Mary's hope is to inspire and encourage children to believe in themselves and their power to be kind, make a difference and know they can do hard things. She spends her days as an administrative assistant at a busy elementary school where she enjoys connecting with families and organizing reading events. Her writing inspiration comes from the curiosity, enthusiasm and daily struggles of students as well as experiences with her own children and grandchildren. Mary believes that picture books are more than words and pictures on a page; it's about the feeling you get when you turn the pages and when the last page is turned, a memory that can last a lifetime.