Thomas Martin, sometimes writing as Thomas James Martin, discovered literary quality haiku, haibun and related Japanese forms in 2007 when he had just turned 63. Though born and raised on a farm in North Carolina, he has lived in the Pacific NW since the mid '80s with his wife, Joyce. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in English and has done postgraduate work in education. He is the author of two books of poetry, "A Southern Line," and "Where the Light Falls." He has also published "Real Gifts," a collection of essays and stories.