, Hotel Shangri La in Santa Monica, Perch in downtown.

I’m also a huge fan of long bike rides. Riding the bike path from Venice all the way to Manhattan Beach is a great Saturday adventure. We usually stop off at Playa Provisions for brunch and a mimosa, or two.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I always have to thank my eighth grade English teacher Mr. Boetel for creating the foundation for my writing career. He taught me all the rules of writing so that one day I could go out and break them with confidence and find my own voice on the page. My parents are my biggest cheerleaders. While they always encouraged me to do the things I love, they also encouraged me to fail. Failure wasn’t something to fear it was something to celebrate.

Website: www.corymartinwrites.com

Instagram: @corymartinwrites