Mary A. Osborne’s most recent essays have appeared in Parabola magazine. Her work has also been published in Hektoen International Journal and Chicago’s Newcity magazine, among others. She is the award-winning author of Alchemy’s Daughter and Nonna’s Book of Mysteries. These stand-alone historical novels feature passages from A Manual to the Science of Alchemy, an ancient alchemical text drawn from the author’s imagination as well as the study of alchemy and the work of C.G. Jung. With a penchant for the mystical, she writes for those of all ages who love historical fiction, a touch of romance, and a hint of fairy tale.
Hand-colored Alchemical Emblem by Adam McLean
A graduate of Rush University and of Knox College, Mary is a registered nurse and holds degrees in chemistry and nursing. Her books were conceived during a springtime trip to Tuscany, where the story sprang from the cobbled streets of Florence and into the author’s ear. Nonna’s Book of Mysteries received a ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award and an Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award as well as nominations from the ALA (Amelia Bloomer Award) and IBPA (Ben Fischer Award for best first book), and several festival awards. Alchemy’s Daughter received the Literary Classics Gold Award for fiction and historical fiction, and also several festival awards.
