News for All Members

Kansas Storytelling Festival Turns 25!

4/13/2018

The Downs Arts Council invites you to share in the magic of storytelling at the Kansas Storytelling Festival April 27 and 28, Downs, Kansas. The KSF opens on Friday afternoon and closes Saturday evening.

The Kansas Storytelling Festival brings five nationally-renowned storytellers April 27 and 28 to Downs, Kansas, the Storytelling Capital of Kansas. There's something for everyone: Homespun Tales, Historical Portrayals, Poetry, Swapping Grounds, Workshops, Puppets, Stories for Children, and Music. Storytelling sessions will be held at multiple venues, all within comfortable walking distance.

The nationally recognized Uncalled For Trio, comprised of Andy Offutt Irwin, Kim Weitkamp, and Bil Lepp, will entertain individually and in cahoots with each other.

Using dramatic interpretations, Pippa White will tell of the heritage and traditions of our communities and families.

Dino O'Dell will be delighting with his stories and music for the young and not-so-young.

Bil Lepp www.leppstorytelling.com
Kim Weitkamp www.kimweitkamp.com
Andy Offutt Irwin http://www.andyirwin.com/
Dino O'Dell www.dinoodell.com
Pippa White www.pippawhiteonecompany.com/

“The Downs Legends are residents from the area portraying Historical Local Legends. Festival-goers in past years have enthusiastically received the stories of early citizens in the community who made unique and valuable contributions,” said Kenneth Lee, Master Storyteller.

Sherry Knouf, Downs Carnegie Library, tells that this year’s legends will feature Jesse "Buffalo" Jones (a frontiersman and wildlife preservationist), Howard Herman Ruede (an early Osborne County homesteader), Elsie Reasoner Ralph (America's first female war correspondent), and Sarah Jane (as a tribute to the women and girls who homesteaded the prairies).

With Friends University, KSF invites teachers and librarians to enroll in Storytelling in Education Special Opportunity: Graduate College Credit. “This is an opportunity to pick up one graduate credit hour while attending the Festival and enjoying all the fun of the weekend,” said Glennys Doane, KSF Chair.

We save stories. “Step into the welcoming mini workshop-like Story Shed which is really a specially-designed sound booth. Inside the Story Shed, you can tell and record your own personal stories or tales which will be archived for all to remember,” said Brett Doane, Story Shed designer.

Each April since 1994 we honor stories by hosting the Kansas Storytelling Festival.

Complete schedule at:
http://www.kansasstorytelling.com/information/dates_and_schedule

Contacts:
Glennys Doane Chair, Kansas Storytelling Festival, Downs, KS
785-454-6648 or kansasstorytelling@gmail.com

Brenda Gutierrez, Volunteer Marketing & Communications
785-577-5421 or brenda.gutz@gmail.com

"ARISE Up Together"

11/13/2017

Led by Choral Director, Shawn Chastain, ARISE will present the annual holiday concert of African-American Spirituals and Stories this Sunday, November 19, 2017, at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Wichita, Kansas. Kansas Authors Club District 5's new member, Dr. Sharon Hill Cranford, is a member of ARISE.

As stated in the flyer:
"Approximately 8 to 10,0000 African-American Spirituals were created when enslaved people came to American shores, carving out a way to survive, in spite of the hostile environment. With music already in their hearts, language barriers could not stop the sweet sounds emitting from their souls. Those sounds embedded themselves in the Underground Rail Road and eventually helped pave the way to understanding and freedom. ARISE believes that they can do the same for the world today."

What: "ARISE Up Together" Holiday Concert
When: Sunday, November 19, 2017, 7pm
Where: Calvary United Methodist Church, 2525 North Rock Road, Wichita, Kansas

For more information, call 316-685-0452, or check out their website at www.ariseensemble.com.

Complimentary tickets are available.

Yearbook Submission Deadline!

10/5/2017

Submission Deadline: October 15, 2017!

According to Tracy Million Simmons, we have only received 10 entries for the yearbook via Submittable! Please remind your members that the deadline is coming. We'd love to see every member take advantage of their yearbook page to share some prose or poetry.

https://kansasauthorsclub.submittable.com/submit

This is a wonderful opportunity to have your work published! Now is the time to take advantage of this KAC member benefit!

In Memoriam - M. Max Yoho

5/28/2017

M. Max Yoho, District 1, Topeka, 82, died on April 22, 2017. He had been under hospice care and died of kidney failure. His memorial service celebrated his life as a husband, father, machinist, labor union member, world traveler, volunteer, and as the beloved author of poetry, humorous fiction and coming-of-age stories set in Kansas.
   A long-time member of Kansas Authors Club, Max had his work published in a variety of Midwest literary journals including The Midwest Quartely, The Little Balkans Review (whose editors nominated his short story, "The Passing of the Old Snnokertorium," for a Push Cart Prize) and in many issues of Washburn University's Inscape. His poem "1942" was published in 2011 by then-poet-laureate Caryn Mirriam-Goldberg, in the book Begin Again: 150 Kansas Poems. Several other of Max's poems were also published on the Kansas Poems & Poetry web site.
   Max had five novels published. They were The Revival, Tales from Comanche County, The Moon Butter Route, With the Wisdom of Owls, and Me and Aunt Izzy.
   Felicia, These Fish Are Delicious was his published collection of poetry, essays and short stories.
   Both The Revival and The Moon Butter Route won KAC J. Donald Coffin Awards. The Moon Butter Route was also selected by the Kansas State Library as a 2006 Kansas Notable Book. Max is the only Kansas author to have two titles, The Moon Butter Route and The Revival, chosen for the Kansas Center for the Book's "Favorite Kansas Books" list. (Other books from this list include Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, Robert Day's The Last Cattle Drive, and L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.)
   Max was honored at the KAC state convention in Wichita with a 2013 KAC Achievement Award for his career as a writer.
   At the time of his passing, he was honored with a story in the Topeka Capital-Journal, "Max Yoho, Topeka author, remembered for his creativity, zest for life," by Angela Deines, published May 1, 2017, the day of his memorial service.
   His obituary, with photo tribute and a video of his memorial service, is available online.
   Max also has a page on the Map of Kansas Literature web site and a Wikipedia page.

Amazon sets up Retail Store

5/24/2017

“Amazon Sets Up in the Heart of the Publishing Industry,” by Alexandra Alter, New York Times

2017 notable books

5/14/2017

Read a listing of 2017 Kansas Notable Books on the Kansas State Library web site.

Kevin Rabas is the new Poet Laureate of Kansas

5/14/2017

Kevin is a poet, jazz musician, and professor who teaches poetry and playwriting at Emporia State University. Read about Kevin and about how to book him as a speaker in your community on the Kansas Humanities Council web site.

In Memoriam - LeNore Stumpf

3/10/2017

LeNore Stumpf, District 1, Topeka, formerly of Axtell, died at the age of 84 on March 9, 2017. She was a long-time member of KAC.
LeNore was born March 15, 1932, in Baileyville, Kansas. Survivors are husband of 64 years, Walter, children Barbara (Elias) Pimentel, Elaine (Richard) Hatch, Richard (Evan) Stumpf, Brenda (Mike) Leonard, Dan (Diane) Stumpf, Roger (Kim) Stumpf, 14 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, siblings Mary Mueting, Rozella Ronnebaum, Kathleen Gravenstein, Albert Kuckelman.
LeNore was known for her work as a journalist. She joined KAC in 1986 as a member of D1 and in 1990 transferred to D4. She lived in numerous states and overseas as her husband was in the service, making her experiences varied. She had a colorful writing career as columnist and author.
In 2002 her novel Branded With Love was published by PublishAmerica. In 2005 she received KAC's J. Donald Coffin Award for her book Life, I Think, Is Like a Watermelon, a collection of 90 humorous columns, many of which originally appeared in the Marysville Advocate. At the 2006 state Writers Conference in Junction City, LeNore was a workshop presenter. Her topic was "Writing a Hometown Newspaper Column." and in 2008 Writers Conference in Dodge City LeNore won a KAC "Award of Merit" for Life Achievement, when she was noted for her career as "columnist and published author."
LeNore's complete obituary is available online.

2017 News & Yearbook Guidelines

3/1/2017

Timely information: 2017 News & Yearbook Guidelines (3 pages, select as a downloadable PDF file)