Mary Yerkes

Mary J. Yerkes is an award-winning freelance writer. Her main writing interests include religion, health and wellness, and relationships.

Mary is a regular contributor to Focus on the Family’s flagship Web site, where she covers such topics as conflict management and resolution, emotional and mental health, and living with chronic pain and illness. Her many articles, stories, and fillers have also appeared in Associations Now, PayTech, The Electronic Payments Journal, Discipleship Journal, On Mission Magazine, SAVED: A Multicultural Christian Magazine, A Cup of Comfort Devotional for Women, Beliefnet.com, The Gift of Depression, The Quiet Hour, Now What?/Bible Advocate, Angel Dogs: Divine Messengers of Love, Barefoot Ministries, and Credo, along with other print and online publications. Her work has been published in 32 countries.

As a ghostwriter, Mary has written for prominent financial executives. These articles have appeared in national trade and industry publications in the financial sector, including Bank Systems & Technology and ICBA Independent Banker, the national magazine of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).

Mary has served as a volunteer youth leader for more than ten years, working with at-risk youth and their parents and addressing such issues as teen depression and suicide, self-injury, teen dating abuse, and more.

Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1997, Mary writes often on "living well" with chronic pain and illness. A disabilities advocate, Mary speaks at community and non-profit events, educating individuals about invisible chronic illness, its effect on family and society, and helpful workplace accommodations.

Mary lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, Paul, and her rough collie, Misha. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys long walks through the country.

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