Maggie to Appear at Kansas Book Festival
Maggie Steele is headed to the Statehouse!
Author Grant Overstake will introduce his young adult novel, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon, to the book-loving people of Kansas at the Kansas Book Festival, to be held Saturday, Sept. 7th, on the grounds of the Kansas State Capitol building in Topeka.
Designed to "celebrate the best of Kansas literature, arts and history," the free public event will offer a variety of activities for Kansans of all ages, including meet-the-author sessions, panel discussions, book signings and sales, and a special tent with projects for children.The festival aims to promote literacy and to encourage a life-long love of reading by bringing authors, publishers and illustrators together with the people of Kansas."It's just the right setting for a homegrown heroine like Maggie Steele," Overstake said. "She can't wait to be there!"Maggie Vaults Over the Moon tells the story of Maggie Steele, a gutsy farm girl from tiny Grain Valley, Kan., who overcomes tragedy and soars to new heights as a pole-vaulter. Kirkus Reviews calls it, "A fine young adult novel about perseverance in sports and in life."
Maggie has received lots of attention from other places, but she's happiest about the great response by the people of Kansas, including a wonderful reception at the signing and reading at Watermark Books in Wichita, and great write-ups from Kansas Publisher (Kansas Press Association); and the Kansas High School Activities Association Journal (K.S.H.S.A.A.), which featured the novel on the cover of its May edition."People from every corner of the state have let me know how much they love this true-to-life Kansas story with true-to-life Kansas characters," Overstake added. "I can't wait to introduce Maggie to even more Kansas readers."Overstake is delighted to be sharing a booth at the Kansas Book Festival with historian, writer and illustrator, Linda S. Johnston.
Her new book, Hope Amid Hardship: Pioneer Voices from Kansas Territory, which she researched, wrote and illustrated herself, is a beautiful and illuminating collection of journals and writings from everyday people in Kansas history dating back to the 1850s."Linda knows so much about the real-life everyday heroes in Kansas history, it's amazing," Overstake said. "I know that my storybook heroine, Maggie, is looking forward to sharing this big day with her. It's going to be a special day for everyone."Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is available in paperback or eBook and can be purchased through Amazon.com in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, France, and Italy. Maggie also is available at Australia’s premier online bookseller, Angus & Robertson, and at hundreds of local independent US booksellers near you.Here's a list of the authors and vendors scheduled to appear at the Kansas Book Festival, as of 8/12/2013:Grant Overstake- Maggie Vaults Over the MoonLinda Johnston- Hope Amid Hardship: Pioneer Voices from Kansas Territory Claire Caterer- The Key and the FlameGladys Hargis- You Live ForeverJanice Love- 1 + 1 + 10 Aaron Barnhart & Diane Eickhoff- The Big Divide Sharon Highberger- Dancing with Depression Tom Mach- Angels at SunsetKen Berry- Apples and Animals Von Kopfman- The Letters Project Book: Letters to Loved OnesNorman Fulkerson- An American KnightShelly Simoneau- Snake Tree Janet Allison- Boys Alive!Barry Feaker- In Darkness, A Light Still ShinesRichard Crooks- Finding God DevotionalsEunice Boeve- The Summer of the CrowDane Zeller- Smart ShieldOC Browley- The Countdown to 12.13.13.Steve Penn- Case for A Pardon: The Pete O’Neal StorySharon Cranford- Kinship ConcealedMary Ann Wittman- “Dog Tales” “Kitchen Table Tales” SeriesMelvin Bruntzel- Quick Reference Guide to Kansas: Lost-Found-Missing Towns and Places With Selected Trivia and TruthsBrian Howell- You Have Been Invited!David Carter- Mayday Over WichitaJesse LaBee- The First Day of School for Randy Willie Bumble BeeKen Kappelmann- The Return of the DragonsNolan Carlson- Summer And Shiner SeriesAnola Pickett- Whisper IslandLinda Betz- FreefallSherry Robinson- Am I There Yet?
Other Vendors
Stallion Books- BookstoreUsborne Books- PublisherKansas Writers’ AssociationScholastic Classroom & Community GroupWoodley PressRowe PublishingState Library of KansasTopeka & Shawnee County Public LibraryUniversity Press of KansasWilliam Allen White Children’s Awards