Blog Archives

Upcoming Author Talk Schedule

3/28/2021

Kansas Authors Club is hosting a monthly “Author Talk” featuring an award-winning writer, with first priority given to authors who have won KAC book awards. The author will talk about an aspect of writing, publishing, or marketing (author's choice). The presentations are expected to last an hour to an hour and a half and will include time for questions and answers.

These events are being planned via Zoom, to take place on the 4th Tuesday of each month. The event will be open to all Kansas Authors Club members. A recording of the event will be made available to members who cannot attend live.

All Kansas Authors Club members are invited to attend. Considering membership? Select "potential new member" and register for one free Author Talk. We'd love to meet you.

April 27 Author Talk by
Ronda Miller

April Author Talk: Ronda Miller

Author of: I Love the Child

Winner: 2020 Kansas Authors Club Children's Book Award

Recording Available for Viewing by Members - Click Here

Ronda will be talking about education vs. entertainment, the importance of layered messaging, finding and working with an illustrator, inclusivity, and her objectives in writing this book.

Don't forget to support our Kansas Authors! Buy a book. Review a book. Send a note of appreciation about a book. You can order Ronda's book from her publisher, Kellogg Press, or wherever you buy books!

May 25 Author Talk by Roy Beckemeyer

May Author Talk:
Roy Beckemeyer

Stage Whispers

Winner:
2019 Nelson Poetry Book Award

Recording Available for Viewing by Members - Click Here

Roy will talk about the writing of his poetry book, Stage Whispers. Discussion will include how the chapters and layout came about, and how the poems were assigned to the chapters. He will read from the book as part of the discussion.

Don't forget to support our Kansas Authors! Buy a book. Review a book. Send a note of appreciation about a book. You can order Roy's book from publisher, Meadowlark Press, or wherever you buy books!

Invitation to Submit: William Allen White Legacy Poems, Stories, and Essays

3/25/2021

Deadline Extended: April 20, 2021

The William Allen White Community Partnership is looking for poems, stories, and essays for an anthology about the legacy of William Allen White. The project is a fundraiser to support Red Rocks, the WAW home in Emporia.

Not sure what to submit? How about an essay about your time as a student at the WAW School of Journalism at KU? What about a poem inspired by time spent at Peter Pan Park, a site donated to the city of Emporia by the Whites after the death of their daughter, Mary. Perhaps you attended the William Allen White grade school in Emporia and have stories you could share. Have you been to Red Rocks? Did you ever work for the Emporia Gazette?

Send your questions and entries to Kerry Moyer. Kerry is a District 2 member, our state prose contest manager, and he serves as a board member for the William Allen White Community Partnership.

Writers in the Community:

3/25/2021

Kerry Moyer, District 2 member, was a guest speaker for Riverside Elementary School's Reading Across America Event (March 1) Of the event, Kerry says, "Getting to talk about writing and poetry with kids was a lot of fun!"

District 1 Shares Recording of March Program by Carol Yoho

3/25/2021

Enjoy this program by Carol Yoho, District 1 member, on graphic arts for book covers.

Membership in Kansas Authors Club gets you tickets to programs like this, and more. Anyone interested in writing is welcome to become a member. Additional programs are archived on the "members only" portion of our website.

DENISE LOW TO ZOOM SPEAK SATURDAY, MARCH 27 FOR D6

3/24/2021

Denise Low, a former Poet Laureate of Kansas, will speak on Zoom this Saturday, March 27 @ 1:30 PM (CST).
Whether you write poetry or prose, Professor Low will read poetry from her newest book, Wing, and explain how the two genres are alike and different in order to show and tell.
Denise Low, Ph.D., has taught creative writing at the University of Richmond and the University of Kansas, and she founded the creative writing program at Haskell Indian Nations University, where she taught 25 years.
Denise will be joining the meeting from her home in Healdsburg, CA.
If you're interested in attending this free virtual event, contact Jim Potter, jim@copintheclassroom.com or 620-899-3144.

March 23 Author Talk - Michael D. Graves, author of All Hallows' Shadow

3/21/2021

March Author Talk:
Michael D. Graves

All Hallows' Shadows

Winner:
2020 J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award

Recording Available for Viewing by Members - Click Here

Mike will be talking about research methods he has used in writing the Pete Stone books.

Use Coupon Code: KAC21
in the Meadowlark Bookstore for 10% off of the Pete Stone novels. This coupon is good for KAC members through the end of April.

"In All Hallows’ Shadows, Michael D. Graves serves up both homage and an original take on the hard-boiled detective genre. The mean streets of the novel are historic Wichita, Kansas, which Mr. Graves renders impeccably, edging in a history lesson with his mystery. Graves, an evident baseball fan, hits through the cycle of the genre’s tropes, but does so in a manner entirely his own, realizing a style entirely his own. Out of a field of strong competition, my choice for the J. Donald Coffin Book Award is Michael D. Graves’s All Hallows’ Shadows."

-William Sheldon, judge, 2020 J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award

More Than Words, by Kevin Rabas, District 2 Member

3/20/2021

At 7 p.m. on March 27, Meadowlark Press will be hosting a virtual book launch event, and you're invited! Kevin will read from the collection and will be answering your questions and chatting it up with you. Register for the event at tinyurl.com/MTWbooklaunch

A book supersedes being a simple collection of words when a poet gets a hold of them. More Than Words by Kevin Rabas is an intimate collection of poetry and micro-fiction that takes a conscientious look inward and closely around us through stages of growing up, connecting with music, navigating romance, interacting with nature, and persisting through social and personal maladies.

As Kansas Poet Laureate Emeritus, Rabas’s expertise and passion shows. He can write a poem about anything, and this collection displays his versatility. Each page is a surprise, with some poems educating the reader on historic jazz saxophonist Charlie “Bird” Parker and other poems ruminating on contemporary social and political issues, such as the death of George Floyd and the COVID-19 pandemic. Rabas is creatively invigorated by everything from questions about our places in life to working from home.

Rabas often finds inspiration in conversation, such as in an exchange about beekeeping between him and his father. Conversations between lawyers and jazz drummers, bullies and the bullied, and a boy and his crushes let the reader live vicariously through some of the worst, best, and creative experiences these characters have.

Each poem and sketch guarantee a clever turn of phrase, strong imagery, and clear language. Rabas uses his jazz background to channel the direct, concise percussiveness of language. The pieces in this collection span the entire scale of literal to metaphorical, always leaving something more to think about at the end. With bite-size poems and prose sketches, this is the perfect book to read in one sitting or in pieces, whenever you need a little inspiration to look at the world in a fresh way.

"What do I need to know about ordering the book?"
All you need to know is that the book is available for preorder for at the Meadowlark Bookstore NOW!
All preorders will receive an extra special additional free, hand-made chapbook containing 16 new, unpublished Kevin Rabas poems.

We want to help you share your writing news!

If you have news of writing events that would be of interest to all Kansas Authors Club members, or if you are a member (dues current) who would like to announce an achievement, please submit your news via this form.

Nancy Julien Kopp Presentation for Hesston and Newton Professional Employer Organizations

3/20/2021

A Writers in the Community note from D4 member, Nancy Julien Kopp:

I presented a program, "Writing Your Family Stories" March 16th for two P.E.O. chapters in Hesston and Newton area. The program prompted some good discussion about writing family stories.

My picture and short bio of me had appeared in the P.E.O. Record magazine which is how they came to invite me to do a program. I got to choose the topic. P.E.O. is a philanthropic educational organization for women in the USA and Canada.

Remembering Antonio Sanchez Day

3/18/2021

Antonio Sanchez-Day July 21, 1974 - March 5, 2021

Antonio Sanchez-Day was a poet and an active member of KAC District 2, since 2018. He listed poetry, memoir and nonfiction as his areas of interest. He volunteered as a creative writing instructor at the Douglas County Jail. His book of poetry, Taking on Life, was published by Coal City Press in 2019.

If you have memories to share of Antonio, please submit them to the website manager.

A review of Taking on Life, by D2 member, Tyler Robert Sheldon, in Tinderbox Poetry Journal.

An article about Antonio Sanchez-Day and editor/mentor Brian Daldorph, published by the University of Kansas.

Link to poem "I have been alone" by Antonio Sanchez-Day, published at The Coop: A Poetry Cooperative.

Antonio's obituary can be read here.

Left: Antonio and Mike Hartnett
Right: Brian Daldorph, Mike Hartnett, and Antonio Sanchez-Day

Photos shared by Brian Daldorph.

PROGRAM ON GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR BOOK COVERS, INTERIORS AT D1 ZOOM ON SATURDAY, MARCH 20

3/15/2021

Longtime District 1 member Carol Yoho will be presenting a program to members during the regular zoom meeting on Saturday, March 20 at 1 p.m. The focus of her presentation will be graphic design for book covers and interiors.

Carol has focused her career on graphic arts after earning a BFA degree from Washburn University and a MS degree in Media Technology at University of Wisconsin-Stout. She worked 6 years for Josten’s Yearbook Co. in Topeka, 13 years for the Media Development Center at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 6 years for the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, KS, then returned, in 1996, to Topeka where she became an Adjunct Professor at Washburn University, teaching computer graphic design and web site development. She retired in 2015.

All members are welcome to attend this event via Zoom. Please email D1 President, Anne Spry, for an event link. Contact Anne

KAC Annual Literary Contests Open on April 1st!

3/15/2021

Members,

Take some time to review the contest guidelines for 2021. We open for submissions on April 1.

This year's theme is "Writing Through Difficulties." The contest features eight prose and eight poetry categories, with cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awarded at the 2021 Convention in October.

We also have youth writing contests. Please share this opportunity with your young people and friends and teachers who work with youth.

Our annual writing contests are open to individuals residing in Kansas and current members of Kansas Authors Club, regardless of residence. Members receive a discounted rate on entries.

Call for Newsletter Articles: Deadline March 22

3/13/2021

The first KAC newsletter of 2021 will be available digitally and will be mailed on April 2. We need member submissions by 3/22. We want to add some articles and are specifically looking for pieces about the KAC writing contests, especially ones that would encourage others to enter. Please send questions and/or submissions to member Curtis Becker.

District 2 President to talk on KKFI Radio, 90.1, March 31, 2021

3/9/2021

Perry Shepard, District 2 President, will be at KKFI 90.1 on 31 March, 2021 from 12:00-1:00pm. KKFI is a Kansas City Public Radio

About Perry:
The novel Hero Versus Me and Monkey Jo was published in 2019 through Anamcara Press LLC. My second novel titled Hard Love is scheduled to be published in 2021. I have a third novel simmering at this writing. I have two books of poetry ready for publishing titled A Rhythmic Electric Circus of Sound Part 66; A.R.E.C.O.S Part 66 has been pre-launched and Restless Fugitive. I have won a national poetry contest second place award for one of my poems and published in The Best Amateur Poets in 2014. In Writer’s Digest 84th poetry competition I won an honorable mention. In 2019 I won two honorable mentions in the Kansas Authors Club statewide writing contest for a short story and a play. In the 2020 Kansas Authors Club statewide writing contest I won a fist place award for a play and a short story.

I am the President of Kansas Authors Club, District 2. I have been published in newspapers, college poetry collections and fanzines. I am also a visual artist in several mediums. I have been a member on the board of directors on a Community Radio Station in Salt Lake City (KRCL) and one of the founders of the Utah Music Association. I was the Mayor and President of Harveysburg Village Council in Harveysburg, Ohio. I owned and operated the Painted Word Emporium in Salt Lake City an art gallery, performance hall and restaurant. I was director of educational programs in Job Corps for 25 years. I still work with youth in crisis. I am a Vietnam Veteran.

LOVE OF WRITING LIVES FOREVER

3/8/2021

Submitted by Marie Fletcher, District 7 member of Kansas Authors Club.

Man has always felt the need to express himself. Not only through grunts, sign language and words, but by putting something down that will remain after he has moved on.

The use of Ogam, an ancient Celtic language, has been traced back as far as 2000 B.C. Ogam is written in a series of perpendicular parallel lines similar to the bar system found on items in a modern day store. Ogam writing has been uncovered at about fifty sites along a 100-mile corridor in Colorado’s southwestern corner and the Oklahoma Panhandle. Why did the early inhabitants need a written form of communication? Perhaps to call people together for religious reasons, trade, or to record a story of an event. One Ogam inscription is a kind of calendar that tells when a certain grain should be planted.

Almost everyone is familiar with rock art, which not only is found in America and credited to Native Americans, but is found all over the world. Rock art is a very general term for pecking, incising or painting designs onto natural rock surfaces.

In modern America, the most common kind of “rock” art is that which is painted on concrete and brick walls of our cities and along our highways. In modern American culture, as in all cultures, it expresses the values, attitudes, beliefs, and desires of society … the need to express ourselves. Writing is an important outlet for self-expression and the release of tensions, anxieties, and conflicts. Some individuals feel this urge to write more strongly than others.

Apparently down through the years, man’s need and desire to use writing as a way to communicate and express his feelings has not changed. Because of this inherent need and love of writing, The Kansas Authors Club was organized 116 years ago in 1904. The first president was Henry W. Roby. Kansas Authors Club is Kansas’ oldest writing organization. Since its inception, many famous writers have been counted among its members: Eugene Ware (Ironquill), Margaret Hill McCarter, William Allen White, Dr. Charles Shelton, Dr. Karl Menninger, and Senator Arthur Caper, to name a few. Today’s members are in excellent company.

The Kansas Authors Club still is meeting the need. As Professor I. B. Morgan, President of Kansas Author’s Club in 1935-’36 noted—the movement has been “forward and upward.” Professor Morgan stated that the nation at that time was in need of constructive literary productions teaching the sterling qualities of good citizenship, civic responsibility, the sovereignty of the people and a keen sense of duty.

People respond to writing, in whatever form, and find their imaginations stimulated, their sense of wonder awakened, and the horizons of their world pushed back just a little. It is only at the moment when a viewer responds to what is communicated by art or writing that the work becomes complete. In fact, the work is actually finished anew each time it is viewed, for no two viewers will see and respond in exactly the same way.

While writing fulfills the need and desire, the challenge still is there for us today. We can sate our need and love of writing, but we are challenged to do our best. To quote a poem by Edwin Markham:

There is waiting a work where only
your hands can avail:
And so if you falter, a chord in the
music will fail.
…..
Yes, the task that is given to each man
no other can do;
So your work is waiting: it has waited
through the ages for you.
And now you appear; and the Hushed
Ones are turning their gaze
To see what you do with your chance
in the chamber of days.

Right on ! Write on! W-R-I-T-E on… .

Marie Fletcher joined Kansas Authors Club in 1990. She worked as a typesetter and proof reader for her local newspaper, The Leoti Standard, for 10 years from 1974 to 1984. Marie says, "Writing is sort of an inherited trait in our family, and while working there I wrote several articles that they used in the paper. In 1990 I became a member of Kansas Authors Club, 7th District, and really enjoyed what I learned, as well as entering the writing contests in prose and poetry. I’ve had articles published in Reminisce, Country, Colorado Fence Post, Birds and Blooms, Good Old Days, Best Times, Older and Bolder and a few others. Also, some in our local paper which is now The Native Sun.

Grandma Georgia's Recipe File

3/7/2021

District 5 member Ann Fell launched her latest book this month. Undoubtedly a divergence from her previous books--hardly suspense fiction and there’s not a single piano in its pages--Grandma Georgia’s Recipe File was a fulfilling project in several ways.

Fell explained, “It was heartening to go back and spend time in memories with my grandmother, to read her letters again, and discover how my life fits into family and regional history. When contemplating the future, it’s helpful to remember where we came from, the pillars that support us.”

In the downtime of COVID restrictions, Fell discovered healing through memories. Designing and publishing a book of family recipes to surprise her grandmother’s granddaughters, (now all grandmothers themselves) was good medicine. Beyond that, she took advantage of this opportunity to engage in a learning experience on formatting books for publication, a skill she highly recommends to anyone who is bitten by the writing bug. “It’s not as hard as I always thought,” she said.

The idea of publishing family recipes is one she also recommends. “It’s astonishing how much positive attention this book release has received.” Everyone loves a family cookbook, even if it doesn’t originate in your family. In a very real way, our stories are told by the food we prepare, share, and eat.

Copies of Grandma Georgia’s Recipe File can be ordered from Ann Fell or from Amazon by clicking the button below.

Buy Grandma Georgia's Recipe File

Writers in the Community report from District 5

3/4/2021

WRITERS IN COMMUNITY:

District 5 recently held a writing contest for Tracey Anderson’s gifted Sixth-grade English classes in Derby. Judges were Connie White, Gretchen Eick, Sandee Taylor, Amy Ackerman, Taylor Stuckey, and Ray aka "Griz" Racobs. We used two judges for each of three genres: flash fiction, short story, and poetry. We wanted the kids to see how different judges vary in their evaluations. We awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, and some honorable mentions for each genre. Griz and Connie presented the kids with their awards (gift cards or cash and certificates, and spent an hour with each group talking about our experiences as writers. The kids were eager to talk, and asked us to come back next year. We would encourage the districts to reach out to the schools in this manner. We will be asking more D5 members to join in the judging next year. We received Derby school water bottles filled with candy, and thank-you cards handmade by the students.

President Duane Johnson Profiled in Kaw Valley Senior Monthly

3/4/2021

Kansas Authors Club president, Duane Johnson, is profiled in the March edition of Kaw Valley Senior Monthly magazine (http://www.seniormonthly.net).

Taking note of the fact that March is both spirituality month and optimism month, KVSM editor Kevin Groenhagen searched Google and came upon an old story in which Johnson had described himself as a spiritual optimist.
Although spiritual optimism, as interpreted by Johnson is the primary focus, part of the story mentions Kansas Authors Club and our virtual conference last fall.

Member News from Duane L. Herrmann, District 1

3/4/2021

Duane Herrmann reports more poetry publications. Congratulations, Duane!

Six poems beginning on p.76 of Hawaii Review.

Two of my poems will be in: Iris 1.4 – "I Didn't Know," and "Wanting to be Dead"

"The Short of it," several short pieces, prose and poetry,
reblogged on: The Reluctant Poet, some of which will be included in the print anthology of last year's postings.

Just Place Chapbook, the poem "Miles and Miles"

Six of my poems have appeared in the print anthology, To The Newspaper Again, from Poet's Choice (Mumbai, India), which just arrived.

And, two more poems were published in the first issue of the 2021 Quarterly of the Topeka Genealogical Society.

If you have news of writing events that would be of interest to all Kansas Authors Club members, or if you are a member (dues current) who would like to announce an achievement, please submit your news via this form.

Roupe and Norris Speak at D5 on March 13 at 1:30

3/2/2021

Cindy Roupe is the Director of Reference and Eric Norris is the State Librarian for the Kansas State Library. They will speak about Kansas Notable books and the Kansas Book Festival. Annually a committee of academics, librarians, and authors of previous Notable Books identifies 15 quality titles from among those published the previous year, and Eric Norris, the State Librarian, makes the final selection. Books must be either written by Kansans or about a Kansas related topic. The Kansas Notable Book List gives visibility to contemporary writers in Kansas and encourages readers to enjoy their best writing. For 20 years September has brought the National Book Festival to Washington, DC. One notable book is selected from Kansas' award winners to be highlighted at this festival and an event honoring Kansas writers is held in Topeka. Learn more from our speakers!

Following a question and answer session, a brief club meeting and read-around will take place. Pieces are limited to less than 500 words. The suggested topic: A Positive Discovery I Have Made Due to the Covid-19 Lockdowns.

NOTE: This is a Zoom meeting. To register, click the button below.

D5 March 13 Meeting

Kansas Authors Club Members Highlight the Birdy Poetry Prize, March 13 Event

3/1/2021

District 1 member, Ruth Maus, and District 2 member, Brian Daldorph, will be featured poets at the Birdy Poetry Prize Virtual Readings and 2021 Winner & Finalist Announcement. Meadowlark Press invites all Kansas Authors Club members to attend.

6 p.m. (CST) | March 13 | via Zoom

Please join us in celebrating the 2019, 2020, and 2021 winners and finalists of the Birdy Poetry Prize! Our illustrious Birdy authors--Carol Kapaun Ratchenski (A Certain Kind of Forgiveness), Ruth Maus (Valentine), JC Mehta (Selected Poems 2000-2020), and Brian Daldorph (Kansas Poems)--will each be reading pieces from their books.

To top it off, the 2021 Birdy winner and finalist will be announced for the first time ever, live!

Register for the event at tinyurl.com/birdypoetryprize.

The Birdy Poetry Prize is an annual full-length poetry manuscript competition that draws a large variety of poetic voices and subjects. This event showcases six of those voices, with readings from 2019, 2020, and 2021 winners and finalists.

The event will be recorded and shared on the Meadowlark website (www.meadowlark-books.com), YouTube page (Meadowlark Press), and Facebook page (Meadowlark Press, LLC).

2019 & 2020 Birdy books are available for purchase at the Meadowlark Bookstore.

The books are also available for purchase through your favorite bookstores.

To stay up-to-date on the publications of the 2021 winner and finalist, please subscribe to our newsletter at the Meadowlark website.

We look forward to seeing you at the event, and we appreciate your support!

Upcoming Author Talk Schedule

April 27 Author Talk by
Ronda Miller

May 25 Author Talk by Roy Beckemeyer

Invitation to Submit: William Allen White Legacy Poems, Stories, and Essays

Writers in the Community:

District 1 Shares Recording of March Program by Carol Yoho

DENISE LOW TO ZOOM SPEAK SATURDAY, MARCH 27 FOR D6

March 23 Author Talk - Michael D. Graves, author of All Hallows' Shadow

More Than Words, by Kevin Rabas, District 2 Member

Nancy Julien Kopp Presentation for Hesston and Newton Professional Employer Organizations

Remembering Antonio Sanchez Day

PROGRAM ON GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR BOOK COVERS, INTERIORS AT D1 ZOOM ON SATURDAY, MARCH 20

KAC Annual Literary Contests Open on April 1st!

Call for Newsletter Articles: Deadline March 22

District 2 President to talk on KKFI Radio, 90.1, March 31, 2021

LOVE OF WRITING LIVES FOREVER

Grandma Georgia's Recipe File

Writers in the Community report from District 5

President Duane Johnson Profiled in Kaw Valley Senior Monthly

Member News from Duane L. Herrmann, District 1

Roupe and Norris Speak at D5 on March 13 at 1:30

Kansas Authors Club Members Highlight the Birdy Poetry Prize, March 13 Event

Categories

Contact Us

Categories

Archives

April 27 Author Talk by​Ronda Miller

May 25 Author Talk by Roy Beckemeyer

Categories

Contact Us

Categories

Archives

April 27 Author Talk by
Ronda Miller