Welcome, I’m Maureen C. Berry. 

Thanks for wanting to get to know me better.

Before I started to cook, write, and create art for a living, I worked as an undercover store detective from 1984 to 1989. Fresh out of college, armed with pepper spray, handcuffs and an early 1980s education in criminology, I chased shoplifters for a high-end retail store. This job and its challenges are the first few chapters of my WIP memoir, “Hurricanes, Handcuffs, Pepper Spray, and Scrambled Eggs.”

From 1989 to 1999, I worked as a manager and restaurateur in Marathon, Florida, a job that included but was not limited to cook, server, dishwasher—a very important job, cashier, bookkeeper, office manager, and sometimes, babysitter.

From 2000 to 2009, I worked as a food sales and marketing rep, and a commodity seafood sales rep and buyer, selling groceries to chefs and hotels in Central Florida.

Then in 2009, I grew tired of smelling like a wet cardboard fish box and began to write recipes for a seafood cookbook. And then I drafted an outline for my memoir. Of course, this was the time when the publishing market started its crash. And since I love a challenge, I jumped right in.

First, I had to learn how to write. You know—essays, food stories, blog posts, recipes, poems, fiction, memoir, tweets. Even a steamy love letter.

I’m still learning.

In 2016 I published Salmon From Market To Plate: When You Want to Eat Salmon that’s Good for You and the Oceans.

The Salmon From Market To Plate cookbook is geared towards cooks who want to eat responsibly sourced salmon. I explain the differences between wild and farmed salmon and why you should care. You get twenty Everyday Recipes developed by me with you in mind, and ten Chef-Inspired Recipes donated from chefs around the US who support the sustainable seafood movement and ocean conservation. I share a shopping resources section too. Salmon From Market To Plate is available in print and ebook.

I’m the producer and the host of the podcast turned speaking event, Green Fish Blue Oceans.

S1 on the podcast is an A-Z series where I tackle a seafood species and an ocean challenge in a short fun, educational format. S2 is all things aquaculture. Each episode runs under thirty minutes. My goal is to help you understand why you should care about the seafood you are serving at the table and eating in restaurants. Subscribe to listen and learn more.

Green Fish Blue Oceans is now a speaking event! Book me to talk to your group. This program can be tailored to suit your next conference, aquarium talk, university program or trade show. Email me for more information.

Other Projects in the Works

“Hurricanes, Handcuffs, Pepper Spray, and Scrambled Eggs” is a coming-of-age story set during the 1990s. A reckless and broken young woman finds healing, courage, and community while managing a sixty-four seat run-down diner, and playing in a community theater. This life-changing memoir is set in the Florida Keys.

“The Fish Thieves” is a dystopian thriller based in Louisiana, 2050. And that’s all I’m going to say about that one.

“Thornton Park” is a homicide detective whodunnit. I received an encouraging critique of the first three chapters from agent Ken Sherman & Associates. There is hope for my protagonist Detective Mick Delgado!

If evocative, beautiful photography is your jam, check out my photography portfolios. Reflected in my photography is my love for food and for the simplicity of nature. I use a Nikon D90, Sony RX10, and an iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Stay in touch:

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Lastly, thanks for stopping by,
Maureen