Mary’s Journey
About nine years ago I realized that I had a file drawer full of my writings I had collected over the years. At the time I wasn’t sure about sharing with others my thoughts and experiences. Two years later I joined a writing group of like minded wordsmiths. It was during my time with these ten talented writers when I gained the confidence and encouragement needed to assemble my essays into a book.
In 2018 I gathered up my pen and paper and began pulling together writings for my first book titled simply HER. This was an unorganized group of essays but it was a great learning experience. I learned first how to put together a book and secondly what I liked in what I had put together and what I wanted to do differently.
Next was the pandemic. Our group, the Wild Writers, continued to write but did not meet in person. Each month we would email our writings to the group. Although this time of ‘stay-at-home’ and ‘social distancing’ had not kept this fearless group from sharing. I saved the years writings of the group and at the end of 2021 I put together the book WILD WRITERS IN A PANDEMIC.
By this time I had built up my courage to share my life story. So in 2022 I published THE GIRL IN THE DREAM – a memoir of an adopted child. This writing was a work of love. I am planning on following this book with one about all the ‘firsts’ in my life. While writing TGITD I realized that I have had many fun and exciting experiences in my seventy years.
Now in 2024 I have gathered essays into three books. They are a more organized and cohesive collection. Book 1 HER – Small Space & Well Traveled Places is a collection of essays filled with the places I have traveled and the people I have met along the way. Book 2 HER – Family, Friends, & Folks I have gathered together memories from childhood and the moments shared while raising my children. Reminiscences of those special people in my life and the folks that have made an impression along the road I have wandered. Book 3 in this series is HER – Memories, Thoughts & Feelings are essays about things I have wondered about and questioned. Memories of those special people and places. Feelings are about my relationship with my partner of forty years. The essays in my collection are both funny and serious, written from life’s experiences.
I am very excited to share my stories with you. Mary
- 2025 American Legacy Book Awards Finalist for The Girl In The Dream – a memoir of an adopted child.
Sunny River Writings 