Sunday, May 19, 2:00 PM
Red Rocks State Historic Site
927 Exchange Street, Emporia, KS
Writing & Publishing Creative Nonfiction
Presentation by Tracy Million Simmons
Meadowlark Press & 105 Meadowlark Reader
Red Rocks State Historic Site
927 Exchange Street, Emporia, KS
Writing & Publishing Creative Nonfiction
Presentation by Tracy Million Simmons
Meadowlark Press & 105 Meadowlark Reader
Tour Red Rocks FREE in 2024
Wednesdays through Sundays.
Wednesdays through Sundays.
EMPORIA, Kansas - “Writing and Publishing Creative Nonfiction” will be presented on Sunday, May 19 at 2 p.m. at Red Rocks State Historic Site, 927 Exchange Street. Tracy Million Simmons, owner and publisher of Meadowlark Press based in Emporia, will present this program focusing on the writing and publishing of creative nonfiction.
Simmons, a native of Dodge City, founded Meadowlark Press in Emporia in 2014. In ten years of operation, Meadowlark has brought to print 70 books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Five volumes have been named Kansas Notable Books, one was named a High Plains Book Award winner and three finalists, and many other Meadowlark books have been cited for various awards.
“In the beginning, I wanted to build the type of press I was looking for as an author, and as an author, I wanted a partner in the process of publishing. I wanted someone who could answer questions and advise me yet honor my story and my voice.” Simmons explained. “My focus was on writers with whom I shared deep roots, writers from Kansas, voices of the Midwest. Meadowlark publishes prose (fiction and nonfiction) and poetry because the best communities are the ones where all voices are heard. Maybe that’s the vision: to build a community with strong connections between writers and readers.”
In 2021, Tracy Simmons as publisher and Cheryl Unruh as editor launched 105 Meadowlark Reader: A Kansas Journal of Creative Nonfiction. The seventh edition of the semiannual journal with the theme of “Intersections” was released this May. The journal aspires to publish writers of true Kansas stories set in or references one or more of the 105 Kansas counties.
Simmons characterized the initiative this way, “When Cheryl and I began talking about publishing a journal, we knew we wanted to focus on true stories. We are both essayists, at heart. I think in the end, we both agreed that a publication like 105 Meadowlark Reader would serve our purposes of strengthening the Kansas literary community with a publication where people who were sharing their stories for the first time would be welcomed among more seasoned writers.”
“William Allen White was a prolific writer, published in all genres. He was an early member of the Kansas Authors Club, an inaugural judge for the Book-of-the-Month Club, and a true mentor friend to so many writers and journalists.” said Roger Heineken, White Community Partnership program chair. “Editor White would be delighted to know Meadowlark Press is based in his hometown of Emporia.”
The Sunday at the Site programs are free, and the public is invited to attend. Donations in support of the site are always appreciated. Tours of the site are free in 2024, Wednesday through Sunday.
The William Allen White Community Partnership, Inc. is the local organization that works in cooperation with the Kansas Historical Society to present Red Rocks State Historic Site, the legendary home of the White family. The Partnership helps fund operations of the historic site and, each year, presents a program series to interpret the White family story and associated history.
The entire selection of Meadowlark books can be viewed online at meadowlarkbookstore.com.
Simmons, a native of Dodge City, founded Meadowlark Press in Emporia in 2014. In ten years of operation, Meadowlark has brought to print 70 books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Five volumes have been named Kansas Notable Books, one was named a High Plains Book Award winner and three finalists, and many other Meadowlark books have been cited for various awards.
“In the beginning, I wanted to build the type of press I was looking for as an author, and as an author, I wanted a partner in the process of publishing. I wanted someone who could answer questions and advise me yet honor my story and my voice.” Simmons explained. “My focus was on writers with whom I shared deep roots, writers from Kansas, voices of the Midwest. Meadowlark publishes prose (fiction and nonfiction) and poetry because the best communities are the ones where all voices are heard. Maybe that’s the vision: to build a community with strong connections between writers and readers.”
In 2021, Tracy Simmons as publisher and Cheryl Unruh as editor launched 105 Meadowlark Reader: A Kansas Journal of Creative Nonfiction. The seventh edition of the semiannual journal with the theme of “Intersections” was released this May. The journal aspires to publish writers of true Kansas stories set in or references one or more of the 105 Kansas counties.
Simmons characterized the initiative this way, “When Cheryl and I began talking about publishing a journal, we knew we wanted to focus on true stories. We are both essayists, at heart. I think in the end, we both agreed that a publication like 105 Meadowlark Reader would serve our purposes of strengthening the Kansas literary community with a publication where people who were sharing their stories for the first time would be welcomed among more seasoned writers.”
“William Allen White was a prolific writer, published in all genres. He was an early member of the Kansas Authors Club, an inaugural judge for the Book-of-the-Month Club, and a true mentor friend to so many writers and journalists.” said Roger Heineken, White Community Partnership program chair. “Editor White would be delighted to know Meadowlark Press is based in his hometown of Emporia.”
The Sunday at the Site programs are free, and the public is invited to attend. Donations in support of the site are always appreciated. Tours of the site are free in 2024, Wednesday through Sunday.
The William Allen White Community Partnership, Inc. is the local organization that works in cooperation with the Kansas Historical Society to present Red Rocks State Historic Site, the legendary home of the White family. The Partnership helps fund operations of the historic site and, each year, presents a program series to interpret the White family story and associated history.
The entire selection of Meadowlark books can be viewed online at meadowlarkbookstore.com.
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