Mary is one of a eight children, born and raised in Minnesota. She specializes in public relations, which takes her all over the world. Her memoir "NO ORDINARY LIFE: Awakenings in the Final Days of Apartheid" is based on her overseas assignment, 1992-1994, in South Africa. She worked as a Community Liaison Officer and U.S. AID Project Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Cape Town, while on assignment with her husband, a Special Agent with the U.S. State Department. Both worked under Ambassador Princeton Lyman during the end of apartheid leading up to the first democratic elections. Since her Foreign Service experience in South Africa, Mary has yearned to share her personal stories of this tumultuous and life-changing period. After her assignment in South Africa, Mary continued her work in public affairs and special events working with NGOs, International Olympics, corporate and non-profit organizations. With a passion for international travel and adventure, Mary has lived in a dozen locations around the world. Currently, she resides in Colorado with her husband Patrick and their adopted pets. Mary returns to South Africa often. Review: "Great read about an American woman's journey at the end of apartheid. This is a gripping insiders account of a moment in time. Reading this book puts you in the center of the action. Mary's journey as a newlywed and fish out of water in the 2 years leading to the end of apartheid in South Africa is compelling. She takes you on a historical and emotional roller coaster as she shares her story of her experience in the foreign service and America's role in ending apartheid." - A. Baron, Filmmaker, Presenter, Executive Producer "No Ordinary Life: Awakenings in the Final Days of Apartheid" was released in 2018. Mary is currently working on her next book in the trilogy series. As a freelance writer and author, she shares updates of nonfiction stories of travel and adventure on her website and through social media blogging. www.MaryAnnByron.com www.NoOrdinaryLifeMemoir.com facebook.com/NoOrdinaryLifeMemoir twitter: @GlobalEventMary Lori Windsor Mohr, a native Californian, grew up in Pacific Palisades during the 1960s. After earning a master's from UCLA, she worked in mental health and taught nursing while continuing to write. Dozens of her short stories have been published in journals and online. The Road at my Door follows protagonist Reese Cavanaugh on a dark journey to save her family without destroying herself. Set against the backdrop of the Cold War and sexual revolution, Mohr examines the decade of upheaval that set the stage for who she is today. In Reese Cavanaugh, she draws on her own experience with depression as one way of fighting the stigma still associated with depressive illness. Lori is the mother of two grown children and lives in Ojai with her husband and three dogs.
"Beautifully written with candor and sensitivity, evoking the highs and lows of that period, the impact on Mary and her colleagues of constant tension and worry, and the challenges in her marriage as both she and her husband become more engrossed in their work and more deeply affected by their environment. Few memoirs have captured this interplay of the personal and the historical as well as in this work."- Princeton Lyman, U.S. Ambassador to South Africa "Through it all, the incomparable beauty of South Africa shines through, as does the heartwarming story of Mary and Patrick. Be prepared to fall in love with these two, along with all the other extraordinary people you'll encounter - from Nelson Mandela to Muhammad Ali. I can guarantee you one thing: once you allow this book to enter your life, you'll never be the same." - Ross Harrington "Once I started Reading, I could not stop! What an adventure. I felt like I was there with Mary." - Joanna Davidson, The Denver Post "Gritty, extraordinarily down-to-earth page turner, that will leave you wanting more." - Beverly Schroeder, U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service "Book is based on journals written during the Mandela crusade to give equal rights and voting rights to South African. Mary Byron gives us a first person narrative of the day to day living in an ever changing political climate set in the poverty of the country, the beauty of nature, wild animals and the challenges of diplomatic assignments. Wonder filled read!" - M. Hinkle, California "What were you doing on April 27, 1994? If you were living in South Africa at the time, you would be able to recall your day in the clearest of detail just as any American could recall their day on November 22, 1963 or September 11, 2001. Mary Byron gives us personal context for the historic events that lead to the end of Apartheid with clear accounts of both heartbreak and joy. It's a must-read memoir that you won't want to put down." L. Immel, Colorado "No ordinary life" indeed! The extraordinariness of Mary and Patrick as individuals and as a couple is captured magnificently in this book. No Ordinary Life is powerful, enlightening and educational! There are very few books I take the time to read twice. Mary's voice is beckoning from the pages for a second read to catch every detail. Thank you for sharing your inside, personal look into such an important moment in history." - C. Howard, Washington, DC "I could not put the book down the weekend I got it and promptly ordered and sent several copies to friends and family members as gifts because I had to share Mary's story. An amazing blend of personal memoir amidst a political history so important to know about. The entire time I read it I could imagine a movie being made. It held my attention and kept me up late at night wanting to read the next chapter. A great book club read." - B. Barham, Ph.D, Virginia "The story reveals personal commitment, contributions, and sacrifices of Extraordinary People." - R. Delaney, Retired Teacher, Business Executive, Nevada
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