Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Ann Jensen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always loved stories.
When I was a kid, I would enter writing contests, but I often struggled with the word limits because I always had so much more I wanted to say. Eventually, I decided to write my own book so I could tell the entire story the way I wanted to. When I was 11 years old, I started writing what would eventually become my first published book. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about starting a business or building a brand; I was just a kid with a story I wanted people to read.
I printed out copies of this story and gifted them to friends and family for Christmas. It went over so well that I took my piggy bank to my parents and asked how we could make it a ‘real’ book.
I published my first book at 12, and that one book eventually grew into the *Sundance Springs* series, which now includes seven books written for readers roughly ages 7-13. Along the way, I had to learn so much more than just how to write a book. I learned about publishing, editing, marketing, websites, social media, events, speaking, and what it actually means to turn something you create into something you can share with other people.
That’s how Books By Mary Ann really began. What started as my love of writing became my first business and gave me opportunities I never could have imagined when I was 11. I’ve been able to sell hundreds of books to readers across the country, visit schools, speak to young writers, teach workshops about publishing and entrepreneurship, and use social media to build a community around the things I love.
One of my favorite parts of this journey has been getting to help other young people recognize that they don’t have to wait until they’re adults to start pursuing the things they care about. I’ve taught young authors through programs like BYU’s Young Authors Academy and taught classes on creativity, entrepreneurship, and personal branding through Craft Lake City’s Youth Entrepreneur Program. It’s really surreal to think that something I started as a kid has now given me opportunities to encourage other kids to start something of their own.
Today, I’m a student at BYU studying English, a published author, content creator, speaker, and entrepreneur… and I’m still writing. I definitely don’t have everything figured out, but I think that’s one of my favorite parts of my story. Books By Mary Ann has grown up alongside me, and I’m excited to see what the next chapter looks like.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has simply been my age. I published my first book when I was 12, which meant I was trying to navigate an industry I knew almost nothing about while also being a middle school student.
I had to learn very quickly that writing the book is only one part of being an author. There’s editing, more editing, and more editing, publishing, marketing, selling, social media, websites, events, and a hundred other things I had never even thought about when I first sat down to write a story. A lot of it has been trial and error, and I’ve had plenty of ideas that didn’t work the way I hoped they would.
Being a young entrepreneur also means learning how to get people to take you seriously while still allowing yourself to be young and figure things out. I’ve had to become comfortable putting myself and my work out there, hearing “no,” trying again, and learning not to measure the value of something I create only by how many people buy it, like it, or see it.
I think those challenges have ultimately been some of the most valuable parts of the experience. I started because I loved writing, but the process has taught me resilience, communication, creativity, and how much can happen when you’re willing to start before you feel completely ready.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At the heart of everything I do, I’m a storyteller. I’m the author of the *Sundance Springs* series, a collection of seven books written primarily for readers ages 7–13. I started writing the series when I was 11 and published my first book at 12, so in a lot of ways, I’ve grown up alongside my books and my readers.
My stories are fun and entertaining, but I also love weaving in characters and experiences that help young readers feel seen. My books explore things like friendship, confidence, family, fitting in, overcoming challenges, and figuring out who you are. I think some of the best stories are the ones that make you laugh and keep turning pages while also leaving you with something to think about afterward.
Over the years, my work has expanded beyond writing books. Through Books By Mary Ann, I’ve learned how to build a brand around my creative work, market and sell my books, create social media content, speak at events, visit schools, and teach workshops for other young writers and entrepreneurs. I especially love talking with kids who have an idea for a book or a project of their own and helping them realize that being young doesn’t make their ideas any less valuable.
What I’m most proud of is that I actually started. At 12 years old, I didn’t have years of experience or a perfect plan. I had a book I loved and people who encouraged me to put it into the world. Seven books later, that decision has opened doors I never knew existed.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m still very much in the middle of my own story. I’m now a college student studying English, but I started this journey as one of the kids I now get to encourage. I know what it feels like to have a big idea when you’re young and wonder whether anyone will take it seriously. If sharing what I’ve created can help another young person think, “Maybe I could do that too,” that’s one of the greatest successes I could ask for.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is inspiring young people to believe that their dreams are possible and that they have the ability to achieve them. I want them to understand that they don’t have to wait until they are older, more experienced, or completely ready to begin pursuing something they care about.
When I was young, I was fortunate to have parents who took my dreams seriously. When I told them I wanted to write a book, they encouraged me instead of telling me to wait. Their support gave me the confidence to try, even though I didn’t know exactly what I was doing. Through that experience, I learned that big dreams often begin with one small step and a willingness to keep learning.
Now, whether I’m writing, teaching a workshop, creating content, or speaking with students, I try to show young people that their goals are within reach. I want them to see that success doesn’t happen all at once. It comes from being willing to start, work hard, learn from challenges, and continue moving forward.
I hope my story reminds young people that they don’t have to be perfect (or older) or have everything figured out before they begin. If they believe in their ideas and are willing to put in the effort, they can create opportunities for themselves and achieve things they may have once thought were impossible.
Another important part of my life is my involvement with the Miss America organization. I currently serve as Miss Rocky Mountain and will compete for the title of Miss Utah again in June 2027. Pageantry might seem like a completely different world from writing and entrepreneurship, but for me, they actually overlap in so many ways. Both have challenged me to become a stronger communicator, step outside of my comfort zone, connect with people throughout my community, and use my voice for something I care about.
Through the Miss America organization, I’ve also been able to expand my passion for helping young people recognize the value of their own stories. My Community Service Initiative, The Next Chapter Project, focuses on self-worth and resilience, particularly among children and teens. It has given me another avenue to take the things I’ve learned through writing, entrepreneurship, and my own experiences and use them to encourage young people to believe that the chapter they’re in right now doesn’t have to define the rest of their story.
Pricing:
- My books: The Lost Mermaid, Would You Rather?, M.A.S.H., Pause, S’mores, and Hide-n-Seek each cost $12.50 apiece
- My most recent book: Rebound, costs $15
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.booksbymaryann.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksbymaryann/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.ann.jensen.490786
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@maryannjensen
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/thenextchapterproject.ut/?hl=en
