“In my years as a pastor, Marilyn was a favorite speaker and teacher. When I was Director at the La Casa de Maria Retreat Center, we offered 200 programs a year and hers were consistently popular and well-attended. And in my own journey as an aspiring writer, her seminars and courses have been stimulating, inspiring and practical.”

— Rev. Steve Jacobsen, workshop participant

“Marilyn is an amazing editor. She is insightful, supportive, and so gracious when asking questions or offering suggestions about my manuscript. I am confident that my book is stronger for her thoughtful feedback and at times, guidance. I feel blessed to have her along my side as I am writing about a topic that is so close to my heart.”

—Rebecca Proehl, editing client

“Marilyn is a rare combination: she loves living people as much as she loves the written word, and she tends both with gentleness, intention and skill! A group of us who came to a workshop together can bear witness to the way she heard, nurtured, and amplified each of our voices. Are you thinking about this? Don’t hesitate for a minute! Years later I am still harvesting gift upon gift… ”

— Rev. Sandy Tice, workshop participant

“I have been fortunate to have many quiet conversations with Marilyn. She was consistently gentle, brilliant, wise and forthright but she had the annoying habit of challenging the way I thought about many things. I'll be forever grateful for the trust in the space of our talks, so that when the inevitable moment arrived - and it always did - to dismantle an old opinion and see with new eyes, it was, for me, enlightening and oddly joyous.”

— Susan Pierpoint, workshop participant

As one who has admired her writing over the years I was so pleased to be able to experience her as a teacher, editor and writing coach. She is the most generous guide, excellent in encouraging writers to ” play”, to experiment, and to get rid of ingrained habits . She teaches us to see what makes a more powerful use of language, whether in prose or poetry. She is warm and honest and draws on her own deep experience to help writers describe tender areas of their lives. She gives clear editorial guidance, while listening to the the authors’ intent . She is able to create a community of trust among her students that allows them to share early drafts with and benefit from receiving feedback from others. Marilyn’s love of language shines out in all she does and inspires us all.

— Penny Washbourn, editing and coaching client

It's difficult to overstate Marilyn's impact on my personal writing, far beyond the close of any workshop or retreat. As days, weeks, months, and years pass, I still find myself putting pen to paper around the same intriguing exercises offered under Marillyn's inventive, gentle tutelage. Marilyn offers approaches to writing practice not only from her great storehouse of wisdom but also from her approval of curiosity for its own sake . . . as invitations to exploration, free of judgment, allowing much "play" in the process.

— Cindy R., workshop participant