It is with great sadness we report the passing of Ronda Miller on December 10, 2024. Ronda was many a poet's first introduction to Kansas Authors Club. She served our organization in many capacities, including State President from 2018-2019. Ronda will be greatly missed.
Please share your memories of Ronda via our submit form. We will add them to this page.
Please share your memories of Ronda via our submit form. We will add them to this page.
Ronda Miller
Member (D2) 2011-2024
State President 2018-2019
State Vice President 2016-2017
District 2 President - 2014-2017
State Poetry Contest Manager - 2012-2015
Member (D2) 2011-2024
State President 2018-2019
State Vice President 2016-2017
District 2 President - 2014-2017
State Poetry Contest Manager - 2012-2015
Poetry Books
Going Home: Poems from My Life
MoonStain (Meadowlark, 2015)
WaterSigns (Meadowlark, 2017)
Winds of Time (Kellogg Press, 2019)
I Love the Child (Kellogg Press, 2019)
Going Home: Poems from My Life
MoonStain (Meadowlark, 2015)
WaterSigns (Meadowlark, 2017)
Winds of Time (Kellogg Press, 2019)
I Love the Child (Kellogg Press, 2019)
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I met Ronda when I volunteered to help with the registration desk when attending my first KAC convention which was held in my hometown of Lawrence. She had seen our ad in the local newspaper where she was employed as a blogger, and we immediately became friends. Of course, I had to encourage her to become a member too.
At the first meeting she attended, our connection deepened when she tearfully described recently losing her ex-husband, the father of her children, with whom she still had a soul-bond and obviously still loved. I related immediately since I had lost my husband and soulmate just a few years prior.
Later, we discovered that we both had M.S. My symptoms were more prevalent than hers, but it was another commonality of our lives. During our friendship, we shared many experiences such as representing KAC at the annual holiday event in downtown Lawrence, selling books at the same holiday fairs, and then having her contributing stories in two of my anthologies.
What I learned about Ronda was that she was an independent, very intelligent and loyal friend who always encouraged others. She bought our books, commented on our Facebook posts, offered help before it was asked, could never say no when needed, and never complained. She was a very spiritual person who valued everyone, with the ability to forgive which kept her positive and able to see the world as it could be. I know she must have been a wonderful asset as a Life Coach to her clients.
Due to both of our physical constraints, I had not seen Ronda for a while, but we still made occasional contact. When I saw the simple subject line that said “Ronda Miller,” tears welled in my eyes because I knew, even before reading its content, what the email would say. She was doing so well and her passing was a shock. I could only pray that God would hold her in His arms and give her the blessings and joy that she deserved for the wonderful legacy she left for others.
-Vicki Julian
At the first meeting she attended, our connection deepened when she tearfully described recently losing her ex-husband, the father of her children, with whom she still had a soul-bond and obviously still loved. I related immediately since I had lost my husband and soulmate just a few years prior.
Later, we discovered that we both had M.S. My symptoms were more prevalent than hers, but it was another commonality of our lives. During our friendship, we shared many experiences such as representing KAC at the annual holiday event in downtown Lawrence, selling books at the same holiday fairs, and then having her contributing stories in two of my anthologies.
What I learned about Ronda was that she was an independent, very intelligent and loyal friend who always encouraged others. She bought our books, commented on our Facebook posts, offered help before it was asked, could never say no when needed, and never complained. She was a very spiritual person who valued everyone, with the ability to forgive which kept her positive and able to see the world as it could be. I know she must have been a wonderful asset as a Life Coach to her clients.
Due to both of our physical constraints, I had not seen Ronda for a while, but we still made occasional contact. When I saw the simple subject line that said “Ronda Miller,” tears welled in my eyes because I knew, even before reading its content, what the email would say. She was doing so well and her passing was a shock. I could only pray that God would hold her in His arms and give her the blessings and joy that she deserved for the wonderful legacy she left for others.
-Vicki Julian
"I will forever miss her kindness, her love of words, her love of people, the way she always brought snacks, and the way she always encouraged me. Until we meet again, my friend!" -Curtis Becker
"When I first met Ronda I was more than a little intimidated! She is a force. After we met more personally and she did my final edits on Sunshine, we connected.
Her photo’s were beautiful and her poetry was inspiring."
-Deb Irsik
Her photo’s were beautiful and her poetry was inspiring."
-Deb Irsik
"I've worked and rode and wrote and explored with Ronda for so long in so many ways, I can only start to grasp this loss while feeling how much I love her. I can't remember when we met exactly, but she was central to my efforts when I was Kansas Poet Laureate and we did many a road trip and lots of meetings and meals and figuring things out together. She also co-chaired the Power of Words conference from the Transformative Language Arts Network with me and was very involved for years."
-Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
-Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg
"Ronda will be missed for her words, her photographs and her beautiful spirit. Condolences to her family and many writing friends." -Anne Spry
"Ronda was a person who put her hands together and gave you a lift. I barely knew her when I came to her event at The Raven. She asked me to read one of her poems and I was honored. When she was not having a good day one time, I got small cherry pies and we sat in her backyard, eating them and watching her cat, Timothy."
-Ann Vigola Anderson
-Ann Vigola Anderson
"Ronda Miller was a beautiful, creative, kind, giving, supportive and talented human. When I got news yesterday that she had passed, it felt a bit like a gut punch. Early on in this writing adventure of mine, she was an ever-present support, whether it be through her kind words, or helping me get hooked into cool experiences as a writer/ poet. Ronda was the reason I was able to go on the television program, Absolutely Kansas, to talk about my first book. It wasn’t because they were looking at me, but Ronda saw something in me that she wanted to help promote. She asked me to be a part of one of her book launches at the Raven Bookstore in Lawrence, and this was another example of her wanting to promote and support other poets.
"Ronda was always willing to share the stage-so to speak.
The William Stafford: living a poetic life event at the Watkins Museum is an annual poetry reading that I look forward to every year. She had poets from all over the state come and read out at that event, and I was able to be a part of that as well. I got a kick out of the fact that Ronda described my poetry as “Staffordy”
"So, Ronda did all of that. That event was her creation. I’m one of many who benefited personally and professionally from having Ronda as a friend, and support in their life.
In terms of her body of work, she was an accomplished and gifted poet. I always enjoyed hearing her read out her work, and I know she took great pleasure in hearing other poets read out their work as well. Her footprint on the Lawrence poetry scene, and the Kansas scene as a whole, is one of substance.
"Ronda loved beautiful things, whether it be flowers, or words, or a warm hug before or after a poetry reading.
Actually, Ronda just loved.
"I know so many people that were touched by her, and I can venture to guess that I am not the only one feeling the void right now.
"Ronda’s legacy will live on, through her written work, and her contributions to our greater writing world. It will also live on because many of us will remember the loving and caring human being that she was.
"My deepest condolences to her family, all of her friends, and damn if we weren’t lucky to have been able to spend time with her, and love her.
"She will be greatly missed."
-Kerry Moyer
"Ronda was always willing to share the stage-so to speak.
The William Stafford: living a poetic life event at the Watkins Museum is an annual poetry reading that I look forward to every year. She had poets from all over the state come and read out at that event, and I was able to be a part of that as well. I got a kick out of the fact that Ronda described my poetry as “Staffordy”
"So, Ronda did all of that. That event was her creation. I’m one of many who benefited personally and professionally from having Ronda as a friend, and support in their life.
In terms of her body of work, she was an accomplished and gifted poet. I always enjoyed hearing her read out her work, and I know she took great pleasure in hearing other poets read out their work as well. Her footprint on the Lawrence poetry scene, and the Kansas scene as a whole, is one of substance.
"Ronda loved beautiful things, whether it be flowers, or words, or a warm hug before or after a poetry reading.
Actually, Ronda just loved.
"I know so many people that were touched by her, and I can venture to guess that I am not the only one feeling the void right now.
"Ronda’s legacy will live on, through her written work, and her contributions to our greater writing world. It will also live on because many of us will remember the loving and caring human being that she was.
"My deepest condolences to her family, all of her friends, and damn if we weren’t lucky to have been able to spend time with her, and love her.
"She will be greatly missed."
-Kerry Moyer
I remember Ronda Miller on the day she joined our club. I believe at the point I was president of our district. We asked everyone to give their name and a short summary of what they wrote. Ronda got up and recited one of her recent poems. At another time she visited our home to find out how I was doing and just chat. Prior to that she wanted me to recite some of my poems in her back yard, and at another time she invited me to a Slam where local poets were reading their poetry out loud. Ronda and I were admirers of each other's poetry.
-Tom Mach
Thank you to Roy Beckemyer, Curtis Becker, and Meadowlark Press for sharing photos.
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