Debra McArthur, who is Park University Director of Academic Support Services, has recently published a new book titled “A Voice for Kanzas.”
McArthur is an author who enjoys writing books for children and young adults. She has written books since 2000 about Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, John Steinbeck, William Faulkner, Desert Storm and a book titled “The Dust Bowl and The Depression.” McArthur also wrote a historical essay for a history website from the University of Virginia.
Always having an interest in Kansas history, McArthur’s love for the state first developed when she taught in Kansas in the 1980s.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act and “Bleeding Kansas” in American history inspired McArthur about Kansas territorial history but she wanted to tell the story in a different way.
In “A Voice for Kanzas”, McArthur’s characters are set in Lawrence, Kan., in 1855. Main character Lucy moves from Pennsylvania to Kansas and in the beginning Lucy is spoiled. Lucy is also a poet and responds emotionally with a poem.
Lucy then begins to look outside herself and finds out how horrible slavery is and gets involved in the Underground Railroad. Assisting slaves would have been death in those days and Lucy’s father could be punished.
To promote her new book, McArthur visited schools and participated in speaking engagements for historical societies.
Lone Chimney Films a small film company that only does films about Kansas history, was approached by McArthur to do a book trailer for “A Voice for Kanzas” and the book trailer can be seen on McArthur’s website.
Reviews and awards have been pouring in over McArthur’s “A Voice for Kanzas”, which has received honors as The Best Children’s book of 2013 by Bankstreet College of Education for ages 9-12 in the category of historical fiction. The book was also received the honor of being Kansas Notable Books in 2013.
Out of the 17 that were nominated for the Thorpe Menn Award which is given out by the Kansas City Public Library and the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the novel was one of three that were finalists for the award.
With all the success McArthur says writing is just fun for her to do.
“It’s more like a hobby,” she said.
McArthur said she would give aspiring writers some advice.
“Need to work with other writers in critique groups so they can get feedback,” she said.
Pearl Webb, public relations major, has been McArthur’s office assistant for almost two years and says how busy she is she stays cool and calm.
“She doesn’t get stressed a lot for having a lot on her plate,” said Webb.
