![Martha Ross, Features writer for the Bay Area News Group is photographed for a Wordpress profile in Walnut Creek, Calif., on Thursday, July 28, 2016. (Anda Chu/Bay Area News Group)](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Ross_Martha_2016.jpg?w=85)
Features writer
Martha Ross
Martha Ross is a Bay Area News Group features writer for The Mercury News and East Bay Times who covers everything and anything related to popular culture, society, health, women’s issues and families. She has previously reported or edited for Bay Area news and lifestyle publications, including Walnut Creek Patch, and Diablo, Oakland and Alameda magazines, as well as The Nation in Bangkok, Thailand and The Economist. She graduated from Northwestern University with a BA degree in German studies and from Mills College with a MFA degree in creative writing and English.
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
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![The 'Swifties for Harris' account also launched on X Sunday. While not affiliated with the singer, it garnered more than 19,000 followers in less than 24 hours. The 'Swifties for Harris' account also launched on X Sunday. While not affiliated with the singer, it garnered more than 19,000 followers in less than 24 hours.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/GettyImages-2151626142.jpg?w=132)
Will Taylor Swift back Kamala Harris and ignore Ivanka Trump’s birthday cake appeal?
The 'Swifties for Harris' account also launched on X Sunday. While not affiliated with the singer, it garnered more than 19,000 followers in less than 24 hours.
![The 'Spider-man' actor's new girlfriend lashes out in a new interview about misconceptions about her profession. The 'Spider-man' actor's new girlfriend lashes out in a new interview about misconceptions about her profession.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Andrew-Garfield-.jpeg?w=132)
Andrew Garfield’s professional witch girlfriend denies putting spell on him
The 'Spider-man' actor's new girlfriend lashes out in a new interview about misconceptions about her profession.
![David Banda raised concerns that he was 'starving' and not being supported by his mother him after he shared a message about leaving his mother's home. David Banda raised concerns that he was 'starving' and not being supported by his mother him after he shared a message about leaving his mother's home.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/DavidBanda.jpeg?w=132)
Madonna’s teen son says he’s not ‘living on the streets’ after dire Instagram post
David Banda raised concerns that he was 'starving' and not being supported by his mother him after he shared a message about leaving his mother's home.
![Barron Trump was a popular presence at his father's July 9 campaign rally but was was notably missing as the rest of his family gathered to celebrate his father accepting the Republican nomination. Barron Trump was a popular presence at his father's July 9 campaign rally but was was notably missing as the rest of his family gathered to celebrate his father accepting the Republican nomination.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Trump-RNC-2.jpeg?w=132)
Whither Barron Trump? Trump’s son skips his RNC speech but gets shout-out from dad
Barron Trump was a popular presence at his father's July 9 campaign rally but was was notably missing as the rest of his family gathered to celebrate his father accepting...
![Debbie Chinn wanted her memoir about her Chinese family and their beloved Long Island restaurant to show that 'immigrants really do wonderful things for this country.' Debbie Chinn wanted her memoir about her Chinese family and their beloved Long Island restaurant to show that 'immigrants really do wonderful things for this country.'](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SJM-L-MAG-CHINN-2.jpg?w=132)
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Bay Area arts leader on how her parents’ Chinese restaurant became a community institution
Debbie Chinn wanted her memoir about her Chinese family and their beloved Long Island restaurant to show that 'immigrants really do wonderful things for this country.'
![From Prince Harry to Tara Westover, authors grapple with privacy issues in their memoirs. Now, seven memoirists are talking about those issues and how they worked around them. From Prince Harry to Tara Westover, authors grapple with privacy issues in their memoirs. Now, seven memoirists are talking about those issues and how they worked around them.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SJM-L-MEMOIR-701.jpg?w=132)
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‘Invading other people’s privacy’: The memoirist’s dilemma
From Prince Harry to Tara Westover, authors grapple with privacy issues in their memoirs. Now, seven memoirists are talking about those issues and how they worked around them.
![Sonoma's landscapes come to life in the legends of this new book. Sonoma's landscapes come to life in the legends of this new book.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/SJM-L-SARRIS-1.jpg?w=132)
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Lessons from the land: Greg Sarris’ new stories reflect on the natural world and Native America identity
Sonoma's landscapes come to life in the legends of this new book.
![Baldwin's attorneys have sent legal notices to authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico, asking them to preserve a range of documents and devices that may contain evidence related to the 'Rust' shooting trial. Baldwin's attorneys have sent legal notices to authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico, asking them to preserve a range of documents and devices that may contain evidence related to the 'Rust' shooting trial.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/sjm-et-Shooting_200024794.jpg?w=132)
Alec Baldwin moves to sue Santa Fe prosecutor, sheriff of lawsuit after ‘Rust’ debacle
Baldwin's attorneys have sent legal notices to authorities in Santa Fe, New Mexico, asking them to preserve a range of documents and devices that may contain evidence related to the...
![As Lopez and Affleck spent their second wedding anniversary 3,000 miles apart, much was made of the fact that she didn't acknowledge this relationship milestone on social media, as she had for their first anniversary. As Lopez and Affleck spent their second wedding anniversary 3,000 miles apart, much was made of the fact that she didn't acknowledge this relationship milestone on social media, as she had for their first anniversary.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/bennifer1.jpeg?w=126)
‘Sitting here alone’: Jennifer Lopez’s 1st anniversary message to Ben Affleck seemed prescient
As Lopez and Affleck spent their second wedding anniversary 3,000 miles apart, much was made of the fact that she didn't acknowledge this relationship milestone on social media, as she...
![The 'Deal or No Deal Island' host is speaking out against Vergara's claim that their marriage broke up because he was pushing her to have children. The 'Deal or No Deal Island' host is speaking out against Vergara's claim that their marriage broke up because he was pushing her to have children.](https://www.mercurynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/JoeSofia1.jpg?w=132)
Joe Manganiello denies giving Sofía Vergara ‘ultimatum’ about having kids
The 'Deal or No Deal Island' host is speaking out against Vergara's claim that their marriage broke up because he was pushing her to have children.