Mary Berelson
Author of Bicentennial Summer
A Coming of Age Journey Across America
✨ About the Author
Mary Berelson is a debut author whose storytelling shines in Bicentennial Summer, a coming-of-age journey across America that explores growth, self-discovery, and family dynamics. With a blend of historical fiction and personal memory, her writing connects deeply with readers, offering a heartfelt and engaging narrative.
🌿 A Journey to Writing
At thirteen, I hitchhiked across America with my younger twin sisters and my dad - from the dusty roads of Texas where our car, Blue Pierre, broke down, all the way home to the rolling hills of Ohio. Whenever I told pieces of that story, people’s eyes would widen and say, “You have to write a book!” For years, I laughed it off, convinced that writing was for other people - real authors.
That changed after I read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, which inspired me to start a memoir. With the guidance of my writing coach, Kat Terrey of Tangled Roots Writing, I soon discovered that fiction gave me the freedom to explore the deeper themes of my experience. Influenced by authors like Barbara Kingsolver, Jodi Picoult, Ann Patchett, and Sue Monk Kidd, I embraced the creative process and let my story unfold.
When the pandemic lockdown brought time and solitude, I set a goal to finish my first draft before retiring from my thirty-year teaching career in 2023 - and I did. Partnering with Bublish for developmental editing and publishing support, I brought Bicentennial Summer to life. Along the way, I discovered that writing doesn’t require a perfect setting - just persistence, imagination, and a willingness to let the story reveal itself.
Now, I can’t imagine not writing. Bicentennial Summer is only the beginning, and I’m eager to see where the next chapter - on the page and in life - takes me.
Interview with Amplify Audio's Becky Parker Geist
🎙️ Hear the Story Behind the Book
In an inspiring conversation with Becky Parker Geist on Amplify Audio’s Audiobook Connection, I reflect on the spark that led me to write, how a personal cross-country memory became the heart of my novel, and the creative process of capturing varied voices. We also explore timeless themes of identity, freedom, and the search for meaning, along with the behind-the-scenes journey of bringing the audiobook to life.
