Written by Liz Foreman, Marketing Manager, Downtown Main Library
An award-winning author of more than 50 books for young people about wildlife, space, nature, and history is set to share her talent and experience as the Library's next Writer-in-Residence. Mary Kay Carson was named 2025 Writer-in-Residence by The Library Foundation in November.
You're invited to meet Mary Kay Carson and celebrate a meaningful year with current Writer-in-Residence TaraShea Nesbit at the annual Writer-in-Residence reception, Dec. 2 at the Forest Park Branch.
Promoting Writing and Literacy in Hamilton County
Carson has written a wide range of titles for kids from including nonfiction and picture books to historical fiction and chapter books. Her work has received multiple awards, including the 2023 Giverny Award, opens a new window for Best Children’s Science Picture Book. Carson has been a full-time freelance writer and children’s book author for 30 years and lives with her husband in Cincinnati’s Northside neighborhood.
"I have a fairly unusual path to becoming a writer. Unlike most writers, I wasn't a kid who wrote stories or even kept a diary. I loved animals and was in 4-H. Animals were my thing," Carson relates.
Check out Carson's books at the Library including:
Learn at Writer-in-Residence Events All Year
As the 10th Writer-in-Residence, Carson will serve as the Library's literary ambassador to the community at four writing workshops and several "office hours" programs - all free to attend.
"Part of the reason I wanted to do the Writer-in-Residence program is to give back," Carson added. "I'm a huge user of the Library and I wouldn't have been able to make a living for 30 years as a freelance writer without the resources of the public library."
Carson will also host the 10th season of "Inside the Writer's Head," a podcast by CHPL's Writer-in-Residence that is available on popular streaming platforms.
I'm hoping to get people excited, not only about children's books, but about nonfiction in general. Writing is...communicating and sharing. To me, all writing is a way to share," Carson added.
"I think that Mary Kay will be a great resource to connect those dots for kids, for families, and other writers to expand what's available," said CHPL Chief Development Officer Staci Dennison, adding that the Library has recently reached an all-time record number of check-outs of kids books and materials.
Charitable donations support the Writer-in-Residence program, including the generous contributions of Naomi Tucker Gerwin and The Library Foundation, opens a new window.
Thank you to the Writer-in-Residence Selection Committee: Emma Carlson Berne, Mike Boberg, Tiffani Carter, Staci Dennison, Naomi Tucker Gerwin, Dan Hurley, Ed Loyd, Dani McClain, Kara Sanders.
Learn more about CHPL’s Writer-in-Residence program and upcoming events with 2025 Writer-in-Residence Mary Kay Carson at CHPL.org/writer, opens a new window.
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