When were these authors in Topeka?  Some of the authors are current residents, some were born here and now reside elsewhere, and yet others came here for work, college, or with the air force.  They represent a wide variety of generations from Henry Inman, who lived in Topeka from 1857-1899, to Anna Riphahn, who wrote and illustrated her first published book at age 13 in 1996.

Many of these authors were/are influential well beyond Topeka.  Rex Stout, member of the Topeka High class of 1903, created the celebrated detective Nero Wolfe.  Charles Sheldon, who resided in Topeka from 1890 to 1946, originally coined the phrase “What Would Jesus Do?”  Hal Foster, who lived in Topeka from 1936 to 1940, was a nationally syndicated cartoonist with “Tarzan” and “Prince Valiant.”  Kathleen Woodiwiss lived in Topeka during the 1960s as an Air Force wife, and changed the course of the Historical Romance genre from chaste to carnal.  Aaron Douglas from the Topeka High class of 1917 and Langston Hughes, who lived in Topeka 1908-1909, were major figures in the Harlem Renaissance.  Playwright William Gibson lived here from 1939 to 1947 and wrote the Tony-award winning play “The Miracle Worker” about Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan.

Want to discover Topeka’s literary treasures?  Get inspiration from the display and the Topeka Room collection and read local authors this summer.  Works by many of the featured authors are in the circulating collection on the main floor.  For a full list of featured authors, stop by the Topeka Room (204).

Cathy Ramirez, owner and operator of Ghost Tours of Kansas LLC has become a top promoter of Ghost Tours and Paranormal Events throughout Kansas. Cathy has achieved building 12 ghost tours in 10 cities in less than 7 years. Besides Ghost Tours, Cathy has become a well recognized paranormal investigator throughout Kansas and has worked with many reputable paranormal teams including Paranormal Research Investigators, Kansas Paranormal Research Society, Every-Day Legacy Paranormal and Miller’s Paranormal Society. Cathy has personally investigated over 200 locations in less than 5 years making her one of the top investigators in the state of Kansas.

Books available for sale & signing after the talk.  For more information please call the Topeka Room at 785-580-4510.

*Book and Biographical information supplied by the author.

George Feliu has been writing since 2^nd grade. He has lived in New York, where he grew up and Kansas, where his wife, Sarah grew up. He taught English and History in New York for five years before his most recent move to Topeka.  He wrote his first novel by participating in Nanowrimo (national novel writing month) here at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. Because of Nanowrimo, he has now published four books in the fantasy genre and is working on a novel set pre-Arthurian times.

Books available for sale & signing after the talk.  For more information please call the Topeka Room at 785-580-4510.

*Book and Biographical information supplied by the author.

The “Early Kansas History” display case features the state seal of Kansas; Topeka’s Constitution Hall; the state’s original first couple, Charles and Sara Robinson; and early books about Kansas by the Robinsons’ and others.

“Rex Stout: Topeka’s Man of Mysteries” showcases the Nero Wolfe mysteries written by Rex Stout, Topeka High School class of 1903. In our collection, we have many different editions of Rex Stout’s books, including foreign language editions.

Zula Bennington Greene, better known as “Peggy of the Flint Hills” is highlighted in the flat display case. She was a long-time columnist for the Topeka Daily Capital & Topeka Capital-Journal writing more than 15,800 columns during her career.

In the display case near the Menninger Room (206), we highlight two Topeka musicians and their music. Albert Shutt & Maude Shreffler wrote and performed music in Topeka over long careers. They were heard over WIBW Radio and published many of their compositions.

To find out more about any of the items on display, please visit the Topeka Room (204) and we’ll be happy to tell you more.

Release Point is a dramatic coming of age story of two young rivals, Charlene Dooley and Raven Blackhawk; one a pitcher and the other a power hitting catcher; both rising stars in their sport. The combative girls collide during a hotly contested game as pre-teens leaving Raven injured and unable to compete for several years. Despite her impairment, Raven continues working in the barn at home and develops into a premier pitcher. She decides to make a comeback her junior year of high school as Charlene starts her senior year. Fearful of not passing her sports physical, the entire student body rallies behind Raven and attends her eligibility hearing with hilarious results. But this isn’t their only concern. Disillusioned after consecutive losing seasons, not enough girls want to play softball at Raven’s school, forcing the administration to consider canceling the season. To the delight of fans, the varsity cheerleaders come to the rescue filling the vacant roster spots. As high school upperclassmen, both Raven and Charlene lead their teams to an undefeated regular season setting up a winner-take-all showdown in the state championship game that attracts ESPN and a national audience. As the game concludes, the girls resolve their life-ling conflict – and the game – in a shocking way that leaves the reader amazed and inspired. Release Point is a must read with multi-cultural appeal for any female athlete or parent of a girl seeking greatness in an athletic venue. In a world dominated by male athletes, it provides a female sports hero worthy of applause and emulation.

Phil Quinn moved to Kansas from Nashville, TN when his son retired from the NFL and decided to remain in Kansas City.  He wanted to be near four grandchildren. In 2012, he was the varsity softball coach at Wamego High School.  This is his first novel but he has also authored Cry Out! an autobiography; and non-fiction books about dealing with and overcoming child abuse including: Spare the Rod: Breaking the Cycle of Child Abuse and From Victim to Victory.

Books available for sale & signing after the talk.  For more information please call the Topeka Room at 785-580-4510.

*Book and Biographical information supplied by the author.

Esther Luttrell moved to Topeka in 2003 to be near her daughter after a long film and writing career in Los Angeles. She wrote screenplays and gave screenwriting workshops around the country until coming here, where she wrote her first novel, Murder in the Movies. It was released in 2005 by a publisher who went out of business in 2008. Within a week another publisher obtained hardback rights and the book came out a few months after that.  Harlequin World Wide Mysteries picked up paperback rights, and her current publisher released it under their own logo this past June. So, it has never been out of print. Her latest mystery (her 9th book), Invitation to a Murder, is set in Topeka and uses real names of real people and real places; her Valentine to a city she’s come to love.

Books available for sale & signing after the talk.  For more information please call the Topeka Room at 785-580-4510.

*Book and Biographical information supplied by the author.

Dr. Charles Robinson was an early settler in Kansas, moving here in 1854 as an agent of the Emigrant Aid Society. He was a leader in the free-state movement, and on January 15, 1856, was elected Kansas’ first Governor. He took office following Kansas’ admission to statehood and served from February 9, 1861–January 12, 1863. He wrote The Kansas Conflict, published in 1892, about his experiences in shaping early Kansas history.

Mrs. Sara T. D. Lawrence Robinson moved to Kansas in 1855 and chronicled the everyday life of Kansans in her book Kansas, Its Interior and Exterior Life, published in 1856.

Early Kansas History and more about the Robinson’s is featured in a display case on the second floor of the library.  To see (and read) the Robinson’s books, visit the Topeka Room (204).

For more information please call the Topeka Room at 785-580-4510.

OK, I won’t keep you in too much suspense, Hogmanay is a Scottish New Year celebration December 31-January 1 and Kwanzaa is an African-American celebration running from December 26-January 1 each year.  Ayyám-i-Há is the Bahá’í celebration of the new year, celebrated February 26-March 1.  For more information about all of these holidays and to see the Victorian Christmas decorations in the Topeka Room, please visit the second floor of the library.

This family friendly event looks at the Christmas traditions of the Victorian era which provide many of our current Christmas traditions.  Presented by Special Collections librarian Charity Rouse, the program will include Christmas caroling around the square grand piano, a reading of “A Visit From Saint Nicholas” by Clement Moore, a display of Victorian Christmas ornaments and a brief discussion of other Victorian Christmas traditions.

The Topeka Room, part of our Special Collections Area, contains many treasures relating to local history.  We have books about Topeka and Shawnee County people, places, and events.  We also have furniture, art and collectables relating to this area.  During December, check out our special Christmas decorations and the “Winter Holiday Traditions” exhibit in the display cases on the balcony over the rotunda.  Come upstairs and check us out.  For more information please call the Topeka Room at 785-580-4510.

The Little Christmas Tree is about a misshapen, dejected little tree who has given up hope of being selected as a Christmas tree but surprising things happen to bring the glow of the Christmas spirit.  Muffy And The Big Pink Ball tells the amusing story of a little dog’s encounter with an unfamiliar object in the back yard.  Muffy turns to her backyard pals to help her solve the mystery of the scary big pink ball.  The second book in the “Dog Tales” series, Clemmie and the Mailman finds Clemmie sneaking out of her fenced back yard to explore the neighborhood.  Find out what happens to her on her great adventure.

Mary Ann Wittman is the Coordinator of the Adult Education Center of the Topeka Public Schools and an Adjunct Professor at Washburn University.  She grew up in Salina, KS.  Mary Ann has a BA in Sociology from Kansas State University and a Masters in Education from Colorado State University.  She has lived in Kansas most of her life with brief stops in Texas, Colorado, and Turkey.  In addition to her children’s books, she has written some poetry, several newspaper articles and academic papers.

Books available for sale & signing after the talk.  For more information please call the Topeka Room at 785-580-4510.

*Book and Biographical information supplied by the author.