Granddaughter of a concert violinist, Mary Potter Schwaner began her musical career in elementary school with the family string quartet, but gave up the violin to study opera at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She devoted much time in her early career to performing, directing and promoting musical endeavors throughout Alabama, California and Nebraska. She was Founder/Artistic Director of the Young People’s Pocket Opera in Alabama. A move to California resulted in four years as Founder/Artistic Director of the Lake Forest Showboaters, a community music theatre company.
In Mary’s “other life” she was a computer tech support and graphic arts specialist and worked as Web Developer for the Nebraska Legislature, HDR Architecture and Engineering, for The National Arbor Day Foundation, and as Director of Web and Media Arts for St. Mark’s United Methodist Church.
In her retirement she is a published author, writing novels of historical suspense under the name Bailey Bristol. Courage in a White Coat is her first biographical novel.
She lives in Nebraska with her husband of nearly five decades and joins him in doting on her grandchildren who, along with their parents—Ryan and Melissa and their spouses—are her dearest treasure.
Mary’s enduring motto remains: “May you have the vision and the voice to find new songs to sing.”
