Introducing. . .VP MARY BURNS

In January of this year, Mary Burns became the Vice President of Publishing. Burns, who joined Barbour in 1994, had served as Vice President of Marketing in recent years. With this promotion, she added executive‐level responsibility for Barbour’s editorial department. Mary graciously took time out of her busy schedule to give us a glimpse into her life. (Thanks, Mary!)

How long have you worked at Barbour? Almost 15 years.

What has been the biggest change (hopefully positive!) you’ve seen in your years with the company? Focusing on those categories that we do best such as devotionals, Bible reference, and romance.

What are your dreams for Barbour’s near future? (Next five years.) I’d really be excited to see another fiction author break out like Wanda Brunstetter has with her Amish fiction. I think we have a few authors who have that potential. We just need to get the books into reader’s hands to spread the word.

What is your favorite task associated with your job description? Least favorite? I love everything about my job! People laugh when my husband calls to tell me not to worry about dinner because now I can work as late as I want to.

What project is consuming your energies this month? Learning more about the editorial side of Barbour.

Do you ever find time to read for pleasure? If so, what book have you read recently? I love to read and usually have a couple of books going at the same time. Right now, I’m reading the "His Dark Materials" series by Philip Pullman. I’m curious about some of the things being said about it in the Christian online community. I’m through The Golden Compass and am in the middle of The Subtle Knife. I’m also reading The Big Over Easy by Jasper FForde…Humpty Dumpty has been murdered and DI Jack Spratt needs to solve the crime. If you have a chance to pick up a Jasper Fforde book, I recommend The Eyre Affair. You’ll get to see how books really work when you visit the book world with Thursday Next. Fforde’s books are a real adventure into imagination!


Can you tell us briefly about your family? I have a wonderful and supportive husband, Wayne. He’s a manager at Zimmer Orthopedic Surgical Products. I also have a goldfish named Emerson.

What church do you attend? Sacred Heart in New Philadelphia.

Do you have a favorite work-related quote that motivates you these days? Emily Dickinson is usually where I go for quotes…lately it has been “I dwell in possibility”.