Mary Sayler has studied the Bible since childhood, read most of the major translations of Holy Scripture, and researched such biblical topics as love, prayer, Church ministry gifts, and Christian healing arts. She’s been a published poet, freelancer, columnist, and assignment writer for many years and has worked with other poets and writers since 1983. For samples of a few of her published poems, articles, columns, or books, see the hotlinks in the right-hand column below.

Publishing Credits:

• 25 books for adults or for children including fiction, nonfiction, and devotionals published by a variety of publishers, such as Zondervan, Baker Books, Broadman, CSS Publishing, and Facts On File
• Over 1000 articles, children’s stories, word games, or church curriculum materials for various ages on biblical topics, aspects of writing, or practical concerns of spiritual, mental, and physical health
• Numerous poems in chapbooks, poetry journals, anthologies and such periodicals as Dovetail, Bridges, Windhover, Kalliope, Capper’s, Mediphors, Icarus, The Pegasus Review, Upsouth, Princeton Arts Review, and National Catholic Reporter
• Regular columns on a variety of topics including Holy Scripture, poetry, writing, parenting, and natural health with the “Bible Talk” column now archived on the Catholic Exchange website.

Writing Related Work Or Awards:

• In 1983, Mary began working with other poets and writers through a correspondence study program, writing workshops, and critique services.
• For 4 years, she directed Christian Writers Fellowship International and edited/published CWFI newsletter.
• In 1988, she taught poetry and fiction workshops at first Christian Writers Conference in Titusville, FL with other sessions in 1991.
• In 1997-8, Mary became the first poetry judge for annual Christian Writers Conferences in Glorietta, NM.
• In 1999, she presented poetry workshops at the Christian Writers Conference in Birmingham, AL.
• In 1999, she was accepted for an apprenticeship with a Pulitzer poetry finalist at the Atlantic Center For The Arts in Florida.
• In 1999, Mary began judging the poetry entries in the national writing competitions sponsored each year by www.writers-editors.com and, in 2001, began to judge the entries for children too.
• In 2002, she was Featured Poet at a FL art museum.
• In 2005, Two Friends Publishing featured her work.
• In 2005, she was featured by FL Chapter of Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).
• In 2005, the FL Committee for the National Museum for Women in the Arts (NMWA) featured her work.
• In 2006, Mary received the exciting news that her life-health encyclopedia on muscles and bones had been honored as a nonfiction favorite for the year by the American Library Association.
• In 2007, she began the Catholic Poets & Writers website with her critique service offered online.

Personal Information

• Born in Lewisburg, TN; Mary’s family moved to FL during her school years.
• She received a Bachelor of Science degree magna cum laude in holistic nutrition and natural health.
• She can often be found in the kitchen playing with herbs or helping her husband restore their 102-year-old home on a lily pad-filled pond in NE Florida where the only honking traffic comes from sandhill cranes.

Books In Print

About Being Catholic - Written especially for dads, this book of lively activities and kid-friendly discussions can also help moms, grandparents, and others to introduce young children to the Church and to the Catholic faith.

Poetry: Taking Its Course - Book version of the poetry correspondence course Mary wrote and used for years in working with poetry students

The Encyclopedia of the Back & Spine Systems & Disorders - life-health encyclopedia about neck, upper back, and lumbar regions of the spine, published by Facts On File in 2007

The Encyclopedia of Muscle & Skeletal Systems & Disorders published 2005, Facts On File.

What A Body! - This ecumenical guide helps you plan a spiritual renewal weekend on the God-given ministry gifts that upbuild the Body of Christ, the Church.

Poems

Some of Mary’s previously published poems provide examples for Poetry Tips and Bible-Based Poems & Tips.

“Embryonic” published in Princeton Arts Review

“Four Corners Come” in the National Catholic Reporter

“The Middle-Aged Mother Goes Up, Up, Up With Champagne After” originally in Kalliope and reprinted in Slow Trains

“Re: Deemed,” “Wait!,” “Choosing Judah” & other poems on Catholic Exchange

Articles & Columns

“Bible Talk” - Q&A column originally published and now archived on Catholic Exchange

“How To Judge Your Manuscripts For Children” - Tips to help you judge your own work before entering a contest or sending your poems or manuscript to an editor

“Notes On Judging A Poetry Contest” - Tips to help you judge and revise your poems before submitting them to an editor or poetry competition