2026 Book Award Winners (from left): Dawn Feltrop, William Sheldon, Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Kristine A. Polansky, Ruth Maus, Patrick Kelly, Anne Spry. Not pictured: Lois Ruby.
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 2026 Fiction Book Award Finalists (from left): Gretchen Cassel Eick, Elmer Fuller, Leon Unruh, Ruth Maus. Not pictured: Michael Stewart.  Resistance! by Gretchen Cassel Eick Kate's Crucible: A Bleeding Kansas Novel, by Elmer Fuller Lunacy and Acts of God, a novel by Ruth Maus The Hoping Well, by Michael Stewart Saltwood, by Leon Unruh  Judge: Molly Chenault is the Public Services Librarian at the Emporia Public Library, where she has worked for over a decade. Originally from Virginia, she has made Emporia her home and enjoys being part of its community. Molly is an avid reader and especially enjoys horror and nonfiction. Her favorite book is The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. When she’s not reading, Molly enjoys hiking and trying new craft projects. She shares her home with her dog and cats, who keep life interesting. Molly is excited to serve as a judge for this award and appreciates the opportunity to spend time with books, consider the perspectives of readers, and celebrate authors who create stories with staying power.  J. Donald & Bertha Coffin Memorial Book Award in Fiction
Lunacy and Acts of God Ruth Maus My choice for the winner of this year’s Coffin Memorial Book Award for fiction is Lunacy and Acts of God by Ruth Maus. I chose Lunacy and Acts of God because it completely captured the heart and humor of small-town Kansas. The story is original, warm, and full of quirky, memorable characters who made me genuinely want to keep turning the pages. I loved the way it celebrated the sense of community, unexpected connections, and everyday moments that make small towns special. The humor throughout kept the story lively and added to its charm. Most of all, it felt like a book with a lot of heart—one that celebrates Kansas in a way that felt both authentic and fun.  2026 Nonfiction Finalists (from left): Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, Kristine A. Polansky. Not pictured. Marietta Anderson.  The Magic Eye, by Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg Provocative Lines, by Kristine A. Polansky Rebel Heart, by Marietta Anderson  Judge: Deborah Hann, is an Assistant Professor of Geography at Emporia State’s Social Science Department. She teaches World Regional Geography and a wide variety of cultural and human geography courses. Hann loves teaching geography because it allows her to explore her curiosity about the people, places, and patterns that are all around us. J. Donald & Bertha Coffin Memorial Book Award in Nonfiction The Magic Eye Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg This memoir blew me away with its beautiful writing, and the way Mirriam-Goldberg was able to weave together the narratives of fighting cancer and fighting to save their land near Lawrence, Kansas. Readers learn much about the flora and fauna of Kansas, all of it laced with good humor and moving prose.   2026 Finalists (from left): Cathy Callen, Anne Spry, Patrick Kelly, Melanie Bonner Thomas  The Crow Lady, by Cathy Callen Riding Rainbows Through the Storms, by Anne Spry K-State’s Wrestling Legacy, by Patrick Kelly Old Man of the Fossil Beds, by Melanie Bonner Thomas  Judge: Keith Wondra is the curator at Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas and an author of several Kansas and Wichita history books. His previous books include Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, From the Land of Andalusia to the Wheat Fields of Kansas: A History of Wichita’s Historic Orpheum Theatre, Kansas: In The Heart of Tornado Alley, “Where the Old West Comes to Life”: The Story of Old Cowtown Museum and Wichita: 1930-2000. Mr. Wondra is a alumnus of Wichita State University with a Masters of Arts in History and he is also an award-winning photographer. My selection for the Martin Kansas History Book Award is K-State's Wrestling Legacy by Patrick Kelly. The book is well-written, thoroughly researched, and highly engaging for both wrestling fans and non-fans alike.   2026 Nelson Poetry Book Finalists: T.D. Keane, William Sheldon, Michael Poage  A Gathering of Kestrels, by T.D. Keane Essential Workers, by Michael Poage When I Go West, by William Sheldon  Judge: Rebecca Aronson is the author of three books of poetry: Anchor, winner of the 2024 Poetry Award from the Philosophical Society of Texas and winner of the 2024 Eric Hoffer Award for Poetry; Ghost Child of the Atalanta Bloom, winner of the 2016 Orison Books poetry prize and winner of the 2019 Margaret Randall Book Award from the Albuquerque Museum Foundation; and Creature, Creature, winner of the Main-Traveled Roads Poetry Prize. She has been a recipient of a Prairie Schooner Strousse Award, the Loft’s Speakeasy Poetry Prize, a Tennessee Williams Scholarship to Sewanee, and a Yetzirah poetry fellowship. She is co-founder and host of Bad Mouth, a series of words and music in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Kansas Authors Club Nelson Poetry Book Award When I Go West: New and Selected Poems, by William Sheldon The poems in this collection conjure a strong and specific sense of place, as seen through the eyes of a narrator wonderingly and lovingly navigating that place. Sheldon makes an excellent guide, with his keen eye and ability to evoke the sounds, rhythms, and sights of this Kansas landscape. The narrative voice is often delighted, sometimes sorrowful, melancholy in the face of past and impending losses, but drawn again and again into the transformative experience of being so deeply rooted and so deeply knowledgeable about the natural world in which he and these poems are placed.   2026 Children's Book Award Finalists: Ben St. James, Dawn Feltrop. Not pictured: Sherry Krehbiel, Nancy McCabe, Lois Ruby  Picture Books for Children: Cowboy Cooper and the Ghost Town, by Ben St. James Rosemary Chick: Pip, Zip, Hooray!, by Dawn Feltrop Ezra’s Valentine: A Story of Kindness and Love, by Sherry Krehbiel   Judge: Feliza Carter is a retired school library media specialist who dedicated nearly two decades to transforming school libraries into dynamic hubs of imagination and discovery. She holds a Master of Library and Information Studies from the University of Oklahoma and brings a vibrant, fun-loving energy to her work. Throughout her versatile career, Feliza worked across preschool through high school libraries and served as a collection development specialist for multiple schools. This allowed her to expertly curate diverse, engaging, and resource-rich collections uniquely tailored to spark curiosity in young minds of all ages. Though officially retired, Feliza remains deeply passionate about literacy and continues to champion the vital role libraries play in building strong communities. Kansas Authors Club Children’s Book Award Picture Book for Children Rosemary Chick: Pip, Zip, Hooray! by Dawn Feltrop is a splendidly crafted picture book that transforms the abstract concept of perseverance into an entertaining, relatable tale for children. By centering the story on Rosemary—a wonderfully believable and gritty protagonist struggling to hatch—Feltrop creates an authentic, empowering role model who shows young readers that facing hard barriers is just a natural part of growing up. Feltrop’s bouncy narrative poem establishes a joyful, happy rhythm that effortlessly carries readers through the story to its satisfying conclusion.  Kansas Authors Club Children’s Book Award Middle Grade Lois Ruby’s In Living Fire: Zeb Finley and the Hornswoggled Thief is an expertly written historical adventure that perfectly pairs period details with a fast-paced, emotionally rich narrative. Ruby excels at blending history seamlessly into the plot, deftly weaving vibrant historical details and context directly into the action and dialogue. This creates an authentic, immersive world. The rich backdrop is brought to life by Zeb Finley and a cast of exceptionally well-developed, multi-dimensional characters who carry distinct voices and compelling motivations. What truly elevates the writing, however, is Ruby’s ability to tackle heavy themes. By balancing darker elements like grief and serious crime with a healthy dose of humor and high-stakes action, she delivers a deeply satisfying, vibrant, and uplifting tale.   2026 Book Design Award Winners (from left): Anne Spry, Kristine A. Polansky, Dawn Feltrop   Judge: Amy Avery has worked in the graphic design and printing industry for two decades, with a particular passion for book layout and cover design. She has been known to hoard fonts like a dragon collects treasure and is a sucker for a beautiful ampersand. Prose Book Winner:
Taking The Long Way Home: A Peace Corp Memoir of Brazil by Anne Spry This book was selected as a complete visual package, including elements like effective and eye-catching cover layout, stylish use of part and chapter headers, and clean typography throughout. The assorted design elements within combine for a very attractive and well-designed book. Prose Book Honorable Mention: The Porcelain Menagerie by Jillian Forsberg A beautiful cover design and lovely chapter headers made this one stand out, worthy of an honorable mention. Poetry Book Winner: Provocative Lines: Exploratory Poems by Kristine A. Polansky, Illustrated by Esther Boyd The design combines playful imagery with unique text layout and typography, creating a work of art that enhances the words held within. It also features a stylish cover that fully conveys the voice and tone of the poems included. Children's Book: Rosemary Chick, Pip Zip Hooray by Dawn Feltrop, Illustrated by Alexsander Jasinksi The beautiful illustrations are complemented with typography that is well-integrated with the imagery, fully drawing the eye through the story. In addition, the usage of special text treatment to emphasize sounds and onomatopoeias is very effective. check back for photos! 2026 Kansas Author’s Club Literary Contest Winners Prose Contest Manager: Brenda L. White Theme Contest First Place: Letters From Remington by M.T. Swift (Andover) Second Place: The Homestead by Brad McCulloch (Towanda) Third Place: Community Building by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) Honorable Mentions: Beyond the Anthropocene by John Ashley Whitaker (nonmember/Oskaloosa) Judge: Kim Horner McCoy Kim Horner McCoy hails from across the border in Missouri and fulfills their motto in commanding others always to "Show Me" the argument, the proof, the evidence, the goods. She expects this in the poetry she writes as well in the poetry, fiction, essays, and news she reads. Her favorite poets are Albert Goldbarth, E.E. Cummings, and A.E Stallings. She has published poems, short fiction, and reviews in various journals, including Georgetown Review, The Mid-America Poetry Review, The Little Balkans Review, The Flint Hills Review, Louisiana Review, and The Midwest Quarterly. Her poetry chapbook, This Bony Cabinet, came out in 2021 from Finishing Line Press. Humor First Place: Local College Celebrates the Nation's Birthday with a Bang by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) Second Place: An Unfortunate Choice of Words by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) Third Place: Tales After Dark by Edgy Sack (nonmember/Kansas City) Honorable Mention: Black Walnuts by Amy Kliewer (North Newton) Judge: Marcia Lawrence Marcia Lawrence is an in-demand editor and proofreader, known for high-quality work and a healthy respect for deadlines. She’s a freelance writer with hundreds of published articles under her belt. Marcia authored the nonfiction book Spirit of the Prairie: The History of the Making of the Medicine Lodge Indian Peace Treaty Pageant and the upcoming Professor of Pageantry: The Theatrical Life of Franklin L. Gilson and was editor of the acclaimed Symphony in the Flint Hills Field Journal. A lifelong scholar of regional history and fierce defender of the Oxford comma, this sixth-generation Kansan counts photo-finish photographer, stockbroker, bookstore owner, musician, and mom among her pursuits. Memoir or Inspiration First Place: Borrowing Magic by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) Second Place: Assai Ghazal: A Premise, the Only Promise, Finality? by Laura Lee Washburn (Pittsburg) Third Place: Risk Factors by Amy Kliewer (North Newton) Honorable Mentions: Cigars by John Joseph Brown (Weston MO) The Big "I" by Amy Kliewer (North Newton) Smokey by Michael Hinman (nonmember/McPherson) Judge: Trace Green Trace Green is a poet and former student of Christopher Howell at ESU. She currently resides in Lawrence with her dog, Daisy Mae, and her cat. Flash Fiction First Place: Staying the Course by Gretchen Cassel Eick (Wichita) Second Place: Cooking Pazole by Marion Joseph Bollig, Jr. (Baldwin) Third Place: Monday, Wash Day by Jeanice Eagan Davis (Clearwater) Judge: Eric Fea Eric Fea is a native of Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated in 2001 from Central Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He was a bookseller for several years with Barnes and Noble. More recently, he is working as a pharmacy technician. In his spare time, he enjoys reading history and biography. He also enjoys going to museums and traveling. Stories for Young Readers First Place: Until She Finds a Family by S.L. Brown (Olathe) Second Place: Joy From the inside by Sandra Lou Taylor (Towanda) Third Place: Sven Switches Sides by M.T. Swift (Andover) Honorable Mentions: Through the Doggie Door by Marilyn Hope Lake (Columbia MO) Judge: Lacy Auchard Lacy Auchard is a multi-media artist living in Madison, KS. Essentially a ceramicist, she paints, draws, sews, sculpts, and weaves as well. She graduated from ESU with a B.A. in Ceramics, and she works for the Madison School District. Short Story First Place: The Grave off Highway Seven by S.L. Brown (Olathe) Second Place: Winged Creatures by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) Third Place: The Things No One Wants by S.L. Brown (Olathe) Honorable Mention: Let the Stones Cry Out by Matt Copeland (nonmember/Topeka) Plein Air by Sandra J. Schumm (Lawrence) Rosebud Estates by Mark Landon Jarvis (El Dorado) Becoming a Unicorn by Sandra J. Schumm (Lawrence) Dropped Stitches by S.L. Brown (Olathe) Ivy Oakley, Bookstagrammer by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) Break Line by Jeanice Eagan Davis (Clearwater) The Professor by Julie Stielstra (Ellinwood) The Sin-Soaked Soil by Marion Joseph Bollig, Jr. (Baldwin) Judge: Kathy Buckman A proud Western Kansas native, Kathie Buckman was happy to return “home” to the Sunflower state nearly 14 years ago. An academic librarian for over 40 years, she has worked at universities in Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas. She is currently an Academic Advisor for the School of Library and Information Management at Emporia State University and loves her position mentoring new librarians. In addition to judging the Kansas Authors Club Literary Contest, she has also previously judged the Kansas Notable Book Awards, and the WILLA Literary Awards (Women Writing the West.) Kathie resides in Emporia, with zero cats and zero dogs…but with hundreds of books. SciFi/Fantasy: First Place: Nice Night for a Walk by Brenda L. White (Emporia) Second Place: The Changeling by Marion Joseph Bollig, Jr. (Baldwin) Third Place: Still of the Night by Angel Edenburn (Council Grove) Honorable Mentions: Chelidonia by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) We Have to Kill a Cat, by S.L. Brown (Olathe) Judge: Rachelle Smith Rachelle M. Smith is a retired Professor of English who loved teaching speculative fiction at Emporia State University. A native of Detroit, she has made the beautiful Flint Hills of Kansas her home for the last thirty years. Having taught courses on writing, rhetoric, and speculative fiction, she looks forward to continuing to teach and explore science fiction, fantasy, and horror. First Chapter of a Book First Place: The Harrow Hotel by Hazel I. Hart (Emporia) Second Place: Foxfire Gospel by M.T. Swift (Andover) Third Place: Mother’s Confession and My Marriage by Gretchen Cassel Eick (Wichita) Honorable mentions: Home to Sunflower Lane by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) Forever Sunflower Lane by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) Judge: Julie Pinkerton Johnson As assistant director of the Center for Great Plains Studies at Emporia State University, Julie Johnson honed her writing skills developing “Plains Talk,” a series of public service announcements for radio. Focusing on interesting facts about the Great Plains, the series found an audience throughout the region. Julie also developed a sharp eye for editing and proofreading with her work on the journal Heritage of the Great Plains. Now retired, she chronicles her travels with a blog that has evolved to include her musings and observations about gardening, aging, and life in Kansas. Her blog “Julie’s Garden of Life” is available at https://johnsonjulie45.wordpress.com/. Rural Voices First Place: One More Load by M.T. Swift (Andover) Second Place: Swimming in the Creek by Julie A. Sellers (Atchison) Third Place: 10 Summers by Ann Vigola Anderrson (Lawrence) Honorable Mentions: Buckin’ Bales by by Michael Hinman (nonmember/McPherson) Back Home at Last in Rural Kansas by Anne L. Spry (Wakarusa) Summer’s Gravity by Jeanice Eagan Davis (Clearwater) Judge: Melissa Valverde Melissa Valverde received her degree in journalism from St. Mary’s of the Plains in Dodge City. She worked in newspapers for the first decade of her professional career while raising three children. She now works in healthcare. Melissa is an avid reader, married to Paul, and they enjoy spoiling their two miniature schnauzers, as well as their first (human) grandchild. Prose Writer of the Year: Julie A. Sellers Check back for photos! 2026 Kansas Author’s Club Literary Contest Winners Poetry Contest Manager: Michelle Zumbrum Theme Contest: Writing Our History, Creating Our Future - Building Community Right First Place: “Translation logs from ET528 and ET529,” Celesta Cox (nonmember/Overland Park) Second Place: “So This Is My Best Plan,” Laura Lee Washburn (Pittsburg) Third Place: “Writing Our History Creates Our Future: A Poem for Pittsburg’s 150th Anniversary,” Laura Lee Washburn (Pittsburg) Honorable Mentions: “The Dorcas Society Cook Book,” Kristine A. Polansky (Manhattan) “Land Acknowledgement,” Skyler Lovelace (Wichita) Judge: Kim Horner McCoy Kim Horner McCoy hails from across the border in Missouri and fulfills their motto in commanding others always to "Show Me" the argument, the proof, the evidence, the goods. She expects this in the poetry she writes as well in the poetry, fiction, essays, and news she reads. Her favorite poets are Albert Goldbarth, E.E. Cummings, and A.E Stallings. She has published poems, short fiction, and reviews in various journals, including Georgetown Review, The Mid-America Poetry Review, The Little Balkans Review, The Flint Hills Review, Louisiana Review, and The Midwest Quarterly. Her poetry chapbook, This Bony Cabinet, came out in 2021 from Finishing Line Press. Classical Poetry First Place: “Villanelle for No King’s Day,” Janice Northerns (Wichita) Second Place: “Old Coupling,” Kristine A. Polansky (Manhattan) Third Place: “Straw Art,” Robert Stewart (Prairie Village) Honorable Mention: “The New Driveway Before the Storm,” Marcia L. Hurlow (Lenexa) “Almost-Ghazal of the Roman Catacombs,” Gretchen Burch (Paola) Judge: Amy Hageman Amy Hageman is a reader, a teacher, a mother, a friend, and a US Navy veteran. She was born in Medicine Lodge, KS, and grew up in Zenda, KS. She now resides in Manhattan. Her hobbies include reading, Zumba, yoga, and putting puzzles together. She still has Invictus from William Ernest Henley memorized from a high school assignment. It was not the one she chose to recite--she learned it by listening to her classmates recite it as it was the shortest option. She is embarrassed to admit she can’t even remember the title of the poem she actually chose. Free Verse First Place: “Having a Hard Time,” Gregory Lee LeGault (Lindsborg) Second Place: “Nourished,” Laura Lee Washburn (Pittsburg) Third Place: “Nothing Like the Movies,” Gregory Lee LeGault (Lindsborg) Honorable Mentions: “The Slow-Down,” Skyler Lovelace (Wichita) “My Father’s Madness,” Cynthia Shigo (Bel Aire) “Holding Hands: For the Good Men,” Laura Lee Washburn (Pittsburg) “Ending in Abilene,” Marcia Hurlow (Lenexa) “13,” Megan Maciel (nonmember / Olathe) Judge: Mary Mercier Mary Mercier is a Midwestern writer whose work is inspired by the natural world. She holds an M.S. degree in Land Resources from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she served as an environmental studies advisor for 20 years. Her poems have appeared in Northern Woodlands, Abandoned Mine, Pensive, Common Ground Review, Spillway, Analog Sea Review, The Comstock Review, Stoneboat, and other journals. Her chapbook, Small Acts, was published by Parallel Press (2002) and her poetry collection, Five Reports of Fugitive Dust, was published by Meadowlark Press (2024). Her newest work is a picture book, The Butterfly Boat, released in Dutch by Clavis Books (2025), with an English edition this year (2026). She has collaborated with artists on a number of occasions, including Martha Glowacki and her installation, "Starry Transit," staged at the Washburn Observatory of the University of Wisconsin, https://www.marthaglowackiartist.com/starry-transit Mary’s website is: https://marymercier.com/ Narrative Verse First Place: “Thirteen Ways He Came Back to Me,” Skyler Lovelace (Wichita) Second Place: “Dust,” Jeanice Eagan Davis (Clearwater) Third Place: “Mid-December,” Kristine A. Polansky (Manhattan) Honorable mentions: “The Last Working Pay Phone,” Janice Northerns (Wichita) “Love, American Style,” Gretchen Burch (Paola) Judge: Rosalie Krenger Rosalie Krenger is a writer, educator, editor, and graphic/book designer. She began her career in the publishing industry over 15 years ago and works with small presses across the country, including Meadowlark Press in Kansas. She is the owner of Well-Lit Editing & Design, and she currently works at Emporia State University as the Publishing & Media Outreach Coordinator for the Creative Writing Program and Donald Reichardt Center for Publishing and Literary Arts, editor for Flint Hills Review, and has taught composition, creative writing, publishing, and design. Her awards include the Laurence C. Boylan Scholar Award for Outstanding Masters Thesis and the Jeremy Wild Graduate Essay Award. Her work has been anthologized in Sunlight in the Sanctuary and appears in publications such as Unlost, One Throne, Down in the Dirt, One Sentence Poems, and The Tin Lunchbox Review among others. You can find her at welllitedits.com Whimsy First Place: “Width,” Janice Northerns (Wichita) Second Place: “Match,” Jeanice Eagan Davis (Clearwater) Third Place: “Elegy,” Brenda L. White (Emporia) Honorable Mentions: “Tech Love,” Cynthia Schaker (El Dorado) Judge: Amanda Ballard Amanda Ballard has been teaching and mentoring high school students for the past 24 years. She has taught Sophomore English, College Communication Arts, AVID, and is the head of the English Department and Director of Theatre for the local high school. She takes pride in her work and in the students that walk through her door everyday. Amanda has always had a love for literature and poetry and is amazed by people who write it regularly. The world needs more beautiful words. Japanese Forms First Place: [waxing crescent] Jeanice Eagan Davis (Clearwater) Second Place: “Fingerprints,” Ian D. Brannan (nonmember / Topeka) Third Place: “They Paved Paradise,” Julie Ann Baker Brin (Park City) Honorable Mention: “Pill Bug,” Julie Ann Baker Brin (Park City) Judge: Jes Tyler Jes Tyler (he/they) is a Pushcart-Prize nominated writer living in the Midwest. His work has most recently appeared in Red River Review, Freshwater Literary Journal, Abundance Literary Journal, Sunspot Lit, and &Change. Ekphrastic Poetry First Place: “Artist’s Statement,” Julie Ann Baker Brin (Park City) Second Place: “His Artistic Talent Exceeds His Culinary Skills,” Skyler Lovelace (Wichita) Third Place: “Tom and Rita Without Time,” Laura Lee Washburn (Pittsburg) Honorable Mentions: “Me, at 60, Being the Same Sentimental Chick in 1984 that Gave Each College Friend at Christmas the Same Dione Warwick & Friends AIDS Research Charity Cassingle and Meant It—” Laura Lee Washburn (Pittsburg) “An Orchid,” Jeanice Eagan Davis (Clearwater) Judge: Brian Dyer New Poets First Place: “Growing Up in Kansas,” Megan Munger (nonmember / Junction City) Second Place: “The Copper John Hymn,” Kevin Ensminger (nonmember/Moline) Third Place: “Quartermaster,” Todd Epp (Harrisburg, SD) Honorable mentions: “The Flavor of a Color,” Brad McCulloch (Towanda) “Standing Alone,” Sandra Lou Taylor (Towanda) “Diversion,” Sandra Lou Taylor (Towanda) Judge: Carrie Dickison Carrie Dickison is an Associate Teaching Professor and the Assistant Director of the Writing Program at Wichita State University, where she teaches courses in literature and writing. When she’s not grading papers, she’s usually reading, gardening, knitting, or napping with her three rescue cats. Poetry: Rural Voices First Place: “Song for the Deer,” Gretchen Burch (Paola) Second Place: “Genesis 19: A Footnote from Lot’s Wife,” Skyler Lovelace (Wichita) Third Place: “One Shirt,” Jeanice Eagan Davis (Clearwater) Judge: John Helfrich Poet of the Year: Jeanice Eagan Davis Many Kansas Authors Club Members enjoyed a day at the Kansas Book Festival in Topeka. We also celebrated our young writers with our annual Youth Writing Contest Awards! Congratulations to all of our young writers! A note about the 2026 Youth Awards Book of Winning Entries. The book was not yet available for the awards ceremony and will be delivered to all youth winners via postal mail. Please allow 3 to 4 weeks for receipt. Certificates for winners who were not able to be present at the awards ceremony will also be mailed at that time.  2026 Fiction Winners FICTION Grades 3-4 1st place - Malaika Amisi, “The Other Dimension” 2nd place - Ananya Mohanbabu, “The Bracelet” 3rd place - Draeden Dempsey, “They Tried to Bomb the Earth” Honorable Mention - Amelia Ellis, “Scarlet the Wonder Dog” Grades 5-6 1st place - Penelope Goodwin, “Jerimiah’s Haircut” 2nd place - Ivy Sun, “The Elevator Button” 3rd place - Erisha Gandhi, “The Dreams that I Lived” Grades 7-8 1st place - Anabelle Coetzee “Titanic’s Tale” 2nd place - Sophia Sun, “The Riot of Bellem” 3rd place - Armaan Gadit, “A Day without My Phone” Grades 9-12 1st place - Avery Cao, “The Class of 2037” 2nd place - Madeline Male, “Hair of Flowers” 3rd place - Aubrey Nelson, “The Lonesome Cowboy” Honorable Mention – Adain Smith, “Misery Interlude”  2026 Nonfiction Award Winners NONFICTION Graces 3-4 1st place - Aadhya Kotipalli, “Clenched Fist: A Letter to My Palm” 2nd place - Sri Pranavi Bollempalli, “My Brave Mallard Duck” 3rd place -Rajvardhan Yerraguntla, “Las Vegas Goes Wild!” Grades 5-6 1st place - Ivy Sun, “First Solo Dance Competition” 2nd place - Vihaan S. Mohan, “The History of the Potato” 3rd place -Sydney Koon, “Sea Otters” Honorable Mention - Vihaan S. Mohan, “Bleeding Kansas” Grades 7-8 1st place – Armaan Gadit, “The Taste of Two Shores” 2nd place - Fiona Raugewitz, “Immigration Enforcement” 3rd place - Avyukta Bhavnani, “Culture” Honorable Mention - Anabelle Coetzee, “My Race” Honorable Mention - Lydia, Mueting, “Theme Essay” Grades 9-12 1st place - Anupindi, “Arms Out, Eyes Closed” 2nd place - Maanya Mohan, “Creativity” 3rd place - Aubrey Nelson, “Tudor Style Architecture”  2026 Poetry Award Winners POETRY Grades 3-4 1st place - Vanessa Humphreys, “Dad’s Dinner” 2nd place - Vanessa Humphreys, “Language, Dad!” 3rd place - Annie Han, “Why?” Honorable Mention - Amelia Ellis, “Sleeping” Honorable Mention - Rajvardhan Yerraguntla, “Haunted” Grades 5-6 1st place - Vihaan S. Mohan, “Buffalos” 2nd place - Kai Condit, “Sides of Oceans” 3rd place - Leah Thomas, “Mutants and Monsters Book” Honorable Mention - Natalia Powell, “Rainy Day” Honorable Mention - Penelope Goodwin, “Ode to Pasta” Honorable Mention - Natalia Powell, “Somewhere in the World” Honorable Mention - Taksh Pidara, “The Coal Power Plant” Grades 7-8 1st place - Lily Mudd, “Sunset to Sunrise” 2nd place - Ezra Northerns, “Winter Snow” 3rd place - Allee VandeWeerd, “Why?” Honorable Mention - Alena Shishkova, “Pole Vault” Honorable Mention - Ariana L. Casey, “Waited Forever but Forever Took Over” Honorable Mention - Makayla Harger, “The Eyes of the World” Honorable Mention - Kye Flax, “Guilt” Honorable Mention - McKenzie Hamilton, “Liberty and Justice for All” Honorable Mention - Gunner Robson, “Mushrooms” Grades 9-12 1st place - Madeline Male, “Fish in Black Dress” 2nd place - Makenzie Copeland, “The Thunder After You” 3rd place - Cassie Northerns, “Visit” Honorable Mention - Cassie Northerns, “Memories of the House at Rose Lane” Honorable Mention - Saathwika Anupindi, “Are We Not the Same?” Honorable Mention - Madeline Male, “Everlasting”  2026 Art Award Winners ART Grades 3-4 1st place - Sri Pranavi Bollempalli, “Sunset Over Mountains” 2nd place - Rajvardhan Yerraguntla, “The Lighthouse” 3rd place - Saketh Sivakumar, “The Lost Ship” Honorable Mention - Margaret Northerns, “Calico Kitty Grades 5-6 1st place - Avishi Roy, “Stargazing” 2nd place - Cassidy Simons, “Mother’s Day Donkeys” 3rd place - Cassidy Simons, “Valentine’s Vase” Honorable Mention - Alice Northerns, “Saphira” Grades 7-8 1st place - Lily Mudd, “Flowering Lily” 2nd place - Lily Mudd, “A Rocky Ocean Beach” Grades 9-12 1st place - Adain Smith, “The Hand” 2nd place - Madeline Male, “At the Orchard, Wyandotte County, Kansas” 3rd place - Adain Smith, “Peaceful Lily” Honorable Mention - Aubrey Nelson, “Night Sky” Honorable Mention - Eleanora Agard, “Lily in a Pond” Honorable Mention - Cassie Northerns “La Salpicadura (para Sofía)”  Congratulations to the 2026 Bajaj Youth Writer of the Year - Adain Smith! Many thanks to our 2026 Youth Contest Manager, Curtis Becker. Also to Evie Simmons for preparing the youth awards certificates and winners book, and to Lindsey Bartlett, Kris Polansky, and Linda Cook for assisting with the awards ceremony. Kansas Authors Club holds annual writing contests for young writers. Any student living in the state of Kansas may enter. Student members of the club may enter, regardless of residence. Grant Overstake will have a laptop open and an empty chair beside his table at the Kansas Writing Convention, October 2-4 at Rock Springs Ranch. Bring the first fifteen pages of your manuscript on your laptop or your phone, and Grant will read them free through SecondRead, the manuscript check he built at Grain Valley Publishing in Wichita. SecondRead reads a finished manuscript and reports, page by page, where the book disagrees with itself. A character's age that doesn't add up. A name spelled two ways. A timeline that slips a year. Real-world claims are checked against the record, and the report names the source. It never rewrites a word. Greg Pierce, president and publisher of ACTA Publications in Chicago, sent Grant a finished novel this summer and got the results he needed to see. "I forwarded the report to the author, who addressed almost every item himself without a call from me," Pierce said. "For a small house with no fact-checking department, that is a valuable second set of eyes I could not have afforded any other way. It read, it reported, and it left the decisions to us." A full read of a fiction or nonfiction manuscript up to 90,000 words is only $200 when booked at the convention. Writers can send a manuscript now through the SecondRead website and get the convention price. Grant is a Kansas Authors Club member and a J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award winner. His table is in the education center, where the workshops meet Saturday and Sunday.  August 31 - Early Bird Registration Ends September 15 - Final Day to Register For those who plan to attend the 2026 Writing Convention, please note that we are very near to full capacity for housing. The available slots will go to the first who register and you can request to be added to the waiting list in case their are cancellations. But the good news is that you don't have to stay on campus to attend the convention!
 . . . and meet presenter Deborah Linn McNemee!  Community Through Ennegram:
Using Ennegram Energy to Create Authentic Characters Presented by: Deborah Linn McNemee The study of enneagrams comes from ancient sages. Enneagrams are navigational tools. Each person naturally navigates life using a specific type of life compass. Enneagram philosophy categorizes these compasses into nine numbers. Using Enneagrams instead of personality quizzes or character questionnaires gives writers a deeper understanding of what moves characters beyond goal/motivation/conflict. Enneagrams drive human actions and reactions more so than even internal or external motivations. By delving into the traits of each number attendees will have a more thorough understanding of their characters. (and maybe even their own approach to storytelling.) Deborah Linn McNemee is the author of JUST DAISY, a YA, modern-day reimagining of The Great Gatsby from Daisy’s point-of-view. She manages a teacher blog, KeepingClassics.com, where she helps teachers engage students in the classics. For her day job, she facilitates a gifted education program. When not writing, she volunteers as the education director for the El Dorado World War II History Center. Her guilty pleasures include quoting Mark Twain to an annoying degree and secretly assigning Enneagram numbers to her friends and family.  Per Aspera Poet Project: Building a Creative Community that Lasts Presenter Name: Amanda L. Little Per Aspera Poet Project: Building a Creative Community that Lasts explores the power of creative communities and their impact on artists. Beginning with a brief look at the history and influence of artistic communities, the session then shares the story behind the founding of the Per Aspera Poets of Salina and how shifts within that group shaped its growth. Drawing on these experiences, the program concludes with practical ideas for cultivating a thriving creative community—emphasizing the importance of actively inviting others into the creative process. Amanda L. Little, Salina, is a former teacher turned librarian. She enjoys exploring the world through the windows and mirrors of words put on a page. Her work is published in several anthologies and won the KAC Poetry Performance Category in 2022. Most recently, she assisted in self-publishing the anthology Per Aspera: Poetry through Difficulties (2025) as an organizing member of Salina's Per Aspera Poets Group. When she isn’t writing poetry, she enjoys spending time with her family, serving at her church, and crocheting. Early Bird Registration Saves 10%
Deadline for "Sponsor" Ads - August 15, 2026 Four-time "Poet of the Year" Taking about Conflict & Sonnets at the 2026 Writing Convention8/8/2026
 Got Conflict? Think Sonnet. Presented by: Kristine A. Polansky The 250-year history of our country is one of conflict—from its revolutionary inception to today’s political turmoil. No doubt conflict will be part of our future, too. The sonnet format works well for exploring conflicts. Kris Polansky invites you to experience the unique power of sonnet writing. The word play sums up her approach: Play with topics. Play with images and details. Play with potential building blocks—quatrains, couplets, sestets, octaves. Play with sounds—rhymes, other “echoes,” iambic “taDUM’s.” Come experience the satisfaction of presenting a conflict and resolving it in 14 lines or less. Kristine A. Polansky is the author of a poetry collection, Provocative Lines: Exploratory Poems, and a “how to” book, Provocative Lines: The Art of Breaking and Arranging Lines into Poetry, published by Meadowlark Press. Although she is a practicing attorney, her roots are in teaching, having taught middle-schoolers for ten years. She prefers the “discovery method” approach to teaching and utilizes it in her presentations about poetry. The Kansas Authors Club named her “Poet of the Year” four times, most recently in 2025. Save the Date
October 2-4, 2026Bonus Writing Retreat Day - October 1 (optional) *Early Bird Registration saves 10% Deadline for "Sponsor" Ads = August 15, 2026 August 31 - Early Bird Deadline! Final Deadline for 2026 Ads = September 1, 2026 September 15 - Final Registration Deadline & Final Day to Cancel for a Full Event Refund.  Campfire Algorithms Presented by: Mark Landon Jarvis Humans invented story algorithms long before computers did. For millennia, storytellers have relied on narrative patterns of tension, repetition, and transformation passed from ancient campfires to folklore to modern novels. As a novelist and teacher of children's literature, I use AI tools as creative partners to explore these same patterns. Come learn how ancient storytelling wisdom and modern AI can work together to spark ideas, break through blocks, and deepen craft while the human storyteller remains firmly in charge. Unleash the Autobiographical Engines! Presented by: Mark Landon Jarvis Every writer possesses one: a remarkable engine powered by memory, observation, and lived experience. Turn the crank and even the most outlandish fiction casts the author’s shadow upon the screen. Some writers claim every character springs from some corner of their own life. Why not mine our personal histories for buried treasure? In this session we’ll fire up our Autobiographical Engines and explore practical techniques for surfacing memories, details, and life’s moments you can channel into richer characters, settings, and stories. Come turn your past into powerful fuel for your writing. Mark Landon Jarvis writes science fiction for underdogs, dreamers, and anyone who's ever been told their story doesn't fit the mold. He is a Kansas State University graduate and a college instructor of children's literature. He is also an estate sale junkie, ephemera collector, Spam connoisseur, and relentless optimist. Jarvis believes stories can exorcise self-doubt and inspire the best in everyone.  Writing Our History & Creating Our Future Building Community Right 2026 Kansas Writing Convention Save the Date October 2-4, 2026 Bonus Writing Retreat Day - October 1 (optional) Rock Springs Ranch • 1168 KS-157 Junction City, KS 66441 Now Taking Registrations  Where our Voices Meet: Writing Community Into Being
Presented by: Lisa Hase-Jackson We will focus on the role storytelling has in building community by exploring how personal and collective histories work in tandem with creative writing to imagine, and experience, a connected and mutually supportive culture. Through prompts and collaboration, participants will draft poems that expound upon the emotional truth of lived experiences to discover meaningful and metaphorical narrative threads that invariably connect us all. Lisa M. Hase-Jackson is the author of two poetry collections: Insomnia in Another Town (Clemson University Press) and Flint & Fire (The Word Works). In addition to acting as editor for such journals as South 85 Review, Hase-Jackson has facilitated writing and artistic workshops in academic and community settings and has has spent her adult years teaching and writing in such places as Kansas City, Missouri, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Anyang, South Korea, and Charleston, South Carolina. Her current perch is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she is an Assistant Teaching Professor in creative writing at the University of Pittsburgh. Registration is now open! Early Bird Rates Apply until August 31  On Friday we will kick the convention off with a Nature Writing Workshop by Wichita Authors Chapter President, Jeanice Eagan Davis. Wild Words: Nature Writing Workshop
Presented by: Jeanice Eagan Davis This workshop invites writers to bridge the gap between the human experience and the wild world. By blending personal reflection with deep observation, participants will use concrete, sensory details that breathe life into both prose and poetry. After examining the evocative styles of masters, writers, and poets, participants will transition into immersive, interactive activities designed to hone analytical and descriptive skills such as sound-mapping or sensory sit-spots, or engage in a Writing Walkabout. The session will conclude with a collaborative sharing circle, celebrating the diverse ways we witness and interpret our environment through the written word. Jeanice Eagan Davis is a poet and writer whose writing voice was shaped by the open plains of Kansas. She has a proclivity for writing about nature, especially birds and trees. Her writings have been published in several literary journals, including Cantos, Lady Blue, The Talon, Writing from the Center: Literary Zine, and most recently, 105 Meadowlark Reader, among others. She is president of the Wichita Authors Club. When she’s not teaching students the joys (and frustrations) of writing, she’s walking through grasslands and woodlands, shooting photos, and writing poetry, essays, and short stories. Have you registered for the 2026 Writing Convention yet? Our Convention committee is planning for a writing good time and looking forward to hosting you at Rock Springs Ranch in October. Join us!  2026 Convention Planning Committee: Ann Vigola Anderson (Lawrence), Lindsey Bartlett (Emporia), Linda Cook (Manhattan), Hannah Dapogny (Russell), Linzi Garcia (Emporia), Sandra Taylor (Towanda)
Writing To Publish Without Selling Your Soul Presented by: Maureen "Micki" Carroll “Writing to Publish Without Selling Your Soul” is an engaging workshop for emerging authors led by a seasoned publisher. The session explores key topics including Hot and Cold Genres, Putting Your Best Foot (and Words) Forward, Writing for Your Reader, and Editing for Appeal—offering practical strategies for navigating the publishing world while staying true to your voice. Participants will take part in a collaborative activity identifying genres and audiences for sample book ideas, followed by a short writing exercise crafting a compelling opening hook or book pitch. Writers will leave with tools to strengthen their work, connect with readers, and approach publication with confidence. Maureen Carroll is a writer, educator, photographer, graphic designer, and all-around cat herder! She founded Anamcara Press LLC to celebrate art and community and loves helping authors bring their stories to life. Her books include A Wyoming Cowboy in Hitler’s Germany, combining WWII correspondence and historic photos, and The Tree Who Walked Through Time, a collaboration with 17 artists. Carroll has also published children’s books, nonfiction articles, and training programs. A longtime Kansas Authors Club leader, she enjoys hiking, gluten-free baking, and studying quantum mechanics. Learn more about Micki
and other convention presenters. Early Bird Savings ends August 31. |
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