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Chicken Thief Flew the Coop. Back in the day, there was also a stigma attached to those arrested as chicken thieves. They were seen as the worst kind of crook. […]

Rissler never knew when someone would recognize him from the detailed physical description printed and mailed on hundreds of postcards to sheriffs and chiefs of police around the country. Each card offered a $25 reward for his arrest and detention. Rissler could hide but he couldn’t change his facial description, a “red face” with one “squint eye.” […]

I wish I knew more about O'Brien's morphine addiction. Could he have been introduced to it during a medical emergency to reduce his pain or did he drink one too many Coca-Cola's before Coke changed its ingredients from the original 1885 recipe that contained cocaine? […]

It’s interesting to me that Fornell, who worked in the mines beginning at age 13, continued his occupation while incarcerated in 1921 at the Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing. […]

Here’s another REWARD or WANTED postcard from my collection. This one’s from 1909 announcing that James F. Young, 23, is wanted by Saline County, KS, Sheriff L. P. Heck for burglary and grand larceny. […]

I’ll never be hired to write professional book reviews. I only review books I enjoy. My mantra is this: If I can’t say anything nice, I won’t say anything at all. […]

I really appreciate people—customers—who buy my book. They stand out. They are different than the people I’ve paid to assist me in my publishing process. I’m not paying them; they’re paying me! […]

Art Hughes, a friend of mine, recommended I use videos to help promote K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play. […]

We rejoiced and celebrated, understanding that our book was no longer a private document. It was published, meaning it was available to the public for purchase, and we soon started distributing copies in person and packaging them to send via mail to customers. […]

When it comes to technology, I might as well be Amish. I’ve never used an ATM machine, owned a debit card, or scanned a QR code. Like the Amish, I’m not against technology, I’m just slow to adapt to it. […]

Finally! We’ve approved Proof #2 of K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play. Now, the children’s book is in line for printing at POD Print. We’re hoping to have copies in hand within two weeks. […]

Bookends has invited me to do a book signing the evening of July 20th from 6-8 p.m. […]

When "K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play" is published, I’m going to do an experiment with direct sales. I’m not going to share my print files with Amazon.com or Ingram Spark. Instead, I’m going to do my own thing. […]

Today’s the day to reveal the cover of K-9 Kudzu: Observations of a Working Dog Who Loves to Play. […]

We're getting closer to a published book. It’s an exciting and anxious time with restless nights, but we can see light at the We’re getting end of the tunnel and I’m positive it’s not another train. […]

It would be fun to have the dogs—not the humans—speak about their experiences at the training classes. I can imagine the dogs discussing the difficulty of scent work or judging their treats on a scale from one to ten. […]

When I write a book, I’m an eternal optimist. I think my new publication will be discovered by the world and will lead to sales through the roof. As a fictional author with an active imagination, can you blame me? […]

It's amazing how well the three of us work together. We listen attentively, we’re creative, and our egos are in check so we can produce the best outcome. That’s only possible because we respect, trust, and enjoy one another. I have no doubt that our finished product will be just as rewarding as our collaborative journey. […]

Everyone’s heard the expression about how something is so special it’s “icing on a cake.” The icing is an extra step. It makes something that’s already excellent, even better. […]

While publishing a book, it’s normal for authors to have time to begin writing their next one. […]

Last week I learned of an Amish Mennonite cemetery ten miles from our front door. I asked myself: “How could I not know about this?” […]

Today was a special day for me. I had an Amish horse-and-buggy ride. Harry “Historian” W. Bontrager, my Old Order Amish friend, was the driver. […]

Today, I’m sharing a creative, eye-catching, trade-marked illustration by Gina Laiso, Integrita Productions. We’ll use it in product branding and marketing. Notice, it’s not the book cover. […]

A half-century ago, when my grandmother walked out to the mailbox, she regularly returned with what she called “want-me” letters. They were letters from organizations wanting her money. […]

I remember in my youth, hitchhiking from Illinois to Central America. The unknown didn’t scare me. It was an adventure. I only knew a little Spanish (Por favor, dónde es la baño?), but I dived into a foreign culture. […]

I started with a question. “When you were a child, were you ever asked," ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’” […]

Hello Gina, It's time for me to admit to you that I need a change of schedule on publishing "Kudzus' Guide to Law Enforcement." I apologize for asking you to fit my book into your busy work schedule and then delaying sending you a final draft so you can begin blocking, etc. […]

Like an alcoholic, I rationalized. I had plenty of time to complete my edit because Gina had barely begun developing the illustrations, most notably K-9 Kudzu, my German shepherd narrator. […]

Some authors aren’t sure what to do prior to their final draft. Like I’ve said before, there’s an unlimited number of constructive things to work on as you prepare for your book release date. Use your time wisely. Remember, publishing doesn’t stand alone. […]

There’s a saying that when you ask a question, be sure to listen for the answer. Signs are everywhere. Outside, Bohringer introduced the 4-year-old Belgian Malinois to me. It was a quick, friendly greeting as Tanto pushed his long snout into my open hand, no doubt checking my scent. […]

There’s editing while writing a personal draft copy of your book and there’s editing after you’ve shared your early literary work with others. […]

This is my update, a progress report, the nuts and bolts of the draft copy of my children’s book. […]

Your book is copyrighted, your title is not. Did you know that upon writing your book, it’s copyrighted, but its title is never protected? Other authors can use it again and again. […]

We live in the country. We have a pond—sometimes with water—but my life as an author isn’t even close to Henry David Thoreau’s at Walden Pond. I’m not on a writer’s retreat with minimal interruptions; I’m on the internet and have a phone. […]

If you’re questioning why I’m writing about networking, not publishing, then you need to understand that networking is vital to publishing. If you want to play baseball full-time, you don’t go to the park and wait for random people to show up. You join a team. […]

Six months to go and every day is busy. Editing. Meeting with illustrators. Getting a range of printing price estimates even though I'm unsure of the book's size. Looking for grants or other financial support since it's an educational book. […]

My years as a patrol officer writing reports made me a much better writer. It taught me to pay attention, to observe and listen, and how best to interview people. Our reports had a definite deadline. We couldn't go home until the paperwork was complete. […]

My years as a patrol officer writing reports made me a much better writer. It taught me to pay attention, to observe and listen, and how best to interview people. Our reports had a definite deadline. We couldn't go home until the paperwork was complete. […]

“Hi Jim, I was wondering if I could chat with you over the phone sometime in the next few days. I have some questions about publishing. I'm working on getting an ISBN, copyright, etc., but I'm not sure how to go about it.” […]

Published authors will tell you that writing their book was the beginning, not the end of the journey. That's certainly true for me. […]

"It so happened that we had a wine cellar in our building, and I proceeded to relax with wine, and I went to bed feeling pretty tipsy. Shortly after I went to bed, the Krauts started bombing all the buildings along the river, including ours." […]

"It was about noon on March 22nd (1945) and we still hadn't reached the west bank of the Rhine when the word came to us that General Patton was ordering the Fifth Division to cross the Rhine that night. It was like electricity going through the troops, however, they were confident and certainly ready."--Lt. Harold L. Potter […]

As the Ambulance Platoon leader, I had to constantly set up shuttle systems whereby when one ambulance left for the Clearing Station, another would move up and take his place down the line, etc. […]

Many of you will remember the hit song, "Goodbye Dear, I'll be Back in a Year." In my case, that became five years. […]

Deputy Tom Jennings, a patrol officer for the Cottonwood County Sheriff’s Office, is a caring cop. He doesn’t understand the Old Order Amish and they don’t understand him. After being assigned to investigate the theft of soil from a county ditch, Jennings meets Mrs. Rosannah Borntrager Yoder. […]

Congratulations, Shoshanna, on the recent release of your children’s book, Tobias’ Travels. You’re a first-class storyteller. We’ve never met face-to-face, but I’m the current president of District 6 of the Kansas Authors Club. Congratulations for being a published author. It’s a BIG deal! […]

Gravedigger’s Daughter: Vignettes from a Small Kansas Town is Cheryl Unruh’s latest masterpiece, a memoir written in prose poetry that transported me to my childhood. I can smell the Folger's coffee that gave Mom an extra spark. […]

Can you tell a book by its cover? This is a question that author Reginald D. Jarrell addresses in his just published book, 31 Days (Nights): Memoir of Living Black in America (Blue Cedar Press, 2022). […]

My friend told me he was going to end the call and watch the news. “Ukraine is being invaded,” he said. […]

I’ve just completed reading the best book ever about understanding slavery. Soul by Soul: Life Inside the Antebellum Slave Market (1999) isn’t a new book, but it’s a classic. […]

Can you love history? Am I exaggerating when I say, I do? I especially enjoy learning about history and seeing how events connect with one another. […]

Charles C. Collins, also known as “Charlie,” (1845-1906) was of Irish ancestry, his grandfather having immigrated from Ireland to Louisiana before the War of 1812 […]

I’ve been researching and researching, and I still have unanswered questions. I’d like to learn more about Charles C. Collins and his ancestors before I write his story, but I can’t wait forever. I’ve been down so many research rabbit holes that I’ve become comfortable living underground. […]

Author Gloria Zachgo reminds me of a professional juggler who flawlessly keeps a half-dozen balls rotating in a perfect arc. The performance appears effortless. […]

One day a newly elected sheriff, a bachelor, asked the retiring sheriff if he could give him any advice on running the jail. The veteran sheriff replied, "Yes, get married as soon as possible." […]

Books don’t just happen. While growing up, I heard stories that triggered my imagination. Stories are seeds to an author. When planted and nourished, they can become a bountiful harvest. In my case, there are several reasons why I wanted to research and write about the sheriffs of Reno County, Kansas. […]

It’s late Thursday afternoon, October 11, 1951, at the Reno County Jail on the fifth floor of the courthouse. Vera Gambee Frazey, 45, jail matron and cook, hears the metallic sound of heavy jail keys, followed by the forceful clang of a door being shut, and the keys locking the gate. […]

It’s Monday afternoon, August 1, 1949, at The Fox theater in Hutchinson, Kansas. Mrs. Sheriff, Ruth Graves Dixon, 54; and her sister, Charline Graves Allison, 60; are talking prior to the start of the picture show, The Barkleys of Broadway, staring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. […]

It’s noon, Thursday, July 5, 1945, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Harry Smith, 58, owner of Smith’s Flower Shop, 2606 North Monroe, is wearing a freshly cut red rose in his suitcoat buttonhole. […]

It’s Sunday afternoon, January 10, 1943, at the home of Juanita Mae Chambers Ankerholz and Guy Leo Ankerholz, 829 East 6th Avenue, Hutchinson, Kansas. Their daughter, Dona “DeNean,” 10, is writing a school report that’s due the next day. […]

It’s Sunday night, August 7, 1938, in Hutchinson, Kansas, at the Charline and George Allison home, 309 West 16th Avenue. George, 55; Charline, 54; and their daughter, Georgiann, 14, are playing cards. […]

It’s Thursday night, June 19, 1934, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Dorothy Swafford Simon Cunningham, 25, wife of Reno County Sheriff Ed Cunningham, age, 37, has just returned to town after running off with a saxophone player. […]

It’s Friday, June 6, 1924, outside the Reno County courthouse in Hutchinson, Kansas. Reno County Sheriff Jesse Langford, 45, and his wife, May Burkhalter Langford, 42, are walking to their sheriff’s residence next door, east of the courthouse. […]

It’s Wednesday morning, June 1, 1921, at the Reno County sheriff’s residence attached to the jail, 15 Avenue, East, Hutchinson, Kansas. Rose “Eva” Hopper Clark, 44, jail matron; and Minnie Marshall Deck,35, custodian for traveling prisoner Rosa Carney, 37; are talking ... […]

It’s Wednesday, October 29, 1930, at Sprout Ranch, 12 miles south of Mullinville, Kansas. Carolyn “Carrie” Norman Sprout, 49, and her husband, Walter “Scott” Sprout, 55, are moving into their son’s house. […]

It’s Saturday, October 10, 1942, at Ethel and Tom McGinn’s house, 726 E. 6th Avenue, Hutchinson, Kansas. Twin sisters, Ethel Rose Sames and Effie Kate Sames Chandler, 56, are talking about no-win situations, specifically the dilemma Ethel has encountered for the past week ... […]

It’s Thursday, July 22, 1920, at the home of Harriet “Hattie” Moore Jennings, 220 Sherman East Avenue, Hutchinson, Kansas. Living with widowed Hattie, 52, are three of her five children: Don, 31; Mack, 29; and Beulah, 20. […]

It’s Friday night August 8, 1913, at Riverside Park’s airdome outdoor theater in Hutchinson Kansas. Alta June Barnes Beck, 35, is watching her husband, Konrad Christopher Beck, 37, on stage, stirring up the crowd. He couldn’t be happier. […]

It’s Monday, May 27, 1907, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Florence Tharp Duckworth is visiting her husband, Sheriff George “Came” Duckworth, in his office on the second floor of the Reno County Courthouse at Avenue B and Main Street. “How was court?” asked Florence. […]

It’s noon Wednesday, August 14, 1901 in Hutchinson, Kansas, as the Santa Fe train pulls away from the crowded depot, headed east, then north out of town towards Kansas City. […]

Alex Millar, 63, the jail’s turnkey, is waiting for the sheriff and under sheriff to pick up two prisoners. The lawmen will be escorting “Diamond” Dicks and Ed Clark to Lansing Penitentiary via train. […]

It’s Thursday, September 21, 1893, at the Bon Ton Bakery, 15 North Main, Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia “Maria” Bacon Patten, 38, and John Quincy Patten, 38, are celebrating their one-month-old’s birthday, Hiram Burnham Patten. He’s taking a nap while they prepare to order treats. […]

It’s Saturday night, September 16, 1893, in Hutchinson, Kansas, at the Reno County sheriff’s residence, 15 Avenue East. Roscoe, 3; Ethel, 10; Victor 12; Bud (John Jr.), 13, and Mabel, 15, are in bed. John, 37, and Jennie Jones, 35, take a minute to reflect on the day. […]

It’s Wednesday, April 3, 1889, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Daniel Miller, Reno County sheriff, 45, returns home to the sheriff’s residence at 15 Avenue East. Cecelia Edmunds Miller—Mrs. Sheriff—41, spots a new gray hair on her husband’s head. […]

It’s Monday, June 21, 1897, at 102 East Sherman Street, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia Latimer Whiteside, 29, is visiting with Alice Lewis Smith, 36, at Alice’s business of cure baths. As Alice prepared the cure bath for her first customer of the day, she heard the whistle of the departing Hutchinson & Southern train. […]

It’s Sunday night, May 13, 1900, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Roy E. Jordan’s body is finally in the ground, buried at Eastside Cemetery. When Florence read the wire the previous Monday evening, it was hard. She knew that her son, Roy, 24, had been so sick with dysentery ... […]

It’s Wednesday evening, January 2, 1901, at the home of Mrs. Mary E. Ingram Wilson, 114 9th Avenue East, Hutchinson, Kansas. Shortly, Reverend Anderson Forbes (A. F.) Irwin will be performing a marriage between a widow and a widower. […]

It’s Tuesday, February 12, 1935, at 108 E. 14th Street, Hutchinson, Kansas. Alice Elizabeth Thomas Hartford, 80, is on her death bed. “Ethel, Ethel,” Elizabeth cried out, “stay with us, we love you.” […]

It’s August 3, 1899, at the Old Settlers’ of Reno County picnic in Riverside Park, Hutchinson, Kansas. Loretta McMillan Collins, 51, eating watermelon; Sarah Jane Riddle McMurry, 45, drinking blackberry cider; and Julia Clementine Latimer Whiteside, 31, eating fresh cherry pie ... […]

The three men had often heard each others’ stories, but they were good listeners, and good friends. Charles Collins, Jon McMurry, and Houston Whiteside, all recalled the good old days, even when they were bad. […]

It’s Election night, Tuesday, April 2, 2013, in Hutchinson, Kansas, at Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson’s house. Smiling, new-jail supporters can’t believe the overwhelming success of the ½ cent sales tax vote. Unofficially, the bond issue is passing by an incredible 77.4%. […]

It’s Friday morning, January 3, 2003, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Larry Leslie, 59, ex-sheriff of Reno County, is beginning his jail sentence for misdemeanor conflict of interest. He’s been booked into the same jail he had formally run. He’s been fingerprinted. […]

It’s Wednesday, June 5, 1985, in Hutchinson, Kansas, on the third floor of the Reno County courthouse. For the last three-and-a-half weeks, the jury trial of Arnold Ruebke, Jr. has been in session. Ruebke is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated kidnapping. […]

Reverend Richard Burson, minister at the Gospel Chapel, Elm Street and 6th Avenue, Hutchinson, Kansas, takes a deep breath. He looks shrunken, his eyes downcast. It’s Sunday, July 30th, 1972, two days before Reno County citizens vote in the primary election to decide who will be the next top lawman. […]

Calvin and Carol Sheppard are off to vote. It’s Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 1964, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Finally, on the ballot, the people of Kansas get to decide on an amendment to the state constitution. Will sheriffs be allowed to seek more than two consecutive two-year terms? […]

For years Gina Laiso, book designer and coach, has been helping people self-publish books at her company, Integrita Productions, of rural Kansas. It’s been fulfilling for Gina to guide people through their early inspiration and research phase to the development of a finished, professional book, ready for print. […]

It must be Monday, because we’re having ham and beans today, thinks Fannie Elizabeth Masters Sheppard, jail matron and cook at the Reno County jail on the fifth floor of the courthouse. It’s 0750 hours, December 29, 1958, in Hutchinson, Kansas. […]

It’s Tuesday morning, May 15, 1956, in Hutchinson, Kansas. As Reno County Sheriff Al Severson attaches his prosthetic hook to his left elbow and upper arm, he says to Grace Wells Severson, his wife and jail matron, “It’s finally here, Resignation Day.” […]

It’s Christmas Day, 1951, in Hutchinson, Kansas, at the Reno County court house, in the jail on the fifth floor. A strand of colorful Christmas tree bulbs outline the frame of one window, while the scent of freshly cut pine branches and the aroma of cinnamon cookies, offer a reason to remember . . . or forget. […]

It’s Saturday, August 18, 1951, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Walter Dixon, 57, wakes up and looks at the clock. It’s 1:25 a.m. The room is quiet except for his wife’s breathing. He’s been dreaming, or remembering. Four years earlier, in 1947, he and Ruth were sound asleep when the phone rang ... […]

It’s Saturday evening, November 14, 1942, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Brothers Stevie, 8, and Billy, 10, are playing hide-and-seek in the Reno County courthouse, First Avenue and Adams Street. […]

It’s Monday, January 11, 1943, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Juanita, 32, and Guy Ankerholz, 38, are preparing to go to the Reno County Courthouse for the swearing in ceremony of the new sheriff, Steve Stapleton. Guy will be hanging up his star after having served nearly sixteen years ... […]

It’s 1:30 Sunday afternoon, April 11, 1943, in Eureka, California, in St. Bernard’s Cathedral rectory. Georgiann Allison, 19, daughter of George and Charline Allison, Hutchinson, Kansas, is marrying Richard Harmon, 21, son of J. Clair and Florence Harmon, also from Hutchinson. […]

It’s Wednesday, July 1, 1936, in Hutchinson, Kansas. “Well, look what the cat drug in,” said Fay Brown, owner-operator of the Brown Wheel night club, as plain clothes city detective Ed Cunningham walked in the door. […]

It’s Monday, August 3, 1931, in Hutchinson, Kansas. “Buenos días mi amigo,” said Fay Brown, 40, causing Houston Latimer Whiteside, 41, to smile. It was Fay’s common greeting to those men who had served on the Mexican border in 1916 during the international trouble. […]

It’s Wednesday, June 24, 1931, on the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway in route to Chicago, Illinois, from Hutchinson, Kansas. Houston, 81, and Julia Whiteside, 59, and their son, Houston, Jr., 41, are making an emergency trip to the windy city’s Presbyterian Hospital. Julia needs surgery. […]

It’s Monday, October 24, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Houston Whiteside, 81, tells Julia, his wife, 59, that the escapees from the Reformatory released their kidnap victim, Roy Lloyd, unharmed, in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday afternoon. […]

It’s Saturday, October 22, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia, 59, and Houston Whiteside, 81, are discussing the escape of three men from the Reformatory. “The inmates were members of a work detail digging sweet potatoes when they overpowered a guard ... […]

It’s late Friday afternoon, October 21, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia, 59, and Houston Whiteside, 81, are sitting at their dining room table when Julia stops talking, turns her head to the southeast, and announces, “The reformatory siren is going off.” “I wonder who escaped,” said Houston. […]

It’s Friday, October 21, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia Whiteside and her husband, Houston, are still talking about the opening of the newest J. S. Dillon & Sons store at 13th and Main. […]

It’s Thursday, October 20, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia and Houston Whiteside are making plans to attend a Saturday show on the south end at Riverside Park. The Wallace Bruce Players will be performing on stage. […]

It’s Tuesday, October 18, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Hutchinson Chief of Police George “Came” Duckworth, 60, and Mrs. Anna Kelly, 46, police matron, are at the police station, talking. “If the citizenry knew we worked 15-hour days with hardly a day off, do you think they would recommend we receive more support from the city?” asked Anna. […]

It’s Monday, October 17, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Reno County Sheriff Fay Brown is parked in his new—actually, the county’s new–1927 Standard Six Dictator automobile. […]

It’s Saturday, October 15th, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Houston Whiteside, 81, and Bill Long, 65, are talking about the olden days in Reno County. “Fortunately, I didn’t have to view the bodies of the five murdered children,” said Houston Whiteside. […]

It’s Friday, October 14, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia Whiteside, 59, enters Carey Cold Storage, Main Street at C, carrying an empty gallon bottle, when she recognizes a lady who has just filled a jug with delicious apple cider made at Willowbrook. […]

It’s October 13, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia Whiteside, 59, meets her husband, Houston, 81, at the door. “The radio just announced that Ruth Elder is safe!” said Julia. “They were rescued from the ocean off the coast of the Azores. The American Girl had a broken oil line.” […]

It’s Wednesday, October 12, 1927. Houston Whiteside, 81, and Julia, 59, his wife, are at the corner of Main Street and Avenue B east, Hutchinson, Kansas. The condemned, but still standing, Reno County courthouse is on the southeast corner. […]

Julia Whiteside, 59, is at Smith’s Flower Shop, 414 North Main Street, Hutchinson, Kansas. She strikes up a conversation with Harry “says it with flowers” Smith, son of the late Fay Smith, a well-known city and county leader. It’s Tuesday, October 11, 1927. […]

Julia and Houston Whiteside are recovering from a house full of family and guests at 504 East Sherman. Their son, Houston Latimer, 37, is eating the last piece of leftover birthday cake. It’s Monday, October 10, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. […]

It’s Sunday, October 10, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. At 504 East Sherman Avenue, Houston and Julia Whiteside are hosting a family dinner and reception to celebrate Houston’s 81st birthday. […]

Houston Whiteside watched as a police officer hung a green ticket on an automobile parked too long on Main Street. In his head, the retired attorney-at-law, and former Reno County Attorney, contrasted the early days of Hutchinson to the present. […]

It’s Friday, October 7, 1927. Houston Whiteside, retired attorney-at-law, resident of Hutchinson, Kansas, since May 1872, is celebrating his 81st birthday at the Masonic Hall. Judge Whiteside has been encouraged to recall the good ‘ole days. […]

It’s Saturday, October 1, 1927, in the Stamey Hotel’s coffee shop at 5th and Main, Hutchinson, Kansas, just a half-block east of the temporary courthouse. When you walk in the door, you can smell the aroma of fresh coffee. […]

It’s Friday, September 23, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas, at the Johnson & Sons Funeral Home, 134 Sherman Avenue, east. The funeral service of Harvey E. Albrecht is starting. […]

It’s Friday, September 23, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas, at the Johnson & Sons Funeral Home, 134 Sherman Avenue, east. People are arriving for the funeral service of Harvey E. Albrecht. […]

It’s Thursday, August 22, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the day after Harvey E. Albrecht killed himself, and the day before his funeral. His daughters, Pearl and Jewel, can’t sleep. […]

It’s Wednesday, September 21, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Mary Adella Albrecht must tell her two girls that their father is dead. “I need to collect Pearl and Jewel before they hear from someone else of their father’s death,” said Mary. “I need to leave right now." […]

It’s September 21, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. A man has killed himself by taking poison. Everyone presumes the deceased is Harvey Albrecht, Mary Adella's husband. Waiting outside for permission to enter, Mary has grown impatient. […]

On September 21, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas, while attempting to serve divorce papers to Harvey E. Albrecht at his home, Reno County Deputy Sheriff Martin Jolliffe found a man’s body inside on the floor. […]

It’s Wednesday, September 21, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. A civil process server is attempting to deliver divorce papers to Harvey E. Albrecht. […]

It’s Saturday, September 17, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Sheriff Fay Brown and his wife, Cora, prepare to transport a back seat of new friends to Albright Airfield, 2 ½ miles southeast of town. Sheriff Fay Brown sat behind the wheel of his new automobile, a 1927 Studebaker Standard Six Dictator. […]

It’s Tuesday, September 13, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Cora May Phares Brown, matron and cook at the Reno County Jail, 15 Avenue B, east, and guest, Mary Adella Phillips Albrecht, are in the kitchen, washing and drying family dishes. […]

It’s Sunday night, September 11, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Mary Adella Albrecht has been battered by her husband, Harvey, in their home. “Mom,” said Pearl, “will you let me go to Delbert’s house and see if we can borrow their car to take you to the hospital?” […]

It’s Sunday evening, September 11, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Pearl Albrecht, 15, and Delbert Wright, 14, are visiting while sitting on his front porch swing. “Delbert,” said Pearl, “it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me! […]

It’s Thursday, September 8, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Cora Brown, matron and cook at the Reno County Jail, 15 Ave B, east, hears the front doorbell ringing at her residence attached to the jail. […]

It’s September 7, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Downtown’s Fall Festival Frolic begins with a parade. Pearl Albrecht, 15, hurried three doors east from her house on Ave A. west, to visit her friend, Delbert Wright, 14. […]

It’s September 1, 1927. Reno County Sheriff Fay Brown is driving to Wichita to attend a funeral service for a Wichita motorcycle officer who was killed in a pistol battle with bandits. Fay understood death, or at least the ramifications of death. […]

It’s Sunday night, August 21, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Earlier, two boys were caught by Old Man Wilkinson as they were attempting to steal a prized watermelon from his melon patch. […]

It’s Sunday night, August 21, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Cora and Fay Brown are having a conversation while Pal, their one-year-old German shepherd, is lying on the floor, dreaming. Pal’s asleep. He’s no Rin-Tin-Tin, but he’s an intelligent and handsome German police dog. […]

It’s Friday night, August 19, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Fay and Cora Brown are home with their German police dog, Pal. The temperature is unseasonably mild. “There’s another Rin-Tin-Tin movie coming to town next month,” said Cora. […]

It’s Wednesday, August 10, 1927. Reno County Sheriff’s Deputy Martin E. Jolliffe is returning to Hutchinson, Kansas, on the Hutchinson Southern Railway after picking up an alleged automobile thief in Ponca City, Oklahoma. […]

It's Friday, July 29, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. The day is heating up. It will be a scorcher. The past week had been a challenge for Sheriff Fay Brown, 36. He was skilled at catching criminals, but having them behave and keeping them locked up in an old jail, was another matter. […]

It was July 19, 1927. Truman Reynolds, 18, had rubbed Reno County Sheriff Fay F. Brown the wrong way ever since the boy was fifteen-years-old. The youth, who the local paper had dubbed the “Bad Boy of Arlington,” (located 15 miles SW of Hutchinson) was pure trouble. […]

On the morning of July 14, 1927, Ralph Galpin, 13, was attempting to escape an abusive step-father in Belpre, Kansas. Ralph, 13, begged his mother, Vesta Mae, to leave Sam. Instead, she chose to remain with her husband and other children. […]

Cloe Marcia Brown Young, 25, died on December 5, 1918, at Kansas City General Hospital in Missouri. Her husband, Errett Samuel Young, 37, passed three days earlier. Both had developed bronchopneumonia after being infected by the “Spanish” influenza. […]

The brand-new Ford Model T touring car parked in the middle of Fifth Avenue and Main Street, facing south, lurched forward. It was 10:30 the morning of July 4th, 1927. The parade had begun. […]

It's the evening of June 18, 1927. Cora Phares Brown, 33, and her sister, Occie Phares Hamilton, 40, are going to the Midland Theater to see the silent film, "The Telephone Girl." […]

It’s May 20, 1927. Fay and Cora Brown, married, are talking about aviator Charles A. Lindbergh who is enroute to Paris from New York City in his single-seater, single engine, monoplane, the Spirit of St. Louis. […]

At 11 o'clock, the evening of May 7, 1927, many citizens of Hutchinson, Kansas, heard the sound of a freight train approaching their homes. If Cora and Fay Brown hadn’t scheduled a couple of hours off work ... […]

The Citizens State Bank of Arlington, Reno County, KS, was robbed January 2, 1927, and the bandit was caught and charged. On April 11, the jury was selected.  […]

It’s Sunday, April 10, 1927. There’s little doubt that being a Reno County sheriff is a full-time job. Just ask Fay F. Brown. “Never a day off,” said Sheriff Fay Brown to his undersheriff, Ed Cunningham. “No rest for the wicked,” replied Cunningham. […]

Bob Collins was a wanted man. Thug, ex-convict, and bank bandit, he was no choir boy. Even his father admitted that as a youth, his son always seemed to be getting into trouble because he was easily influenced. […]

It’s Wednesday, March 16, 1927. Cora Brown’s thirty-third birthday isn’t until Thursday, but she’s expecting her sister, Occie, and brother-in-law, to arrive any minute to help her celebrate. Occie’s promised to bring a freshly baked cake; Cora and Fay, her husband, will provide tea. […]

It’s Friday, March 4, 1927, at the Reno County Sheriff’s Office in the temporary courthouse. Fay Brown and Alfred Ludwig, friends, are talking about their former military service. […]

It’s Saturday, February 12, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Sheriff Fay Brown pulled into the Standard Oil filling station at Sherman and Popular, Hutchinson, in his Dodge sedan. Before the service attendant had time to greet his new customer, another man approached the elected official. […]

It’s Tuesday, January 25, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Cora Brown, 32, matron and cook at the Reno County Jail, and prisoner Anna Lamberson, 24, are visiting, sewing, and hanging curtains in the sheriff's living quarters. […]

I’m Reno County Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge, and I’m pinned to the sheriff’s vest. It’s Friday, January 21, 1927, inside the sheriff’s office in the temporary courthouse at 5th and Washington, Hutchinson, Kansas. […]

It’s Monday, January 17, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Sheriff Fay. F. Brown’s Badge is down at the sheriff’s office pinned to the sheriff’s vest. Cora Brown, matron and cook at the Reno County Jail, and Jess Blanpied, an old-time county jailer, are in the jail’s kitchen. […]

If you’re one of those people who believe that badges don’t have feelings, then I’m talking to you. I know why I was created. My life as a badge has purpose, which is to serve Reno County Sheriff Fay F. Brown to the best of my ability. […]

Hello readers. I’m Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge and I’m recalling my days in January 1927, after arriving in Hutchinson, Kansas. Don’t ask me what happened this morning because my short term memory is iffy, but I remember my first days in the Salt City. […]

Hello readers. I’m Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge and I’m recalling my days in January 1927, after arriving in Hutchinson, Kansas. Don’t ask me what happened this morning because my short term memory is iffy, but I remember my first days in the Salt City. […]

Hello readers. I’m Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge and I’m recalling my days in January 1927, after arriving in Hutchinson, Kansas. Don’t ask me what happened this morning because my short term memory is iffy, but I remember my first days in the Salt City. […]

“Hello readers. I’m Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge and I’m recalling my days in January 1927, after arriving in Hutchinson, Kansas. Don’t ask me what happened this morning because my short term memory is iffy, but I remember my first days in the Salt City. […]

"Pardon me if my brain’s not as sharp as it used to be. I’m nearly 93 years old. Due to my age, I occasionally get names and dates mixed up. It could happen to anyone. "However, for the time period 1927-1930, my glory years, my recall is as sharp as a tack, or in my case, it would be more appropriate to say, as sharp as a pin. […]

Recently, I was visiting with a friend who is a retired cop. I’ll call him Tom Jennings. Even though he’s no longer physically involved in the business, intellectually he’s still working. He has ideas about how cops can and should make community connections in order to help solve problems, not just make arrests. […]

Recently I had the pleasure of purchasing postcards. What a treat! Today, I’m going to share with you my top ten postcards from my shopping spree at the annual Wichita Postcard Club Show. […]

There are people in the world who crave to have their fifteen minutes of fame. They wish to be widely recognized for attaining a personal achievement or for participating in a spectacular event. That was not the case for Bessie Olson when on May 28, 1924, she was working as a cashier in the Citizens Bank of Lamont, Oklahoma. […]

Sean McArdle, Kansas Authors Club member from Winchester, England, recently added to a conversation that began with a question: “Where do stories come from?” He commented about a dispute he witnessed in a store. […]

“Oh, Alex, she’s beautiful!” squealed Jenna as she approached from the hallway. “Does she have a story?” “Thanks,” replied Alex. “Yes, let me read it to you,” Alex said as she turned Lucky so the sculpture’s back was spotlighted from the ceiling’s targeted lighting. […]

J. Alex Potter, aka Alexandria, was well-known in central Kansas, especially in Reno County, as a belly dancer who delivered dancing bellygrams during the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. […]

In 2017, when I sent my final draft of my novel, Taking Back the Bullet, to my editor, Jan Hurst, I started preparing drafts of written blogs for my new website hosted by Rosemary Miller, aka “The Tech Chick.” […]

James A. Woodson (1893-1971) achieved a lot of during his twenty-two year career as an officer on the Hutchinson Police Department (Kansas) from 1927 through 1949. Who else, anywhere, was hired as a city dog catcher and retired as a lieutenant? […]

When I asked Leland Woodson, 84 years of age, for an interview about his father, James A. Woodson (1893-1971), my interest was mainly his dad’s career as a Hutchinson Police Officer from 1927-1949. I understood that I’d only get a glimpse of the officer’s lengthy service. After all, I was writing a blog, not a book. […]

During the 1920’s, women’s first names were still mostly missing from newspapers. The publications identified a married woman as either “the wife of” or as “Mrs.”, followed by the initials of her husband’s first and middle name, then his surname. […]

Adam (1843-1907) and Margaretha Mayer (1851-1914) Kirch, who had farmed in their home country of Bavaria, becoming part of Germany prior to their emigration to the United States in 1872, had to wait several years before having another opportunity to work the land. […]

I’m a postcard collector and historian who loves reading, research, and writing. As a result, I’ve been curious about some early-day Kansas photographers who created some of the postcards in my collection. […]

People who know Richard Wickliffe remark about how he’s always calm. I’ve never seen him upset. So, when we sat down together for an interview, I had to see if he would share his secret. […]

After speaking with Annika Smith, senior at Buhler High School, it’s clear that teachers really do help change the world. Annika, a/k/a Anni, is an excellent example. […]

Is this man Elmer Swanson? Morgan Williams, collector and expert on exaggeration postcards, sent me another postcard challenge. As I examined the image of the front and markings on the back, I thought, Boy, there isn’t much information here! […]

When Morgan Williams, known far and wide for his amazing collection of exaggeration postcards, sent me a postcard image to examine, I was hooked! […]

It was a joke. After seeing a lot of fascinating bottles in Mike McJunkin’s extensive collection, I asked him, "Do you have earthquake insurance?" “No,” was his one-word reply. […]

Last month I had my socks knocked off by a surprise email sent to my website as a comment to a blog post/podcast I’d posted two months earlier. A person can’t prepare for unbelievable. […]

The results of Sandhenge Publication's first International Writing Contest are here. Writers from four countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ireland, England, and the U.S. participated. People were invited to use the postcard provided .... […]

On Saturday, July 27, 2019, young writers from the Reno County community will be highlighted in a panel format at the monthly meeting of the Kansas Authors Club (KAC), District 6.  […]

I’ve never owned or collected dolls, but as a child I did enjoy playing with toy soldiers. My, the memories I have of the battles I fought and won—without ever leaving home. […]

She’s extremely intelligent, very polite, and has a calming voice. Could we even ask for more? Alex, my wife, started researching the idea of having a house guest a couple of months ago. I mean, we’re set in our ways which means we don’t like disruptions. Okay, sometimes we’re closed-minded. […]

In this concluding part of Robert E. Enders’ military story, I quote extensively from a book published by the U.S. Navy titled the U.S.S. Bountiful: Serving the Fleets at Sea. […]

Last week, I was a guest speaker at a club meeting talking about my reward postcard collection. Prior to the actual start of the meeting I was visiting with a few of the club members when in walked an elderly gentleman wearing a World War II Veteran ball cap. […]

On Saturday we celebrated our catalpa trees and all catalpa trees. We celebrated sacredness of nature and our environment. We invited members of the Kansas Authors Club, District 6, to our Shangri-La where we are empowered and connected to creativity. […]

Jim Ganyon, U. S. veteran, is the son of a World War II Bataan Death March survivor. Recently I had the honor of attending Ganyon’s public presentation about his dad’s cruel encounter with death. […]

I’m a writer and I’m used to spending a lot of my time alone, writing. I can’t imagine a group of writers collaborating, but I know it’s done and done well. love to get an idea and follow where it leads. Often it will involve reading and research; both of which I do mostly by myself. […]

A couple of weeks ago, I received two electronic images of exaggeration postcards and one of a collector pin-back button. They were sent by an old-time collector but new friend, Morgan Williams. He co-authored an excellent book on exaggeration postcards in 1990 ... […]

Veronica Coons, journalist at the Great Bend Tribune is a talented writer who has recently joined the Kansas Authors Club. That’s how I met her. I figured anyone who has such a high visibility job isn’t too likely to be hiding from social media. Sure enough, I learned a lot about her ... […]

It’s not Veterans Day and it’s not Father’s Day, but let me introduce you to some Fighting Fathers, American Patriots. […]

Recently I attended a community meeting organized by Heal Reno County (http://www.healrenocounty.org) where a rural sociologist, Ben Winchester, University of Minnesota Extension, painted a positive picture of rural America instead of one resonating doom and gloom. […]

It was good for me to get back to the monthly Reading Rendezvous Book Club at Metropolitan Coffee in Hutchinson, Kansas. If you’ve never been a part of a group discussing books, you may not realize that success starts with amazing leaders. […]

Diane Wahto’s combination of lyrical and descriptive power in her poetry makes music in my mind. The Sad Joy of Leaving is an emotional, imaginative, and beautiful book. […]

Herb Potter, my uncle who died last year, used to tell me about a major league baseball (MLB) game he attended in St. Louis when he was almost 14 years old. It was a double-header home game for the St. Louis Browns vs the Detroit Tigers. I searched for the date. It was August 19, 1951. […]

It’s safe to say that white nationalist members and sympathizers prefer the racist 1915 film, “The Birth of a Nation” over the anti-racist 2018 blockbuster movie, “The BlackkKlansman.” […]

If you write anything, you’re likely to connect with and use your memories. On a daily basis we are reminded of yesterday. The radio is playing a song from our past. The TV or social media announces an anniversary of a special event. We remember from our life, not a history book. […]

Are you old enough to remember road trip vacations down Route 66? How about the restroom breaks at service stations? I can still see the metal carousels advertising postcards for sale: 5 cents each, six for a quarter. One of my favorite cards was the Jackalope. […]

If you live or have lived west of Wichita, Kansas, then you might recognize this tree that grows on the south side of K96, a couple of miles west of the Maize exit. […]

The older you get—hopefully—the more memories you'll have to write about. Recently, I’ve run into a number of former students from my days as a School Resource Officer when I was a sergeant with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office. […]

A few weeks ago sixteen artists gathered at the Wichita Library to recite their poetry accompanied by music. In short time I learned that one of those poets, H.B. Berlow, also writes crime novels. […]

If you’ve heard of Talking Tombstones then you probably know that real people, now deceased, have their stories brought to life in an abbreviated forum. […]

This past weekend in Wichita, Kansas, was all about postcards, poetry, and eating. When you hear the word “postcards” you may recall a slower time than today’s world of instant communication. […]

Do you enjoy historical research? I love it! As I've mentioned before, I collect "Reward" postcards because they are an enjoyable slice of history. […]

Discovery of a person’s body is a great way to begin a mystery or crime novel. This single event requires readers to use their imagination and ask so many questions. […]

I wake up. It's 3:30 a.m. I’ve been dreaming. I have an idea for writing a story or novel. It’s titled, The Vice President’s Daughter. Quick! I’ve got to write this down! I can sleep later. […]

When I first learned that Mo Yoder, Buhler, Kansas, had been a research subject involved in testing by the military during the Vietnam War, I had a bad feeling. […]

When I was gradually imagining characters for my novel, Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery, I studied the astrological signs in order to get ideas on how I wanted my fictional characters to be different from one another. […]

What image do you conjure up when you think of a one-room schoolhouse? Do you remember reading a novel by Laura Ingalls Wilder? She wrote the Little House on the Prairie series of children’s books based on her experiences as a settler, pioneer family, and teacher. […]

I had to learn the answer to the question. What motivated Kaitlin to go to Scotland? […]

Bill Bush “lives in Halstead, Kansas with his two teenage children, who are the inspiration behind many of his stories.” Sydney and Blake are remarkable. Just ask their father. […]

I learned to be a Chicago White Sox fan from my dad. He loved sports, and once we moved near Chicago, the major league teams available in the city were like a playground for him. […]

I interviewed a young writer friend of mine today. Her name is Elsa. She’s fifteen.  We’re from the same tribe; we love writing. […]

If you're having trouble getting started or getting back to your writing routine, there are tons of potential reasons. I think it's common to just not know where to start. […]

When you start reading a book, you want to know so many things all at once. The primary question I ask myself is, "Am I interested in reading this book?" because there are so many books to read and so little time to read them. […]

Since the Kansas Authors Club, District 6, is preparing for its next meeting, Saturday, July 28th, I invited our upcoming guest speaker, Wm. Mark Simmons, to be interviewed in person for this article. He lives in Hutchinson, Kansas. […]

Living in the country isn’t for everybody. If dirt roads and lack of sidewalks bother you, and if you get scared when it’s actually dark at night, and you can hear natural sounds, the country’s not for you. […]

My great-grandfather, James Chamellis Potter, participated in the Cherokee Outlet land run, was a blacksmith and marshal in Nickerson, and suffered a debilitating stroke years before his death. […]

A long-time friend who recently moved out of Reno County contacted me by email. She told me that during the hectic hubbub of her move, she hadn’t received or had lost the second half of her property tax notice. […]

Tom’s phone played music and vibrated. A county commissioner was returning his phone call. “Tom Jennings, may I help you?” […]

Tom Jennings was all riled up. Against his doctor’s advice, he continued to watch the news, search for news, and read the newspaper. His blood pressure spiked at each sitting. […]

Do you have a routine in your writing? Do you have a specific time and place when you're at your creative best? I'm going to talk about my routine and how it helps me be productive. […]

David Orville Mathias, known as "Matty", came to Hutchinson, Kansas, in March 1934 to play professional baseball for the Hutchinson Larks. Born in Merom, Indiana, June 24, 1906, he was stretching it to play with the ball team which had an age limit of 26. […]

Blaming the victim is pretty common. Relentlessly, we judge people. A homeless person is accused of choosing an unpredictable and stressful life. A rape victim who is attractive, must have “asked for it.” […]

I met Joe back in 1973 in prison. No, we weren't cell mates serving time. We were volunteers wanting to make a difference. […]

In promoting Ronda Miller’s trauma writing workshop in Hutchinson, the main attraction of the Kansas Authors Club meeting, I predicted it would appeal to writers, teachers, therapists, and survivors. Turned out, attendees included people who identified as writers and survivors. […]

Until recently, despite uncertainties and inequalities in the criminal justice system, I’ve been in favor of the death penalty. But now, especially after reading Bryan Stevenson’s book, Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption (2014), I’ve shifted from my long-held personal belief. […]

My “wanted for murder” postcard didn’t give the date of the criminal offense, but it did offer that Joe Mosley had been paroled from the State Industrial Reformatory at Hutchinson, Kansas, in 1909. Now he was wanted by the Chief of Police in Wichita, Kansas. […]

I heard that George, fifteen years old, was writing a novel. Being a writer—an author—I was quickly curious. Karen, his grandmother, told me that he had three chapters done. “Would you like to read it?” she asked me. […]

Think back for a moment at your desire to write or to be published. Do you recall the first book that moved you? Did an author, parent, or teacher encourage you? Think of all the experience you've already had writing, living, and learning. […]

Many whites or Caucasians believe that racism in the United States is nearly dead, a thing of the past, no longer a problem. Sure, there are still groups that encourage white supremacy, but they’re a miniscule percentage of the population. […]

If your doctor informed you that your chance of having a heart attack was extremely high, you’d probably ask what you could do to prevent the impending event.  Suddenly, despite your busy lifestyle, you’d make time to eat smarter and exercise regularly. […]

I grew up in a white, suburban neighborhood of Chicago. People in my community, Skokie, were predominately of the Jewish faith. On Jewish holidays at school I would join two or three other students in our nearly empty classrooms. Because of my religion, I was a minority. […]

"So, you said you wanted to be a better writer." "Yeah, I do." "Well, I'll give you some tips. I'll bet you've heard this one before." "Just tell me!" "Practice, practice, practice." "Oh, come on now! I know that already!" […]

Kathleen Carter, Hutchinson, Kansas, has been a bail bonding agent for fifteen years. Today she works for Owens Bonding Company. When a friend suggested the bonding business to Kathleen, her first thought was: “This could be interesting.” […]

Today I have some "icebreakers" to share with you. You might find them valuable and fun as a tool in "breaking the ice" in a group of people who need a reason or excuse to start talking to one another. Or, they can be used as writing prompts for your students in a writing class. […]

Having worked in law enforcement for over three decades, I tend to take some things for granted when it comes to terminology and police procedure. […]

I grew up watching black and white TV. Actually, it was more like white TV in the sense that people of color rarely appeared. In the early days of television, until the last half of the 1960s during the push for civil rights, the little screen showed very few African American faces. […]

Recently I posted a blog episode about a family who had been evicted from their home. I wondered about the short and long term consequences on children, especially to their psychological well-being. […]

As a child I played soldier. With friends in my neighborhood we had gun battles with toy guns. We repeatedly killed and died. I also bought toy soldiers and played with them. And when my father opened his war trunk—off limits to me—I listened. […]

On today's blog J. Alex Potter, my wife, shares her creativity about creativity! You will see her fine art, and as a bonus, you can hear her audio tape. […]

I’ve been involved in many evictions, but I can only imagine what it must be like for someone to lose their home. I’ve been part of the process. When I was a civil process server, I delivered the legal papers that led to people being kicked out of their residence, into the streets. […]

“What can I do about a tenant who stole my refrigerator?” asked the new landlord. When I was working sheriff's patrol, it seemed like we took reports about everything. However, there were a couple of areas that we learned to avoid whenever possible. […]

What if you developed a fictional character who was narcissistic?  If you decide to "give" one of your fictional characters narcissism, you don't need to identify the condition by name to your readers. Instead, show them. […]

I used to think that being on a jury would be a neat experience. But once I was hired as a deputy sheriff, I knew there was zero chance of that ever happening. Any defense attorney who allowed a law enforcement officer to be selected as a juror would have to be a candidate for “Worst Attorney of the Year.” […]

I remember my first drug test in a bathroom when I was required to pee in a container. Even though I'd been a county employee forever, it still caught me by surprise.  […]

In late November my friend in Winchester, England, told me about Stir Up Sunday. “It’s sort of a Christian festival or at least it’s connected with Christmas," he told me. […]

A friend and her siblings were making arrangements for their mother's funeral. Mother had insisted in her dying days that her ex-husband be prevented from attending her last goodbye. […]

On Saturday I attended a district meeting of the Kansas Authors Club (KAC) in Hutchinson, Kansas. All writers and those interested in becoming writers are welcome to join. The main attraction was the guest speaker, Ann Fell, Winfield, KS. […]

I’ve been meeting a lot of people lately who recognize that I’m a writer and author. Sometimes they congratulate me on the accomplishment and sometimes they purchase one of my books, but I’m also learning that many people have a yearning to be a published author. […]

Veterans Day was celebrated a few days ago. This year the remembrance hit me harder than expected. It started early on Saturday when a friend from across the pond, Sean McArdle, asked me if we celebrate on the 11th of November. He told me that in the United Kingdom they refer to it as Armistice Day ... […]

Tomorrow night I have my first official book reading/signing for my debut novel, Taking Back the Bullet: Trajectories of Self-Discovery. I’m looking forward to the interaction with the attendees—if anyone shows up. […]

If you want to stimulate your imagination and relax, then read. If you want to write, then read. But if you want to understand the craft of writing, then write a book review. That's what I've done. Here are reasons these three books are favorites of mine. […]

A good portion of the population has heard of Roswell, New Mexico; not for its desert beauty, but for the decision of the US government to cover up the truth about UFOs and early alien contact in 1947.  […]

My Grandpa Clarence used to talk about the fertile farmland in western Kansas before the drought, grasshoppers, jack rabbits, and dust storms ravaged the country. He said he and the family had some extremely productive years for over a decade before "The Crash." […]

I should have been thankful for the offer, instead it only reinforced my unwillingness to be a part of one more grisly scene of death. My shift was over. I had paid my dues. I just didn't have it in me to look at one more dead body. […]

Braiding means weaving information into the story, especially characters, like a hairdresser weaving strands of hair into one strong braid. Tom Jennings, Prairie Grove K-9 Police Officer. Sculpture by J. Alex Potter; Photo by Gina Laiso In my novel, Taking Back the Bullet, I focus on three main characters and their families. […]

I'm having so much fun thinking about the fictional characters coming alive since the last blog post!  […]

"You can't make this stuff up!" I tell other writers. We're all in agreement. If you want any ideas for your writing, you don't need to read fake news online. Just take a few "real" headlines and start writing. […]

Recently, in a Hutchinson News article, there was a story about a long-time bar being forced to close due to dwindling customer support. The owner was sharing a lot of memories with the reporter, but there was one that I knew immediately would fit into many a novel, maybe one of mine. […]

If you're a writer, or want to be a writer, do you save story-starters?  Do you file newspaper clippings, save Pinterest images, or write down bits of overheard conversations, certain you'll use the comments or pictures in future dialogue? […]

I've never been to Tanzania, but I've researched the country, especially the PWA community. The acronym stands for People With Albinism. If you want to learn more about the genetic condition called albinism, I recommend the National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH). […]

Today the media talks about the alarming impact of "fake news." No doubt that in our instant, mass communication world, one fraudulent or deceptive story can cause massive confusion with grave consequences. […]

I've been collecting "Reward" postcards since I was first hired by the Reno County Sheriff's Office (KS). I find the descriptors fascinating. Most of these penny postcards were quickly printed and mailed once a criminal offense was reported to local law enforcement. […]

"Our marriage is like an iris that no longer blooms," she said. "It doesn't laugh. It doesn't smile. The plant looks healthy but never joyous." "Jesse, you can still bloom," the counselor said. […]

Despite all the people and animals residing in our home--gerbil, snakes, cats, turtles, birds, rabbits, horses, bull, elephant--visitors often remark how much they enjoy the peace and quiet. But once our friends get introduced to the multitude of characters, they begin to understand how many stories are interwoven into our tranquil environment. […]

I've traveled down many rabbit holes before completing a first draft of a book. The trip down the black hole always begins innocently enough, with nothing but good intentions: I believe I need to get enough useful background on a topic before I can start the story. But there are inherent risks in entering a rabbit hole. […]

If you write fiction, have you created a place for your characters to hang out? Writing is a combination of reading, travel, and imagination. Research and fact-checking are crucial. […]

Whether it's non-fiction, memoir or fiction, for me, writing about death is the ultimate mood swing. Having a dark chapter (or two) gives the reader a taste of the highs and lows of life. Without the lows, the highs aren't as high. […]

First, I decided to write about my career in law enforcement. In the beginning of my process, I thought about making it a "How to" manual for becoming a cop. […]

Yesterday morning we received a phone call from a country neighbor. "Have you been down to your mailbox yet?" she asked. "No," I replied. "Well, if you can get down here, you can see that someone's run over our newspaper tubes. […]

Here's a brief blog on writing. This one's about creating fictional characters. I use character driven literary fiction as my vehicle to address stigma, identity, and self-discovery, but my goal is to entertain the reader, never preach. […]

I'm writing from south-central Kansas. For those of you more familiar with our geography, my wife and I live outside of Hutchinson. It's known as "the Salt City" for the many salt mines that were once active. Kansans know it as the home of the State Fair, the National Junior College Basketball Tournament, and the Cosmosphere & Space Museum. […]