In 2000, Mary Johnson became the catalyst for the formation of A Room of Her Own Foundation when she met Darlene Chandler Bassett during a retreat at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico. When Mary expressed her desire to write the story of her last twenty years serving as a nun in the order founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Darlene became Mary’s benefactor. Mary since graduated from Goddard College in Vermont with her MFA in creative writing. Mary Johnson has been the recipient of several awards and scholarships for her writing and is pleased that AROHO provides her the opportunity to offer support to other women writers and artists. She remains an important member of AROHO’s Board of Directors, and currently works as a freelance editor in addition to working on her own writing. Mary recently spent time at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire. She stayed in the Sprague-Smith studio to do intensive work on her memoir, tentatively entitled An Unquenchable Thirst: One Woman’s Extraordinary Journey of Faith, Hope, and Clarity. In March 2008, at the MacDowell Downtown Presentation, Mary read from her works-in-progress. Spiegel & Grau, a division of Random House, is scheduled to release Mary’s memoir in the near future. Please visit MacDowell Colony for more information about Mary’s stay.