Mary W. Walters

Biography

Mary W. Walters was born in Wainwright, Alberta. Her family moved to Ontario when she was two, settling in London. When she was 14, she moved back to Alberta, and attended the University of Alberta. She lived in Edmonton for several decades, then moved to Saskatoon, SK for a few years. She now lives in Toronto, ON.

Mary has worked as a teacher, as executive director of a writers’ organization, as editor-in-chief of a publishing company, and as a university awards facilitator, but her primary source of income has been as a freelance writer and editor for corporate and academic clients. She has taught numerous workshops from coast to coast on grant-writing, self-publishing, and writing fiction.

Mary has been writing creatively since she was 29 years old. She has published five books of fiction, as well as numerous short stories and articles in magazines and literary journals in Canada and around the world. She has also created two hour-long radio documentaries for CBC’s Ideas.

Mary served as one of two presenters at The Writers Union of Canada’s professional development workshop, Publishing 2.0: Tips and Traps. where she talked about the pros and cons of self-publishing from the perspective of a traditionally published author who has also embraced traditional publishing.

Mary blogs on topics related to writing, reading and publishing at The Militant Writer, and about her travels and other adventures as I’m All Write.

Mary has served as a member of numerous funding and awards review panels. She was the first executive director of the Writers Guild of Alberta, and has been a member of National Council of The Writers’ Union of Canada.

Short Fiction

Mary’s fiction has been published in:

  • Malahat Review

  • Geist

  • dandelion

  • Prism International

  • Prairie Fire

  • Newest Review

  • Chatelaine

  • Herizons

among other publications, and has appeared in the following anthologies:

Her stories have also been broadcast on CBC nationally, and on CBC Alberta and CBC Saskatchewan.

  • Winner: Writers Guild of Alberta award for Excellence in Writing, Novel Category

  • Winner: Alberta Achievement Award

  • Finalist: Journey Prize

  • Winner: Alberta Culture/CBC Write-for-Radio Competition

  • Nominee: Edmonton YWCA Tribute to Women Award'

  • Listed: Who’s Who in Canada