Mary K. Pershall Mary K. Pershall i(A13143 works by) (a.k.a. Mary Katherine Pershall)
Born: Established: 1951
c
United States of America (USA),
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Americas,
;
Gender: Female
Arrived in Australia: 1974
Heritage: American
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Works By

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1 1 y separately published work icon Gorgeous Girl : A Mother's Memoir of Madness and Murder Mary K. Pershall , Melbourne : Viking , 2018 14175772 2018 single work autobiography

'‘The only way to comprehend this tragic story of mine is to write it.’

'On the 10th of February 2017, there was a sentencing hearing for murder in the Victorian Supreme Court. The young woman in the dock, who sat quietly with her hands in her lap, had perfect skin and light-brown hair tied back as neatly as a private school prefect’s. When the judge asked her to confirm her plea, the young woman answered in a clear and polite voice. ‘Guilty, your Honour.’

'That killer is Mary K. Pershall’s beloved daughter Anna. She is twenty-eight years old, tall and beautiful, with an effervescent wit and a university degree in psychology. She also hears the voices of demons. After Anna finished uni, she just could not meet the demands of adulthood, and the voices became overwhelming. She attempted to silence them with alcohol and weed, with the abuse of her prescribed medication, and with ice. But the evil howling would not stop.

'Award-winning author Mary K. Pershall brings a unique and insightful perspective to a story that is at once devastating and uplifting, and proves that a mother’s love – even in its darkest hour – can shed light and provide hope to families in crisis.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 The Mark of a Local Mary K. Pershall , 2010 single work prose
— Appears in: The Age , 26 June 2010; (p. 14-15)
3 y separately published work icon A Ghost at School Mary K. Pershall , Camberwell : Puffin , 2010 10146158 2010 single work children's fiction children's fantasy

'Ruby begins to hear voices at school - a ghost trying to attract her attention. When the voice proclaims that Ruby's grandmother killed her, Ruby must investigate what has happened and discovers that this ghost is her great grandmother who died giving birth to Ruby's grandmother many years previously.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

3 y separately published work icon Ghost with a Message Mary K. Pershall , Camberwell : Puffin , 2009 10146114 2009 single work children's fiction children's fantasy

'Ruby knows that her ability to hear and see ghosts is an incredible gift. Even so, sometimes she'd like to go back to being a regular kid. But would that be fair? Should Ruby break through her fear and help another ghost, whoever that might be?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 3 y separately published work icon The Trouble with Ghosts The Trouble with Ghosts Mary K. Pershall , Camberwell : Puffin , 2008 Z1558986 2008 single work children's fiction children's fantasy

Ruby Clair is used to strange things happening, such as seeing other people's auras, but getting a call from her cousin Nicola who died over a year ago is a little too weird. Ruby's supernatural gift is needed to help a young girl and the call is irresistible.

1 y separately published work icon Ruby Clair Mary K. Pershall , 2008-2010 10146088 2008 series - author children's fiction children's fantasy
1 3 y separately published work icon Escape From Year Eight Anna Pershall , Mary K. Pershall , Camberwell : Penguin , 2007 Z1421497 2007 single work novel young adult
1 2 y separately published work icon A Term in Year Seven Anna Pershall , Mary K. Pershall , Camberwell : Puffin , 2005 Z1219391 2005 single work children's fiction children's
1 1 y separately published work icon Making Jamie Normal Mary K. Pershall , Camberwell : Puffin , 2005 Z1193130 2005 single work children's fiction children's
1 5 y separately published work icon Two Weeks in Grade Six Mary K. Pershall , Anna Pershall , Camberwell : Puffin , 2003 Z1038833 2003 single work children's fiction children's

'"I'm not sitting at a table with them,' Ashleigh protests. 'They're the top five losers at the school!"

'It is the third term, grade six and Kaitlin's teacher has switched table groups around. Now Kaitlin's on a table with stuck-up Ashleigh, Mathew the Mouth and Stephen, a curly-haired nerd who only cares about marine life. Thank goodness she still has Shelley, her best and only friend, by her side. But when Ashleigh decides it would be fun to break up their friendship, Kaitlin could be in for the hardest two weeks of her life.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

1 5 y separately published work icon Asking for Trouble Mary K. Pershall , Ringwood : Puffin , 2001 Z902869 2001 single work novel young adult
1 y separately published work icon Too Much To Ask For Katherine Pershall , Mary K. Pershall , Ringwood : Puffin , 1998 Z804044 1998 single work children's fiction children's humour

'Hannah's eleventh birthday is coming up and now's her big chance to break into the coolest threesome in her class. But when she invites 'the Trio' to her party, it's nothing like her daydreams.'  (Publication summary)

1 4 y separately published work icon Stormy Mary K. Pershall , Ringwood : Puffin , 1993 Z796193 1993 single work novel young adult
1 Not an Unassuming Chap Mary K. Pershall , 1993 single work review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , April no. 149 1993; (p. 12-13)

— Review of Taking America Out of the Boy Billy Marshall-Stoneking , 1993 single work autobiography
1 Hunger Mary K. Pershall , 1992 single work short story
— Appears in: Nude School : Stories About School 1992;
1 7 y separately published work icon A Long Way Home Mary K. Pershall , Ringwood : Penguin , 1992 Z285881 1992 single work novel
1 Moondust Mary K. Pershall , 1992 single work short story
— Appears in: Goodbye and Hello : Sixteen Compelling Stories About Leaving and Arriving from Irish and Australian Authors 1992;
2 17 y separately published work icon You Take the High Road Mary K. Pershall , Ringwood : Penguin , 1988 Z176450 1988 single work novel young adult 'Samantha has always longed for a baby brother or sister and is overjoyed when her mother gives birth to Nicholas. Then one day when Nicky is 15 months old, Sam’s dad appears at school to deliver some tragic news.' (Publication summary)
1 11 y separately published work icon Hello, Barney! Mary K. Pershall , Mark Wilson (illustrator), Melbourne : Viking Kestrel , 1988 Z846688 1988 single work picture book children's

'A story about the friendship which grows between William Jackson and Barney, the cockatoo he traps. It tells what Barney sees from his cage over the years, and what happens when William grows too old to care for him.' (Publication summary)

1 Connections Mary K. Pershall , 1987 single work short story
— Appears in: Australian Short Stories , no. 17 1987; (p. 14-26)
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