“Mara's Unearthing Beauty class was my turning point, a chapter in my life where I grew exponentially as a writer. Her guidance became a revelation, bringing joy to my creative process and unearthing facets of storytelling I never knew existed. Her teaching and feedback not only enhanced my technical writing skills but also touched the core of my storytelling, adding layers of emotion, vulnerability, and heart. Now, I stand as a successful author of a best-selling book Above the Turbulence: Your Ticket Out of Pain to Purpose. My journey is proof that Mara might just be the teacher and mentor you didn't know you needed—a guiding light on your path to literary success.”

“When I saw the email offering a book-length memoir course, hope was stirred up again to get my book finally written finally—moving forward with this dream and calling to share God’s story of my life. Fast-forward, I am now confident in what I can do. My goal was to learn, and boy, did I! I have been given the proper tools to tackle writing a memoir. I also gained the courage to share and ask questions. This writing process has taught me a new world of creativity that I know I can be good at. It has stirred in me a thirst to live into this creative outlet, to write not just one book but many. I would like to say thank you very, very much from the bottom of my heart!”

“I joined Unearthing Beauty because I wanted to have the tools to dig deeper into my story and learn how to express it in a way that was meaningful, not just for me, but also for others. I felt stuck emotionally when it came to actually unpacking the harder parts of my story, so I needed motivation and support. The value I’ve gotten from the writing process, and working through the challenges to insights worksheet in preparation for writing the transformation journey . . . wow! I am grateful for these tools that help me identify and express the beauty of what the Lord has been accomplishing throughout the story of my life. I learned that my words can really resonate with a reader if I am brave enough to share them vulnerably.”

"As a lifelong reader and wanna-be writer, I am incredibly grateful for Mara and her Unearthing Beauty course. I’ve been writing and journaling in some form since I was seven, but I lacked direction and confidence. Mara’s writing instruction as well her insightful exercises cracked open the brokenness of my heart, bringing about many life changing revelations. Not only was my writing released, my confidence in sharing it has grown so much. I will be forever grateful that I took a chance and signed up for Unearthing Beauty."

"This is an unpacking that I’m definitely not used to because I just tend to write. So it’s definitely a challenge for me to approach it this way – so thoughtfully. I’ve been in writing workshops where you’re freely writing and sharing, but nothing like this. I’ve been writing for 40 or 50 years, and I’ve never unpacked in this way. It’s like, wow, this is hard, but it’s so good. It was really a cathartic experience. Mara went over everything with such attention to detail. I highly recommend this program. It will change your writing. And it might even change your life.”

“When I came across the Unearthing Beauty class, I was immediately interested. I was excited about the opportunity of taking a writing class where we weren't just taught about writing but applied what we were learning by writing a personal essay. Mara is knowledgeable, patient, kind, and, most importantly, honest. I appreciated her honest feedback to help me make my essay better. I highly recommend this class.”

“Unearthing Beauty is the most helpful thing I’ve done for developing my craft since classes for my journalism major/English minor 20 years ago.

Mara’s feedback along the way gave me the confidence I was lacking. As writers we can be so insular and it’s hard to answer the questions: “Is this working? Does this make sense to anyone but me? Does what I’m saying even matter?” Mara’s nonjudgemental nature and expert editing ability steadied my shakiness.

It was like I had an adventure guide for the journey of writing my story. Each time I’d trip and fall, she would pick me up, dust me off, and say, “You’re doing fine; keep going.” I’d be uncertain about what direction, and she’d gently help me choose my next right step.

But the most unique and impactful aspect of UB for me was in figuring out who I am and the stories that have shaped me—better than most therapy I’ve invested in. It gave me a framework for learning from past experiences and understanding how I can shape my future.”

“Unearthing Beauty was such an enriching experience! I’m a mother, a writer, a therapist, and a person working to make sense of my past experiences—this class checked ALL the boxes. It was a beautiful blend of writing instruction and self-exploration opportunities, packaged in a manageable and time-conscious setting.

Through Unearthing Beauty I discovered a memoir that lives within me, and I can’t wait to keep writing it. That said, I think anyone could benefit from this course: writers looking to grow in their personal narrative skills, people looking to write down stories for children or family members, people working on piecing together the history of their life. Time with Mara is instructive, inspiring, and encouraging. You won’t regret it!”

“While I love to learn, I often fail to finish online courses. Unearthing Beauty was different. Mara is an excellent teacher as well as a keen-eyed editor. The course builds at such a gentle pace that you don't realize the power of her process until you stand back and admire your work.

She gently encouraged me to explore a painful topic I had been avoiding. As I wrote, I discovered that what she says is true. When we retell our stories we can unearth beauty in what we thought was ashes. I developed empathy for people who I had cast as villains in my memory. By the time I reached the final period, I was able to see the event with new eyes and truly forgive everyone involved, including myself.

Mara's teaching style, detailed notes, and insightful feedback pushed me to be a better writer. UB combines instruction on craft as well as encouragement to get out of your head and write from your heart. I highly recommend UB to anyone ready to discover the transformational lessons from past experiences and grow in their writing skill. This course is not to be missed.”

“This has really been a life changing experience for me. I learned to dig deep and really confront these moments in my life that I had repressed for quite some time. I feel more comfortable expressing myself now, which has made my writing so much better. Before this class, I really didn’t have a thorough understanding of how much a first draft will change, and more importantly should change. Mara’s encouragement and support felt like virtual hugs that kept me focused and gave me the motivation and strength to keep going. Even though I felt like a novice in a class with advanced students and an amazing teacher, at no point in time did I feel like I didn’t belong . . . major win!”

“Mara taught us a process of discovering the themes woven throughout our lives, how to get to the heart of our own feelings, and how specific events may have affected the trajectory of our own lives. Noticing details, searching for essence objects, discovering threads of themes woven through our lives…these exercises were incredibly powerful in finding not just one story, but so many. By the end of the class, I walked away with a strong understanding of how to craft a personal essay, along with multiple ideas for my own essays and powerful resources and tools for my future writing. Because of Mara's help, I actually have confidence to dig into this memoir project fully expecting to make progress!”

“I don’t consider myself an aspiring writer, but I have always wanted to record how God has worked in my life. The Unearthing Beauty workshop was the perfect platform for me to finally make progress toward that goal. The weekly lessons helped me organize my thoughts and ideas, and the stories seemed to flow out of my mind and onto paper. Between sessions, all I wanted to do was write! I was especially thankful for Mara’s insightful comments and gentle encouragement to go deeper and be more vulnerable.”