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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.  Tim Bascom, member from Topeka, shares the following book news: I'm excited about the design for my new collection of short stories--Continental Drift--which is now available for pre-orders from Main Street Rag. I've learned to not be shy, since people won't know otherwise. You can save $7 if you order now. Just click this link, and I'd love to hear what you think of these stories about travelers crossing paths between the U.S. and eight different nations in Africa.
 Ruth Maus, member from Topeka shares the following about her upcoming book: Thirty years ago I wrote a novel. After many revisions and lots of life events, the time is almost here for the book to be presented to the world.
Lunacy and Acts of God is a coming-of-age story set against the amazing convergence of unique events, institutions, and people that occurred in Topeka, Kansas during the late 1950s. Ultimately it is a story about community, prejudice passed through generations, quirky and marginalized peoples, our differences, similarities, and choices—a very current topic. The book is in final proofing stages now, so should be available in both soft cover and e-book formats in the next few weeks. I'll be updating with book launch and purchase information soon, but for now, read what a few advance readers have to say: "I knew I wanted to publish this book when I found myself laughing out loud when reading it! While it is full of humor, the book also addresses important societal issues that, decades after Maus started writing it, are either resurfacing or continue to need our attention. A well-crafted book full of rich characters, it's an honor to include this novel in the Flint Hills Publishing catalogue." -- THEA RADEMACHER, President, Flint Hills Publishing “Melody tells her story reminiscent of the young girl Scout in To Kill A Mockingbird. She listens and observes others then weaves in an unsolved murder mystery in this page-turning and engaging read.” -- MICHAEL PADILLA, Mayor and lifelong resident of Topeka, Kansas “What a witty and wonderfully readable book! Full of laugh-out-loud scenes, Lunacy and Acts of God will keep anyone up all night to find out what happens next.” -- ANNE SPRY, author of Finally Noticing: Photos and Poems Prompted by a Pandemic; 2024 President, Kansas Authors Club “A charming and fantastical coming of age story. A young girl wrestles with the social ills of racism, mental illness, the abuses of powerful institutions, [and] life’s many nuanced shades of gray.” -- -- DR. KAREN BELLOWS, Former Menninger Clinic Faculty “This fine novel tells an American story featuring characters so broken and vulnerable and horrible and redeeming and real that you’d swear they can exist only in fiction—until you realize that you know them--right now. That is the power and the humility of Ruth Maus’ debut.” -- CRAIG LANCASTER, two-time High Plains Book Award winner, author of Northward Dreams and 600 Hours of Edward “Ruth Maus’s character, Melody, belongs in that august pantheon of American child characters founded by Mark Twain who are able to expound upon the madness of their times with a magnificent wit and wisdom so far beyond their years, you keep turning the pages.” -- ANDREW FARKAS, author of The Great Indoorsman: Essays and The Big Red Herring “A refreshing glimpse into history and human nature.” -- JULIE A. SELLERS, author of Ann of Sunflower Lane and Kansas Authors Club Prose Writer of the Year (2020, 2022, 2023) “Follow the misadventures of Ruth Maus’s…heroine as [she] tries to make sense of the prejudices and loving loyalties of her quirky Kansas community.” -- TIM BASCOM, Director of Kansas Book Festival, author of Chameleon Days and Climbing Lessons If you would like to get updates from Ruth, please subscribe to her Mailing List at ruthmaus.com Go to the bottom of the Home Page to Attitudes and Beatitudes and enter your email. Thanks, everyone, for your support and encouragement of my writing all these years! Blessings Ruth Maus Member Connlyn Sinclair, Lawrence, shares the following book news: My post apocalyptic novella Age Of Travelers is now on Amazon. Age Of Travelers which follows a young couple who go on a road trip after the world has ended was originally serialized in The Kraken Lore but is now available in this extended addition from Alien Buddha Press out of Arizona.   New member D.A. Chadwick participated in the Holiday Extravaganza at the 4H Building in El Dorado. She had a booth selling her books. She reminds us that "Craft shows provide good exposure for authors."  A note from member John Queen, D2: One is now available on libro.fm, Spotify, Google Play to name a few. Lots of fun and work! Rosalie Krenger took my narration and produced a professional audio. Google play has a different free sample than Spotify. Listen to both if you wish. Now can I concentrate on a sequel?! Congratulations, John!   Mark Landon Jarvis encourages fans of science-fiction to attend the book launch of Future Fugitives, a near-future sci-fi novel.
The book launch is slated for Thursday, November 7th at 6pm at Watermark Books and Cafe, Wichita. RSVP: http://www.watermarkbooks.com/event/2024-11-07/store-author-event-mark-jarvis This is Mark's first book launch, and he's eager to see you there! Book Announcement by Wichita member, Michael Poage: With gratitude I introduce you to my COLLECTED POEMS 1975 - 2024. It is published by Spartan Press, Jason Ryberg, Kansas City, Missouri. Available at [email protected], bluecedarpress.com, michaelpoage.com, Barnes and Noble, Watermark Books, Bookshop.org, and other independent book stores. $50.00 Thank you. Support the poets!  |
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