Mary Peace Finley
Award-winning author of books for young people
Welcome kids, teachers, parents, librarians,
grandparents, friends, Romans and countrymen!
Welcome to my website. My name is Mary Peace
Finley and I am an author of books for young people. My latest novel, The Midnight
Ride of Blackwell Station, is a humorous tale of mystery, suspense, and intrigue set
in 1886 as railroads were changing the face of the West. The story is based on
actual events in the founding of the town of Lamar.
I was born and raised on the plains of southeastern Colorado, in the town of Fowler on
the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad line, eighty miles west of Lamar. I grew up
exploring canyons, discovering pictographs, and hounding for rocks.
I am a graduate of the University of Denver, a former teacher of English-as-a Foreign
Language, a former scriptwriter for the PBS TV nature series, "Marty Stouffer's WILD
AMERICA," author of five historical novels set in southeastern Colorado and along the Santa
Fe Trail, and four other books. Although I have traveled abroad and lived in Mexico,
England, Uruguay and Costa Rica, the return to my "roots" in Colorado has fanned my
passion for writing Western historical fiction. I enjoy giving book talks at schools as well
as teaching writing classes and workshops. (And snorkeling!)
I am a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. I also am a
member of the Colorado Authors' League, Women Writing the West and Western Writers
of America.
My short non-fiction piece, "Rosario" is included in the anthology, Woven on the Wind--
Women Write About Friendship in the Sagebrush West, published Spring, 2001 by
Houghton Mifflin and contributor to Writing, Etc., published by Ghost Road Press.
© Mary Peace Finley 2012
