Marlise Elizabeth Kast, author of Tabloid Prodigy, has had a lifelong commitment to writing, both as a journalist and as a creative writer. Her passion for the bleeding pen began at age seven when her teacher gave her a journal with the words, “Pour yourself onto these pages.”

A graduate of Santa Barbara's Westmont College, Marlise double majored in English and Communications, earning her degree in three years. While at college, she spent two summers interning as Senior Editor of The Marina Guide, a tourist supplement of The Monterey County Herald.

Following her graduation, Marlise moved to Los Angeles and accepted a position with The Stock House. This first exposure to Hollywood took Marlise behind the camera as a production assistant where she filmed footage for motion pictures and television shows. Although skilled with the lens, Marlise's relentless desire to become a published writer remained unnourished. Seeking an avenue that would blend show business with creative writing, Marlise interviewed at Globe magazine's Los Angeles office and began her career as an undercover reporter.

At the age of 21, Marlise became the youngest celebrity reporter to enter the tabloid world. While working as an investigative journalist, she appeared on Hard Copy and Extra to discuss some of her world exclusives. As one of the industry's most prolific celebrity journalists, she produced over 200 published articles for Globe and Star magazines in a three year period.

Those experiences are chronicled in her memoir, Tabloid Prodigy. Since the book's release, Marlise has appeared on CNN, FOX News, CBN, CNBC, The O'Reilly Factor, The Insider and Entertainment Tonight.

After leaving the tabloids, Marlise traveled internationally as a freelance journalist. Her insatiable hunger for cultures outside her own has taken her to sixty countries as well as short-term residency in Switzerland, Dominican Republic, Central America, Spain and Costa Rica. A regular contributor to sports, travel and business publications, her articles have appeared in such magazines as People, Surfer, Snowboard Journal, Real Simple, TransWorld, San Diego Magazine, San Diego Business Journal and Forbes. She has also served as a ghostwriter on several projects, including a sports book to be released by Mansion Grove House.

While traveling, Marlise dedicates herself to extreme sports and the completion of her manuscripts. Marlise's latest assignments led her to Mexico to write Fodor's 2009 Guide to Cancun, and closer to home, San Diego, California to write Fodor's 2009 Guide to San Diego. Both books are set for release by Random House later this year. Having just completed her first children's manuscript, she is currently researching material for The Pacific Crest Trail Hiker's Guide, to be published by Manasha Ridge Press in 2009.

When not surfing or snowboarding, Marlise continues to perfect her language skills through the study of German, French and Spanish. Currently based in San Diego, she is providing web content for a television network while writing her next full length manuscript.



TABLOID PRODIGY: Dishing the Dirt, Getting the Gossip, and Selling My Soul in the Cutthroat World of Hollywood Reporting by Marlise Elizabeth Kast
Running Press Book Publishers
May 2007 • Hardcover • $24.95


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