Nov 27, 2023 By Mark Hofmann 4 min read

Maryann Sawka of Hiller knew what path her life would take from a young age.

“I’ve always known that I wanted to be a writer,” she said.

Now 52, she’s also found her way into publishing, launching It’s Your Day Publishing as she released her book “Season of Change.”

Sawka said she grew up a voracious reader, taking on Nancy Drew books in her younger years, and moving on to authors like mystery novelists Sidney Sheldon and James Patterson, or Lee Child (author of the “Jack Reacher” series of books) as she grew older.

Her love of reading was so strong, Sawka said, she often found herself taking on more than one book at a time.

The love of reading fostered her love of writing, and she took a job as a technical writer in Pittsburgh before moving on to her current role as a communications manager for retail communications and governance for PNC Bank.

For over 20 years, she also wrote for herself, penning a few different books and making outlines of others she had in her head. Among them was “Seasons of Change,” which was written years ago, and packed away in a box. Last year, Sawka was looking for something in storage when she found it.

“I couldn’t believe I forgot about it and actually found it,” she said. “I dusted it off, so to speak, read it and thought it wasn’t bad and just needed some updating for the 2020s.”

Her oldest daughter, Megan, pushed her to publish the book.

“As I was retyping it, I expanded on the original story and then it just all came together as I was writing,” Sawka said. “I felt so inspired and kept going with the original story. I added a few new characters and experiences. I extended some of the original scenes.”

The story centers on Jillian, a single career woman at the end of her 20s who is coping with a crushing blow in both her personal and professional lives. The changes force her to return to her family and her hometown, and the book explores the rich and sometimes complex family dynamics she encounters.

“She learns some family stuff that she wasn’t aware of, and it impacts her relationships,” Sawka said.

The book was released in September, and has received positive reviews both on social media and websites like Goodreads.

As she works on a sequel to “Season of Change,” Sawka is also embarking on a new journey as an independent publisher at her company, It’s Your Day Publishing.

“I liked the idea of starting a publishing company,” she said. “Obviously, I’m a small company, just starting out, but I’d like to grow it and see where I can take it.”

The company has become a family affair.

Her husband, Eli, drives around with her as she’s doing research for different locations and storylines; Megan, an honors student Shippensburg University, handles social media for the publishing company and also edited “Season of Change;” and Sawka’s youngest daughter, Sarah, a junior at Brownsville Area High School, helps with research and creates photos and videos for the company’s website and social media.

“It’s great to share this dream with them,” she said.

Through the publishing company, Sawka has also worked with her cousin Jenny Ostien to publish the “2024 Life Logistics Planner,” which helps users organize appointments, finances, shipments, goals and other life needs. Also in the pipeline at It’s Your Day is Sawka’s desire to revamp a previously published book on table manners titled “Good Table Manners Made Easy” and a similar type of book for children.

She also hopes to begin publishing books written by other authors, and called the publishing venture “a life-long goal.” The venture is something she hopes will inspire Megan and Sarah.

“I think it’s important to show my daughters that you can achieve your dreams even if it takes a while,” Sawka said.

Sawka has two upcoming book signings for “Season of Change”: from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Half Price Books in Bethel Park and from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Half Price Books in Pittsburgh. For more information on her company, visit itsyourdaypublishing.com.