Mary Penney Hershey is the author of six humorous and heartfelt middle grade novels for kids. Mary’s books have been named to NY Public Library’s Best Books of the Year, the Washington Post’s Book of the Week, and the Indie Next List. Her most recent novel, Green Eyes and Ham, a calamitous first crush story between two 8 th grade boys (Harper Collins), was named to the Bank Street College of Education Best Books 2022.

Mary loves to create characters in her books that embody both the brilliance and resilience of kids she met as a Juvenile Probation Officer and foster parent. In addition to writing, she loves teaching writing students to feed and trust their unique, creative fingerprint.

Mary holds a Master’s degree in Education, and is a certified Personal & Executive Coach. To keep her muse fed, watered and limber, she works at Chaucer’s Books in Santa Barbara.