Hi! I’m Mary Chase and I’m excited to be a new board member for Bookcamp. I’ve been writing my whole life in one way or another. When I was little, my dad and I would make up stories together, and, as a parent myself now, one of my favorite family activities is writing together. On very lucky days, I can convince my kids and husband to read what they’ve written out loud to the group. Having a place to connect with other writers who value stories as much as I do is a priority for me. The first year I attended Bookcamp, I was so surprised by how much the week had to offer. There were morning craft sessions, afternoon craft sessions, panel discussions at night with a variety of industry professionals, multiple opportunities for manuscript critiques from talented, compassionate instructors, pitch sessions with agents, and group meals where you had the opportunity to share ideas, brainstorm, and actually hang out with the instructors. I remember marveling at how much effort had been put into the event even though the conference was relatively small, and I believe every writer there felt just as important and valued as I did. Since then, Bookcamp has grown, which is amazing. It’s so much fun to meet new writers every year and hear about the stories they’re excited to tell. I hope we continue to grow and become an indispensable resource for writers across the Midwest (and beyond!). As a new board member, I’d love to focus on ways to maintain the cozy feeling of the smaller conference that made Bookcamp so special to me, while also continuing to grow into the must-attend Midwest conference of the year.
Meet New Board Member Rick Parks
Hello! I’m Rick Parks, a new board member for Bookcamp. My interest in writing has its roots in the stories
