For over thirty years, I've been a full-time in children's author and illustrator. Several years ago a shift began. While I was at the USCG Air Station Cape Cod doing research for my book Mayday! Mayday!: A Coast Guard Rescue, I became an official artist for them. In 2006, USCG Public Affairs sent me to the Persian Gulf to document their work in that region. I continue traveling for them, contributing art annually.

In 2007/08 I flew with Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center's air ambulance service DHART documenting their work. A show at the hospital and article in the of Dartmouth Medicine (Summer '08) followed. That led to working in the children's ward (CHaD) doing patient portraits which is now expanding to work at The Children's Inn associated with NIH (National Institutes of Health).

Most recently I completed a book on the history of Arlington National Cemetery, called ARLINGTON: Our Nation's Cemetery for Roaring Brook Press publishers (2010)

SCHOOL PRESENTATIONS: My focus is primarily on the adventure books and the experiences researching then, working with grades 3 and up. Using research photos from many of my trips: Hurricane Hunters, USCG, Arlington Cemetery Tomb Guards, etc, I explain the role of research, the process of working with an editor and art director and generally the whole creative process involved. It's my goal to also let kids realize that they all have hidden talents which, for some, may seem hidden or dormant but everyone has a creative side. It's all about tapping into it. Though I have covered some interesting lives, I also stress that these people are not super heroes. They're like all of us, the only difference is the jobs they've chosen to do. And for the girls, they too can fly the planes or helicopters or steer the ships. It's not a man's (boy's) world anymore.

Fees range from $500/half day on up. For further information contact Mary McDonough: marygallerybooks@gmail.com