What a divine grace it is to be included in the living world. What a miracle it is to walk among it all.
from Behold, Essays Into Wonder
I'm Mary Dansak. I am a writer, an equestrian, and a naturalist.
For as long as I can remember, writing, horses, and nature have been my passions. After retiring from a 30-year career in science education, I am once again pursuing my lifelong dreams of writing, riding, and chasing rich, personal experiences with the wild, wild world.
In addition to writing a weekly newspaper column, I work as a legacy writer for a horse and cattle ranch, and dabble in a variety of freelance writing assignments. Most of my writing is a hybrid of nature essays and memoir, grounded in story and steeped in place.
I live in Alabama with my husband and our three little dogs. Our three daughters, son-in-law, and two granddaughters provide endless inspiration and hope for a future which respects and values the tremendous gifts of our natural world.
Books by Mary Dansak
Box Turtles, Hooligans, and Love, Sweet Love
In this collection of columns, Mary Dansak weaves hard science with a unique style of storytelling. From tales of our microbiota to rat snakes to North American flying squirrels. Reading this book guarantees you fodder for conversation at all your family gatherings and cocktail parties.
Behold: Essays Into Wonder
From exalting the wonders of bald-faced hornets to the other-wordly cuteness of baby donkeys, author Mary Dansak frequently falls back on the simple word, BEHOLD. In this collection of essays, Mary weaves her unique style of storytelling with hard science, life lessons, and humanity.