Mary receives the 2011 Esther Rothstein Award from the Womens Bar Association of Illinois, presented by Paula Holderman, Vice President of
the Illniois State Bar Association.  See Mary’s remarks under “News.” 

Mary receives the Thomas R. Leavens Distinguished Service Award from Lawyers for the Creative Arts from William Rattner, Executive Director; October, 2004.

Fishing
Honorable Mention, University of New Orleans Study Abroad Fellowship (Short Story) 2010

Warming Up
Quarter-Finalist, Amazon Break-thru Novel Competition, 2010
Semi-Finalist, William Wisdom/William Faulkner Award for the Novel, 2009

Markers
Finalist, William Wisdom/William Faulkner Award for a Novel-in-progress, 2010

One for the Ark
Short List Finalist, William Wisdom/William Faulkner Award for the Novel
2009

Short List Finalist, William Wisdom/William Faulkner Award for the Novel
2007

Honorable Mention, University of Wisconsin Writer¹s Institute Poem/Page Contest 2006 (Fiction)

One of 6 Finalists, Paris Prize 2008

Captain Aunt
Honorable Mention, University of Wisconsin Writer’s Institute
Poem/Page Contest 2006 (Nonfiction)

Saluting the Sun
Third place, University of Wisconsin Writer’s Institute Poem/Page Contest 2006 (Fiction)
Top 30 out of 400, Peter Taylor Award for the Novel, 2005
First Prize, Pariah Publishing First Chapter Contest, April, 2005
Honorable Mention, ByLine Magazine First Chapter Contest, Nov., 2005
Semi-Finalist, William Faulkner/William Wisdom Award for a Novel-in-progress, 2004

An Educational Experience (The City Girls)
Semi-Finalist, William Faulkner Society Novel-in-progress competition, 2002

"The Tsunami in Iowa"
(Unpublished) Finalist, Glimmer Train, Short Story Award for New Writers, 2005

"Lawyer of the Year"
Special Honorable Mention, ByLine Magazine, Short Story, 2005

"Loyal"
Honorable Mention, ByLine Magazine, Short Story, 2005

"Zen and the Art of Spa"
Honorable Mention, ByLine Magazine, Personal Essay, 2003

"May Queen"
Honorable Mention, Writer's Digest Magazine Writing Competition-Essay 1999

"Three Hots and a Cot: A Beginner's First Retreat"
Honorable Mention, Writer's Digest Magazine Writing Competition-Essay, 1998