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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)
 Linzi Garcia (Kansas Authors Club), Amber Jackson (Kansas Press Association), and Tracy Million Simmons (Kansas Authors Club) at the 2nd annual Battle of the Books, May 8 in Emporia, Kansas. Members Linzi Garcia and Tracy Million Simmons were delighted to attend Battle of the Books on Friday, May 8, as volunteer time keepers and questioners. "Battle of the Books is a competition based on the love of literacy. Students compete by forming teams, reading the selected books, and then answering questions about them." -kspress.com Participants are 3rd through 6th grade. This year 45 teams competed bringing 144 students, plus teachers and volunteers, to Emporia State University from across Kansas. The day-long event utilizes the William Allen White Reading List for quiz material. The event is sponsored and coordinated by the Kansas Press Association. "This was so much fun! To be in a room with 150 kids who ADORE reading! Yes! More, please. The energy was contagious. From their matching team shirts to the bookish hair clips and mascot bookworms, this is a competition I would have loved to have been a part of as a child. I was delighted to be able to take part as a reader of questions this year and look forward to returning. Many thanks to the Kansas Press Association for instigating this bookish fun!" --Tracy Million Simmons   The ACTRK Readers were one of 44 teams at this year's competition, and champions of the 5th -6th grade division.  Linzi Garcia serves at timekeeper for the final round of the Battle of the Books. The recording of the March program by Linzi Garcia is now available for viewing by members at this link. (Member sign-on required.)
Save the Date: Saturday, April 18, 20216, 1:30 p.m.  Program: Why Kansas Stories Matter
Presented by Ken Spurgeon Kansas has been overlooked, at times. Considered the flyover state or an area to pass through, but many writers have found success and deep interest with the Sunflower state. In this presentation, Ken Spurgeon discusses why Kansas matters to him and why it is an area that provides a wonderful canvas for storytelling. Ken Spurgeon serves as assistant professor of history at Friends University. He received his Bachelor of Art and Master of Art degrees in History from Wichita State University, while also completing hours in Secondary Education Social Studies. He has taught at Central High School in Burden, KS, and at Northfield School of the Liberal Arts and has been a director of instruction and education at Cowley College. His master’s thesis, “A Kansas Soldier at War,” later became a book published by the History Press in 2013. In 2004, he founded Lone Chimney Films Inc. and has written or co-written and directed three documentaries and a docudrama. Two of his films have earned the Western Heritage Award (Wrangler), and three have aired on PBS stations. The recording of the February program by Kevin Rabas is now available for viewing by members at this link. (Member sign-on required.) SAVE THE DATE March 21, 2026, 1:30 p.m.  Program: Topic: House of Morrow / Children's Programs
Presented by Linzi Garcia Presentation Title - "Let's Make a Book: Advocacy through Bookmaking & the Diverse Voices Literacy Program" Linzi Garcia will walk you through how to make a little book/zine! She will discuss the zine's history and purpose as a personal creative act or a larger community movement. Linzi will also discuss how she uses this activity and other creative writing, reading, and public speaking lessons in her Diverse Voices Literacy Program--a program to enhance literacy skills through creative writing with local fifth-grade students and turn them into published authors! Linzi will offer resources to adopt your own Diverse Voices program! Creative writing is an artform for anyone, and this presentation and activity removes the pressure of making masterpieces and encourages playfulness. Linzi Garcia is the poetry editor and publicist of Meadowlark Press. Bringing together her Meadowlark role with her role as vice chair of House of Morrow, an arts-based services nonprofit, she serves as the program director for the Diverse Voices Literacy Program. During the program, Linzi and other facilitators teach creative writing, reading, and public speaking to local fifth graders, and, at the end of each school year, Meadowlark publishes an anthology of work by the students. Linzi is the author of two poetry collections, Cravings and Thank You, as well as the co-author of While Away: Travel Poems and Live a Great Story. She is a recipient of a NextGen Under 30 Kansas award. Member poets Kerry Moyer and Linzi Garcia talked about poetry with 4th graders at Riverside Elementary School in Emporia. Writers in the Community is a Kansas Authors Club program that highlights member educational and outreach efforts in our communities.
Some examples of programs that would fall under Writers in the Community news:
Submit your Writers in the Community news in the form below. Information can include, but is not limited to, financial donations, time commitment of the writer/volunteer, the number of presentations and the number of personas attending presentations or participating in contests.   Member Linzi Garcia coordinated a five-week writing program with fifth-grade students as a board member of House of Morrow. Member Kevin Rabas was one of the classroom guests. House of Morrow is excited to announce the inaugural launch of the Diverse Voices/Voces Diversas Literacy Program with the fifth-grade students at Walnut Elementary School!
Program Description: House of Morrow is a local arts fund within the Emporia Community Foundation. It focuses on providing programs and services, primarily focused on the arts, to Emporia youth. House of Morrow Board Member Linzi Garcia, as well as specially invited local guest authors and artists, are currently leading a creative writing program designed to engage the fifth-grade students at Walnut Elementary in the art of creative writing using language in conventional and experimental ways, including with poetry, music, and visual art. This program emphasizes nurturing creativity, enhancing writing skills, fostering self-expression, and promoting personal and peer acceptance. Each student has been gifted a notebook and custom pen, provided by local printer, Chester Press, to use during this program and beyond. Classroom guests included Poet Laureate of Kansas Emeritus Kevin Rabas, artist Deon Morrow, and theatre teacher Kacie Hastings. At the end of this five-week program, an anthology of the students’ creative works from this time will be published by local book publisher, Meadowlark Press. This means each student will be a published author! Chester Press will print the book and partner with a Wichita company to bind it. House of Morrow and Walnut Elementary will also host a book launch and reading event to celebrate the students’ creation. The event is free and open to the public. More details to come. Copies of the book will be gifted to students. The books will also be available for purchase, serving as a fundraiser for Walnut Elementary School and House of Morrow. Funding this program is made possible in part by the United Way United for Racial Equity Grant. The grant, as well as House of Morrow funds, cover the cost of notebooks, pens, guest speaker compensation, book printing, and event supplies. House of Morrow extends a hearty thank you to United Way and to everyone who has donated to House of Morrow. House of Morrow Mission: Our goal is to assist underserved communities in Emporia through the cultivation of public art and services. We aim to positively impact the community by creating innovative programs for the youth and providing them with tools to make a difference in their lives. We strive to empower those in need and foster a sense of community through public service and art projects. Working together will create a better future for Emporia and its residents. Linzi Garcia Bio: 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 of Kansas Emeritus 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 and a reporter for The Emporia Gazette. Linzi has facilitated over 50 community writing workshops and poetry readings across Kansas. She is the author of Thank You (Spartan Press, 2018) and co-author of Live a Great Story (Analog Submission Press, 2019) and While Away: Travel Poems (Spartan Press, 2022). Linzi is a recipient of a 2023 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Award in the arts category. Deon Morrow Bio: Deon Morrow, a passionate advocate for education, brings a wealth of experience and dedication to our literacy program. As an integral part of our school community, Deon is committed to creating an environment where students not only excel academically but also discover the joy of reading. With a background in educational leadership, Deon understands the importance of instilling a love for learning in our students. Deon is also a recipient of a 2024 NextGen Under 30 Kansas Award in the arts category. Congratulations to |
How to Submit News:
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. Categories
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