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Tom Averill, writer-in-residence and professor of English at Washburn University, visited the Emporia Public Library this evening as part of the Kansas Reads program sponsored by the Kansas Center for the Book and the State Library of Kansas.
Averill has been hitting the highways and libraries across the state leading discussions about this ever-popular book he edited 20 years ago and published by the University Press of Kansas.
“What Kansas Means to Me” is a collection of “positive and affectionate essays written about the state.”
About a dozen area residents, most of them regular members of the monthly discussion group, showed up this evening to talk about the book. And about “dear old Kansas.”
Averill signs a copy of his book “William Jennings Bryan Oleander’s guide to Kansas: how to know when you’re Here” for a discussion group member.
William Jennings Bryan Oleander is Averill’s alter-ego. Oleander is an old man from a small town called Here, and he frequently does commentaries on Kansas Public Radio.
We had a good discussion of the book and regional identity. But then, it’s always fun to talk about Kansas, yes?
To read about Kansas, too. Going to order the book.