Suzanne Pickett Martinson

Phoenix, Arizona native Suzanne Pickett Martinson feels fortunate to enjoy the amenities that a Southwestern lifestyle has to offer. Her work on Outdoor Style: The Essence of Southwest Living tapped in to many areas that are close to her heart.

Suzanne's love of gardening stems from observing her mother tend to lush roses, colorful bougainvillea, and exotic plants, and from eating fresh fruits and vegetables from her maternal grandmother's and aunts' gardens in West Texas. Her father, born in Mississippi and raised in Louisiana, passed on his appreciation of a good front porch.

A former public relations professional and event planner, Suzanne's freelance writing career focuses on gardening, architecture, home design, entertaining, animals and parenting issues. Her articles appear in Phoenix Home & Garden, The Arizona Republic and its specialty publications including the former lifestyle pub azStyle.

She received a BFA in Broadcast Journalism from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and a Master's degree in Mass Communication as well as a teaching certification from Arizona State University.

Suzanne, her husband John, their two children and five cats live in the Phoenix Metro area with a variety of native wildlife under the shadow of Camelback Mountain.