Blog Archives

Invitation to D6 Virtual Meeting

6/24/2020

Julie Stielstra (D6), author of YA novel, Opulence, Kansas, will be the speaker at D6's virtual Zoom meeting on Saturday, June 27 at 1:30 p.m. Julie will discuss writing her novel and be open for questions. If you're interested in participating in the meeting, contact Jim Potter at jim@copintheclassroom.com or 620-899-3144 to request the Zoom meeting link.

Publisher: Meadowlark (June 2020)
ISBN (print): 978-1-742477-0-1
ISBN (eBook): 978-1-7342477-1-8
Language: English
Retail: $9.95 (paperback), $5.95 (eBook)
Pages: 179

The Writers Place Reading Series

6/21/2020

D5 member Robert L. Dean, Jr., was one of three readers in The Writers Place Reading Series first virtual reading event on Friday evening, June 19th, along with poet Agnes Vojta of the University of Missouri S&T at Rolla, Missouiri, and novelist Michael Pritchett of UMKC. Dean read from his new book, "The Aerialist Will Not Be Performing." The reading was done via Zoom. TWP plans to do more virtual readings during this time of pandemic. Check their calendar for future virtual events.

2020 Convention moving to an online webinar format

6/18/2020

Due to social distancing restrictions, the 2020 convention will be moved to an online webinar format this year.

Details on speakers and programs, including awards ceremonies for youth, adults, and our book awards will be posted as they become available.

3-volume Africa Memoir published by District 7 member

6/4/2020

District 7 member, Mark G. Wentling’s new book, Africa Memoir: 50 Years, 54 Countries, One American Life is available through preorders.

Mark Wentling attended Wichita State University. In 1967 he became a Peace Corps Volunteer and served for two years in Honduras. In 1970, he obtained his bachelor’s degree from WSU and continued as a PCV in Togo in 1970. Beginning in late 1973 he was an Associate Director for the Peace Corps in Togo. He then served as the Peace Corps Director in Gabon and Niger.

In 1977, he began working for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Niger and later served as its principal officer in Guinea, Togo/Benin, Angola, Somalia and Tanzania. Following retirement from the U.S. Senior Foreign Service in 1996, Mark continued to work as an advisor for the Great Lakes Region, then with USAID Missions in Zambia, Malawi, Guinea and Senegal.

He subsequently worked with CARE, World Vision and Plan International in Niger, Mozambique and Burkina Faso. In recent years, he has worked in Ghana, Mali and Angola. His many jobs and travels in Africa, visiting all 54 African countries, contributed to the completion of his latest book, Africa Memoir: 50 Years, 54 Countries, One American Life. Those who know him well say he was born and raised in Kansas but made in Africa.

Mark has published a number of professional articles over the years on Africa's development predicament, as well as three previous books: Africa's Embrace (2013), Africa's Release (2014) and Africa's Heart. In 2017, he published Dead Cow Road: Life on the Front Lines of an International Crisis. This book was awarded by Peace Corps Writers the annual Maria Thomas fiction award in 2018. In 2019, he published Blue Country, which draws on his experiences as a PCV in Honduras in 1967-1969.

Mark currently maintains a home in Lubbock, Texas, but he continues to travel frequently to Africa to work. He has also designed a course in international development for Texas Tech University. He holds a master’s degree in International Agriculture from Cornell University and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the National War College. In 2014, he was awarded by the WSU Alumni Association its annual alumni achievement award.

WE WANT TO 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.

Invitation to D6 Virtual Meeting

The Writers Place Reading Series

2020 Convention moving to an online webinar format

3-volume Africa Memoir published by District 7 member

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