Love, war, espionage, NO ORDINARY LIFE is a thrilling inside account of marriage and diplomatic life seen through the eyes of a newlywed in Cape Town during one of the most dangerous periods in South Africa's modern history. When Mary, who dreams of travel and adventure, meets Patrick, who has dedicated his life to Foreign Service, the two are a perfect match. The couple marry and set off for their first diplomatic assignment to South Africa. The year is 1992. Nelson Mandela is free, his course set to end apartheid. Patrick's post at the U.S. Embassy in Cape Town is to keep the American diplomatic community safe during what will be two years of political turmoil. Instead of her dream of adventure, Mary struggles with the restrictions imposed by diplomatic life during times of high risk. The stress on Patrick is tremendous. When the embassy denies Mary's request to seek local employment due to security concerns, she gets a job at the embassy. Happy to be working in Foreign Service, the exotic setting Mary dreamed of turns out to be a pressure cooker that undermines her freedom, her friendships, and ultimately, her marriage. Based an true stories during an assignment at the U.S. Embassy in Cape Town, South Africa, 1992-1994.
About the Author: Mary Ann Byron specializes in public relations, which takes her all over the world. From 1992-94 she was the Community Liaison Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Cape Town while on assignment with her husband, a Special Agent with the U.S. State Department. Since her Foreign Service experience in South Africa, Mary has yearned to share her personal stories of this tumultuous and life-changing experience. After her assignment in South Africa, Mary continued her work in public affairs and special events. With a passion for international travel and adventure, Mary has lived in a dozen locations around the world. Currently, she resides in Colorado with her husband Patrick and their adopted pets. Mary returns to South Africa often. No Ordinary Life is Mary's debut publication. ----------------------------------- A native Californian, Lori Windsor Mohr has a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of California, Los Angeles. After teaching public health in the California State University system for fourteen years, she turned to writing full time. A novelist and short story author of twenty years' experience, Lori has more than two dozen stories published in magazines and online journals. Her debut novel, The Road at my Door, published by Alfie Dog Fiction in the U.K., follows a young woman growing up in 1960's Southern California against the backdrop of the aerospace industry, sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll. Lori lives in Ojai with her husband and three dogs.