Mary T. Wagner, author of “Running with Stilettos: Living a Balanced Life in Dangerous Shoes,” is a 1979 graduate of Marquette University’s College of Journalism, and a 1999 graduate of Marquette’s Law School. As a criminal prosecutor for the State of Wisconsin for the past eight years, her job duties include prosecuting felony non-support cases and seizing assets from drug dealers. Appellate work is one of her specialties, and she has argued four cases before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, scoring a victory for the prosecution in three. Law is her second profession. Journalism came first, with a stint as a freelancer in college for the daily Milwaukee Sentinel, followed by a position on the reporting staff of the larger Milwaukee Journal after graduation. Her by-line has appeared in the Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, as well as in magazines across the country. Life experience that doesn’t usually show up on a professional resume includes being the mother of four, and a former girl scout troop leader, truck stop waitress, cocktail waitress, office temp, judicial clerk, and radio talk show host
Wagner started her “Running with Stilettos” blog just before ringing in the 2007 New Year, as a way to return to creative writing. The essay “Wildflower seeds and beer” which first appeared on the website on May 15, 2007, was recently awarded first place in its web-writing category by the National Federation of Press Women in the organization’s 2008 communications contest. Wagner also received the Silver Feather Award from the Illinois Woman’s Press Association earlier this year. Her essay “Back seat...rider,” about the view from the back of a motorcycle, has been reprinted in the debut issue of the on-line magazine, “The Write City,” a publication of the Chicago Writers Association. Both essays are contained in her book. Links to both essays can also be found on her website, www.runningwithstilettos.com.
