ULA Annual Conference 2025

• Lunch is included with your conference registration.
• ULA awards presentation will take place during lunch.

Lunch will be provided. Kimberly Brubaker Bradely will be signing books immediately after lunch.

Kimberly Brubaker Bradley Author Keynote: What Inspires Me

The theme for this year is “Our Stories Inspire,” which reminds me instantly of the most popular question I’m asked by young readers: “What inspired your book?” I hate this question. While I usually answer it sincerely, saying something about what led me to write the book in question, I almost always add that inspiration is only a tiny part of writing a novel—most of it is work. Being a writer is not a romantic job.

But in saying that I’m not being completely honest, either. Another definition of “inspire,” is “to breathe in.” My stories do come from things I breathe in; they give me life even as I’m bringing them to life. In this speech I’ll share some examples—inspiration from unlikely places, how they tie into my books, and how the work I’ve done has shaped my purpose in life. Perhaps you’ll draw inspiration from your own lives, too.