Saturday, March 15, 2025
1:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m.
*note that our regularly scheduled Saturday program has been moved to Saturday, March 29, so that members may attend Ronda's Celebration of Life in person or via the streamed event.
 The 111th anniversary of Kansas Poet William Stafford's birth will occur soon. In the past, beloved local poet Ronda Miller wonderfully organized a yearly program. Sadly, Ronda died unexpectedly recently. At "Remembering Two Kansas Poets," the poetry community will celebrate the lives and poetry of both Stafford and Miller. Readings by several poets will include Stafford's and Miller's work, the original work of attendees, and shared remembrances of Ronda. February 1, 2025
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. The Watkins Museum Lawrence, Kansas It is with great sadness we report the passing of Ronda Miller on December 10, 2024. Ronda was many a poet's first introduction to Kansas Authors Club. She served our organization in many capacities, including State President from 2018-2019. Ronda will be greatly missed. Please share your memories of Ronda via our submit form. We will add them to this page.  Ronda Miller Member (D2) 2011-2024 State President 2018-2019 State Vice President 2016-2017 District 2 President - 2014-2017 State Poetry Contest Manager - 2012-2015 Poetry Books Going Home: Poems from My Life MoonStain (Meadowlark, 2015) WaterSigns (Meadowlark, 2017) Winds of Time (Kellogg Press, 2019) I Love the Child (Kellogg Press, 2019)
  I met Ronda when I volunteered to help with the registration desk when attending my first KAC convention which was held in my hometown of Lawrence. She had seen our ad in the local newspaper where she was employed as a blogger, and we immediately became friends. Of course, I had to encourage her to become a member too. At the first meeting she attended, our connection deepened when she tearfully described recently losing her ex-husband, the father of her children, with whom she still had a soul-bond and obviously still loved. I related immediately since I had lost my husband and soulmate just a few years prior. Later, we discovered that we both had M.S. My symptoms were more prevalent than hers, but it was another commonality of our lives. During our friendship, we shared many experiences such as representing KAC at the annual holiday event in downtown Lawrence, selling books at the same holiday fairs, and then having her contributing stories in two of my anthologies. What I learned about Ronda was that she was an independent, very intelligent and loyal friend who always encouraged others. She bought our books, commented on our Facebook posts, offered help before it was asked, could never say no when needed, and never complained. She was a very spiritual person who valued everyone, with the ability to forgive which kept her positive and able to see the world as it could be. I know she must have been a wonderful asset as a Life Coach to her clients. Due to both of our physical constraints, I had not seen Ronda for a while, but we still made occasional contact. When I saw the simple subject line that said “Ronda Miller,” tears welled in my eyes because I knew, even before reading its content, what the email would say. She was doing so well and her passing was a shock. I could only pray that God would hold her in His arms and give her the blessings and joy that she deserved for the wonderful legacy she left for others. -Vicki Julian "I will forever miss her kindness, her love of words, her love of people, the way she always brought snacks, and the way she always encouraged me. Until we meet again, my friend!" -Curtis Becker "When I first met Ronda I was more than a little intimidated! She is a force. After we met more personally and she did my final edits on Sunshine, we connected. Her photo’s were beautiful and her poetry was inspiring." -Deb Irsik "I've worked and rode and wrote and explored with Ronda for so long in so many ways, I can only start to grasp this loss while feeling how much I love her. I can't remember when we met exactly, but she was central to my efforts when I was Kansas Poet Laureate and we did many a road trip and lots of meetings and meals and figuring things out together. She also co-chaired the Power of Words conference from the Transformative Language Arts Network with me and was very involved for years." -Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg "Ronda will be missed for her words, her photographs and her beautiful spirit. Condolences to her family and many writing friends." -Anne Spry "Ronda was a person who put her hands together and gave you a lift. I barely knew her when I came to her event at The Raven. She asked me to read one of her poems and I was honored. When she was not having a good day one time, I got small cherry pies and we sat in her backyard, eating them and watching her cat, Timothy." -Ann Vigola Anderson  "Ronda Miller was a beautiful, creative, kind, giving, supportive and talented human. When I got news yesterday that she had passed, it felt a bit like a gut punch. Early on in this writing adventure of mine, she was an ever-present support, whether it be through her kind words, or helping me get hooked into cool experiences as a writer/ poet. Ronda was the reason I was able to go on the television program, Absolutely Kansas, to talk about my first book. It wasn’t because they were looking at me, but Ronda saw something in me that she wanted to help promote. She asked me to be a part of one of her book launches at the Raven Bookstore in Lawrence, and this was another example of her wanting to promote and support other poets. "Ronda was always willing to share the stage-so to speak. The William Stafford: living a poetic life event at the Watkins Museum is an annual poetry reading that I look forward to every year. She had poets from all over the state come and read out at that event, and I was able to be a part of that as well. I got a kick out of the fact that Ronda described my poetry as “Staffordy” "So, Ronda did all of that. That event was her creation. I’m one of many who benefited personally and professionally from having Ronda as a friend, and support in their life. In terms of her body of work, she was an accomplished and gifted poet. I always enjoyed hearing her read out her work, and I know she took great pleasure in hearing other poets read out their work as well. Her footprint on the Lawrence poetry scene, and the Kansas scene as a whole, is one of substance. "Ronda loved beautiful things, whether it be flowers, or words, or a warm hug before or after a poetry reading. Actually, Ronda just loved. "I know so many people that were touched by her, and I can venture to guess that I am not the only one feeling the void right now. "Ronda’s legacy will live on, through her written work, and her contributions to our greater writing world. It will also live on because many of us will remember the loving and caring human being that she was. "My deepest condolences to her family, all of her friends, and damn if we weren’t lucky to have been able to spend time with her, and love her. "She will be greatly missed." -Kerry Moyer I remember Ronda Miller on the day she joined our club. I believe at the point I was president of our district. We asked everyone to give their name and a short summary of what they wrote. Ronda got up and recited one of her recent poems. At another time she visited our home to find out how I was doing and just chat. Prior to that she wanted me to recite some of my poems in her back yard, and at another time she invited me to a Slam where local poets were reading their poetry out loud. Ronda and I were admirers of each other's poetry. -Tom Mach  I don't remember when Ronda Miller and I met through KAC, but I have no doubt that she would, because she was sweet like that. We weren't in the same KAC district, but she kept up with the news of the district I'm in and kept me "in the know" of news in her district and KAC at the state level. She was always so supportive! She always treated me as a best friend although we didn't know each other for a long time. In 2023, I responded to an email request she sent out for help with a rather large editing project she was doing for a friend of hers who was writing his memoir. She and I kept in contact even after the project. She and I wrote often as friends on Facebook. She would sweetly end many messages with "I love you!" Later that same year we ended up attending the same book signing for local authors at the Winfield Public Library in my hometown of Winfield, KS. In true Ronda-like fashion, she greeted me warmly and asked if we could get our picture taken together. We continued connecting on Facebook after that. I was especially inspired by her beautiful pictures of nature. Often the pictures were of sunrises, sunsets, and other moments in nature that she sought out in order to help her heal throughout her terrible illness. I was honored that she shared some intimate details about that illness with me and I was glad to offer empathy where I could. I was saddened and shocked to hear of her passing, but I do believe she is now healed. I can still picture her enjoying beautiful sunrises and sunsets. She is missed. -Melody Cole Thank you to Roy Beckemyer, Curtis Becker, and Meadowlark Press for sharing photos.
 With much appreciation to our authors, artists, and readers we invite you to celebrate the publication of THE WRITE BRIDGE JOURNAL: 2024 edition. Enjoy refreshments, great speakers & A GOOD TIME! SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 20243:30 - 6:30 PM WATKINS MUSEUM, LAWRENCE, KANSAS Find Out More SELECT ARTICLES, POEMS, SHORT STORIES, PLAYS AND ARTWORK FROM AUTHORS AND ARTISTS WITH POWERFUL VOICES The Write Bridge presents two opposing ideas for creators and readers to delve into—seriously or in fun—in order stretch our imaginations, to move beyond boundaries, to bridge the gap. RNAL TOPIC: SOLITUDE and SOLIDARITYPUBLICATION DATE: MARCH 17, 202 AVAILABLE NOW HERE! CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS & ARTISTS: *denotes KAC member Barry Barnes Vern Barnet Shelley Watts Barnhill Stephanie A. Barrows *Lindsey Bartlett *Julie Ann Baker Brin Patricia Cleveland *Ian Cook Louis Copt *Brian Daldorph *Anamarie Davis-Wilkins *Thaddeus Dugan Heather Duris *Gretchen Cassel Eick Andrew Evans *Robert Fraga *Amber Fraley *Beth Gulley *George Gurley *Duane L. Herrmann *D.A. Irsik *Kelly W. Johnston Kathleen Kaska Julia Mathias Manglitz Cathy Martin J.A. McGovern *Ronda Miller *Peg Nichols *Kevin Rabas John Ritchie *Troy Robinson BruDe Rolfe *Mark Scheel *Diane Silver Garold Sneegas *Lori Stratton *Connlyn Synclair *Chuck Warner *Barbara Waterman Peters *Brenda White  Kansas Authors Club is grateful to our member volunteers who gave the gift of time to judge our youth contest entries. We couldn't have done this without them! Please help us thank these individuals. Get familiar with their work. Share your appreciation!  Fiction Grades 3-4 Onalee Nicklin is best known for her fantasy or “storybook” pencil drawings, often depicting children as mermaids, elves, or characters in a story. She works mostly with graphite pencils, colored pencils, and sometimes does a little mixed media. “I hope my work inspires people to use their imagination, to dream, to read,” she says. Onalee lives in a small cottage on a farm near Emporia, Kansas, with her husband, two cats, and numerous species of wildlife. She is the illustrator of the Kansas Notable Book (2022), Ava: A Year of Adventure in the Life of an American Avocet, story by Mandy Kern, and the author/illustrator of To Hide a Hazelnut (2023).
 Fiction Grades 5-6 Lisa D. Stewart is a commercial writer in Prairie Village, Kansas, who writes magazine articles, feasibility studies, business plans, grant writing, and marketing. Between 1984 and 1999, she and her former husband created and grew Ortho-Flex Saddle Company, after a three-thousand-mile horse-back trip that taught them about the relationship between saddles and the biomechanics of the horse. The couple produced and sold patented saddles and tack in more than thirty countries. She has published more than one hundred articles on the topic of saddle fit. Lisa lives with her husband, Robert Stewart, editor emeritus of New Letters magazine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is the author of The Big Quiet: One Woman's Horseback Ride Home. (2020)  iction Grades 7-8 K.L. Barron is a writer of place: poetry and prose. Her prize-winning fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction has been published in New Letters, The Bennington Review, Little Balkans Review, terrain.org, ChickenBones (Library of Congress), among others, and in several anthologies. She has taught writing and literature at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas for nearly twenty years and lives and writes in the Flint Hills. Her debut novel Thirst came out in November from Sea Crow Press. Note from K.L. about the youth submissions: I enjoyed reading the 7th and 8th grade fiction contest submissions and I applaud KAC for encouraging creativity in young writers and offering a supportive space to share it.
 Fiction Grades 9-12, Non-Fiction Grades 9-12, and Poetry Grades 9-12 Curtis Becker, a Topeka-based writer, editor, and publisher, teaches English at Washburn University and Emporia State University. He is also a licensed Realtor® with Keller Williams One Legacy Partners, serving the Topeka and Emporia areas. Becker is the editor of Kansas Authors Clubs “Writing from the Center” literary zine. Most recently, his article “Giving Effective Feedback to Young Writers” appeared in Kansas English, a publication of the Kansas Association of Teachers of English. Becker is also a member of the Emporia Writers Group and The Writers Place of Kansas City. He is a frequenter of open mics, coffee shops, and bookstores across Northeast Kansas. Curtis is the author of He Watched and Took Note (2018).  Non-Fiction Grades 3-4 Jolene Haas grew up in Southeast Kansas listening to the many stories of her extended family members. Some stories were true, but most were creatively told with twists and turns in the events, depending on who was telling the story. As a young girl, she began writing her own stories. She loves to read and write middle grade and young adult fiction. Jolene has taught students in Pre-K through eighth grade for thirty years. She is a member of Kansas Authors Club and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.  Non-Fiction Grades 5-6 Ronda Miller is a Life Coach and published author of five books of poetry. She teaches The Importance of Voice for Trauma Transformation in concert with Johnson County Library, School of Trades and The Department of Corrections. Miller sits on the board of The Writers Place and is a former state president of Kansas Authors Club, 2018 - 2019. She is the poetry editor for zine, The Write Bridge. Ronda is the author of To Love the Child (2019) and three books of poetry. Note from Ronda about the youth submissions: I was impressed with the submissions I had the opportunity to judge. Each one was interesting and well written. I was especially impressed with the depth of research, passion and knowledge that was shared. My decisions were difficult to make.
 Non-Fiction Grades 7-8 Carolyn Hall is an award winning author and her book Prairie Meals and Memories was named to one of the top 150 books on Kansas. Her writing has appeared in several Chicken Soup for the Soul books, The Christian Science Monitor, several anthologies, the Kansas City Star, Produce Merchandizing Magazine, and The Best Times.  Poetry Grades 3-4 and 5-6 Jerilynn Henrikson has spent her life in Emporia, Kansas, which she considers her front porch to the rolling Flint Hills and expansive skies of East Central Kansas. Here she and her veterinarian husband Duane have raised four kids, who also love being half way to everywhere. Jerilynn has loved teaching English, collecting friends, and telling tales. Remembering Martha is her favorite, so far.
 Poetry Grades 7-8
Linda Heggestad started writing poetry at about the age of the 7th and 8th grade poets in our contest. Her first volume of poetry, Cloud & Wind, was completed in 2020. Her second volume of poetry, Blooms & Glory, came out in July. She loves poetry for its unique ability to capture a moment, a feeling, an image, an unforgettable experience. There is such freedom in this unique art form that is suspended between words and pictures, song and story. Note from Linda about the youth submissions: I want to celebrate each of you young artists and your efforts here. There were so many powerful images you have created in your poems – snakes wrapping around their next meal stealing the very life from it; being treated like trashy contraband; feeling trapped in a school situation from which you long to escape. There’s a girl in a mysterious castle exquisitely drawing maps, and someone lying awake at night hearing the songs of the stars in the sky. You’re doing beautiful work. Please keep writing. Please keep going in the struggles that you are experiencing now. It will get better, the road will widen, you will have other opportunities and fresh air. Just keep going, don’t give up. And lean into your writing: keep writing the beautiful things and the hard things and the things that are wrong and unjust and that hurt, and also the things that make it wondrous to be alive. Keep writing them – and keep living. The newest issue of The Write Bridge, by Anamcara Press, includes the work of many Kansas Authors Club Members: Amber Fraley (D2), Peg Nichols (D2), David Hann (D2), Kathleen Kaska (D2), Boyd Bauman (D2), John L. Swainston (D2), Lindsey Bartlett (D2), Beth Gulley (D2), Debra Irsik (D2), Fred Applehanz (D1), Brenda L. White (D2), Brian Daldorph (D2), Iris Craver (D2), Ronda Miller (D2), Perry Shepard (D2), Micki Carroll (D2)  Anamcara Press will begin accepting submissions for the Next edition of The Write Bridge June 1, 2022. Topics: Fortitude & Toploftiness
Ronda shared samples of her poetry and other poems that inspire her at the March D5 meeting. She also led attendees in four separate writing exercises, each followed by a time for sharing. A recording of her presentation has been edited and posted on YouTube. The recording pauses only briefly after each prompt. We encourage you to stop the recording and spend ten minutes writing using each prompt.
 Ronda Miller has 4 books of Poetry and a beautiful prize-winning children's picture book, I Love the Child. Ronda is a life coach whose specialty is helping others deal with trauma. Her work and life experience make her an amazingly helpful coach and writer and an effective critic of others’ writing. She will be both sharing some of her own work and talking about what she has learned about how to write memoirs and fiction that are powerful and moving and don’t ignore the traumas that shape us. You will not want to miss her presentation at 1:30-3:30, March 12 at Asbury Methodist Church on 15th Street West in Wichita. Come in person or watch online through Zoom.
Saturday March 12 at 1:30 either in person or via Zoom. In Person: at Asbury Church, 2801 W. 15th St., Wichita.  Image courtesy of NaNoWriMo. This starts Monday, November 1st! Please join us each Monday for the month of November for NaNoWriMo (1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and the 29th) for encouragement and ideas. We’ll meet in a private room at Perkins restaurant, 1711 W 23rd St., Lawrence, KS 66046, from 4 to 6 p.m. Please rsvp by Sunday as I’ll need to let Perkins’ staff know how many of us to expect. I plan to send reminders each week. Do you have a friend who enjoys writing? Please invite them. You need not write a novel. Feel free to write whatever you’ve been wanting to. Our group will hold each other accountable, over pie no less! Not familiar with it? https://www.masterclass.com/articles/tips-for-national-novel-writing-month-success Sincerely, Ronda Miller, District 2 Member Are you a KAC member who is hosting NaNoWriMo gatherings? Or simply an individual participating? Feel free to share news of your meetings and/or your progress here. Send us some photos. Share some word counts! What is the title of your work in progress?
Jeff G. Guernsey – 10 years
Ronda Miller – 10 years Ray “Griz” Racobs – 10 years Gloria Zachgo – 10 years Michael D. Graves – 10 years Susan Hill – 15 years Arlene Rains Graber – 15 years Betty A. Laird – 15 years Tracy Million Simmons – 20 years Joann Williams – 25 years Maryann Barry – 30 years Lorine A. Gleue – 30 years Cynthia J. Ross – 30 years Frankie Roland – 35 years Millie Horlacher – 40 years Octogenarians Carol Katsantoness Frank Powers* Susan Hill *has reached 5 years of membership  Ronda Miller will ask attendees to share experiences that they have overcome through their writings. She will ask for the sharing of poetry or a short narrative paragraph that exemplifies healing through writing and offer suggestions as to how they can transform their attitude by changing their writing. Miller will utilize well-known authors’ works as well as writings of her own.  Miller is a Life Coach who specializes in working with clients who have lost a loved one to homicide. Her personal experiences with trauma include the deaths of her mother and a niece to suicide, the death of her father in a homicide, personal gun memories, an early life involving numerous moves and living situations, a kidnapping, separation from siblings, placement in the foster care system, adoption, physical and drug abuse, mental illness, and a subsequent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Gun Memories of a Stone-Eyed Cold Girl, MoonStain, WaterSigns, Winds of Time, and I Love the Child are books the author has written that show a lifetime progression of healing from early and ongoing trauma by utilization of Voice through poetry, narrative, and children’s stories.  Important Update:
On Friday, August 28, members of the District 1 Kansas Authors Club, hosts for the 2021 State Writing Conference and Convention scheduled for October 9 and 10 at the Ramada Inn in Topeka announced a switch from an in-person event to a virtual one. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we shift to Plan B for the convention. We promise that it will still contain the same motivational and informative workshops and speakers. It will perhaps be even more intimate in the webinar setting, as no one will have to strain to see or hear speakers. You’ll be able to look into their eyes and feel like you’re sitting in the same room with them. And, actually, you will be… in the same zoom room! We look forward to seeing you in October on Zoom! View convention details on this page: 2021 Convention Registration deadline: October 7, 2021  April Author Talk: Ronda Miller Author of: I Love the Child Winner: 2020 Kansas Authors Club Children's Book Award Recording Available for Viewing by Members - Click Here Ronda will be talking about education vs. entertainment, the importance of layered messaging, finding and working with an illustrator, inclusivity, and her objectives in writing this book. Don't forget to support our Kansas Authors! Buy a book. Review a book. Send a note of appreciation about a book. You can order Ronda's book from her publisher, Kellogg Press, or wherever you buy books!
"After careful deliberation we have chosen I Love the Child, by Ronda Miller. First, the size and feel of the book would make it easy to read to a small group of children. The illustrations beautifully matched the poem on the page. There was diversity of ethnicity, physical condition, and gender. The Spanish co-text should make it appealing to a wide range of children. We could identify characteristics of children we have raised and known, and think that older children could see themselves in some of these characters. We think the book could be used with a wide age range. The cooking section expands the number of activities that could be used with the book. This is a book that we would like to give to important young people in our lives."
Allison and Gary Haworth, 2020 Judges, Kansas Authors Club Childrens' Book Award Kansas Authors Club is hosting a monthly “Author Talk” featuring an award-winning writer, with first priority given to authors who have won KAC book awards. The author will talk about an aspect of writing, publishing, or marketing (author's choice). The presentations are expected to last an hour to an hour and a half and will include time for questions and answers. These events are being planned via Zoom, to take place on the 4th Tuesday of each month. The event will be open to all Kansas Authors Club members. A recording of the event will be made available to members who cannot attend live. All Kansas Authors Club members are invited to attend. Considering membership? Select "potential new member" and register for one free Author Talk. We'd love to meet you. April 27 Author Talk by |
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I Love the Child, by Ronda Miller
We have made our selection for the Kansas Authors Club Book of the Year. We were impressed with the quality of the books submitted for review.
After careful deliberation we have chosen I Love the Child, by Ronda Miller. First, the size and feel of the book would make it easy to read to a small group of children. The illustrations beautifully matched the poem on the page. There was diversity of ethnicity, physical condition, and gender. The Spanish co-text should make it appealing to a wide range of children. We could identify characteristics of children we have raised and known, and think that older children could see themselves in some of these characters. We think the book could be used with a wide age range. The cooking section expands the number of activities that could be used with the book. This is a book that we would like to give to important young people in our lives.
Thank you for asking us to be a review panel. We enjoyed the process and for the opportunity to read these books.
Allison and Gary Haworth
After careful deliberation we have chosen I Love the Child, by Ronda Miller. First, the size and feel of the book would make it easy to read to a small group of children. The illustrations beautifully matched the poem on the page. There was diversity of ethnicity, physical condition, and gender. The Spanish co-text should make it appealing to a wide range of children. We could identify characteristics of children we have raised and known, and think that older children could see themselves in some of these characters. We think the book could be used with a wide age range. The cooking section expands the number of activities that could be used with the book. This is a book that we would like to give to important young people in our lives.
Thank you for asking us to be a review panel. We enjoyed the process and for the opportunity to read these books.
Allison and Gary Haworth
Judges Allison and Gary Haworth have two adult daughters: Mary Kate and Becky. Allison is a graduate of the University of Kansas and taught early elementary school in the Lawrence school district prior to having children. Raising her own children instilled a passion for young children. Allison has been a preschool teacher for the Lawrence Arts Center for the past 20 years. Gary Haworth is an elementary curriculum PhD graduate of the University of Iowa. He has taught at the elementary school level and was a central office and elementary school administrator. He is now retired.
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Congratulations to D5 member, Gretchen Eick, and the following Kansas Authors Club members who were published in this anthology: Ronda Miller (D2), Jim Potter (D6), Mark McCormick (D5), Judy Keller Hatteberg (D5), Robert Dean (D5), Michael Poage (D5), Julie Baker Brinn (D7), Mike Graves (D2), Ruth Maus (D1), Julie Stielstra (D6), Mark Scheel (D2), Miriam Iwashige (D6), Najiyah Maxfield (D6), Janet Stotts (D1), and Diane Wahto (D5).
PRESS RELEASE
September 20, 2020
The Death Project: An Anthology for These Times is now in print and available to order at your favorite bookstore and Amazon.
This book is a 205 page anthology of stories, poems, mini memoirs, and factual pieces about the various ways we lose loved ones to death and how we grieve and heal. It is a collaboration by 36 writers from across the US, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Britain, Turkey, etc. who contributed their writing to help others suffering from grief or anticipation of grief. It is intended to expand readers' thinking, feeling, and imagining about this universal, often-hidden experience brought relentlessly to the world's consciousness in 2020.
The writers are Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Bah'ais, atheists, and New Age, and of different races and ethnicities. Some write of family loss including suicide, others of war or devastating illness, of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter. Others share rituals that helped them recover.
Published by Blue Cedar Press (Wichita, KS) and edited by Dr. Gretchen Eick and Cora Poage, proceeds from the sales of The Death Project after the cost of publication and shipping will go to an assortment of international organizations fighting COVID-19. $12 paperback, $7 ebook (epub and Kindle).
For more information contact:
Gretchen Eick, 316-682-8818
[email protected]
September 20, 2020
The Death Project: An Anthology for These Times is now in print and available to order at your favorite bookstore and Amazon.
This book is a 205 page anthology of stories, poems, mini memoirs, and factual pieces about the various ways we lose loved ones to death and how we grieve and heal. It is a collaboration by 36 writers from across the US, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Britain, Turkey, etc. who contributed their writing to help others suffering from grief or anticipation of grief. It is intended to expand readers' thinking, feeling, and imagining about this universal, often-hidden experience brought relentlessly to the world's consciousness in 2020.
The writers are Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Bah'ais, atheists, and New Age, and of different races and ethnicities. Some write of family loss including suicide, others of war or devastating illness, of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter. Others share rituals that helped them recover.
Published by Blue Cedar Press (Wichita, KS) and edited by Dr. Gretchen Eick and Cora Poage, proceeds from the sales of The Death Project after the cost of publication and shipping will go to an assortment of international organizations fighting COVID-19. $12 paperback, $7 ebook (epub and Kindle).
For more information contact:
Gretchen Eick, 316-682-8818
[email protected]
We want to help you share your writing 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.
Ronda Miller was the feature for the September issue of Senior Monthly Magazine, Lawrence, KS. The article can be viewed here: http://www.seniormonthly.net/
Miller is a former state President of KAC (2018 - 2019).
Miller is a former state President of KAC (2018 - 2019).
Kansas Authors Club hosts annual writing contests for adults featuring a wide rage of categories in prose and in poetry. Many of our districts host smaller contests throughout the year. District 7 recently shared with us the results of their contest, which was open to all members, regardless of district affiliation, and all writers residing in the state of Kansas. For more information about district activities, follow the link at left for "Districts" to find contacts for your area.
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POETRY:
1st Place - Ronda Miller for “Thin Blue Line”
2nd Place - Julie Ann Baker Brin for “Lousy Band at Port of Wichita”
3rd Place - Julie Ann Baker Brin for “Eisenhower National Airport”
Honorable Mention - Ronda Miller for “Dew Drop Inn”
PROSE:
1st Place - Tracy Million Simmons for “Mom’s Pink Sweater”
2nd Place - Julie Ann Baker Brin for “Cognitive”
3rd Place - Linda Ahrens-Brower for “Nicky’s Mother”
Honorable Mention - Julie Johnson for “Life With Squirrels”
Honorable Mention - Tracy Million Simmons for “A Storybook Tale”
These winners will be awarded certificates and checks at the District 7 Convention on September 19, 2020 at Sharon Springs, KS. Those unable to attend will have their certificates and checks mailed to them.
Thank you all who participated.
There were 13 Poetry entries and 19 Prose entries.
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POETRY:
1st Place - Ronda Miller for “Thin Blue Line”
2nd Place - Julie Ann Baker Brin for “Lousy Band at Port of Wichita”
3rd Place - Julie Ann Baker Brin for “Eisenhower National Airport”
Honorable Mention - Ronda Miller for “Dew Drop Inn”
PROSE:
1st Place - Tracy Million Simmons for “Mom’s Pink Sweater”
2nd Place - Julie Ann Baker Brin for “Cognitive”
3rd Place - Linda Ahrens-Brower for “Nicky’s Mother”
Honorable Mention - Julie Johnson for “Life With Squirrels”
Honorable Mention - Tracy Million Simmons for “A Storybook Tale”
These winners will be awarded certificates and checks at the District 7 Convention on September 19, 2020 at Sharon Springs, KS. Those unable to attend will have their certificates and checks mailed to them.
Thank you all who participated.
There were 13 Poetry entries and 19 Prose entries.
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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.
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.
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