The only bad thing about the Kansas Book Festival is that you can't be everywhere! While books are the main reason for the festival, music and activities are also part of the fun. Last year I was honored to be one of the recipients of a Kansas Notable Book award at the Festival. This year I was invited back to the Festival as a speaker.
My co-speaker was Steve Cox, from Pittsburg State University. His book, When Sunflowers Bloomed Red, deals with socialism in Kansas during the late 1800s and early 1900s, so while Prairie Bachelor deals with populism, there were issues that overlapped to discuss. A special surprise was the arrival of Steve's co-author, R. Alton Lee, although he preferred not to participate on our panel.
What a wonderful audience we had. There are at least four different program choices for each hour-long session, and attendees are free to go to whichever programs they wish, so you do not know until people begin arriving how many will be in attendance. We had a full house, as you can see...about seventy people in the audience, which was exciting. They were attentive, laughed at my jokes, and even asking a few questions.
Most were strangers to me, but I had a few special guests...people from FHSU, special life-long friends from Kansas City, a relative of Isaac Werner, and my wonderful husband. (I never give the same talk twice, so at least he does not have to sit through the same thing over and over!)
I also had one very special surprise. It is the tradition at the Festival for the spouse of the Kansas Governor to present the Notable Book Awards, and last year First Gentleman of Kansas, Dr. Ted Daughety, presented me with my award. I was very pleased that this year he made the effort to attend our session and even to drop by after the session ended to say "Hello."
Releasing a new book during Covid has been rather challenging, but I have so many people to thank for hosting and attending virtual talks, book club signings, and book talks. At least two people have attended 3 or 4 talks, telling me that since I never repeat a talk they have enjoyed attending more than one.
My next book signing is at Watermark Books in Wichita, a wonderful independent book store. It is located at 4701 E. Douglas in Wichita and my talk will begin at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 13th. The public is welcome, so if you live in Wichita or are nearby, I hope you might come.
Thank you for so many of you who have supported my talks, have bought my book, or have enjoyed reading it from your local library. Now, people from coast to coast know who Isaac Werner is and what a significant role Kansas played in the late 1800s, championing things that our two primary political parties implemented, things we take for granted today that were ideas from the People's Party.
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