About Mary McAvoy
Mary McAvoy
I was born in the middle of the baby boom, smack-dab in the middle of a large family that resided in a middle class neighborhood, and I achieved middle of the road grades throughout my schooling years. In all matters, I seem to run average to above average. My destiny seems to be in the midlands.
I’ve accumulated no more or less than those in my cultural setting. My happiness and sorrows are neither greater nor less than others. I seem to be on target for average life expectancy for my age.
If I excel in anything, it might be in my sensitivity to love. And this seems to be on an ever accelerating incline.
Really, when all is said and done, our legacy of love is what will matter most to those who inhabit this life after us.
So, I write about love in my books.
While the stories I write might have a touch of romance in them, love’s presence is more thematic.
In Love’s Compass, for instance, the main character is in a marriage that is devoid of love. Without any conscious thought, she is drawn to the love of another man – as if satiating a hunger or a thirst.
In The Setting of the Sun, love overcomes death.
And in Love, Topaz (release date mid 2014) the infectious nature of love causes a delightful outcome for those in the periphery of the love that is between Jerome and Topaz, the two main characters who are oblivious to the impact they are having on those around them.
In Kaleidoscope Chips (which I’m working on now – 2014), one moment absent of love results in the psychological damage and physical harm for many and it lasts for years. Can the redemptive power of love heal those left in the vacuum of its absence?
My hope is that by putting these works about love into the world they might elevate, to whatever degree, the human capacity to be supremely loving.
sublime days 
My thing lately is to give up on the idea of ‘being a writer’ – and just write…but even this isn’t that original.
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You’re a good writer. Your decision to just write (I’ve found from my own experience) helps you to be more natural in your writing since you become less self conscious about audience. And I think that can help you be recognized as a writer! Keep on doing what you’re doing! 😉
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Hi, Mary! 🙂
I would like to nominate you for the Very Inspiring Blogger award. More details here:
http://chinginete.wordpress.com/2014/07/17/very-inspiring-blogger-award-2014/.
Continue inspiring others with your great posts! 🙂
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Hi Christine!
Thank you so much! I am truly thrilled and honored.
I shall, post-haste, fulfill my obligations in accepting this award!
Sincere thanks again, 🙂
Mary
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🙂
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Thank you for liking my blog; it’s an honor! I’ve been looking through your sites and am liking your words and photography very much. – Deb
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Thank YOU! I just tried to leave a comment on your bio page but after writing it, I couldn’t figure out how to make it “go”!
There’s no “submit” button!
I’m glad to see you have found sublime days – as you’ll read in my message, which I’m sharing here, I had suggested you check it out.
Anyway, here’s what I wrote:
Thanks for the follow over at The Ripest Pics.
It’s interesting to me that, like you, I turned to writing (and photography) when chronic pain and illness came into my life 12 years ago.
You might like to check out my writing blog, http://www.sublimedays.com
For five years I kept a photo/blog, http://www.SilverLining-MaryMcAvoy.com, which resulted in my first experiences in realizing that I felt no pain when looking through the lens of a camera and composing an image. I think my brain couldn’t do the two things at once; focus on an image and process pain! Yay!
I look forward to exploring your site and to reading future posts as well.
Healing thoughts to you, Mary
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Wow, Mary – I’ve experienced the same thing, as you’ve read on my About page – when “creating a new energy” the brain refocuses away from pain. We are so very fortunate to have discovered this tool in our life’s toolbox! Thank you so much for your comments.(Also for letting me know about the comment button issue; I’ll check into it right now)…
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Now and then I write about this “tool” as I hope others who experience chronic pain will find it a help too.
I’m so glad to find another person who writes about it!
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Me as well.
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Hello Mary. I’ve come here via your wonderful piece about SEO on Leanne Coles’ blog. I’m looking forward to reading more and enjoying your lovely photography.
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Thanks so much for your visit and follow.
You might enjoy my photography site, too, at http://www.TheRipestPics.com
It’s pictures only, no content. I like that it’s a relaxing visual place to visit.
I had a quick look at your site and will revisit when time allows.
You’re a really good writer. And your photos are beautiful.
Thanks again, Mary
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Thank you for the lovely compliment. My photos have really improved since I started my blog and I began to take notice of how I was using the camera. I’ll check out your photography site.
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You’re welcome. My first blog was http://www.SilverLining-MaryMcAvoy.com
When I began adding photos to it I used a Canon Powershot.
I never intended to get into photography but over five years I became more and more interested in the subject about which I was blogging (a pond in New England) and then I kept upping my camera equipment and knowledge about photography. The knowledge came mostly from trial and error and finding good sources on the internet for answering question I had about the use of a camera.
It’s been a fantastic journey! As I’m sure you are finding!
I’m following the eternal traveller. I look forward to your posts.
Mary
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Thank you for following. I know what you mean. I always thought my Nikon P7000 would be all I would ever need, but now I’m thinking I could do with a new one!
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I love my Nikon D40 but it is in desperate need of a cleaning because I never want to be w/o it!
I kept being tempted by the D3200 when I’d see ads for it. Then I read some reviews – all good.
Then I saw the B&H (store in NYC – they’re huge and they are online so you can order and have an order shipped)
special offer…and so I bought it.
Immediately, I could tell/feel the difference in the shutter speed.
Perhaps it’s my imagination, but the lighting seems better captured, too.
My old camera must be really sluggish after all the use it’s been through.
I hadn’t realized.
Now, I’ll get it all cleaned up and always have a backup.
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Don’t tempt me!
I was thinking, you might enjoy reading my second blog. It’s a fun one, just for a laugh. http://theadventuresofjustinbeaver.wordpress.com/
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Sorry for tempting you with the D3200! I didn’t jump at it. I gave it months of thought.
And that’s all I’ll say!
I just visited your Justin Beaver site! It is delightful! I hope children have access to it through their parents. It’s a wonderful way to introduce them to many topics in a language and voice they can understand. Fantastic! And I love Manny! He’s so sweet!
Thanks for sharing the link.
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Thanks. Justin Beaver is ours but Manny belongs to my blogging friend Marsha Lee from http://tchistorygal.com/ Manny was having an international holiday with various bloggers and we picked him up in London, took him to Belgium and Germany with us and then back to Australia. Then my daughter took him back to America and posted him home. Marsha has a blog all about Manny. http://mannystravels.wordpress.com/ and Justin Beaver has made appearances there as well. These fellows sure do get around.
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I love the concept of these friends visiting with one another. What a wonderful thing you have going. I love it.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned to you my first blog, http://www.SilverLining-MaryMcAvoy.com
It’s a photo-blog about a small pond in New England. It captures the four seasons over five years while I lived near it.
I’ve always wanted to find a way to present it to children. It’s rich with all manor of life around a pond – bird, insects, fish, turtles, flowers, etc.
I’ve thought about making it a children’s book and also a dvd for the elderly who are no longer able to get out of doors.
What you’ve done with these stuffed characters is so endearing.
I’m going to follow Justin to bring some adventure to my life!!!
Thanks so much,
Mary
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Your blog would make a gorgeous children’s book Mary. The nature photos are so beautiful and your text is delightful. I think you should follow up on this idea.
I’m glad you enjoyed reading Justin Beaver’s posts. It’s so much fun to write them and sometimes taking the photos is a real circus.
He’s a cheeky fellow and he thinks he is very important. Sometimes I laugh while I’m writing! Carol.
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Thanks for the encouragement. The idea has been on a back burner for several years now. I’m busy editing my 3rd novel and writing the 4th. Once they are both published, I hope to focus on nature series for children.
I’m guessing that Justin’s personality came in the way my characters’ personalities do. They kind of show themselves to you and you are as happy and surprised by who they are as your readers are. I’m sure you have a wonderful time with the blog!
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I’m so impressed that you are publishing books. I write children’s picture book stories and I’m finding it next to impossible to get anyone here to look at them. I’ve been trying for a couple of years now. I am determined to persevere.
Sometimes I think Justin is channelling me…especially when it comes to his love of cake and chocolate and his dislike of birds.
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Please don’t be the slightest bit impressed! My first two books are novellas. When I wrote them (2007-2011) novellas were totally out of fashion and no one would look at them. By no one I mean no agents. So I published them myself. At the same time I built my web presence so that I’d have a bit of a running start when I took them to market. It was a great learning experience – the writing, the editing, the design, the marketing. I did it all myself.
I’ve always loved independent films, independent music and the labels on micro-brewed beer! (I don’t drink beer.) I also like boutiques. So, it was quite natural for me to think in terms of independent publishing.
My next novel is full-length so I might approach agents again. As one of my novellas was looked at by Algonquin (but declined because it was a novella…), I’m not totally shy about approaching the traditional realm before I publish my next novel myself.
I’m not a spring chicken (well, at heart I am!) so I really am not interested in wasting gobs of time on that route. It’s not what it used to be. Even if you are picked up by an agent and then are lucky enough that they sell your book to a publisher, the likelihood that the publishing house will put money into marketing you is slim. So, the selling piece is still your responsibility. Although, I think children’s book authors fare better in getting marketing funding than authors in other genres.
As for you, Justin and channelling…where the old adage is “you write what you know,” I maintain, “You write what you are.”
So, if you are a cake and chocolate lover…well, it stands to reason that so is Justin! In fact, because of this, I think you are entitled to two pieces of either, yours and his, whenever they are served!!!
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PS Don’t you know, novellas are just now coming back into fashion!
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Ha! Then I would have to do his share of exercise at the gym as well as my own. I do love both cake and chocolate but I eat very little of either! Justin can have my share.
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🙂
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Thank you for dropping by my site, Mary! 🙂 Loving your posts as well. Looking forward to reading more of your future posts! 🙂
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You’re welcome! And thank you!
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.Dear Mary,
Thank you so very much for the film of Leo Tolstoy of which I knew nothing. Several years ago I was able to acquire a double ambrotype of 26 year old Samuel Clemens. These photographic images were made in 1861. Perhaps I am off by a year or two. No way of saying for sure. You are free to publish these images. Please visit http://www.kaplancollection to see them and other images from the collection.
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Thank you for sharing the link to your images (readers please see above). Your collection is fascinating.
What a remarkable journey for you to have collected these photos through the years!
Thanks for stopping by sublimedays.
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What a wonderful day I’m having – first I stumbled into the “Writing for Nature” blog, and then found my way here. I’m so glad to have found your “Sublime Days,” as well as the blog that brought me here.
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I’m glad you found your way here, too! Thanks so much for following sublimedays! I love “Writing for Nature” – it’s a terrific site. You might also like Mia McPherson Photography which has astounding bird photos. And sometime you might enjoy perusing a blog I used to write – SilverLining-MaryMcAvoy, which chronicles five years of the seasonal cycles of nature in and around a small pond in New England. (My photography is at The Ripest Pics. Mostly nature shots!)
I’ve had a quick look at your blog. It looks wonderful. I’ll visit again tonight or over the weekend when I have more time.
Thanks again, Mary
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Hey, I’m new to this blogging thing, Only two weeks old actually. I enjoyed going through your blog.
Best wishes and good luck with the future 🙂
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Hi lifeconfusions! Welcome to the world of blogging! I had a quick peak at your site – it’s really visually attractive – nicely done! I’m “following” you via email. I’ve been blogging since 2006. I kept a photo/nature blog for several years, SilverLining-MaryMcAvoy and I very occasionally add some photos to my site The Ripest Pics. I share these sites with you so you can see the versatility, even from one blogger, in the blogsphere! Will spend more time at your site in the next few days. Again, welcome and enjoy! Mary
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Oh my, Thank you so much for the follow, I’ll be looking forward to your support and (specially) advice 🙂
I’m glad you liked the layout\theme of my blog. when i changed it, I wasn’t that sure about it. But now I think its going to work just fine 🙂
Woww, I’ll sure as hell give them a visit to see your OTHER SIDE as well 🙂
And Thanks again!
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Thanks for visiting sublime days. John Lennon said, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” I think that sometimes we get so busy, we think that that busy-ness is living. But it’s not. Our real life is happening in the still moments, the moments of connection with another person or with nature or with our own hearts. I hope you do visit again! Mary
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Nice blog. I love your writing style. You have such a nice way of capturing the subtle moments of life — the mundane becomes rich and magical. I look forward to reading more as it flows in time.
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