Mary Ann Moore is a writer, poet and creativity facilitator who offers creative circles where unsuspecting poets are born. Mary Ann has inspired many though volunteer work in adult literacy and for Spark of Brilliance, a Guelph, Ontario initiative for people who are experiencing mental health issues. In 1997, Mary Ann created her own business, Flying Mermaids Writing Circles & Retreats and has encouraged many to begin and sustain a writing practice. To invite others to explore circle methodology as a way to connect to one another in community, she created The Circle: Creative Community Building. Since moving to Nanaimo, B.C. in the spring of 2005, Mary Ann has become a creative mentor with Open Minds Open Windows.
 

The Names of Things, poetry chapbook (The Flying Mermaids Studio 2009)
 
Writing Home (The Flying Mermaids Studio 2009)
 
Your Own Tea House Practice (The Flying Mermaids Studio 2005)
 
Mapping Your Spiritual Journey (The Flying Mermaids Studio 2003)
 
When My Heart is Open, a Poem Making Journal (The Flying Mermaids Studio 1999)
 
When My Heart is Open, a CD of poems (The Flying Mermaids Studio 1999)
 
Poetry in Simple Praise (Leaf Press, Lantzville, B.C.); Tears, The Same Music (Leaf Press, Lantzville, B.C.); How Light Needs to Bend (Leaf Press, Lantzville, B.C.); Ascent Aspirations Magazine (Nanaoose Bay, B.C.); Starting with Bread (Lantzville, B.C.); WordWorks (Vancouver, B.C.); Witch in White (Lantzville, B.C.); Off the Shelf (Guelph, Ontario); Carousel (Guelph, Ontario); Vox Feminarum (Kitchener, Ontario); SpeakEasy (Toronto, Ontario); Taddle Creek (Toronto, Ontario); Seeds (Toronto, Ontario); The Church Wellesley Review (Toronto, Ontario); Jones Av. (Toronto, Ontario)
 
Travel articles in The Kitchener-Waterloo Record (Kitchener, Ontario); Vitality (Toronto, Ontario); Power Trips (Vancouver, B.C.)
 
Personal essays in Story Circle Journal (Austin, Texas); Prairie Fire (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
 
Book Reviews in More Living Magazine (Nanaimo, B.C.); Vitality Magazine (Toronto, Ontario); The Vancouver Sun (Vancouver, B.C.); ascent magazine (Montreal, Quebec); Monday Magazine (Victoria, B.C.); Synergy Magazine (Nanaimo, B.C.); Harbour City Star (Nanaimo, B.C.); Off the Shelf (Guelph, Ontario); New Directions (Guelph, Ontario); Independently Reviewed (Almonte, Ontario); Story Circle Journal & website www.storycircle.org (Austin, Texas); Vox Feminarum (Kitchener, Ontario); The Kitchener-Waterloo Record (Kitchener, Ontario)
 
Columns in Vitality (Toronto, Ontario); The Voice (Kitchener, Ontario); The Toronto Star (Toronto, Ontario); The Canadian Statesman (Bowmanville, Ontario); The Reporter (Newcastle, Ontario)
 
Fiction/novel excerpt in Prairie Fire (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
 
Inclusion in anthologies (essays and poetry): One Sweet Ride (Ascent Aspirations Publishing, Nanoose Bay, B.C.); Island Dreams (Poetry Institute of Canada, Victoria, B.C.); Home Truths: Lesbian Mothers Come Out to Their Daughters (Rowan Books, Edmonton, Alberta); Countering the Myths (Women's Press, Toronto, Ontario); Tangled Sheets (Women's Press, Toronto, Ontario)
 

Mary Ann is compiling another poetry collection called Fishing for Mermaids, Mining for Light and is working on a memoir.
 


Journaling in the Garden, Bayfield, Ontario . July 2003
Remembering the Goddess: Mapping Your Spiritual Journey, Bridgewater Retreat, Tweed, Ontario . July 2000
Still Life Retreat, Durham, Ontario . July 1999
A Flying Mermaids Weekend of Creativity & Renewal for Women with mixed-media artist Andrea Bird and sound practitioner Ann-Marie Boudreau, Drew House, Elora, Ontario February 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
 

Embodying Home (with Ann-Marie Boudreau), a circle integrating, sound, breath work, movement and writing for the women of the First Nations community of Bella Bella, B.C. August 2006
 
Caledon Community Services at Cedar Glen, Bolton, Ontario . June 2003
 

Embodying Recovery, a one-day experiential workshop, for the mental health community in Nanaimo, B.C., October 2007 and May 2008
Weekly life skills circle for Open Minds Open Windows, friends for initiatives to the reduce stigma attached to mental health issues, Nanaimo, B.C. January 2006 to December 2008
Writing circles as a Creative Mentor for Spark of Brilliance, a community-based initiative that fosters healing through the arts for people who are experiencing mental health issues, and their supportive allies, Guelph, Ontario. March 2003 to May 2005
A writing circle with a focus on self-compassion for the Canadian Mental Health Association's Mental Health Week, Guelph, Ontario. May 2003
 

Martha Randall, Nia Black Belt Teacher & Trainer, with friends and associates, Toronto, Ontario. January 2003
 

Speaker: "Soul Ceremonies: Poetry as a Sacred, Contemplative Practice" at Beacon Unitarian Church, Coquitlam, B.C. January 2010
Workshop Presenter at Living Well Dying Well Conference, Waterloo, Ontario . October 2004
Speaker: "Creativity & Renewal" at Unitarian Fellowship, Hamilton, Ontario . July 2004
Presenter: "Mapping Your Spiritual Journey" at Tapestry of Women Conference, Nakoda Lodge, Morley, Alberta . November 2002
 

Writing the Labyrinth (with Meg Hansen), SeaCloud in Saltair B&B. 2006
 
Yes, You Are Creative!, West End Community Centre, Guelph, Ontario and WonderWorks, Toronto, Ontario. Various dates in 2002 and 2003
 
Meeting the Muse, Eramosa Eden, Eden Mills, Ontario. August 2001
 
Poem Making for Everyone, Eramosa Eden, Eden Mills, Ontario. July 2000
and The Flying Mermaids Studio, Guelph, Ontario . November 2000
 

Mapping Your Spiritual Journey
Dancing with the Muse
Writing Your Way Home
 

Passion to Paper at Elder College, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, B.C.
Writing Your Life Stories, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo. B.C.
Creative Writing through The Wellington Centre for Continuing Education, Guelph, Ontario
 

Patrick Lane at master poets' retreats held at Glenairley and Ocean Wilderness in Sooke, B.C. and at Rivendell on Bowen Island, B.C. (2006 to 2010); Ivan E. Coyote and Sheri-D Wilson who gave workshops on Gabriola Island and in Nanaimo, B.C. (2008 and 2009); poetry retreats with Kim Rosen at Sleeping Dog Farm in Victoria, B.C. (2007 and 2008); poetry workshop with Susan Musgrave at the Victoria School of Writing; Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea of PeerSpirit Inc who facilitated a circle practicum in Barrie, Ontario for five days in April 2002. Writing workshops led by Lee Maracle, Carol Bolt, Helen Humphreys, Teri Degler and Janice Kulyk-Keefer. Acting classes with Catherine Caines, Artistic Director of Soulfire Theatre, in Nanaimo, B.C.
 

Offered in Nanaimo, B.C., in person or worldwide, by phone or email
 

Mary Ann volunteered with Rogers Cable Television in Toronto, Ontario and was host and segment producer for Cable 10 and Cutting Edge TV. She was one of the subjects of a half hour programme called "Spiritual Journey" produced for WTN (Women's Television Network) in 1999 which continues to be shown on other networks.