Mary Penney Hershey is the author of six humorous and heartfelt middle grade novels for kids. Her most recent novel, Green Eyes and Ham, a calamitous love story between two eighth grade boys, was released on 06/07/22 by HarperCollins. Mary loves to create characters in her books that embody both the brilliance and resilience of kids she met while working as a Juvenile Probation Officer and foster parent.
Mary served in the US Army as a Military Policeman, and worked undercover for Military Police Intelligence. It was while posing as sex worker to entice a diabolical pimp that Mary discovered her deep, abiding love for children’s literature. (You just can’t make this stuff up.) She turned in her service weapon and fatigues and headed to college to study Early Child Development.
Mary holds a Master’s degree in Education, specializing in Counseling and Guidance, and is a certified Personal & Executive Coach.
Open to work for hire and IP work in board books, picture books, chapter books, middle grade, and young adult. Special interests in middle grade fiction, mystery, and fantasy.
