Mary Ann Byron is one of a eight children, born and raised in Minnesota. She specializes in public relations, which takes her all over the world. Her memoir "NO ORDINARY LIFE: Awakenings in the Final Days of Apartheid" is based on her overseas assignment, 1992-1994, in South Africa. She worked as a Community Liaison Officer and U.S. AID Project Coordinator at the U.S. Embassy in Cape Town, while on assignment with her husband, a Special Agent with the U.S. State Department. Both worked under Ambassador Princeton Lyman during the end of apartheid leading up to the first democratic elections. Since her Foreign Service experience in South Africa, Mary has yearned to share her personal stories of this tumultuous and life-changing period.

After her assignment in South Africa, Mary continued her work in public affairs and special events working with NGOs, International Olympics, corporate and non-profit organizations. With a passion for international travel and adventure, Mary has lived in a dozen locations around the world. Currently, she resides in Colorado with her husband Patrick and their adopted pets. Mary returns to South Africa often.