Mid-America Speakers
PO BOX 505, Wyandotte, OK 74370, USA
Phone/FAX 01-918-542-4148

General Phone Hours: 9-4 CT/M-F | Emails generally answered within 24 hours
The Gregath Publishing Company

Mary Kay Shanley 1140 Vividell Lane

West Des Moines, IA 50266

Phone: 515-225-8425

http://www.marykayshanley.com

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A successful author and writing workshop director, Mary Kay Shanley pursues her passion-helping commit the results of exciting genealogical research and rich family stories to paper. A journalism major at Creighton University in Omaha, Shanley has been a newspaper reporter, free-lance writer and is the author of eight books, including The Memory Box, a tender story about the beauty of passing on family history from one generation to the next, and how that act binds generations together. She’s taught writing at three universities, including 11 seasons as an instructor with the prestigious Iowa Summer Writing Festival at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Upon request, she creates writing workshops for a specific group. Workshops range from half-day to two days in length. Shanley has a no-nonsense approach to story telling and teaches good writing techniques that let workshop participants replace anxiety with a can-do attitude that yields precious copy-from short stories to books. Her approach is obvious in her own history book, Our State Fair-Iowa’s Blue Ribbon Story. In anticipation of the State Fair’s sesquicentennial, Shanley was commissioned to write about that venerable institution’s first 150 years. The resulting coffee table book, a beauty visually as well as in words, captures the hearts and souls of those who helped mold an event that attracts more than one million visitors each August.

TOPIC SUMMARIES Writing Your Family History Workshops Half-day Session Discussion and some practice of the two most basic writing techniques that make history and stories spring to life One writing assignment that will receive a professional critique A Personal Project Guide that provides solid direction once the workshop is over Full-day Session Discussion and practice of several writing techniques that make history and stories spring to life Two writing assignments that will receive a professional critique A Personal Project Guide that provides solid direction once the workshop is over Two-day Session Discussion and practice of numerous basic writing techniques that make history and stories spring to life Three writing assignments that will receive a professional critique A consideration of that all-important issue of perspective. Whose history? Whose stories? Whose version is right? Whose is wrong? Taking a look at publishing avenues A Personal Project Guide that provides solid direction once the workshop is over The Beauty of Our Magical Past Conference Keynote Address Treasured family history. Stories handed to us from generations past. Our own memories and experiences-each worthy of savoring. Let’s spend awhile celebrating such richness. In doing so, we will come to understand that we ourselves are a gift to the generations that follow. Upon request, I will gladly consider development of topics within my range of expertise. CHARGES Travel expenses - no home stays Promotional considerations Per diem Depending upon the requirements, including distance, number of workshop participants, fee packages vary. Please contact the speaker with your particulars for a quotation.

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Page Last Updated: September 05, 2007
This page first published on September 5, 2007

Mid-America Speakers Home > Speaker Directory > Mary Kay Shanley

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