Award-winning author Mary Amato began keeping a journal at the age of seven and she has used writing as a way to find comfort, insight, and meaning throughout her life. She’ll talk about the differences between diaries and journals, share some examples that range from funny to poignant, and share the how, when, why of writing for the self. Mary writes fiction, poetry, and essays. She also teaches songwriting and is the co-founder of Firefly Shadow Theater. In real life, Mary lives in Hyattsville. In cyberspace, Mary lives on www.maryamato.com.