EveryGirl's Guide to Roller Derby: A Navigational Guide through the World of Roller Derby
Punchy O'Guts, also known as Amy Martin, is a writer, a mother, and a rollergirl. She has more than five years experience as a competitive skater, more than seven as a writer, and more than fourteen as a mother. Punchy joined Maine Roller Derby six months after it was founded in March of 2006. One of the league’s pioneers, she skated competitively on the WFTDA-sanctioned all-star team The Port Authorities, and has worked just about every position imaginable: bout production, marketing, interleague liaison, sponsorship, webmaster, WFTDA rep, and a member of the board of directors. Punchy skated for the all-star team since its inception in 2008 and proudly served as a team captain. Her absolute most beloved job, however, was serving as the training coordinator in which she believed in creating a culture of learning and positivity. "When skaters are excited to learn and feel good about themselves, an atmosphere of inspiration erupts, and we all go home with our hearts exploding with derby love."  Punchy earned a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts at Penn State University and an MFA in Creative Writing at Stonecoast. She grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania and moved to Portland, Maine in 2004 to pursue a career in journalism. Punchy wrote as a professional journalist for more than five years for the Portland Phoenix, Face Magazine, Maine Switch, Portland Press Herald and Maine Today. She specialized in writing about local entertainment (music and theater). She left journalism to pursue a writing career that allowed her the freedom to write without limitation.