Flyover
Cheryol Unruh
Originally published 01:52 p.m., June 24, 2008
Updated 01:52 p.m., June 24, 2008
Books appear to be such simple, ordinary things.
But you have to watch out — a book can be nimble and sneaky.
You might be reading purely for entertainment but later realize that the book has slipped a few facts into your head.
Books can take us to places we never would have gone on our own: emotional heights, exotic countries, perilous situations.
Let us take a moment to thank writers for that gift. Amen.
On June 14, 24 authors gathered at Town Crier Bookstore for the Second Annual Authors Extravaganza. Each writer offered something different.
Roy Bird is Mr. Book himself. Born in Herington, raised near Navarre, Roy Bird is not only the director of the Kansas Center for the Book in Topeka, he’s a prolific writer with 15 published books to his credit.
Two of his recent books focus on the Civil War. He reached for the “Civil War and Indian Wars” book displayed on the table before him.
“This is something I’ve wanted to (write) since I was a kid,” Bird said.
He told me that Indian wars had not been documented together with the Civil War and that the information on the various Indian wars was scattered. “I wanted to bring them all together in one place,” he said.
Authors Jancy Morgan and Tom Dunn of Berryton have written and illustrated a children’s story that allows a tree to speak, “If this Old Tree Could Talk to Me.”
Inspired by a real-life Osage orange tree in Overland Park, Morgan and Dunn use illustrations and rhymes to describe what that tree might have seen during its long lifetime near the Santa Fe Trail.
“Buffalo once gathered, to graze beneath my boughs. And once, a loving couple stood below to say their vows,” they wrote.
In addition to writing and illustrating the book, Morgan and Dunn have recreated the tree – and they brought it along with them. They took a 6-foot-tall animated butler, normally sold as a Halloween prop, covered it with bark-like fabric and turned it into a tree.
Their tree was placed on the sidewalk outside Town Crier and their table-top display was also elaborate. Obviously, the authors’ creativity can not be contained within the covers of a book.
Patricia Davids of Wichita makes a steady income from writing.
Davids writes inspirational romance for Steeple Hill, an imprint of Harlequin. The company’s book club sends out four books to members monthly; about 60,000 copies of each book are delivered.
“(Writing) has been very successful for me, which is unusual in the book business,” she said, adding that she was recently able to retire from her job as a neonatal intensive care nurse.
Davids’ newest book is “Military Daddy.” She has two more books coming out in 2008 and is currently working in cooperation with five other writers to produce a six-volume series for Steeple Hill – an intertwining story of six heroes and six heroines.
My special treat for the day was to meet Karen Ross Epp of Newton. Last winter I read her book, “With Love, Stan: A Soldier’s Letters from Vietnam to the World.” Her brother, Stan, was killed in the war.
For the book, Epp transcribed letters that her brother had written from the rice paddies and jungles of Vietnam, added personal and family details, and also included memories from the men who served alongside her brother.
A book can turn you inside out. “With Love, Stan” touched me deeply.
At Town Crier, Epp had some of Stan’s actual letters with her, letters stained with mud from Vietnam. The handwriting and the muddy smears made me sense Stan’s presence.
There’s often a silent bond that forms between writer and reader. And when you meet an author whose work has made a lasting impression on you, it’s a happy day. Amen.
“Flyover People” is online at www.flyoverpeople.net.
• Cheryl Unruh can be reached at cheryl@flyoverpeople.net.
Comments
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Posted by emporiahelper (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok sorry but this is boring. No body cares about books! write about something important likehow were not having fireworks on the fourth to save money of. Thats a lot of bull. This town spends so much useless money on crap but wont spend it to celebrate our Independence day. Wow we have issues. Im not trying to be mean but seriously this is crap, and someone needs to speak up about it.
Posted by momus (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I love books and I was thankful that Town Crier brought this event (and others like it to town). I'm a non-fiction type reader, but you can definately obtain more information from a 400-700 page book than you could ever get from a 30 minute TV show IMO. Plus, I like to draw my own conclusions from facts presented instead of having some talking head tell me how I should think. For my entertainment dollar, there are few things better than escaping with a good book.
Posted by create (anonymous) on June 26, 2008 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank goodness for books that allow a reader to become a critical thinker instead of relying on some TV personality or so-called "expert" to show people how to think. I guess that's the problem. Few people want to think for themselves anymore; it's just too much trouble.
Fireworks? They cost a bundle and only last a few minutes. What a waste of money, literally up in smoke!
Posted by elebrown (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Nobody cares about books?" I do and I know I'm not alone. How sad that some people miss out on the glorious words and stories and information as well as pure delight from reading books! You're missing out on one of the great learning experiences and pleasures in life if you don't pick up a book...and actually read it. I appreciate authors and those who share their imaginations and knowledge with us. Thank you, Cheryl, for your column--always interesting and always delightful!
Posted by emporiahelper (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Create- I can make some sweet fireworks with your books. Books are fun to watch burn and this is for a celebration of our Independence but I guess you know if thats all you care about is books. But without that freedom you wouldnt have your dumb books now would you.
Posted by emporiahelper (anonymous) on June 27, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry lots of people could do without books. I mean sure some are fine and all when they have a purpose but really do we need a billion books. Elementary throught middle school makes kids so mad and make them hate school because of all the reading they make them do. Maybe people would appreciate them more if schools didnt make such a big deal about it and MAKE kids read. They may just pick one up themselves.
Posted by create (anonymous) on June 28, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
On C-Span yesterday, I watched the debate on the Economic Implications of the Crisis in American Education. The fact that the United States is so far behind many other countries in the area of Education is certainly in evidence here on this thread. It almost seems a waste of time to respond to anyone who would burn books for entertainment. As I recall, the Nazis didn't like books either.
You want fireworks? Have a ball. They're legal. Go out to one of the fireworks stands and buy all you want to celebrate "independence." Spend your money, support the economy. There's a good citizen.
Posted by emporiahelper (anonymous) on June 28, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think maybe your the nazi because all you do is read books and dont ever go out and have fun. ??????
Posted by MelissaE (anonymous) on June 28, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
emporiahelper: You could benefit from opening a book judging from your horrendous spelling and grammar. You should probably just stop discussing books altogether since it's apparent that you don't know what you are talking about at all. Maybe if you paid attention & did your homework when/if you were at school, you would see the value of education through books.
Go back to your Xbox now. Go on.
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