Mary Nilsen has published Christian education materials through Winston Press and Augsburg Fortress, and articles in a variety of journals, including The Lutheran, The Other Side, and Word and World. Her first novel, When A Bough Breaks, published by Hazelden and Harper and Row, traces a family's journey through a family treatment program after discovering their son was addicted. She is listed in the International Authors and Writers Who's Who, 10th, 11th, and 12th editions.
In addition, Nilsen has spent years teaching prose style, metaphor, fiction and non-fiction writing at The University of Iowa, and week-long writing courses for the Iowa Summer Writing Festival in her home city, Des Moines, Iowa. Currently teaching at the Collegeville Institute, Mary has brought her passion for teaching literary writing to various seminaries including Luther Seminary, Columbia Seminary, The Graduate Theological Union, and Princeton. She and her husband, Rev. Roy Nilsen, teach a writing course sponsored by the Lilly Foundation for young pastors focusing on literary skills and funeral sermon writing. They also work together leading Enneagram retreats for church staffs.
Books available through this website are The Blessing of Feelings (text by Erika Nilsen / Photography by Mary Ylvisaker Nilsen), Nude Truths (artwork by Kristi Ylvisaker / text by Mary Ylvisaker Nilsen), A Time for Peace: Daily Meditations for Twelve-Step Living and In the Hollow of God's Hand. For Everything a Season: 75 Blessings for Daily Life was co-authored by Nilsen with her family. It is now being distributed by The Youth and Family Institute of Minneapolis.
Nilsen's recent works include a book-length personal portrait of her mother titled, The Power of One and collaboration with her sister, Kristi Ylvisaker, on the art exhibit, "Nude Truths."
She and her husband are the parents of five grown children.
Click here for complete resume.
