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 Flint Hills Publishing has just published my second novel, Farieh. The novel tracks her time at home in Iran following her freshman year in college, then carries her through her sophomore year at KU. It finishes with her leading a campus protest against the Kansas Legislature's assault on diversity.
Watermark Books in Wichita will host a book signing on May 15 at 6:00 p.m.
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 Forest Medicine: A Middle Grade Novel by Roy Stucky Reto's life centers on the search for the rare forest plant from which medicine is made. Rivals would rob him. Predators would devour him. Slavers endeavor to capture him. The medicine cartel swindles him. The forest may swallow Reto whole. Such concerns miss the point. Reto's parents need him. Roy Stucky is a member of Kansas Authors Club. Roy has a wife and two sons in rural Kansas. Roy began writing as a senior in high school. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Management Information Systems, cum laude, from Sterling College. He pays the bills as the network administrator of an accounting firm. Roy's primary artistic output is song lyrics for the band "Mirror Covenant".Along with writing Roy has at one time or another been a tractor driver, Mensa member, roofer, photographer, logger, playground attendant, alternative energy retailer, computer programmer, cabinet maker, chess addict, graphic designer, painter, dairy farmer, student, inventor, sound engineer, auto mechanic, hunter, carpenter, web designer, and all too often a frightful bore. He has only excelled at the latter.  Members visit Sandra Lou Taylor at Reliant Bookstore in El Dorado, Kansas, for the launch of her debut novel, More than an Attractive Face. Member Carmaine Ternes shared this review of More than an Attractive Face, by member Sandee Taylor. More than an Attractive Face by Sandra Lou Taylor A refined Albany, NY, young lady refused an arranged marriage years after the death of her parents and sister in a tragic drowning accident. Elizabeth Spaulding’s grandfather controlled her finances and possibly her future. Although her uncle and aunt became her guardians, there was little affection for Elizabeth. Her beauty, privileged life, and the family’s status provided and protected her to a degree. To prevent a betrothal, Elizabeth accepted an invitation from family employee, Alister Murphy, to travel west. A sale of furniture was arranged; staff was let go; her pug Dolly, books, and a few possessions, and memories were Elizabeth’s comfort despite the primitive wagon’s bench seat. Mr. Murphy and his daughter Joan lead the team of two Morgans west to Indianapolis, a frontier town in 1837. The extended and arduous journey provided Elizabeth quiet contemplation and scenic views over the rugged terrain. This bouncing and crude conveyance presented an escape from a courtship Elizabeth avoided. Alistair Murphy gained employment immediately upon arriving in Indianapolis. Joan planned to meet her fiancé Sam; they were happily wed and celebrated with captivating rhythms from the local musicians playing spoons and other instruments. A simple life was typically good for hopeful hard workers. Moorestown, IN, is the small country town where Mr. Simon Talbot searched for a school teacher. Since Elizabeth was trained in music and possessed other academic talents, she accepted the opportunity to educate children. Her sincerity and willingness to nurture others demonstrated a caring strength that guided her through tremendous obstacles and emotional turmoil. As a newcomer, Elizabeth was determined to focus on her intelligence rather than her appearance, which gained her respect. Mildred Hadley, the matriarch of the family, organized meal preparation, scheduled gardening and housekeeping while raising a family of five resourceful and responsible children. Henry Hadley was a farmer, rancher, and banker. The Hadleys owned the mercantile, and their eldest son Daniel operated as the store manager. Elizabeth roomed with their daughter Melissa in a loft above the store, where they assisted, and they both taught in the two room schoolhouse. Faith and her mother’s treasured cameo broach pinned near her throat consoled and gave Elizabeth strength during the critical conversations with the Talbots, who controlled the community. Working at the store for room and board, preparing lessons, teaching, and learning about this western frontier opened Elizabeth’s eyes. Observing children’s behaviors and their parents’ interactions at church and community functions proved insightful. Elizabeth remained resilient, balanced, and true to her convictions. She was determined to not fall to flattery or requests from widowers or men with different expectations or desires. Focusing on her students, Elizabeth delighted them with her patience, persistence, and playfulness. She encouraged creativity while giving purpose to their needs and talents. A music program she orchestrated even impressed the demanding Talbots. Similes, metaphors, personification, imagery, and humor engage the reader. Elements of foreshadowing and details of historical accuracy keep readers turning the page. If you are curious how a pet can influence a classroom, a community member can dominate, and a young lady of privilege connect, read More than an Attractive Face. Respectfully submitted, Carmaine Ternes Librarian, Author, Editor, Presenter April 2025 What are you reading? Help us lift and share the good news about Kansas literature. Tag your book loves and reviews on social media with #ReadLocalKS and submit here to be posted on the Kansas Authors Club website.
 From Member Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg:
Do you write book reviews for publications, blogs, podcasts, or other sources? Or do you host writers with new books on blogs or podcasts? I have a hard-won new book coming out July 17 from Mammoth Publications – The Magic Eye: A Story of Saving a Life and a Place in the Age of Anxiety – and I would love to connect with you about the possibilities (I can also send you a PDF of the book and its cover pronto). Here’s a little about the book: Harriet Lerner calls The Magic Eye "....a luminous, poetic meditation on survival, community, and resilience. With tenderness and humor, her memoir speaks to the fierce beauty of holding on to life, to land, and to hope when the odds seem insurmountable. A deeply human story, this book is a testament to courage and the power of place that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.” The Magic Eye encompasses a mythic, quirky, and timely journey with a cast of unforgettable friends that make surviving the odds—both the danger of invasive cancer in a body and invasive development vying for tallgrass prairie—possible. Crossing through the pandemic, this memoir is guided by tenderness, curiosity, and more than a dash of magic as Mirriam-Goldberg writes of giving endangered turtles names such as Gandalf and Harrison Ford, undergoing surgery to insert a radioactive disk in her eye, outsmarting a tornado, and the Rube Goldbeg contraption of the body. The Magic Eye investigates what it means to reinhabit our bodies and ecosystems. You can also see the press release here. You are cordially invited to the Book Launch Party on Wednesday, March 26th at 4:00 p.m., at the Vogel Room (Rm. 223), second floor, Student Union at Washburn University. Remarks by Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla. Books will be available for purchase for $20, tax included. DIRECTIONS: Memorial Union is directly south of White Concert Hall on the Washburn campus. Enter through the door under the archway (under the large tower). There is an elevator right there on your right. Take the elevator to the Upper Level. Go down the long atrium hallway until it dead-ends. The Vogel Room is on your right.  LUNACY AND ACTS OF GOD is a coming of age story set against 1950s real life events in Topeka, Kansas. With plenty of quirky, humorous characters and a compelling murder mystery, the book reflects the impact of family and community on prejudice passed through generations, marginalized peoples, our differences, similarities, and choices.
Available at Amazon, Bookshop.org, and wherever books are sold. What reviewers say about LUNACY AND ACTS OF GOD:
Farieh . . . a brilliant Iranian student begins her sophomore year in college. The academic success so dazzling her first year proves uneven in the second, while violence and betrayal stalk her most intimate relationships. Gifted with enormous personal power, she must summon all of it to make the hard choices facing her, choices familiar to young people everywhere.  My latest book, Ivey, Badge 44 will be published March 1st, 2025. It is a tribute story (True Crime/Biography) to raise awareness and honor the life, career and sacrifice of the man who gave all for the citizens protected by the Salina Police Department. Jerry was killed in the line of duty, June 13, 1975, and I am telling his story. I hope you all read it and come to enjoy it as much as I did in writing it.
Member Jim Gilkeson will host a book event in Emporia at Middle Ground Books on Feb. 22nd at 3:00 p.m. He will be reading from Three Lost Worlds, which received last year's Coffin Memorial Book Award for nonfiction, as well as more recent writing. It would be wonderful to see you there!   Member Steven Linder (Wichita) shares his newest book release. The sheriff tossed a small object down on the desk. It was a shiny badge like the one pinned to his own shirt. Early stared at it for a long time. He had never envisioned himself as a peace officer, not even once. “Look, you’ve been out of work for a while, Mr. Early. Maybe you won’t mind earning a few dollars. You handle yourself well in a fight, but you’re smart enough to know it’s best to settle things without fighting. There’s no one else I respect more or would choose to have by my side in tough situations.” A voice from behind Early startled him: “He’ll take the job.” The sheriff laughed. "Thank you, Mrs. Early. All right, Tom, I know you're too smart to fight with Jane. Let's settle this matter now. Take the badge." Steven Linder lives in Wichita, Kansas and writes novels of western history, adventure, and suspense. Kansas City, KS poet Bob Sykora's debut full length poetry collection, Utopians in Love, will be published March 25, 2025 by Game Over Books. The poems in Utopians in Love travel through time, considering historical American utopian colonies in the context of contemporary heartbreak. These poems ask what we actually can learn from the utopian dreams and failures of the past as we attempt to build a better world in the present. Preorders available here: https://www.gameoverbooks.com/store/p/utopians-in-love   I really enjoyed this debut novel by Sandra Lou Taylor, D5 president of Kansas Authors Club. Not only was the writing solid, well presented, and edited, she did her homework and put together a very attractive book, an element of the reading experience that is important to me. The cover is quite pretty and fits the time and setting of the book. I can easily see that the author was envisioning this being an attractive physical series set. The characters were likable. Elizabeth classifies, in my book, as a strong female lead while maintaining her 1830s sensibilities. The relationships between the townsfolk felt real and the setting of the general store was a nice hub for the activity of the story to take place around. I give Sandra high marks for attention to historical detail as well as for the creation of a feel-good story that held my attention from beginning to end. --Tracy Million Simmons (Emporia) Sandra Lou Taylor is a member of Kansas Authors Club from Towanda. She currently serves as District 5 President, is a member of the State Board, and chairs the 2025 Writing Retreat Committee. What are you reading? Help us lift and share the good news about Kansas literature. Tag your book loves and reviews on social media with #ReadLocalKS and submit here to be posted on the Kansas Authors Club website.
Mark O J Esping has finally finished his first memoir/short story publication titled "Fading Like Footprints In Ever Shifting Sand."
Events 70 years ago in Swede-Towns of Kansas share space with Los Angeles, New Mexico, & Kansas City. Environments where Mark lived, which are slipping away. 142 pages - $22.00 + $5.00 for shipping 603 North 2nd St. Lindsborg, KS. 67456  Note from new member, Sherry Krehlbiel, from Saline County. Being a newly published author is exciting, but it is challenging to get my book “out there.” October 29, 2024, marks the day my children’s nonfiction picture book was launched. I was born, raised, and live part-time in central Kansas, but my book, FIRST COMES A BUTTERFLY actually takes place in Missouri where we live during butterfly season. I wrote this story to promote monarch conservation, to share my love for God’s creation, and to celebrate the monarch adventure as discovered by my 8 year old granddaughter. Knowing that the monarch is endangered makes it vital that this message is shared with young children. I have written it specifically for K through 3rd grade, but the glorious illustrations by Simon Mendez make it something all ages will enjoy. sherrykrehbielchildrensbooks.com
  Shattered
One Woman’s True Story of Trauma, Coercive Control and Survival By Ginger Zyskowski Part One takes place from 1978 – 1983 as the author spent time in Washington, California, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and Nevada under the control of a man known as Black Lightening. The story begins with a double kidnapping – the author’s three young children (ages 4, 5, and 7) were abducted and the author, herself, was ruthlessly kidnapped. As she is held against her will and confined by her captors, she vows to do whatever it will take to reconnect with her children and reclaim her life. She gets caught in a web of conflicts and complications caused by lies spoken by her family, her kidnappers, and the FBI. Eventually, with determination, resilience, and courage, she reunites with her three sons and, together, they begin the difficult, yet rewarding journey of recovery after trauma. The author shares her harrowing true story here for the first time.  KAC member Michael Durall has published a new book. It’s titled A Captivating Cast of Characters: Heartwarming Stories from the Kansas Plains. The book’s unique feature is that most chapters are only a page and a half in length. Many are highly amusing. The text is largely the result of his spending a great deal of time in museum archives around Central Kansas. Available at Red Fern Booksellers in Salina. $15.
 Follow the harrowing journey of an Ethiopian woman navigating the hardships of working abroad to support her family LUBBOCK, Texas – Author Mark G. Wentling marks his return to the publishing scene with “Falling Seven Times” (published by Archway Publishing), a fictionalized account of his Ethiopian wife’s true-life experience as a labor migrant. The story follows Alya, an Ethiopian woman who unwillingly leaves her home in a desperate need to provide for her family. Without jobs that pay a livable wage in her country, working abroad is her only option for survival. What follows is a journey fraught with physical and emotional challenges: challenging work conditions, language barriers, and cultural clashes — all in the hope of securing a better future for herself and her loved ones. With its poignant narrative, “Falling Seven Times” offers a new perspective on a story that is all too often overlooked. The book’s title speaks to the resilience and courage that labor migrants must summon each day, facing uncertainty and struggle while holding onto the hope of rising again. It is the author’s hope for readers to gain insight into the personal toll of labor migration — a phenomenon that is an economic lifeline for both the workers’ countries of origin and the nations where they toil. “Alya’s is just one story out of tens of millions of the struggles of labor migrants,” Wentling states. “I want readers to take away the critical predicament that millions of people in the world face in order to find the jobs they and their families desperately need to survive.” “Falling Seven Times” is now available on Archway Publishing and other major online platforms. “Falling Seven Times” By Mark G. Wentling Hardcover | 6 x 9in | 318 pages | ISBN 9781665763233 Softcover | 6 x 9in | 318 pages | ISBN 9781665763219 E-Book | 318 pages | ISBN 9781665763226 Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the Author Mark G. Wentling was born July 3, 1945, in Wichita, Kansas. He was raised in nearby small towns and attended Wichita State University. He left Wichita at the age of 21 to join the Peace Corps. After serving with the Peace Corps in Honduras in the 1967-1969 period, he began service with Peace Corps Togo in 1970. One thing led to another and he ended up staying in Africa for almost 50 years. During this time, he had the privilege to know all 54 African countries. Following work with the Peace Corps in 1977, he worked for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), serving as its principal officer in six African countries. After his retirement from USAID in 1996, he worked as a personal service contractor for USAID in several African countries. In his post-USAID period, Wentling also worked in several African countries with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including CARE, World Vision and Plan International. He also worked in Africa under various institutional contracts. Wentling currently resides in Lubbock, Texas, with his much-loved Ethiopian spouse. All the seven children he helped raise were conceived in Africa, but they are now adults living in various places in the US. He would like to be remembered as a good father, an author and a humanitarian. Mark Wentling is a Kansas Authors Club member living in Lubbock, Texas.
 The original full cast audio drama, The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline, has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2025 Audie Awards, presented by the Audio Publishers Association (APA).
Often called the “Oscars of the audiobook industry,” the Audie Awards honor the highest achievements in audio storytelling. The inclusion of TJ Crowley among this year’s finalists in the Young Adult category places this independently created and published work on the same top shelf as productions from major publishing houses like Macmillan, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster. “This recognition underscores that excellence in storytelling and production is not limited to big-budget publishers. It can be achieved with passion, collaboration, and a bold vision, and the support of a distributor like Blackstone Publishing,” said Grant Overstake, executive producer and co-author. The audio drama, adapted from Overstake’s award-winning novel, captures the suspenseful and poignant story of a young white boy from a broken family growing up in 1968 Wichita amidst the turmoil of the Civil Rights era. When his world is upended by the arrival of a Black family next door, TJ must confront his inherited prejudices, leading him on a harrowing, transformative journey. This groundbreaking project was made possible through the generous support of The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, the National Endowment for the Arts, and individual contributors. Fiscal sponsorship was provided by the Youth Educational Empowerment Program, ensuring the project could achieve its vision as an arts-driven initiative that engages and educates through storytelling. The production, a collaborative effort by Overstake and acclaimed producer/director May Wuthrich, features a stellar ensemble cast of multi-award-winning actors led by Dani Martineck as TJ. The cast includes co-producers Dion Graham and Tavia Gilbert, as well as Johnny Heller, Shayna Small, Michael Crouch, Kirby Heyborne, Ari Fliakos, Kevin R. Free, Graham Halstead, Thérèse Plummer, Brittany Pressley, Peter Berkrot, John Wright, and Sheila Brown Kinnard. John Marshall Media’s Cameron Potts, who produced with Wuthrich, led the effort to create an immersive soundscape that added texture and context, evoking the social and political climate of the time. Further enhancing the production are stirring performances of Negro spirituals by the ARISE Ensemble, a Wichita-based multicultural choir. “This recognition is a testament to the hard work and passion of everyone involved, and we’re incredibly grateful for their dedication to producing something special,” said Wuthrich. "We set out to create a listening experience that would not only entertain but educate and inspire." Finalists are selected by a panel of industry experts who evaluate productions based on overall quality, narration, sound design, and impact. The winners of the 2025 Audie Awards will be announced at a gala ceremony in New York City on March 25. Grant Overstake is a member of Kansas Authors Club from Wichita. The Real Education of TJ Crowley won the 2019 J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award and the 2019 "It Looks Like a Million" Design Award from the Kansas Authors Club. Sandee is the featured guest on Literary Scape Podcast. She shared her author adventure of publishing her debut novel More Than an Attractive Face. There are 3 options for viewing the podcast. Here are the links. I hope you enjoy it. Literary Scapes blog post: [https://www.literaryscape.com/pod.../author-sandra-lu-taylor](https://www.literaryscape.com/pod.../author-sandra-lu-taylor) YouTube Link: [https://youtu.be/05rnf2-ZHPI?feature=shared](https://youtu.be/05rnf2-ZHPI?feature=shared) Rumble Link: [https://rumble.com/v6bvmqp-bonus-episode-interview-with...](https://rumble.com/v6bvmqp-bonus-episode-interview-with...)   Plan to attend the virtual launch of More than an Attractive Face. The Zoom event will include prizes, short readings by the author, and Q & A with Sandra. Linzi Garcia will emcee the event.
More Than an Attractive Face, set in 1837 Indiana, follows the journey of Elizabeth Spaulding as she flees her privileged life in New York to supporting herself in a frontier town. The reason for Elizabeth’s departure from a life of comfort was an arranged marriage to a pompous man. She vowed that she’d never be a pretty thing on any man’s arm. For a man to be worth her time, he must appreciate her personality and her mind. This ideal is challenged several times as she faces finding a way to support herself, unfair domination, and a physical attack. The Hadley family support and protect her through the difficulties. More Than an Attractive Face is the first book in the Hadley Hope Series. Each book contains a complete story but enriches the story in the previous book. The second book in the series, More Than a Little Turmoil, set in 1854-55 explores family tragedy, the protection of fugitive slaves, and the opening of Kansas Territory. This second book is scheduled for release this summer. Currently, More Than an Attractive Face is available on Amazon in paperback and ebook format. In the middle of February, it will also be available on Audible. For more information about Sandra Lou Taylor check out sandraloutaylor.com or her FaceBook page @SandraLouTaylorWrites.  Jackleg Boys by Mark G. Wentling Vanguard Press 506 pages Jackleg Boys unfolds a gripping tale of survival, transformation, and the bonds forged in the crucible of adversity. Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War's aftermath, Henry and Randy, once priviledged sons of an aristrocratic Virginian family, find themselves grappling with the ruins of their past. As they navigate the harsh realities of a war-torn landscape, it becomes a catalyst for a perilous journey westward. In a quest for survival, the duo must shed their former identities and confront the moral complexities of their choices. This historical novel explores the lengths individuals go to endure and adapt in the face of calamity, challenging notions of privilege, identity, and the pursuit of a new beginning. Jackleg Boys is a riveting narrative that explores the transformative power of desperation and the indomitable human spirit. Mark Wentling is a Kansas Authors Club member living in Lubbock, Texas. |
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