Since January 2025, Mary has been a Professional Member of the IWC, having received a Bursary from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. As the leading support and development organisation for writers since 1991, the Irish Writers Centre carries out its work, online and in-person, on an all-island basis. Working with writers of all types and talents, it actively encourages writers from all communities to engage in creative writing, providing ways and means for members to develop their skills, advance their ambitions and join a vibrant and diverse community of people who share their passion and purpose. It supports writers in the following ways: providing development opportunities, residencies, mentoring, resources, creative writing courses and events
Reedsy is one of the world’s largest online publishers, connecting authors with the publishing world’s best freelancers. With a community of over 500,000 authors and professionals, Reedsy has become the place to find the right editors, designers, marketers, publicists, and web developers. For their weekly Prompt Competition, every Friday Reedsy sends out five themed writing prompts. Writers then have one week to write a story based on one of these prompts. This is now Mary’s third year on the Reedsy Panel which each week mark the entries for this worldwide Competition.
Mary was a Member of CIEP in 2022 and 2023. The Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading promotes excellence in English language editing, providing training for those interested in editing and proofreading. Its members have access to a wide range of benefits, and work for a wide range of clients and employers – publishers, businesses, government and other organisations, academic institutions and authors. Formed in 1988 it was originally known as the Society for Editors and Proofreaders before being awarded a Royal Charter in 2019.
Thanks to a Bursary granted by Causeway Coast and Glens Council, Mary attended the 37th John Hewitt Summer School in Armagh in July 2024. The theme in 2024 was “To Live Among Strangers: Diversity and a Shared Future”. The John Hewitt International Summer School offers an exciting programme of events featuring a varied selection of inspirational and creative speakers who wield the power of language across the disciplines of literature, poetry, art, drama, music, and politics.
