About Mary
Why did Mary write Dyer Straits?
"Because truth is often stranger than fiction, and while celebrities are given platforms to tell stories of overcoming dysfunction, ordinary lives rarely get heard. My family’s history is just as rich and complicated as any tied to a well-known name—often shaped by a ghostwriter. I wanted to show in my own words, that ordinary lives can be just as compelling, full of people doing extraordinary things to overcome the odds."
Mary's passion for writing began early in her years in the Boston Public Schools. From fifth grade through high school, she won essay and poetry contests and wrote for her high school newspaper. At sixteen, she won an essay contest sponsored by a Boston newspaper, hosted by the JFK Library in Dorchester. She wrote all her essays about the band that bonded her and her seven siblings—the Beatles. Her creative journey continued into her twenties as she penned original lyrics as the lead singer for an original rock band with her brother, Dan. Her path of performing and writing culminated in her memoir, Dyer Straits, a testament to personal growth and resilience.
Painting landmarks from Dorchester and the greater Boston area are one of Mary's hobbies. Her canvases include wood, propane tanks, and household items like vases and mugs. She also gives shabby, discarded furniture a new lease on life. Mary's pieces can be seen on Facebook at Art by Alma.
Her love for genealogical research revealed a family link to Mary Dyer, a 17th-century Quaker martyr from Boston.
Mary lives in New England with her husband, Bill, and their pampered Florida rescue dog, Chaqui Girl.
