When she isn’t writing, Cheryl can be found walking at sunrise, voraciously reading, traveling with her family, practicing the piano, and finding new ways to incorporate beauty into her life. She currently lives with her family in the Flint Hills of Kansas and is pursuing her Master of Music degree at Kansas State University.
Cheryl Seely Savage is a professional musician, poet, graduate student, and mother of eight children. She has been published in Exponent II, Inscape, Manhattan Neighbors Magazine, and was shortlisted for the 2022 Lascaux Prize in Poetry. In addition, Cheryl has been the inspiration for several musical compositions, most notably by Dr. Alyssa Morris. She has four poetry publications: Give Me a Fragment, Carve a Place for Me, We Have Time, and Shadowing. Shadowing was recently published in January. It’s available online or at The Dusty Bookshelf in Manhattan.
When she isn’t writing, Cheryl can be found walking at sunrise, voraciously reading, traveling with her family, practicing the piano, and finding new ways to incorporate beauty into her life. She currently lives with her family in the Flint Hills of Kansas and is pursuing her Master of Music degree at Kansas State University.
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Susan is a retired professor who taught anthropology, sociology and criminal justice studies at Washburn University and Emporia State University. She is the author of two books; The Aquarian Goddess is a book about women and our image. The second book, Sex, Sinners and Hippies, is a memoir based on Susan's life as a hippie in the 60's and 70's.
Susan's interests are varied and she is fascinated by many different things. She has authored several short stories, three of which are featured in an anthology, and she has recently finished a fantasy novel. Additionally, she has had a paper published about the library at Haskell Indian Nation's University and has submitted a paper about serial killers to a criminal justice journal. Currently, she is a chaplain for the Topeka Police Department, writes book reviews for Choice magazine, and teaches a free yoga class for seniors, as well as a free class about peoples of the ancient world. She may be a frustrated teacher, but channels it as a willing volunteer! After working for decades as a journalist and editor, Cindy Mines joined the Kansas Authors Club to help expand her writing horizons to fiction. She has also had two nonfiction articles published in 105 Meadowlark Reader and won third place for memoir in the 2024 KAC contest.
She began publishing The Wichita Times and Travel Kansas magazine in 1993 after writing/editing positions at Wichita State University and the Wichita Business Journal. She continues to publish Travel Kansas as an annual magazine. Freelance projects have included three published books on Kansas history (one was named a Kansas Notable Book) and travel writing for a variety of publications. She loves to research though admits that being overly thorough can be just an excuse to procrastinate writing – except, of course, the time it was absolutely necessary to criss-cross the state to consume 13 complete fried-chicken dinners as preparation to write an article on Kansas fried chicken for the Los Angeles Times Magazine. She earned a master’s degree in English from Wichita State University and resides with her husband and dog south of Lindsborg. Rick Christiansen is a former corporate executive, stand-up comedian, actor and director. His work can be found in MacQueen’s Quinterly, Oddball Magazine, Stone Poetry Journal, The Rye Whiskey Review, As It Ought to Be Magazine, Trailer Park Quarterly and other publications. His first full length poetry volume, BONE FRAGMENTS, was published last year by Spartan Press. He has been nominated for a Spirit Award and a Touchstone Award for his work. He is an advisory member of The Writer’s Place and a member of The St. Louis Writers Guild. He lives in Missouri with his wife Kim and dog “B.”
Visit him at https://rickchristiansen.com/. Kate Siska grew up on the southwest side of Chicago
and knew from an early age that she was meant to write, keeping a journal long before anyone told her what one was. Her mother freaked out when Kate proudly read her first poem aloud – about dying – while still in elementary school. After earning a Master’s Degree in English, Kate taught college writing. In 1992, she moved to Kansas City to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales. Eventually, Kate found her way to her current life’s work as a Mitigation Specialist, advocating for life versus death sentences for clients facing capital murder charges. Mitigation is storytelling – understanding the world intricately from the client’s perspective and finding creative ways to frame that story to influence decision makers. Kate is currently writing a thriller/mystery novel, trying to find a publisher for her children’s picture book poem, is working on various poems, and is considering writing a memoir. Kris Cain is a retired detective and SWAT Sniper who then spent almost two decades as a telecommunications fraud investigator.
He began his law-enforcement career on patrol and later transitioned to detective, working in various bureaus, including property crimes, white-collar crimes, narcotics, and vice. As a SWAT team member, some of his experiences included high-hazard search and arrest warrants, barricaded suspect situations, maritime interdiction, and close-in protection of a national public figure targeted by terrorists for assignation post Desert Storm. He attended SWAT schools conducted by the FBI and DoD. As a telecommunications fraud investigator, he worked with local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies to investigate crimes and fraud committed against his employer. He was his company’s representative working with Federal law enforcement in the immediate post-9/11 investigation of the terrorists. Now retired, Kris has taken his love of reading to the next level: writing. His transition from investigations to the world of novels has been a fascinating journey. His goal is to blend his knowledge, experiences, real-world events, and imagination into the Chase Thompson novels that readers will enjoy. He went the self-published route via Kindle Direct Publishing and submitted his book, Random (sometimes it isn't), in late November 2024. He is in the process of preparing to release his second Chase Thompson novel. Kris and his wife have chosen to make their home in the heart of the Midwest, a place that holds a special significance in their lives. Debra A. Cole is a playwright from Lawrence, Kansas. Her plays have been seen by audiences around the world. Debra was a selected playwright for the William Inge Theatre Festival - New Play Lab 2023 and 2025. Debra’s 20-play collection titled "The Wrinkle Ranch and Other Short Plays About Growing Old" is available through Next Stage Press, as well as additional plays with Drama Notebook, Off The Walls Plays, and Heuer Publishing. Debra is a member of the Dramatists Guild of America, a member of Honor Roll!, an advocacy group of women+ playwrights over 40, and 2023-24 and 2024-25 Kansas City Public Theatre's Playwright’s Roundtable cohort.
Visit her at https://debraacolescripts.com Bill Isley, a native of Indiana, lives in Topeka and is recently retired from teaching philosophy, history, and biblical studies at Cair Paravel Latin School. He has a Ph.D. in theological and religious studies and has lived and taught in the Caribbean (home of his wonderful wife), Portugal, and Costa Rica.
Last year he published his first novel, The Likeness of Sinful Flesh, which is the story of an ambitious young West Indian woman who longs to escape the confines of her small island and dysfunctional family. However, her own choices lead her into an abusive relationship and causes harm to someone she loves. Feeling guilty and trapped, she questions God’s goodness. Bill is currently working on a second novel, Chasing the Wind, about the struggles of three unlikely friends as they face the consequences of their own beliefs and values. His fiction and the short essays he writes for his blog focus on philosophical, theological, and cultural issues and their implications for living. When Bill is not writing or working on his YouTube channel, “Thinking Wisely with Dr. Isley,” he enjoys reading literature, history, theology and philosophy, watching movies, conversing with friends, and relishing his wife’s excellent cooking. Ashley is an indie author who has written two children's books, Adventures of Snuggs and Pirate Chickens Under Attackkkkk!!!. Pirate Chickens was co-written and illustrated by her 9 year old daughter and is coming out hopefully by the end of February. Ashley and her daughter have joined together to create fun and unique stories inspired by their real-life experiences, many of which include several pets on their family farm in Paola, Kansas. The creative duo hope others enjoy their stories as much as they do, as they have plenty more ideas for the future!
If you are trying to find Sherry Krehbiel on a spring, summer, or fall day, she’ll be at her lakehouse on King’s River in Missouri, about 5 miles from the Arkansas border. She’ll be tending, but at the same time exploring, her butterfly garden consisting of four varieties of milkweed, plus a sundry of wildflowers. Her fascination for butterflies takes her many directions. This past year she wrote a nonfiction story for young children sharing the journey of the monarch as discovered by her eight year old granddaughter, Isla.
As a retired Montessori facilitator, nonfiction stories come readily from the research she conducted over the years of presenting learning in story form. She still enjoys enticing early learners into situations that excite their senses and heighten their awareness of the world around them. If you are wondering where Sherry is during the winter months try Salina, Kansas, where she raised three children. Her spouse Mark supports her love for Montessori and butterflies, plays pickleball, fishes, hikes, and waterskies with her. Their nine grandchildren are often a part of the fun. Learn more about Sherry on her website sherrykrehbielchildrensbooks.com. Look for her next picture book coming out in 2025! Mary-Lane Kamberg is a professional writer / editor / speaker and co-leader of the Kansas City Writers Group. Her books include The "I Don't Know How to Cook" Book and more than thirty nonfiction books for middle school and high school libraries. Her books for young writers include The I Love to Write Book, The I Love to Write Stories Book, and The I Love to Write Poetry Book and are available on Amazon. Her work has also appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Better Homes and Gardens, The Christian Science Monitor, Kansas City Star, and more. She graduated from KU and roots for the Jayhawks during March Madness and football season. She has swum with dolphins, ridden an elephant, and been kissed by a camel.
Elmer Fuller began writing freelance articles in 1984 during a ministry career. He self-published a short, non-fiction book in 2000. His writing paused during a career change in 2001. After adventures in the corporate training and IT worlds, Elmer returned to writing in retirement, but changed his focus to historical fiction. He stays active writing, speaking, and volunteering. Elmer resides in Overland Park and enjoys family, faith, travel, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals baseball and Kansas City Chiefs football teams. More information is available at www.elmerfuller.com. Welcome, Elmer - glad to have you!
Catherine Robertson (Cathy) lives in Topeka, Kansas with her dog, Chewy. She was a freelance court reporter for 24 years in Wichita and Topeka. She has grown children: one lives in Emporia and the other one has just moved to Germany for duty in the United States Army. She loves to travel, tent camp, and kayak.
In the last three years, Cathy has had five short stories and two books published – and she is also a published photographer. The short stories are a mix of fiction and speculative fiction. The two books are are the start of a four-book speculative fiction series. She has "finished" the third book -- it's ruminating -- and is currently writing the fourth book. She has also finished a memoir and has begun looking for a publisher. She is looking forward to meeting other authors and gaining a lot of knowledge. She attended the KAC Writers' Conference at Rock Springs. It was informative, fun and relaxing! Andrea Rome is an indie fantasy author who works as a healthcare actuary during the week to fund her writing habit. She can regularly be found scribbling away on her lunch break or at any number of coffee shops in the KC Metro Area. Her debut novel, The Standard Book of Anything, was released in January 2024 and has been named a finalist in the Sci-Fi Fantasy category of the Kindle Book awards. Andrea intends to make this initial story into a trilogy and is at work revising her draft of book two. Andrea is a native Kansan who resides in Overland Park with her extrovert husband of seven years, Jay, and their two tabby cat overlords. Look for Andrea on: Instagram (@andreahrome) Goodreads(https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/47749461.Andrea_H_Rome) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/people/Andrea-H-Rome-Author/61555439201293/?_rdr) or on her website (https://andreahrome.com/) Welcome to KAC, Andrea! We're glad to have you and any feline overlords join us.
Carmaine Ternes is a retired school librarian living in Wichita. She was a member of the Summer Institute for School Librarians planning committee for ten years. Ternes holds membership with several professional organizations and earned a master’s degree in library science from Emporia State University. She has served in a variety of educational and professional library endeavors, and completed several Kansas Leadership Center training programs. She participated in StoryCorps One Small Step Wichita, and completed the Climate Stories Ambassadors Project. She also co-authored Libraries Partnering with Self-Publishing: A Winning Combination from Bloomsbury Publishing. Her non-fiction writing has spanned academia, history, journalism, and some of you out there have already benefited from her editing skills! Welcome to the Club, Carmaine!
Jaimie Kirby is an MFA graduate of the Rainier Writers Workshop. She currently resides in northeast Kansas, on a not quite two-acre postage stamp on the border of Atchison and Leavenworth counties. She affectionately calls her land “Phoenix Farms” though there is very little to do with farming, but the moniker is part of a larger narrative of loss and redemption. Her versatile professional career has included teaching, tutoring, and mentoring in higher education as well as negotiating contracts for cybersecurity companies. She ascribes to Dorothy Parker’s motto that “Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” Her forte is in creative nonfiction, especially lyric braided essays that explore memoir, landscape, and history, and a penchant for poetry. She is looking forward to connecting and attending the conference in October. And we'll look forward to meeting her there!
Hannah Dapogny was born and raised in China. She spent the first 13 years of her life there. Her family moved to Russell 6 years ago and now she's 19. She loves Chinese literature because it's a beautiful language, but she also likes English literature, especially prose, because it gives her a sense of freedom. She loves singing and did some lyric writing when she was younger, and she is very excited to learn about different types of writing. Glad to have you, Hannah. KAC members will be happy to share and support as you explore your new adventures in writing.
Fred Fanning and his wife Tammy are returning to Salina after living in Arkansas for three years. He is also returning to the Kansas Authors Club. Fred wrote part-time while he was employed; now that he is retired, he writes full-time. Fred writes primarily on Occupational Safety and Health. He has authored first and second editions of peer-reviewed books and chapters published by the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP). He self-published another five non-fiction books and two novels using Kindle Direct Publishing. Fred has authored over fifty technical articles in various publications and received awards for his writing. He received two finalist awards for his book Essential Safety Programs. The first award was from Reader’s Favorite and the second was from Book Excellence Awards. Fred also received a BRAG Award for his book Mystery at Devil's Elbow.
Mark Landon Jarvis is a professor of Children’s Literature. He holds a Bachelor’s in education and a Master’s in English from Kansas State University. His novels in the Endless Tempest series are set in the Midwest but span the world. They are near-future, soft science fiction stories of characters overcoming crushing corporate control. Jarvis, a native Kansan, continues to thrive with his family on a hobby farm outside of Whitewater, Ks. He adds: "I am an award-winning author! When I was young, I won my one and only trophy from the Kansas Authors Club for a short story titled "Nomad." I'd say I owe it all to this organization!" Delighted to have you, especially since KAC obviously set you on the right road!
Barbara A Meier recently moved back to her childhood home of Lincoln, KS. Before that she lived in Southern Oregon for over 35 years and 3 years in Colorado. She likes to explore the different environments in her writing. She is enjoying reliving her memories and reacquainting herself with the prairies. She is a retired teacher who now works in a second grade classroom as a paraprofessional in Lincoln, KS. Her recent publications include: The Gentian, LIT eZINE, Pure Slush, The Mersey Review, Antler Velvet Arts, Piker Press, Linked Verse, Ars Sententia, Cafe Haiku, Bare Hill Review, Ephemeras Literary Magazine, The Green Silk Journal.Upcoming publications include Anomaly Poetry Anthology Series, Blood & Bourbon, DarkWinter Literary Magazine, Minute Musings, Hog River Press and The Cost of our Baggage Anthology. She has three chapbooks published: “Wildfire LAL 6," from Ghost City Press, “Getting Through Gold Beach,” from Writing Knights Press, and “Sylvan Grove,” from The Poetry Box. She loves all things ancient. Welcome back to Kansas, and to the Authors Club!
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