Mary SmathersMary writes fiction for both adults and children. Unfamiliar Territory, a story of one woman's journey through Gold Rush California, is her second work of historical fiction. Her debut novel, In This Land of Plenty--a family saga set against the backrop of California history--was popular with book clubs and earned multiple awards, including the 2021 Fiction Book of the Year from BiblioLab's Indie Author Project (California), and a Readers' Favorite Gold Medal for Western Fiction. She also has published a collection of contemporary short stories, Fertile Soil: Stories of the California Dream, and a bilingual children's picture book series, Tropical Tales. Before dedicating herself to writing, Mary had a fulfilling career in California public education, serving as a teacher, administrator, teacher trainer, grant writer, and educational entrepreneur. She played a key role in founding three education companies and a public charter school. She now divides her time between California's Monterey Peninsula and Costa Rica's Pacific Coast, where she continues the Castro/Brennan family saga and expands the Tropical Tales picture book series. For more information, including how to contact Mary for book club and school presentations, visit marysmathers.com. Read More Read Less