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Meet Mary J. Nestor
Communications expert and award-winning speaker Mary J. Nestor knows firsthand the power of language and draws upon her experiences to relate to others. Her first book – Emily’s Best Birthday Party Ever! – was inspired by her granddaughter’s perfectly wonderful birthday party with a disastrous twist. Her career as a manager, consultant, and human resources director inspired her second book, Say It Now! Say It Right! How to Handle Tough and Tender Conversations, first published in 2016 with a second edition in 2021. Say It Now! Say It Right! was translated into Spanish by Penguin Random House Mexico and is being distributed on the Indian Subcontinent by Jaico Distributors.
In 2016, a fortuitous invitation to enroll in a writer’s conference resulted in Mary’s debut novel, Bus No. 7. This mystery begins with a strung-out drug addict’s plot to rob an unsuspecting pregnant woman and ends with a nail-biting ride on a runaway bus. What transpires in between in this riveting, gripping psychological thriller will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Bus No. 7, a prestigious William Faulkner Literary Competition finalist, was released in June 2025 by Bold Story Press.
Mary lives in a waterfront villa a short walk from the ocean on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina – a longtime favorite vacation destination for Mary’s children and their families. When she isn’t writing, this grandmother of five can be found on the golf course, singing with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Hilton Head Choral Society, or creating beautiful home furnishings through Sew So Chic, her custom fabrication business. She is always looking forward to her next adventure.
Achievements & Accolades
Throughout her impressive career, Mary has achieved several notable accomplishments. Her debut novel, Bus No. 7, was a finalist in the “Novel-in-Progress” category of the 2020 William Faulkner Literary Competition, and she earned first place in the state of Georgia Toastmasters Speaking Competition for Speech Evaluation. Additionally, she was a member of the Savannah Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Chorus, which performed with the Eagles during their 2022 Hotel California tour in Savannah, GA.
When Mary’s not writing or speaking…
Mary Sews!
Mary is also the owner of Sew So Chic, working with top designers to produce custom-fabricated home furnishings of the highest quality and workmanship. Clients bring their fabric and ideas, and she brings their designs to life. From custom draperies and pillows to turning a Naval Academy dress uniform jacket into a keepsake pillow or restoring a beloved stuffed toy to its original glory, her motto is, “If you can think it, we can do it.”
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Mary Sings!
When she’s not writing, speaking, or leading seminars, Mary sings with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Chorus and the Hilton Head Island Choral Society. She sang with the Savannah Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra and Chorus and the Cathedral Choir of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, GA, for more than 10 years.
MARY IS A MEMBER OF
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