Mary-Lane Kamberg has been a published author for most of her life: she was published at the young age of seven! She used a toy printing press to create a neighborhood newspaper and sold it for just two cents each. She eventually earned her first dollar for her poetry just two years later at the age of nine.
Since then, Mary-Lane has published over 30 books for young readers in middle school and high school. Additionally, she has published hundreds of articles and essays, poetry, and some short fiction. Her books include The I Love to Write Book: Ideas and Tips for Young Writers, The I Don't Know How to Cook Book, and Homegrown in the Ozarks. She has a BS in Journalism from the University of Kansas and is currently the co-leader of the Kansas City Writers Group. She lives in Olathe, KS.
We are so pleased that Mary-Lane will be teaching two lectures at this year’s Writers Conference. One lecture will be on humor writing, and the other lecture will address how to write a great opener (regardless of genre.) You can register for the conference here. Registration isn’t required but is appreciated, and your RSVP includes both days of the conference, Nov. 3 and 4. Sessions are available on a first-come first-serve basis. We will also be hosting a Writers Conference Kickoff on Thursday, Nov. 2.
Inspired by this year’s conference book, By the Book: Writers on Literature and the Literary Life from The New York Times Book Review, we asked Mary-Lane a few questions to get to know her better:
1. What's in your TBR pile?
Bridge of Clay by Marcus Zusak
2. What are you reading right now?
The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
3. Do you have a favorite book you love to recommend?
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
Blue Highways by William Least-Heat Moon