About

Mary Morris

Author, Editor, and Educator

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Hi, I’m Mary.

After earning an MFA in creative writing (fiction) from Southern Illinois University – Carbondale in 2003, I spent several years working as a copy editor, freelance writer, and newspaper reporter (as Mary McGlasson) while raising my daughter, Selena. Later, I entered academia and served as an English professor at a rural community college for twelve years–during which time I remarried; built a house; and birthed two more children, Hazel and Neil. I continued writing fiction and nonfiction during this time, publishing short works in various literary journals and completing my first novel.

I left full-time teaching in 2021 to focus my energies on writing, editing, and proofreading. In the ensuing years, I worked as a nonfiction ghostwriter and a fiction line editor, copy editor, and proofreader. My solo novel-length work is in upmarket contemporary romance and women’s fiction, and I also co-author urban fantasy and post-apocalyptic romance novels with my best friend. The first book in our Daughters of Hecate series, Mirror Witch, was published by City Owl Press in May 2023; our zombie-apocalypse novel, Dead Weight, was serialized on the YONDER app from October 2023-October 2024 and is forthcoming in ebook and print from Red Adept Publishing.

(To learn more about Mirror Witch and Dead Weight, click here to go to my Novels page. To learn more about Phoebe, check here to check out her website.)

I currently work as an academic writing advisor for Shemmassian Academic Consulting and teach creative writing as an adjunct faculty member of the Online MFA Program at Southern New Hampshire University. I also serve as co-leader of the Carbondale Public Library’s monthly Adult Fiction Writers’ Workshop.

I live in the wilds of southeastern Illinois with my husband, my children, a crested gecko, and miscellaneous cats.

What I Do

Professional Experience

Academic Writing Advisor, Shemmassian Academic Consulting (current)
Guiding applicants to college and medical school through the written elements of their applications from brainstorming topics to final revisions

Adjunct Professor, Online MFA in Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University
(current)
Teaching courses in storytelling and romance writing to graduate students in creative writing; engaging in craft and critique discussions; providing feedback and revision guidance on creative work

Co-Leader, Adult Fiction Writers’ Workshop at Carbondale Public Library
(current)
Facilitating craft discussions and creative writing exercises; providing feedback on creative work; guiding critique sessions

Supplemental and Substitute Teacher at St. Joseph Catholic School
(2023-2025)
Teaching supplemental reading and writing courses to grades 6-8; serving as a substitute teacher for pre-K through eighth grade

Freelance Line Editor, Copy Editor, and Proofreader at Red Adept Publishing
(2023-2024)
Improving readability and flow on the sentence level while maintaining the authorial voice; ensuring consistency for plot points, characterization, etc.; and finding and correcting grammar and mechanical errors using CMOS and in-house style guides

Freelance Scribe/Ghostwriter at Scribe Media
(2021-2023)
Writing book-length manuscripts in a variety of nonfiction genres using creation models adapted to the needs of the author (chapter-by-chapter or full manuscript)

Editor/Proofreader/Owner at Ibis Editorial and Design
(2021-2022)
Developmental and line editing, proofreading, and beta reading of full and partial manuscripts, querying materials, and copy of all kinds

Assistant Professor of English and Humanities at Frontier Community College
(2009-2021)
Developed and taught composition, creative writing, literature, speech, and humanities courses

Reporter/Columnist/Editor at Olney Daily Mail (as Mary McGlasson)
(2005-2008)
Wrote general-interest and news articles, weekly columns, news briefs, obituaries, and announcements; assisted in editing and proofreading all newspaper copy

Freelance Writer (as Mary McGlasson)
(2005-2009)
Researched and wrote materials for CommunityLink tourism magazines/books and articles for the Southern Illinoisan, Nightlife, and Murphysboro American

Technical Writer at SchoolCenter (as Mary McGlasson)
(2005)
Wrote and edited user manuals for K-12 educational software and learning management systems; proofed and beta tested educational websites

Editorial Assistant at the Southern Illinoisan (as Mary McGlasson)
(2004-2005)
Wrote and managed materials for news briefs, obituaries, and social announcements; wrote freelance human-interest articles

Proofreader and Copy Editor at CommunityLink (as Mary McGlasson)
(2003-2004)
Proofread, edited, and wrote copy for tourism magazines, books, maps, and pamphlets; proofread and edited in-house ad copy