Marion Denard lives and writes in historic Jacksonville, Oregon. In a perfect world she would eat ice cream at every meal. She encourages and supports anyone who wants to write through workshops at Writers’ Room.

Raised in Idaho by a teacher and a born storyteller, Marion spent most of her childhood reading. In fourth grade, she wrote her first story about a young American meeting an English immigrant while crossing the Atlantic Ocean. It included a great deal of poorly punctuated dialogue. Marion went on to study writing and gender studies at the University of Puget Sound and earned her Master of Arts in liberal studies and creative writing at Dartmouth College. She thinks best with a pen in her hand.

Marion is passionate about safe families and has worked to end domestic and sexual violence and child abuse. She advocates for teens in foster care as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate.

When not scribbling in a notebook, Marion can be found running at dawn or driving her children to soccer practice and horseback riding. Her ideal day includes a hike with her husband and kids on the Applegate Ridge Trail and, of course, ice cream. Marion’s life would be calmer but not complete without her dog Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.