Mary O'Connor lives in Old Lyme on the Connecticut shore, source of inspiration for much of her poetry. Her work, which melds everyday observations of existence and the natural world with the sensitivity and thoughtfulness that define her experience of life, has been popularly received by readers of all ages. Published in nature and inspirational journals and honored in national competition, it received first place honors in the Milford Fine Arts Council poetry contest, was nominated for the Small Press Pushcart Prize, and received honorable mention in the Thomas Merton Foundation 2003 Poetry of the Sacred Competition, where it was judged by the late U.S. Poet Laureate, Stanley Kunitz. Capping a professional career rooted in journalism and continuing into the multimedia and creative worlds of marketing and communications, Mary retired in 2007 as executive director of a nonprofit art center. When not writing poetry, she particularly enjoys painting wildlife and landscapes in watercolor and acrylics, some of which can be seen on this site.