Welcome to the world of Mary Keating, a quick-witted, fun-loving paraplegic. (Note, however, that she cringes at being labeled.) Fifty years ago, Mary's wide-open world instantly contracted at age fifteen when a teenager drove her into an oak tree at maximum speed. With a wheelchair as a permanent accessory, she was no longer seen as "hot" or one of "in" crowd. She found herself transported into an alternate reality— defined now by her disability.
When life becomes overwhelming, Mary jokingly pretends she's trapped in a bad B movie waiting for a new director. Her poetry collection reminds us, no matter how hard life may seem— grace, love, and humor will save us from despair and allow us to live our best life under any circumstances.
 
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
 
“A tender, pensive memoir in verse, Recalibrating Gravity is so engrossing in its subtleties, that I found myself unwilling to stop reading to take notes. For me, a memorable poem should ask questions I had not considered before reading it. From the first poem in this collection to the last, Keating draws the reader into her own exploration of life’s meaning. From life before a car accident at age 15 that permanently changed her life, to all of the cherished and ordinary moments that follow, Recalibrating Gravity traverses into our ‘temporary existence / more precious than the stars.’ Through her consideration of ‘the scenes in between,’ Keating writes of ‘what came and went / and still remains’ even as we all ‘create chaos out of order.’ Recalibrating Gravity is impactful, rare, and supple–a book that has stayed with me since I turned the last page.”
—Joan Kwon Glass, author of NIGHT SWIM
 
“As a general rule, United Spinal Association’s member publication, New Mobility, does not publish poetry. Yet, when Mary Keating’s poem, ‘Hospital’s Care (a Poem About the ER and SCI) pinged my inbox,’ I knew we must make an exception. Most of our members are wheelchair users, and New Mobility prides itself on centering their authentic experiences, and that’s what Keating delivers: Clear-eyed authenticity. Now she’s written a book of poetry, Recalibrating Gravity, and everyone should read it. It’s accessible, witty, and true — yes, it hurts, too, as it evokes empathy and understanding. But it has a warmth that’s hard to explain.
Perhaps it’s the way Keating drops in reminders that as alone as she felt in many of the documented moments, she wasn’t. Even when those who ought to have known better catastrophically did not, and engaged in extreme stupidity, the conclusion is that she is here, she real, she belongs.”
—Josie Byzek, Senior Director, Communications and Digital Experience, United Spinal Association
 
“Mary Keating’s Recalibrating Gravity is a window into the author’s world — its triumphs and sadnesses. This book is full of odd things, keenly observed — as in the poems ‘Bungaroosh’ and ‘The Goat of Christmas Past’ and so many others.”
—Charles Rafferty, Poet
 
“Recalibrating Gravity is a peek into the swirling wheels of joy and laughter, tragedy and
triumph, love and blessings in the world of Mary, a poet, a lawyer and an adventurer par
excellence.  In the end you will find yourself with a new friend who has welcomed your heart into her heart, having a conversation as if you knew each other all along.”
—Dr. Karen Shields, Integrative Wellness Clinician
 
“Punctuated by Mary’s beautiful artwork, her memoir written in verse reaches deeper into the psyche than prose alone could aspire to achieve. From the heart-breaking ‘Broken Bits,’ to the heart-filling, ‘A Brief History of Forever,’ the strength found in the extraordinary variety of poems in Recalibrating Gravity leaves us with a deepened ability to approach our own adversity.”
—Katie Dozier, The Poetry Space
 
“I opened Mary Keating’s Recalibrating Gravity expecting to read as a reviewer and instead devoured it. These autobiographical free verse poems are achingly honest and subversively creative. Mary and I lurk in some of the same poetic venues, so I already knew the quality of her work, but to read her poems as a collection was overwhelming. Her tone more often than not is self-deprecating, but that doesn’t hide her ability to cope with challenges and frustrations that I doubt I could handle. A highly recommend read.”
—Ed Ahern, International Author and Poet, Editor