Mary Dalton

I've always been fascinated by storytelling, especially of the literary kind. Stories that take on imaginative subject matter and compelling ideas, while engaging all the possibilities of language, are what I like to think of as “tales,” and I see them differently than I do most contemporary short fiction or novels.

I want to try and uncover their secrets — and that’s what The Art of the Tale is all about.

In addition to being a writer I’m also a teacher, and have taught courses on tales, historical fiction, and all aspects of the writing craft at places like the Newberry Library and Columbia College Chicago, the Barrington Writers Workshop, and the Writing Studio at Harper College. I also work with private students, and serve as a freelance writer and editorial consultant.