Category: Member Book News

New Book by Karis Ens

6/8/2023

NOW AVAILABLE!
A Girl and Her Cat, 2nd edition,
written and illustrated by Karis Ens (District 6)

Praise for A Girl and Her Cat:

“A Girl and Her Cat is a delightful children’s book that shows the love between a little girl and her kitten, then adult cat, named Pepper. Author and illustrator Karis Ens’ personal story of her beloved feline is enhanced by simplified line drawings that reinforce the narrative. This book separates itself from the stereotypical children’s book with dominating illustrations that limit space for the written word. As a result, Ens allows readers of all ages to enjoy the development of an extensive literary story about the loving relationship between a little girl and her four-legged companion. I highly recommend A Girl and Her Cat to all people who have ever had a pet who was a best friend.”
– Jim Potter, author of Deputy Jennings Meets the Amish

“This is an adorable children's book about a child and her best friend, her cat. The author purrfectly describes the girl's feline friend and their relationship. If you are an animal lover, Karis' story will make you feel as though you are with that special furry friend again. Even if you are not an animal lover, you will feel as though you are in the story, or perhaps, in your story, remembering a special childhood friendship and its joys and woes.”
– Melody Cole, author of Sentiments of a Survivor

Support a Kansas Author, Buy Today!

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July 1 Book Release Event in Toronto, KS

6/7/2023

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"Do Lizards Have Lips? And Other Tall Tales From Toronto Kansas" by Iris Craver - District 2

Book release and reading event on July 1st at noon at Lizard Lips in Toronto, Kansas, during Toronto Days Independence Celebration! Come enjoy all the festivities and check out this new book from a Kansas Authors Club member.

Live music by the Howard Mahan band!

Great Deli food at Lizard Lips!

153 US-54, Toronto, KS 66777

Hope to see you there!

Buy the Book at Ice Cube Press

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You are invited to attend a special book signing celebration for Bill Sampson’s new novel, WHEAT FIELDS:

5/24/2023

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Bill Sampson's debut novel...
an alluring story of unexpected love and clashing cultures set in Lawrence, Kansas, home of Kansas University & the championship Jayhawk basketball team.

Visit Bill Sampson's Website

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The Moon Is Inhabited, Reprint by Member Available

4/14/2023

Mark Esping has spent the last six months writing an introduction and providing layout for a reprint of an old science fiction publication titled The Moon is Inhabited. It was written by a woman who took the name Columba.

Mark’s search for Columba started when he purchased a stack of used books. One of the books was written and illustrated by Columba, a woman with a unique life. Columba’s legal name was Anna Bell Krebs Culverwell. Mark entered information about her on Wikipedia, which resulted in meeting members of Columba’s family. Columba’s granddaughter decided to reprint The Moon is Inhabited, which would include five pages of background material, which Mark Esping would provide.

None of the rest of Columba writings except for a cartoon book titled The Adventures of Skuddabud have been found.

At least the woman named Columba is no longer a total mystery. Mark is still looking for her other publications.

To Order:
The Moon is Inhabited - $22.00 Plus $4.00 postage
ISBN 978-0-9910895-2-9

Mark Esping 8811 West 66th Terrace Merriam, KS. 66202

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.

R. Kent Crawford, second book about his native Kansas, High Plains Homestead: Evolution of a Century Farm

4/8/2023

Post Rock Press is honored to announce the newest addition to our book family. R. Kent Crawford, a member of District 6, has written his second book about his native Kansas, High Plains Homestead: Evolution of a Century Farm.

Scorching heat. Bitter cold. Relentless wind. No trees. Scarce water. That’s what settlers faced on the Kansas plains. Crawford grew up on a farm in Russell County that his great grandparents homesteaded in 1879. Tales of hardship, humor, and grit merge with details of the enormous changes in mechanization, economics, and political forces as the country transitioned from a mostly rural nation to a mostly urban one.

Crawford's personal story coupled with meticulous research on the evolution of farming from the homestead years to the recent prairie fires describe the birth and transformation of his family farm. The narrative concludes with a thought-provoking discussion of the future of rural communities, the options for farmers, and High Plains farming.

Crawford is a retired physicist who spent his career primarily at Argonne National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. A Fellow of the American Physical Society, he has authored numerous scientific research papers, journal articles, and book chapters. He published his first non-technical book, Ruts, Guts, and a Model T Truck: Cruising the West at 15 Miles per Hour, in 2021.

Both books are now available wherever you buy books.
https://postrockpress.org

Member Book News: The Learjet History

3/17/2023

The Learjet History
Beginnings, Innovations and Utilization

This book offers a unique, comprehensive retrospective on the Learjet aircraft, from the establishment by Bill Lear in the sixties, to its slow demise in 2021. It accompanies readers on a unique journey through the configuration changes, and advanced technological applications that have transformed business jets and their market in the last sixty years. Important insights are given into numerous patents and innovations that have shaped the development of new technologies and aerodynamic improvements such as the winglet. Furthermore, this book presents many special missions carried out by the Learjet family, such as VIP, business and ambulance flights, research and military projects, and the use of Learjet in aerobatics, as well as aerial photography and cinematography. With a great number of original photographs and drawings, interesting events, stories and anecdotes, this book provides today's aeronautical and systems engineers and test pilots with an invaluable source of information and inspiration. Yet, it also offers a compelling reading to students, professionals and scientists in the aerospace field as well as to curious readers with a general interest in aeronautics.

website: https://learjethistory.com/

Authors: Peter G. Hamel , Gary D. Park

Covers the origins, stages of development, technical modifications and uses of learjet

Offers a unique, very detailed, source of information on the learjet history.

Shows how technology has progressively changed the learjet design.

Gary Park is a new member from District 5.

Learn More

Member Receives 2023 Spur Award

3/10/2023

Western Writers of America announced on March 4 at the Tucson Book Festival that Clyde Toland is a 2023 Spur Award recipient for American Hero, Kansas Heritage as the Best First Nonfiction Book of books published in 2022.

Western Writers Association of America
for Best First Nonfiction Book

American Hero, Kansas Heritage:
Frederick Funston's Early Years, 1865-1890
by Clyde Toland
Flint Hills Publishing

“An engrossing, engaging, and superbly written account of ‘Fearless Fred’ Funston’s formative years in rural Kansas, which molded the individual who would go on to command forces in the Philippines, earn a Medal of Honor, and ultimately command in 1917 the largest US Army since the Civil War. Clyde Toland’s narrative clearly reflects Toland’s life-long interest in Frederick Funston and Allen County, his impressive capabilities as a researcher, and his incisive analytical skills as a lawyer. The product of his work is a truly delightful read!”
—General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, and former Director of the CIA

Learn More at Flint Hills Publishing

Clyde W. Toland, received a BA in history from the University of Kansas, a MA in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a JD from the University of Kansas. He is a semi-retired lawyer in Iola, Kansas, and a District 2 member of Kansas Authors Club.

March 5th Invitation to a Book Launch

2/9/2023

Cathy Callen is a member from Lawrence.

Barbara Waterman-Peters is a member from Topeka.

Lawrence author Cathy Callen and Topeka artist/illustrator Barbara Waterman-Peters are hosting a book launch for their collaborative children’s book, A Packrat Named Orange on Sunday afternoon, March 5th, from 2:00-4:00. The event will be held in Topeka at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4775 W. 21st.

A Packrat Named Orange is a story about a packrat with an artist’s eye, who collects orange marbles for her under-the-porch-steps art museum. The book is based on the true story of the disappearance of orange marbles from the author’s front “marble garden.” The book is suitable for children ages 5-10. It includes a section of additional information with questions to ask readers for enhancing their experience of the book’s content. The book price is $20 plus 9.15 % tax.

It is not necessary to purchase a book to attend. Guests can enjoy round, orange snacks, play marble-related games such as Chinese Checkers, or win a prize by guessing the number of orange marbles in various containers. An exhibit of framed photographs will also be on display, including ones of the orange “Gates” from the 2005 Christo project in New York City taken by photographers Barry Molineux and Cathy Callen. More recent photographs of blue, green, red and orange marbles will add to the festivities.

D.L. Winter Publishes Fantasy Novel

2/9/2023

D.L. Winter is a member from Great Bend.

Under her pen name, she published her debut novel on September 2, 2022.

D.L. Winter was raised in Kansas and spent her adult life in Northern California.

Many years ago, on her first trip abroad, inspired by the nostalgic allure of legends, lore, and architectural wonders of the Mediterranean region, the concept for Alistur's story was born. However, crafting the fable would have to wait. Plotting adventures in the fictitious Kingdom of Fleurbania would be among the creative projects of her retirement. After a corporate career, D.L. now resides in her home state of Kansas once again, telling tales and enjoying life with family members.

"Through her imaginative storytelling, D.L. Winter has woven a riveting tale - brought to life through vividly memorable characters. Prepare to experience a world where magic meets mayhem! Filled with wit and wisdom, every fantasist will love Alistur's clever coming of age story!"
- Anne Bruce
Bestselling McGraw-Hill Author

Book News from Iris Craver

1/20/2023

My latest book titled "Do Lizards Have Lips? And Other Tall Tales From Toronto, Kansas" is in publication with Ice Cube Press. Early orders are available through the publisher's website at:

Order from Ice Cube Press

Based loosely, or tightly (who knows for sure) on some real truths about life in and around the small town of Toronto, Kansas. These Lizard Lips stories will leave you smacking your own lips and wanting more–sweet romances and spicy adventures. You will learn about the importance of chocolate and what to do with old cans of Spam. There are local recipes for serving up a good time and Rumpledethumps. Why there’s even a remedy for using cow dung mixed with molasses for curing headaches! You might discover where to find lunch for $1, the tallest stack of pancakes, and dinner-plate-sized cinnamon rolls. And, of course, a whole menu of characters likely to show up on a Sunday afternoon at the Lizard Lips Gas Station Deli and Bait shop in Toronto, Kansas. Pick up a copy of this book and head on over to your nearest lake and discover some tall tales.

“In a casual, down-home, winking voice, Iris Craver spins her tall tales in Do Lizards Have Lips? Toronto, Kansas, a real place, is made more genuine and true for the tales told here, stories of character and characters, of missed chances, and odd romances. Craver preserves place and people by presenting fictions.”
--Thomas Fox Averill, Professor Emeritus, Washburn University, author, Found Documents from the Life of Nell Johnson Doerr

“Pack your bags and head to tiny Toronto (Kansas) in this rambunctious romp that mixes fact and fiction and a sense of old-time Kansas in the 21st century! Nonsense and common sense combine (or maybe collide?) Do Lizards Have Lips? offers up a thoroughly enjoyable read. Iris Craver’s true and maybe-not-so-true characters will stay in your imagination long after you put this book down.”
--Priscilla Howe, storyteller, author, Clever, Kind, Tricky and Sly

“Iris Craver’s fascinating collection of local folktales brings together vivid vignettes, tender humor, and lively portraits of small-town life with plenty of memorable and quirky characters. All circling around Toronto, Kansas, these tales will delight, surprise, and move readers while making visible the magic and promise of a place somewhat off the map. These stories, which make the mythical visible and sometimes whimsical, is also an homage to the enduring power of making art, making friends, and making community.”
--Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, author, The Sky Begins At Your Feet

Iris Craver grew up in a family of storytellers. As she says, “Well, some people would call us liars. The bigger the exaggeration, the better!”

Member Nancy Glenn pens second book about former member Irma Wassall

1/13/2023

Irma Wassall was a woman ahead of her time: a poet, musician, dancer, model, actress, and seductress. With her life spanning 103 years (1909-2012), she experienced the spectrum of the 20th century. She herded cattle as a girl in New Mexico, built aircraft in World War II, and held a variety of secretarial jobs - all while writing for national publications and helping build a cultural scene in her longtime home of Wichita, Kansas.

About the Author

Nancy Glenn is the author of a poetry book, Don't Ask Me for the Moon, and a book on her hero and mentor, Kansas poet Irma Wassall, Fierce Ones: The Love and Art of Irma and Fred Wassall, a Unique Couple in the Wrong Place. Nancy was active for many years with the Kansas chapter of the National League of American Pen Women and Kansas Authors Club. She likes to travel and spend time with family. She's working on a full biography of Irma.

Nancy has been a member of Kansas Authors Club since 1993. She was a long-standing leader of District 5.

Buy the Book

Books by New Member Steve Linder

1/2/2023

Welcome, Steve Linder, to Kansas Authors Club!

Steven Linder lives in Wichita, Kansas and writes novels of western history, adventure, and suspense.

SHATTERED WORLD, a suspense novel available in Kindle and Paperback on Amazon.

ISBN 9798352812 631

LOST CREEK, a western novel available in Kindle and Paperback on Amazon.

ISBN 9798361190584

Visit Steve's Author Page on Amazon

D6 Member, Gina Laiso, Publishes Illustrated Children's Book

12/13/2022

Gina Laiso (D6) and Kim Martin have collaborated to published their first illustrated children's book, Braven, ISBN: 979-8-9873479-0-4. Braven is an inspiring story about a confident young boy from the mesas of New Mexico who overcomes personal challenges to find bravery and strength within his own voice.

Kim Martin is a community volunteer and activist in the Four Corners Region, a retired college educator, proud wife, mother, and loving grandmother of Braven and five other equally spirited grandchildren.

Gina Laiso is a graphic designer and nationally recognized book creator, illustrating from the heart of Kansas and beauty of Southwest Colorado.

This 24 page children's book is available by contacting Gina via email at gina@integritaproductions.com ($15.99 plus tax and S&H.)

2022 Coffin Memorial Fiction Book Award - Honorable Mention

11/12/2022

J. Donald & Bertha Coffin Memorial
Fiction Book Award

Honorable Mention to
We the House
by Warren Ashworth and Susan Kander

Note from Judge Strnad:
I was asked to evaluate the Science Fiction and Fantasy books that were submitted for the J. Donald & Bertha Coffin Memorial Award for Fiction. I judged the books according to my experiences in reading many other books in the science fiction/fantasy genre and many of the sub genres. The titles given to me from which I chose were in the sub-genres of fantasy, ghost story, mythological high fantasy, techno thriller, and space opera. From these I selected We the House by Warren Ashworth and Susan Kander as the winner.

“We the House” tells the story of a family by way of the house and, specifically, a portrait that is located in the dining room and watches the comings and goings of the family members in the course of the one hundred plus years it has hung in that one spot. The subject of the portrait, mistakenly identified as Mrs. Speale, is an interlocutor of the first stripe. She is observant and understanding, even while she keeps a sharp eye on the people who occupy the house. As an interlocutor she interprets and filters what is said and done by the various family members down through the years. Mrs. Speale is full of witty repartee, loving acceptance of humanity, and educated explanations that keep the “house,” and the reader, engaged and on their toes. Mrs. Speale, the house, and the inhabitants come to life in the hands of these authors. The novel could have become convoluted and overstuffed, but the authors created a cozy warm place, not without its tragedies, that draws the reader in by using spare text along with a tricky literary device to tell a conventional story in an unconventional way.

Benita Strnad
2022 J. Donald & Bertha Coffin Memorial
Fiction Book Co-Judge

Benita Strnad has thirty years of experience in McLure Education Library at the University of Alabama as first, the Curriculum Materials Librarian and then as Education Reference Librarian. She holds the academic rank of Associate Professor. She has served on numerous American Library Association committees as a member and chair and is the author of several publications. Prior to her career as an academic librarian she served as a K-12 librarian in rural Kansas. She holds a Master’s of Library Science from Emporia State University, a Master’s in Education from Fort Hays State University and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Kansas State University.

2022 "It Looks Like a Million" Book Design Award

11/10/2022

“It Looks Like a Million” Book Award
Janey Olsen, Famous Artist of the Beach
by H.C. Friesen

Note from the Judges:
Janey Olsen, Famous Artist of the Beach is our choice for the “It Looks Like a Million” Book Award. The book has a fresh, cohesive look. Title, cover (including the notes on the back cover), chapter headings, illustrations, and lessons on how to use watercolor pencils all present a story of the growth of a young artist. The illustrations of author/illustrator H.C. Friesen flow with the plot and highlight the setting, i.e., a beach (with yellow beach house) and surrounding points of interest in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The original paintings of the 9 to 10-year old Grace Baity track the artistic growth of 9 to 10-year old Janey Olsen. The layout integrates text and illustrations smoothly. The typeface is easy to read. The watery blue endpapers reflect the setting. A simple family tree of the main characters, a map of the Outer Banks, a pronunciation guide, and “How to” advice from Janey herself provide appropriate resources for young readers. Overall, the book has the feel of a children’s book that takes children’s talents seriously.

Jenny Russell and the Team at JenRus Freelance
2022 “It Looks Like a Million” Book Judges

Jenny Russell grew up in Glen Elder, Kansas, and graduated with a degree in Business, Communications and Marketing, from Bethany College. Russell has now worked in Economic Development, marketing, advertising, and websites for almost fifteen years. The company also provides graphic design services through their 314 Graphic Design division. This time included five years with Brush Art Corporation, a marketing and advertising agency out of Downs, Kansas, and now nine years in Economic Development. An emphasis in working with and structuring websites led Russell to Internet Marketing and the establishment of JenRus Freelance Marketing in 2008.

"It Looks Like A Million" Award Winners

2022 Nelson Poetry Book Award Winner

11/10/2022

Nelson Poetry Book Award
Gravedigger’s Daughter
by Cheryl Unruh

Note from the Judge:
Cheryl Unruh’s Gravedigger’s Daughter stands as a testament to how great writing uses particulars to capture the universal. While few readers may have helped to prepare graves as a child or know what the summer sky looks like from their depths, Unruh’s beautifully crafted reflections unearth the relatable joys and confusions of youth, love, and loss. While each poem preserves a carefully honed memory, the collection as a whole carries the reader through a lifetime with touching humor and heartbreaking grace. It is an intimate look into a specific family, but it stirs familiar emotions that have the magic to conjure readers’ own pasts.

Dr. Julia Galm
2022 Nelson Poetry Book Judge

Dr. Julia Galm is a Communications instructor at Cloud County Community College, where she works with budding writers to help them hone their skills and voices. She has helped to revitalize CCCC’s creative and artistic journal, The Silver Lining, and she is a board member of the Brown Grand Opera House. Though a recent transplant to Kansas, she has fallen in love with the rolling grasslands of her new home.

Nelson Poetry Book Award Winners

Kristine Polansky, 2022 Vice President of Kansas Authors Club, presents Cheryl Unruh with the Nelson Poetry Award and the Martin Kansas History Book Award for Gravedigger's Daughter.

2022 Coffin Memorial Fiction Book Award Winner

11/10/2022

J. Donald & Bertha Coffin Memorial
Fiction Book Award

Opulence Kansas
by Julie Stielstra

Note from Judge Varnadore:
I have been very impressed with the exceptionally high quality of the work represented by this year’s authors across such different genres as crime fiction, historical fiction, and young adult fiction. This has made the job of judging this year’s winner quite a task but also a genuine pleasure. As the novels represented so many different genres, my approach was to evaluate each work according to the conventions of those genres as well as execution of craft and finally, readability. Based on these criteria, I am pleased to select Opulence Kansas by Julie Stielstra as my choice for the J. Donald & Bertha Coffin Memorial Award for Fiction.

Stielstra’s 15-year-old protagonist Kate, reeling from the suicide of her father and the subsequent investigation into his shady financial dealings, leaves her high-rise Chicago condo for rural Kansas, to stay with her father’s estranged older brother and his wife. This relocation seems to be the respite Kate needs from the chaos back in Chicago and she settles in well, observing her new surrounds through the lens of her burgeoning talent for photography. As her relationship with her newfound family blossoms and she becomes more deeply embedded in the small-town community, she begins to appreciate a slower pace and living close to the land. Katie also meets Travis, a young man with a troubled past, who seems initially stagnate and destined to see life pass him by; however, Kate and Travis, with the help of her family and the local community, begin to heal their personal traumas and find redemption from the sins of their fathers.

Stielstra writes with humor and compassion, and her characters are subtle and layered. The tone of the work manages to be uplifting but never sentimental or saccharine. The prose is witty and energetic, and the world she creates is beautifully observed. In Stielstra’s capable hands, rural Kansas itself takes on a vivid character of its own.

Heather Varnadore
2022 J. Donald & Bertha Coffin Memorial
Fiction Book Co-Judge

Heather Varnadore was born and raised in Atlanta but currently lives in the Flint Hills of Kansas with her family. She received her M.A. in English from Kansas State University in 2008 and her M.F.A. in fiction writing from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 2012. She has previously taught at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and currently teaches at Kansas State University. She is the recipient of the Seaton Fellowship for Creative Writing, the Umass MFA Fellowship for Poets and Writers, the Cara Parravani Memorial Award in Fiction, the Delaney Fellowship for Fiction and multiple teaching awards. She is currently finishing work on a novel.

Coffin Memorial Book Award Winners

Note from Contest Manager:
Due to the number and heft of this year’s fiction entries, I divided them between two co-judges. Judge Varnadore and Judge Strnad both identified contenders for the award from the books they read. Tie-breaker judge Linda Knupp made the final decision. After 20 years of service, Knupp retired a year ago as director of the Manhattan Public Library and the North Central Kansas Library System. She remains active with the state-wide Friends of Kansas Libraries (FOKL) and urges all of you to join your local library’s Friends group as well as groups like the Kansas Authors Club. Judge Knupp was impressed with the clear narrative structure of Opulence Kansas, which takes the main character through a summer of changes and revelations after the tragic death of her father. “Thoughtful and resilient characters deal with a number of challenges during this time without losing their compassion for others, hope for the future, and their appreciation for the small rural community of Opulence.” According to Judge Knupp, author Julie Stielstra “certainly has a future in the wide field of YA literature.”

Member Book Now Available on Audio

11/4/2022

The #1 Best Seller, THE HILLS BE SHAKEN novel is now available on audio through iTunes and Audible!

When disaster strikes Kansas, the FBI needs an engineer. His name is Mose Haley.

https://www.audible.com/pd/B0BKJK12NJ

2022 Coffin Memorial Nonfiction Book Award

11/3/2022

Note from the Judge:
Arguably, nonfiction books are more divergent than any other type of writing. The following questions provide a practical approach for judging such books: (1) Would a person interested in the subject pull the book off the shelf? (2) Would they want to look inside? (3) Would they be tempted to explore the book further? (4) If they read the book, would they find accurate, up-to-date facts and would their expectations otherwise be met? (5) Does the book provide a bonus—something unexpectedly satisfying?

If you are a cat-lover, you likely would pull A Cat Named Fatima by James Kenyon DVM from a shelf. Being a sensitive and intelligent person (as are most cat-lovers), you would be attracted to the cover art of the book—the soft, warm colors in the picture of a young girl watching a cat; the playfulness of the cat paws worked into the title; the subtitle, “Tales of 23 Cats & the People Who Loved Them;” and, on the back cover, proof the book is, indeed, written by a “DVM”—a veterinarian who obviously loves cats. Open the book, skim a few pages and be prepared to want to explore the book further. As you read, your initial impressions will be confirmed.

However, James Kenyon has not written an ordinary cute cat book. Each cat is introduced with an ode containing hints of what will follow. Kenyon slips in facts about cats and gives his readers insight into how veterinarians approach medical issues. Throughout the book he shows compassion for pets and pet owners and respect for his readers’ intelligence and their ability to handle technical terms and concepts. The cartoon-like illustrations of artist Thomas Marple add to the book’s charm. This, indeed, is a book filled with unexpectedly satisfying bonuses.

Cecilia Harris
2022 J. Donald & Bertha Coffin Memorial
Nonfiction Book Judge

Cecilia Harris resides in the historic town of Abilene where she has been a professional freelance writer for over 30 years, specializing in travel writing for the Kansas Tourism Division and other travel industry entities. In KANSAS! magazine alone, she has written over 250 articles featuring over 700 locations in the state. She also has written both state and area visitors guides, blogs about Kansas cuisine, arts, culture and heritage and Abilene attractions and events, online articles, and two books, Historic Homes of Abilene and Abilene’s Carousel. Also using her services have been the President Dwight D. Eisenhower Foundation, Meredith Corporation, Madden Media, the Kansas I-70 Association, the Kansas Society of Association Executives, and 10 regional magazines.

James Kenyon accepts the Coffin Memorial Nonfiction Book Award from Kristine Polansky

Coffin Memorial Book Award Winners

2022 Children's Book Award Winner

11/3/2022

Note from the Judge:
The recipient of the Kansas Authors Club Children’s Book Award is Janey Olsen, Famous Artist of the Beach, written and illustrated by H.C. Friesen with original paintings by Grace Baity. Janey Olsen shares with its readers what it means to be an artist. The protagonist, who turns ten during this formative summer vacation, is inspired by her innate desire to create art, and she is supported in her efforts by other artists in her family, including a mother who makes and sells jewelry and a cousin who is an emerging photographer. These are people who understand, take seriously, support, and value this child’s artistic impulses. Janey experiments with different media while aspiring to be recognized at the upcoming Festival of the Arts, and we are privy to her development as we turn the pages of the volume and see the charming and engaging pictures that she is making. Almost every page has some visual enhancement, nurturing and perpetuating the theme of the novel. In the process of honing her craft, Janey learns how to see others more clearly, becoming a kinder and more generous person and learning to value collaboration and community rather than competition. Friesen offers a strong sense of her novel’s setting, North Carolina’s Outer Banks, including visual attributes such as a map, photographs, and evocative illustrations throughout the volume. Moreover, her volume offers wonderful resources in its back matter, including Janey’s own list of tips for “How to Be a Famous Artist of the Beach” as well as Friesen’s rich resource unit for drawing and coloring a lighthouse, among other materials. Beautiful endpapers enhance the total design of her volume. Altogether, this is a well-unified and beautiful book, and its form astutely enhances its themes.

Professor Anne K. Phillips
2022 Kansas Authors Club Children’s Book Judge

Anne K. Phillips is Professor of English at Kansas State University. A specialist in children’s and adolescent literature, she has published and edited numerous works on authors such as Louisa May Alcott, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Louise Erdrich, Andrew Clements, and others. She teaches courses such as illustration in children’s literature, film adaptations of children’s classics, American history through family sagas in children’s literature, and more. A Past President of the international Children’s Literature Association, the Modern Language Association’s division on children’s literature, and the Louisa May Alcott Society, Phillips has served on the Kansas Notable Books Committee and the William Allen White (Kansas children’s choice award) Selection Committee.

H.C. and Rob Friesen: Holly is the author of Janey Olsen Famous Artist of the Beach, winner of the 2022 Kansas Authors Club Children's Book Award.

Kansas Authors Club Children's Book Award Winners

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New Book by Karis Ens

July 1 Book Release Event in Toronto, KS

You are invited to attend a special book signing celebration for Bill Sampson’s new novel, WHEAT FIELDS:

The Moon Is Inhabited, Reprint by Member Available

R. Kent Crawford, second book about his native Kansas, High Plains Homestead: Evolution of a Century Farm

Member Book News: The Learjet History

Member Receives 2023 Spur Award

March 5th Invitation to a Book Launch

D.L. Winter Publishes Fantasy Novel

Book News from Iris Craver

Member Nancy Glenn pens second book about former member Irma Wassall

Books by New Member Steve Linder

D6 Member, Gina Laiso, Publishes Illustrated Children's Book

2022 Coffin Memorial Fiction Book Award - Honorable Mention

2022 "It Looks Like a Million" Book Design Award

2022 Nelson Poetry Book Award Winner

2022 Coffin Memorial Fiction Book Award Winner

Member Book Now Available on Audio

2022 Coffin Memorial Nonfiction Book Award

2022 Children's Book Award Winner

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