Her book, Dreams of a Wingless Child, considers ordinary happenings with whimsy, playfulness, and clarity of observation. Written for all ages, its reflections on nature and life remind us that we need not look far to find an element of peace, of celebration, of fulfillment of dreams in this extraordinary world in which we live.

An award-winning poet, O'Connor draws on the creatures, rhythms and forces of the New England shoreline as her primary source of imagery and turns them into metaphors for the emotions and milestones of life. Each piece looks at ordinary encounters in unexpected ways, touching on subjects from the split heart hoof of a deer, to the presumed finality of stone and darkness, to the flight of a butterfly.

As a writer, Mary enjoys playing with words, making them sing and speak. But what she most enjoyed about the words of Dreams of a Wingless Child was the songs they sparked in those who read them—the stories shared by readers of how and where they found joy in their own lives and how joy filled their own minds and souls. They spoke of countless ways of experiencing joy, ways as varied as the circumstances in which we all live and the dreams that we all hold.

And so the idea for Five-Star Joy - A Travel Guide to the Best Places for Finding Joy was born. Containing up close and personal stories of many who have made their way through obstacles and detours of life and found joy along the way, Five-Star Joy is a work in progress, to be published soon.