“A Wake for Maggie Fagan”: The end is where we start from. —T.S. Eliot
“In McGuigan’s hands, these characters become multidimensional, fully felt by the reader.” —The US Review of Books Read “A Wake for Maggie Fagan,” story 16 of PIECES.
“McGuigan demonstrates a wonderful talent for creating emotionally complex characters, believable situations, and closely observed, realistic settings.” – Michael Cart, Booklist
About Mary Ann
Mary Ann McGuigan’s young-adult fiction is about teens trying to make sense of the chaos grown-ups leave in their wake. Reviewers call her novels powerful and compelling, and they’ve been ranked among the best books for teens by the Junior Library Guild, the New York Public Library, and the Paterson Prize. Her novel Where You Belong was a finalist for the National Book Award, and Mary Ann has served on the foundation’s panel of judges.
She writes fiction for grown-ups too. Her short stories appear in literary journals such as North American Review, The Sun, and Prime Number. Pieces, her composite novel, includes stories nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Sundress Publications’ Best of the Net.
Mary Ann taught English and later became a business writer and editor, mainly for Bloomberg L.P. Born in the Bronx, she attended high school and college in Jersey City and now lives in Metuchen, NJ.
What’s Happening
“The Kiln”—The passion that consumes, the choice that remains
“We know these people. We are these people. In them, we recognize pieces of ourselves.” —The US Review of Books Read “The Kiln,” story 15 of PIECES.
“Asunder”—Cardinal sins and carnal secrets
“McGuigan explores the root causes of trauma, the ways in which coping strategies become demons.” —US Review of Books Read “Asunder,” story 12 of PIECES.
Author Visits
The historical events depicted in Mary Ann’s novels make them excellent vehicles for using fiction to discuss continuing social issues: interracial friendship, civil rights, overcoming poverty, teenage drinking, homelessness, domestic violence, and alcoholism.
She tailors her visits to schools, libraries, and bookstores to discuss the themes most important to them.
