Courtesy of Bob Sims:

Federal Way High 1980 graduate and author Marla Martenson is drawing praise and acclaim throughout the world for her new book, “Hearts on the Line.”

She received an honorable mention award in the biography/autobiography category at the Paris Book Festival last March and the Readers’ Favorite gold book award last month for her memoir.

“I was so excited to be chosen as a gold winner because this memoir is so close to my heart,” said Martenson by email Wednesday. “It is my life story and to be recognized was thrilling.”

Martenson, a Los Angeles-based matchmaker and speaker, describes her book as “a tale of someone who lost her job during the recession and pulled herself up by the bootstraps, figuring out a way to be her own boss and flourish financially.”

“I think my book is such a great story for our times,” added Martenson, who has written five books. “People are reinventing themselves, starting businesses and creating their lives to be more fulfilling.”

Martenson has appeared on The Today Show, Chicago’s WGN-TV, the Coast-to-Coast AM national radio show, and various TV stations in Southern California.

She is the daughter of Donna Reed, a longtime Federal Way resident.