Area Writers win Awards at State conference
Special to the Gazette
Friday, October 10, 2008
Two local writers took home awards last weekend during the Kansas Authors Club 104th Annual State Convention and Writing Conference in Dodge City.
Sam Pierson of Lebo was awarded the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award for her her fourth novel, “Targets of Rage.” This is Pierson’s fourth novel, a murder mystery set in the town of Ottawa, Kansas. The Coffin Award was created to honor the best published book by a KAC member each year and has been awarded every year since 1979. Pierson also brought home the following awards in the club’s annual prose and poetry contests; third place short story and honorable mention for her memoir entry.
Emporia resident Tracy Million Simmons was given a special service award by the club for her work as yearbook editor in 2007 and 2008. Simmons has been a member of KAC since 2001 and has published more than 300 articles and essays in small press magazines and as online content. Simmons was also awarded first place for her feature story in the club’s annual prose contest and an honorable mention for her memoir entry.
The convention drew nearly 100 authors to Dodge City on Oct. 3 through 5. In keeping with the convention’s theme, “Come West and Go Wild With Words,” writers enjoyed historical writing workshops by authors Charlotte Hinger of Hoxie and Gary Kraisinger of Halstead along with other workshops.
On the Net:
www.kansasauthors.org.