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Aaron lives in El Dorado, and and writes neurodivergent protagonist speculative fiction (paranormal, small town fantasy, science fiction) romance. They write stories that they want to read where marginalized people find joy, love, and family in their own way and on their own terms. They've studied abroad in Spain for an academic year, is fluent in Spanish, and creates photographs of nature and abstract subjects. They're an animal person with a house of dog and cat furkids and their partner. Welcome, Aaron! We're glad to have you.
Big Boys Don't Cry Book Launch The official launch of the book will be on Sunday, September 28, 2025, 2 pm to 4 pm, at the Missouri Pacific Railroad Depot, 401 North 2nd Street, Lawrence, Kansas.   You are cordially invited to Monarch Books & Gifts’ Grand Re-Opening on Saturday, October 4th at our new location from open to close.
Join us as we flutter down the block to our new home at 7733 W 151st St, Overland Park, KS 66223 in the Stanley Station shopping center (next to Jalapeños). We would love for you to be a part of our next chapter! This move allows us to create more cozy seating, revamp and expand our coffee bar with more drink selections and host even bigger community events, from boozy book fairs to profit shares! All while keeping the personalized and unique experience only a local bookstore like ours can provide. We'll have the new coffee bar set up for our expanded drink menu, Taylor Swift's new album playing, the prize wheel spinning, local authors ready to chat, double the points on all purchases and a costume character story time. Please feel free to come at any time on Saturday to celebrate the start of this new chapter with us! The annual Youth Contest Awards were presented this year at the Kansas Book Festival at Washburn University in Topeka on September 20. We had a great turnout this year, both in youth entries, and in ceremony attendees. Many thanks to Tim Bascom and the Kansas Book Festival committee for collaborating with us to celebrate our young writers.
Here are the 2025 Results: Fiction: Grades 3-4 1st - Fingal and the Famine by Joy Kelbe 2nd - A Surprising Tale by Minyan Hao 3rd - Apple Grove by Natalia Powell HM - The Dog Who Changed My Life by Ira Gholap HM - Trip of Beaches by Mithra Gobinath Fiction: Grades 5-6 1st - Risk by Sophia Sun 2nd - Legends of Rohr (Chapter 1) by Emma Sauber (JM) 3rd - The Revolt by Myra Upadhyay HM - The Shrieking Dragon by Ivy Sun HM - Just Another Day by Bowen Carr HM - Window to the World by Brek Levin Fiction: Grades 7-8 1st - Artistic Expression by Aubrey Nelson 2nd - I shouldn't have woken up . . . by Avery Cao 3rd - Fairy Cake by Aubrey Nelson Fiction: Grades 9-12 1st - Uprooted by Madeline Male (JM) 2nd - Thicker than Water by Garrett Li 3rd - Another Busy Day by Madeline Male (JM) HM - Reflection by Maanya Mohan HM - Mowaki by Arielle Li Nonfiction: Grades 3-4 1st - The Mysteries of Outer Space! by Rajvardhan Yerraguntla 2nd - WW1: Eastern Front vs. Western Front by Vihaan Mohan 3rd - The House on Flint Street by Justyn Jacewitz HM - Mexico by Olivia Wesp Nonfiction: Grades 5-6 1st - The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health by Sophia Sun 2nd - Native Americans and Bison by Ivy Sun 3rd - The Battle of Passchendaele by Corbin Barney HM - Adopter by Madelyn Schroeder HM - Manatees by Cassidy Simons Nonfiction: Grades 7-8 1st - Performing Piano at Carnegie Hall by Eli Sun 2nd - Tennis by Avery Cao (JM) Nonfiction: Grades 9-12 1st - What’s Left of Him and Me by Abigail Cox 2nd - A Beginner’s Guide to Modern Manners by Madeline Male (JM) 3rd - How Greed Ruins the Characters in Fargo by Adain Smith HM - MLK Today by Maanya Mohan Poetry: Grades 3-4 1st - Rainbows by Annie Han 2nd - Oceans at Dawn by Amelia Ellis 3rd - Magician by Kritika Upadhyay HM - Hamara Bharat by Taksh Pidara HM - The Beach by Avishi Roy Poetry: Grades 5-6 1st - Art Gallery by Ezra Northerns 2nd - Cry by Myra Upadhyay 3rd - Endings by Kendall Falls HM - School’s Out by Kendall Falls HM - Snack Attack by Benjamin Carter Poetry: Grades 7-8 1st - Beginnings by Cassie Northerns 2nd - Fall by Cassie Northerns 3rd - At the Beach by Elin Scherrer (JM) Poetry: Grades 9-12 1st - sichuan hot pot by Arielle Li 2nd - Poetry Squared by Jonathan Agard 3rd - Grocery Store by Prisha Dalal HM - My Dad is Calling by Andrew Smith HM - A moment to myself by Adain Smith HM - Old Scar, New Tar by Madeline Male (JM) Art: Grades 3-4 1st - “Brushes” by Amelia Ellis 2nd - “Mimosa Tree” by Elizabeth A. Hayes 3rd - “Todos Los Colores” by Alice Northerns HM - “The Mysteries of Outer Space” by Rajvardhan Yerraguntla HM - “A Walk at the Park” by Elizabeth A. Hayes HM - “Unknown” by Alice Northerns HM - “Scratch Into Steel” by Taksh Pidara Art: Grades 5-6 1st - “World Flowers” by Madelyn Schroeder 2nd - “Giraffe Sketch” by Cassidy Simons 3rd - “A Farmer’s Day” by Tabitha Metcalf HM - “Summer Bouquet” by Claire Denton HM - “Santa Cow” by Cassidy Simons HM - “Eiffel Tower” by Tabitha Metcalf HM - “Raising ‘Em Right” by Corbin Barney HM - “Theseus and the Labyrinth” by Ezra Northerns Art: Grades 7-8 1st - “Free to Improvise” by Cassie Northerns 2nd - “Angela” by Cassie Northerns 3rd - “The Cutest Rabbit of All Mankind” by Eleanora Agard HM - “Robin in a Tree” by Eleanora Agard Art: Grades 9-12 1st - “Angel” by Abigail Cox 2nd - “Winding Stream” by Adain Smith 3rd - “Sunflower Farm” by Madeline Male (JM) HM - “Cherries” by Adain Smith HM - “I shall call him Herbert” by Jonathan Agard Bajaj Youth Writer of the Year: Cassie Northerns Fiction Grades 3-4 & 7-8  Samantha Barrett is the author of the speculative short story collection, The Bus to Adventure City, and is the writer of The Dissociation Gazette on Substack. Her fiction has appeared in 10/ten, Cities of Dust Planes of Light, Polis, NeverWas Earth, and elsewhere. She occasionally writes poetry, and was a semi-finalist in Lefty Blondie Press’s Editors’ Choice Broadside series, in addition to placing in the Kansas Authors Club’s Annual Writing Contest (Poetry: New Voices). Sam runs youth writing workshops in the Wichita area. She is originally from Pittsburgh, PA. Fiction Grades 5-6  Jolene Haas grew up in Southeast Kansas listening to the many stories of her extended family members. Some stories were true, but most were creatively told with twists and turns in the events, depending on who was telling the story. As a young girl, she began writing her own stories. She loves to read and write middle grade and young adult fiction. Jolene has taught students in Pre-K through eighth grade for thirty years. She is a member of Kansas Authors Club and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Fiction Grades 9-12
Cynthia Mines An award-winning author of three nonfiction books and hundreds of journalism articles, Cynthia Mines’ debut novel will be published by Meadowlark Press in 2026. Her fiction has been published in Mikrokosmos and won first place for historical fiction from Pikes Peak Writers. She is the author of For the Sake of Art: A Kansas Renaissance, a Kansas Notable Book for 2015 and the basis of a 2025 “Cottonwood Connections” documentary on Smoky Hills PBS. The current publisher/editor of Travel Kansas magazine, her professional career started as alumni-magazine editor at Wichita State University, where she earned a master’s degree in English. She won a national award for column writing while at the Wichita Business Journal, and her freelance travel articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Kansas City Star, and many other publications. She lives near Lindsborg with her husband and dog. Nonfiction Grades 3-4 & 7-8
 Ashley Donegan lives in her childhood home in small-town Kansas, where she’s sur-rounded by the love of family and the joy of farm life. Her days are filled with the company of animals that aren’t just pets, they’re cherished companions and the heart of the whimsical stories she writes. Ashley’s gentle spirit and deep connection to nature shine through in her work, creating stories that feel like a warm hug for young readers. Her creative journey is a true family affair. Ashley teams up with her daughter, Macie, whose imagination and artistic talent bring their stories to life. Together, they share a love for storytelling and art and have many more ideas waiting to bloom into future children’s books. Ashley has self-published two titles, including their latest adventure, Pirate Chickens Under Attackkkkk!!!, co-written and illustrated by 10-year-old Macie. The book is a finalist in the Kansas Author Club book awards, has been featured on KidLitTV, and will be showcased at the prestigious Frankfurter Buchmesse book fair in Germany this October. Nonfiction Grades 5-6 Connlyn Sinclair’s first published piece was a pastiche of Ovid in his high school’s literary magazine. He has gone on to write a number of short story collections and novellas based upon his love of pulp adventure stories and fairytales. He is currently working on both his teaching certificate and a retelling of Aesop. Note from Connlyn: There have been many good submissions to the grade 5-6 essay contest this year. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of them and appreciate the care the contestants took in their writing. I totally think everyone who entered has a future as a writer if they keep it up. Nonfiction Grades 9-12
Dr. Rickye Heffner is Professor Emeritus of Neuro-science. She spent 50 years studying the evolution of hearing in mammals and birds. In addition to courses in introductory psychology and graduate neuroscience, she taught scientific communication. Poetry Grades 3-4
Beth Gulley has published three chapbooks and four full-length collections of poetry. Her most recent books include Picking Fights in Book Club (Bottlecap Editions) and Frog Joy (Anamcara) and The Secret Life of Bubble Wrap (Alien Buddha). Some of her writing is included in The Gasconade Review, The Best of Alien Buddha, Tiny Spoon, Thorny Locust, and The Write Bridge. She teaches English at Johnson County Community College. Beth serves on the Riverfront Reading Committee and the Writers Place board. Most people recognize her from her coffee addiction and messy hair. She currently resides in Spring Hill, Kansas, which gives her easy access to Hillsdale Lake where she enjoys trail running and open water swimming. More information can be found on her blog at https://timeeasesallthings.wordpress.com/. Note from Beth: The poets who submitted in the 3-4 grade contest made delightful use of imagery to transport the reader to places and seasons from the poets’ memories. I enjoyed the variety of forms amongst the submissions including haiku and acrostics. The poems also relied on end rhyme and internal rhyme to create music for the reader. It is encouraging to see so many emerging poets. I hope they all continue to write. Poetry Grades 5-6 
Linzi Garcia lives in Emporia, where she serves as the publicist and poetry editor for Meadowlark Press and as a board member for House of Morrow. While earning her MA in creative writing from Emporia State University, she worked as the graduate assistant to Poet Laureate Emeritus of Kansas Kevin Rabas and as an editorial assistant with Bluestem Press and Flint Hills Review. During that time, she also worked as a composition professor at the university, a reporter for The Emporia Gazette, and a bartender at Mulready's Pub, where she still works. Linzi is the author of Thank You and Cravings, and the co-author of Live a Great Story and While Away: Travel Poems. Linzi is a recipient of a 2023 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Award. Poetry Grades 5-6
Linda Heggestad Wilson has written two volumes of poetry, Cloud & Wind and Blooms & Glory. She loves poetry for the way it lingers at the intersection of visual art, music, and writing, and is able to touch the heart and express things that nothing else can. This year she was honored to co-judge this category with her daughter, Amy. She loves to see the young people’s poetry and urges them to please keep writing.
Amy Beth Wilson was KAC's Bajaj Award Youth Writer of the Year in 2020 when she was in the 7th Grade, the same group she's now judging. She has since gone on to win other awards and to continue her writing, including a column in her hometown newspaper, Yours, Amy. She's so excited to see what the upcoming writers are doing and to see the legacy continue. Poetry Grades 9-12  Al Ortolani is the Manuscript Editor for Woodley Press in Topeka, Kansas, and has directed a memoir writing project for Vietnam veterans across Kansas in association with the Library of Congress and Humanities Kansas. He is a 2019 recipient of the Rattle Chapbook Series Award. He has been a Kansas Notable Book recipient in 2017 and 2021. His poetry has appeared in Ted Kooser’s American Life in Poetry and in Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Alma-nac. After forty-three years of teaching English in public schools, he currently lives a life without bells and fire drills in the Kansas City area with his wife Sherri and their rescue dog Stanley.
 We are looking forward to hearing George as our 2025 Keynote Speaker!
We’re excited to have you join us for the 14th annual Kansas Book Festival on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Washburn University in Topeka! This free, public celebration will feature 45+ authors—including Bill Kurtis, Bryn Greenwood, and Kevin Young—plus children’s activities, live entertainment, book sales, and food trucks. Stop by the Kansas Authors Club table! We look forward to meeting you!   Willa R. Finnegan, the thirteen-year-old, newly award-winning, author of SNOW: CURSED, was featured as one of eight authors at a book signing at the Bradley Fair Barnes & Noble location on Rock Road in Wichita, KS on August 23, 2025. It was an awesome event and Willa got to meet and connect with readers as well as fellow authors. Award-winning, multi-genre author, Mary L. Schmidt, was also a featured author at the signing. Thank you to everyone who came out to support these outstanding Kansas authors.
What happens when an introverted, science-minded boy meets the girl of his dreams? A whole lot of chaos. Before Charlie Barren knows what’s happening, he’s skipping class, climbing out of windows, and crashing a stranger’s quinceañera. He is shocked by his own behavior, but he can’t stay away. He’s never met anyone like Venus.  Rachel Anne Jones is a member from Cottonwood Falls.
WHITEWATER, KS: The Frederic Remington Area Historical Society announces a call for submissions for their first Historical Writing Contest. Submission are due January 31, 2026.
“We want to encourage research and writing about the history of the Remington Area,” says President Eldon Esau. “This competition is open to anyone, but the scope of work must be concentrated on the area defined by the Remington School District. We are offering cash prizes for three different categories:” Categories and Prizes
Guidelines:
Deadline: January 31, 2026 Email Entries to: [email protected] For more information, contact Eldon Esau: Phone: (316) 284-4764 Email: [email protected] # # # About The Frederic Remington Area Historical Society The Frederic Remington Area Historical Society (FRAHS) is a membership organization and not-for-profit corporation, filed June 21, 1978. This corporation is exempt from federal income tax under 501(c)(3) Revenue Codes of 1954. Membership runs from September to May; dues are announced at meetings. The primary purpose of FRAHS is to collect, preserve, and share the Frederic Remington USD206 School District area’s rich history and culture with its residents, students, and other interested persons. A majority of the society’s programs each year are to fulfill that purpose, while other programs should inform attendees of state and national topics of historical and cultural interests. Member Sherry Krehbiel will be launching her second book, EZRA’s VALENTINES: A Story of Kindness and Love on September 30th.   KMUW Wichita 89.1 Thank you for supporting Kansas authors!
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