They decide to jump into their old RV for a final adventure to head from Maine to Washington State. The couple has some unfinished business to tend to. Along the way they meet many interesting characters. Some of them are just bat shit crazy to the point of the couple wanting to avoid them. They also meet some lovely people who respect them and hold them up to be elders in the LGBT community.

What makes this book so special is all the LGBT (using the same acronym as the  characters in the book used) history woven into the story. To see a gay male couple that has been together since the 80s is extremely rare. The government, mainly the Reagan administration, mishandled the AIDS epidemic of the 80s. Many gay men of that time died. It also created a homophobic hysteria.

One historical fact was how GLBT used to be the common acronym, but it became LGBT as “an honor bestowed upon lesbians, who were some of the only people to stay with the dying men.” 

“We put them first because they put us first. Never forget that. When we are abandoned by the world, it was the women from our community who held our hands as we passed.”

I also enjoyed reading about the book’s take on the Stonewall event. Similar events happened in California before that. At one time, gays and gay couples were not allowed to adopt children. In addition to evolving, our society had so many kids waiting to be adopted (and still do). Thus those restrictions eventually disappeared.

Reading about Don and Rodney’s experience with a troubled youth they adopted was both beautiful and heartbreaking. While this book is about the end of the world and that alone is terrifying, I found the love between Don and Rodney to have burned so bright that it gave beauty to this event. 

I would recommend the book to any adult who loves reading apocalyptic fiction, romance, and road trip stories. The author provided trigger warnings regarding suicide and death. I also highly recommend this for anyone curious about how LGBT relationships work. Learning about all the challenges Don and Rodney faced over their decades together and all the joy and pain they shared makes you realize their relationship isn’t any lesser than heterosexual relationships.

“Opinionated: Kansas Journalists Who Proved Why Commentary Matters—Then and Now” by Clay Wirestone is an excellent book dropping on September 29, 2026. Even if you don’t live in Kansas or have a strong connection to the state, this book is a must read! 

The research is incredible! Even though I’ve obtained three graduate degrees from various universities in Kansas, Wirestone digs up stuff I’ve never known about. It is one of the best non-fiction books I’ve read this year. It is also one of the best Kansas and news-related books I’ve ever read!

While it is like drinking water from a firehouse, it also leaves you wanting more, and that more is available! Wirestone shares pictures of buildings that are still standing, and information from articles, interviews, and podcasts the reader can dig up. He even gives you a section called “Further Reading.” In addition to accessing these resources and learning more about the people mentioned in “Opinionated,” I want to hit the road and visit some of the places described! 

The book starts with explaining how Kansas held a place of unique importance leading up to the Civil War. It was an environment where abolitionists and pro-slavery forces had their own newspapers and were often engaged in a battle of words. “A flabbergasting 733 newspapers were being published.” 

Kansas was the center of the country. Settlers on both sides of the issue moved into Kansas to help change the balance of slavery issue. That tradition of publishing commentary continued into the next century.

“Opinionated” provides condensed biographies for a dozen historical Kansas editorial writers from the 1920s through 1970s in various cities and towns. This time period can easily be considered the golden age of newspapers. As an example, Colorado Springs, my hometown had two daily newspapers. In the 80s after that golden age, one of those disappeared.  

In between those biographies for the golden age, Wirestone provides insights into how things have changed and does an excellent job of connecting the past with the present. “But we live in a compressed age, one in which pithy social media posts and 20-second video blasts dominate the conversation. Have courage to take the time and space needed for a mature, nuanced argument.”

The book discusses the importance of local opinion writers and how they gave small towns the attention they needed to prevent them from slowly losing “their vitality” and proving they matter. Local papers provide lots of support. Residents feel like they have a champion. They stay hopeful and feel like things are getting accomplished. They feel part of something larger than themselves! 

In his chapter on Jack Harris of Hutchinson, Wirestone discusses the importance of having local staff and the problems with corporate news ownership. In 2023, the Hutchinson News ran a front-page story about Hutchinson senior citizens, except these were seniors in Hutchinson, Minnesota! The hedge fund ownership based in New York was out of touch with the local community.

Parts of the book made me nostalgic for the old days of staffed newsrooms and the smell of newsprint in each town. Thankfully, the future of local newspapers may not be so bleak. The Hutchinson, Kansas story helped motivate a high school student to start an online newspaper for the community that provided quality editorials and local news.This might be the wave of the future and a way to keep the community connected.

One of my eye-opening chapters was African American journalist Nick Chiles of Topeka. I’ve studied a lot about black history in the area, and was surprised to learn material I missed about Chiles. History teacher Sonja Czarnecki unearthed a lot of great material about him. I’m planning to read her article about him in the journal Kansas History. 

I also loved Wirestone’s commentary and research about how this country is where it is politically. He discusses the divide between the urban and rural areas and offers many examples of how rural communities evolved politically. After World War II, the population shifted even more from rural areas to urban centers. Rural areas then had a lot of respect for business owners who stayed and created jobs. This helped alter the community’s politics, as business owners encouraged the community to “support anti-union laws and tax policies generous to businesses.” 

Wirestone talks about the difficulty of communicating today when folks are so entrenched in their side of the political spectrum. He explains how newspaper commentary can become a two-way interaction with the community. They can shape each other! At the same time the community can change, so can the editorial views. If we can open up that kind of dialogue again, maybe more of us would look out for the common good.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Kansas history. This is also a great book for those interested in journalism and media history. The advice for future editorial writers is excellent. If you’re interested in the history and evolution of editorial writing or media history, this is the book! 

CJ Leede’s “Headlights“ is definitely one of the most interesting horror books I’ve read. While it feels like I’m reading a police procedural with the main character, FBI special agent Daniel Stansfield, two characteristics stick out through the whole book.

First is how the book is a love letter to Colorado. It has many references to John Denver and Colorado, especially the Denver area. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Red Rocks and Fiddler’s Green within the last year. Other places mentioned in the book are quintessential Colorado. Some of the ones I haven’t been to are now on my must-see list!

The Stanley Hotel also plays a big part in this book. The scene that takes place in that iconic horror hotel will stay in your mind for a long time. The book even has a shoutout to Alferd Packard aka “The Colorado Cannibal.”

The second unique characteristic is how grief plays such an important part. Daniel deals with the loss of his mother. I love how Leede uses country classics and dancing to help Dan remember his mother. While growing up, they bonded on those things.

“Headlights” provides an idea about what happens when we pass away. Leede mentions during an interview how that was on her mind when she was writing this book. 

The book attempts to solve many mysteries. It has many twists and turns, and I never would have guessed the ending. If you’re looking for a book that makes you go “what the fuck,” but gives you an answer at the end that still keeps you thinking weeks after you read the book, this is for you! 

I also think this would be an interesting book for a book club, as there are so many things to discuss. I highly recommend this book to adults who love horror and science fiction horror. If you’re a fan of Colorado, John Denver, and the Shining, you will also enjoy this if you can get past some gruesome scenes.

The main character is Mary Fanning, who was the first woman reporter west of the Mississippi and worked for the Kansas Daily Tribune. She hunts for the truth while Krishtalka keeps the story flowing by flushing out the exciting parts of trial transcripts and other documents. He spent countless hours in various archives and libraries including the Kansas Historical Society and digging for newspapers over 150 years old! 

Now he brings back Mary Flanning in “The Body on the Bricks,” set in 1873 where three people are murdered in three separate incidences in Lawrence, Kansas.

Krishtalka has a magical way of transporting readers to the late 19th century. Lawrence is full of fun and intrigue. Never a dull moment in LFK! Even back then!

None of these murders are cut and dry! The helpful seamstress who went to customers and mended their clothes was found murdered in her boarding house. Who did it?

A mom with a dead baby is found screaming in the street with blood all over her clothes. She said there were two of us. Did she do it alone? 

A mad father whose daughter claims a guy knocked her up after promising to marry her and then forced her to get an abortion shoots the guy. Is it a justified killing? The guy would be convicted of murder today, but what about the late 19th century? Did Lawrence still believe in saloon justice or evolve into the rule of law? Patriarchy was strong then! Women were considered property of their fathers until marriage, but you can see how things were starting to change. 

Lots of plot twists in this book. Truth may be stranger than fiction. Many side stories are woven into the dialogue including John Brown and Quantral’s attack on Lawrence. Tidbits of facts also sneak into the intrigue like how Vineland got its original name but then became Vinland.

If you enjoyed courtroom intrigue like “Snow Falling on Cedars” or “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” you will enjoy this book. It even has a suggestion of the supernatural with seances and spirits from the dead! 

I also highly recommend Krishtalka’s Mary Fanning books for those interested in northeast Kansas history. They provide an interesting insight into how legal proceedings were carried out in the late 19th century. If you like mysteries or historical fiction, you’ll also enjoy these. They give you a vivid peek into daily lives of Lawrenceans in the late 1800s.

American Indian Youth Literature and Morris Award-winning author of basketball novel “Rez Ball” Byron Graves returns with another riveting sports book. It’s about Bryce, a young Ojibwe teenager still adjusting to life without his dad and a mother who gets into abusive relationships. I started reading as I sat down to have lunch at a nearby restaurant and quickly learned this isn’t the book to read in a public place.

Something about Graves’ writing gives me the feels. The author captures family relationships and pain and grief so well! Immediately, I recall my own similar experiences the main character Bryce went through by being raised by a single parent. The constant moving makes it hard to make and keep friends. In the next chapter, the shit gets even more real. 

Even though I never experienced what Bryce did, I was touched when he whispered “I promised to never do that again,” and then his friend put his arm around him. That’s real unconditional friendship. The feeling of despair the main character went through, and then the support he received almost brought tears to my eyes. It’s time to leave the restaurant! I’ll read this when nobody is around. 

Bryce started off his summer by being reunited with the area where he grew up. This includes his friends and grandparents. You can see what a difference a support system and community makes in a young person’s life. The characters are so authentic from the helpful lesbian couple who cheer for all their friends to the antagonist who has something in common with Bryce and occasionally shows moments of weakness. 

Bryce’s late dad was a skateboarding champion and his friends Robbie and Mikayla also skate. Bryce decided to try skateboarding and finds more than he expected! Graves explained, “As he learns and develops his skateboarding skills, he finds the same escape that I found, that every skateboarder must feel. A mental landscape that is free and clear. A place that pauses the world, temporarily creating a space where nothing else exists, except for the feeling of the wind in your hair. Skateboarding becomes everything to Bryce. As he adds experience and skills, it boosts his self-esteem. Bryce’s summer becomes one of familiar places, surrounded by caring, family, and friends who he grew up with.” Bryce finds himself!

The process of learning how to skateboard and the sports action are realistic. Graves told me he didn’t want to be a “poseur” and learned how to do skateboard. “It was easily the hardest (and most painful) experience of my life. But it gave me a ton of insights into what Bryce would be thinking and feeling along the way. It gave an authenticity to the story that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to imagine. Now I’m in love with skateboarding, it’s my meditation time.” Skateboarding heals!

A glossary in the back provides the meaning of various skateboarding terms and Ojibwe words. Graves goes into detail when Bryce is working on a new skateboard trick. Graves starts by providing the name for the trick. That allows the reader without much skateboarding experience to look it up online and visually see the trick. At one point in the book, Bryce is looking at a video and says, “The girl in the clip I was watching, made it look so sick.” I realize I was probably watching the exact same clip. It’s like the author knows what the reader would do!

Pop culture and Rez life is woven into the story. The language used and interaction between the characters are realistic. Detailed descriptions of Rez life captures despair and the continuous exploitation of indigenous peoples when it comes to the oil pipeline. Oftentimes, I wish I was in the same room with them fighting for the underdog. 

In the author’s note, Graves writes, “We are defiant and resilient and have been fighting for five hundred years to stay alive, to maintain and protect our languages, our rituals, and our land. The proposed pipeline and infringement of treaties and Native American rights shown in Medicine Wheels shows how fucking hard and unfair it is just to be an Indigenous teen already dealing with a thousand challenges.”

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in skateboarding or indigenous culture. It’s an excellent sports novel. This is also a great book for young adults and adults dealing with difficult times.

Another one of my favorite YA authors is John Green. In the book, someone said to Bryce, “You’re the Indigenous Tony Hawk. For real. You got this good in one summer? Think where you’ll be next year.” Byron Graves is the indigenous John Green! For real. And each book gets better! I can’t wait to read the next book. Graves is that good!

This horrible real-life situation becomes the horror story “Molka” by Monika Kim. The unfamiliar setting of Seoul added to the creepiness factor. The main character Dayhe is Korean and has to deal with voyueristic perverts, a rich playboy who exploits her, a dead sister who becomes a ghost, toxic masculinity, and mean parents.

She has to deal with a backwards culture where women are treated as second-class citizens. Women were told they were being hysterical while men were taken seriously. Police reports by women were often filed away and ignored. Even though Dayhe went to a top university, her human resources file assumes she is not a good long-term employee because she will get married and have kids. Did I say backwards culture? Also sounds like the U.S.

The real horror continues with the disparity of how the women are treated compared to the men. Police would often say nobody was actually harmed and let guys go. However, one woman from a victims support group received 10 months in jail for posting a nude pic of her ex-boyfriend in retaliation for him posting videos of her. 

This book scared the shit out of me. A lot of issues and good scenes are in this book! I don’t want to give up too much, but I have to share a couple.

One of the features of culture that worship male superiority is their obsession with penises. “He was on the verge of dying, of being emasculated, and all he could think about was how small his dick looked.”  

One of my literary tourist highlights was fulfilled when reading about the hidden luxury stores in Gangnam. Yes! The same place of the worldwide hit Gangnam Style. 

Just like the song mocked the pretentious and materialistic culture of that area, the book does not disappoint. I received more detail in the book by observing the rich playboy character and how he treated people.

“Molka” is an excellent scary summer read for adults! If you enjoy horror, you will love this! As a bonus, you’ll be exposed to some Korean culture, language, and geography. With your phone’s help, you can easily look up words while dreading if your phone is spying on you. Also you might be creeped out about hidden bathroom cameras while reading on the toilet. 

I also recommend Monika Kim’s “The Eyes Are The Best Part,” which was one of my favorite horror books of 2024. Usually second efforts aren’t as good as first ones, but Monika exceeded my expectations! This is already my favorite horror book of 2026. 

Released on May 21, Magnetic Leadership for Women Entrepreneurs: The Essential Framework to Lead Yourself First, Speak with Conviction, and Build a Purposeful Business draws from Weaver’s personal and professional journey, as well as the leadership coaching strategies she developed as founder and CEO of Weaver Solutions LLC.

In the book, Weaver offers guidance on examining one’s inner world, leading according to personal values, and asking better questions—starting with oneself. Through personal insights, reflective prompts, and an interactive quiz, the book creates space for readers to engage in meaningful self-discovery that strengthens relationships and communities. Unlike traditional leadership manuals focused on hustle, strategy, and performance, Weaver’s approach centers authenticity and human connection as a bridge between effort and expansion.

“We are living in a time when it can be difficult to know what’s real—from artificial intelligence and deepfakes, to curated online identities and the pressure to fit others’ definitions of success,” Weaver said. “Therefore, those who are willing to be authentic and grow from a place of honesty are the leaders we need.”

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned on my journey is that leadership begins long before anyone follows you. It begins with understanding yourself, your values, your motivations, your strengths, and the stories you tell yourself. This book is an invitation for women to do that work and discover the kind of leader they truly want to be.”

Weaver began writing Magnetic Leadership for Women Entrepreneurs in February 2025, though the foundation for the project was established years earlier. After her role at an organization whose mission she valued deeply came to an unexpected end, she found herself at a professional crossroads. Rather than allowing the experience to define her, Weaver launched her own business and dedicated her work to helping women entrepreneurs and executives navigate leadership challenges with clarity and confidence.

Central to Weaver’s philosophy is the concept of reflective leadership, an approach she first encountered at a leadership academy. The idea that effective leadership begins with self-awareness informed the development of a leadership curriculum she later created for a nonprofit association serving professionals across Kansas. She eventually learned the program reflected the rigor and depth of a master’s-level leadership curriculum.

Building on that foundation, Magnetic Leadership for Women Entrepreneurs is infused with lessons Weaver hopes will reach an even broader audience, particularly women who are several years into their executive leadership journeys.

“Dana has a rare ability to guide you to answers you already know are there—deep inside you, just waiting to be acknowledged,” said Miki Hicks, founder of Mrs. Clever. “She listens and understands on a level that lets her hold the big picture and the weeds you’re stuck in at the same time, then asks exactly the right question to help you find your way out.”

Hicks added that Weaver is “encouraging and challenging in equal measure” and inspires people to move toward what is true while pursuing their biggest goals.

Weaver hopes her new book creates space for readers to be seen, inspired, and empowered. Magnetic Leadership for Women Entrepreneurs is available in paperback and Kindle editions through Amazon.

About the Author

Dana B. Weaver is a leadership coach, speaker, entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Weaver Solutions LLC. Based in Topeka, Kansas, she works with women entrepreneurs, executives, and organizational leaders to develop authentic leadership practices that strengthen communication, build confidence, and foster purposeful growth.

“The Boundless Game” by Tim Bascom is the perfect book to read in preparation for the upcoming World Cup where Kansas City is one of the host cities. Tim shares his personal experiences of the game while interjecting captivating stories about how the game “evolved over centuries.”

This small book looks like a quick and easy read, but Tim kicks so many stories and information through the 168 pages! His narration feels like I’m in a living room hearing him personally share his experiences or carpooling to his pick up games. The sequences where he shares soccer playing experiences makes me feel like I was on the pitch with him and experiencing the same things. “What stays with me at the most basic level is the loudness of my own slapping feet and my own gasping breath, the consciousness of existing right there in the middle of everything. Alive!”

Tim’s lifelong relationship with soccer takes you from his first games as a seven year old through watching the World Cup in his fifties and playing people younger than half his age in his sixties. While many stories take place in Kansas, Tim takes the reader along on his international soccer adventures! 

Another highlight is meeting Bascom’s teammates in recreation games and learning about their backgrounds. Their stories help these players score goals in all hearts. From the single mom waitress in Lawrence who played “with tremendous stamina and enthusiasm” to the seed researcher from Costa Rica who if you ignored would “show up quietly at the right place at the right moment.” I also learned about Coach Oumar. Now when I meet a soccer player from Lawrence, I will ask if they know Coach.

While this book is about love of the game, heartbreaking moments exist. Reading about the plight and tragedy of Afghan players when the Taliban took over was tragic. Members of the Afghanistan women’s national team fled to Australia and will likely realize their dream of playing international soccer with their refugee status. They will keep kicking! 

This is the best sports book I’ve read related to Kansas and the KC area since “Our Boys” by Joe Drape and “The Soul of Baseball” by Joe Posnanski. I’ve learned more about soccer and grew to love it more from Bascom’s writing. I won’t be betting on who’s going to win the World Cup, but I’m confident in betting “The Boundless Game” will win awards! 

I highly recommend this book to soccer fans and soccer players who are ages twelve and up. If you are a parent of a soccer player, this book is also for you. You can see how the game helped Bascom and other successful people find friends, make meaningful connections, no matter where they travel or live, domestic or international. Fans and players of other sports will appreciate this homage to soccer. I hope readers take the camaraderie Bascom experienced to their sports!

As a young man, Reich was involved with the presidential campaigns of Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy. He talked about the old democrats and how they catered to the needs of labor. Somehow the blue collar workers were left behind by McCarthy, but Kennedy was able to bring them in but was assassinated before winning the presidential nomination. 

Democrats later made the same mistake. For example, Jimmy Carter was more involved with giving away the Panama Canal than strengthening labor unions. In the late 80s and early 90s, democrats were catering to high-tech workers, college graduates, and those who would benefit from the new information age economy.

When the blue color workers were left behind, they needed somewhere to go. They needed a type of populism that would inspire them. Bernie Sanders could have done it economically but didn’t have a chance to because Hillary Clinton beat him out for the nomination in 2016. Trump then found a way to channel their despair into cultural populism, which allowed him to win the White House. “Trump stepped into the breach created by the absence of a democratic narrative that spoke to the anguish of many Americans left behind. Trump focused instead on their victimhood, on what had been ‘stolen’ from them: their jobs, their communities, their land, and their pride.”

Reich provided a lot of great nostalgia when he discussed the Clinton era and his interactions with the family. He met Bill Clinton while they were both Rhodes’s scholars. He mentioned how Clinton was ambitious and was thinking about becoming the governor of Arkansas during those times. He also mentioned how empathetic he was. When Reich was seasick, Clinton was the only person who checked in on him and even brought him some chicken soup. That line about feeling your pain was real!

He had a deep discussion about Clinton’s philosophy with the Vietnam war. Since Robert Reich was short, he did not expect to get drafted. They wouldn’t take men under 5 feet. So Robert reported to the recruiting office hoping to avoid military service.

The recruiting sergeant got all excited and started jumping up and down yelling, “You’re just what we needed for the war! We need small people like you to be tunnel rats! You can crawl through the tunnels and toss a grenade in them and get all those commie bastards to run out.”

Then the sergeant had Reich stripped down to his underwear to take his height. Reich was too short. The sergeant was very upset, but then he said, “Don’t give up hope because maybe you’ll grow!” They both started laughing their asses off!

Reich’s discussion of Pat Buchanan was very interesting. I remember a joke from the 90s that claimed Buchanan was just former KKK grand wizard David Duke without the white robes. Reich mentioned how Buchanan was channeling the racist side of the GOP and was getting a third of the GOP votes in the presidential primary, especially among the blue collar members. If only the democrats were able to see all that despair and what it would become, they could have channeled it into a powerful catalyst for economic change.

I highly recommend this book to those who are interested in history within the last 60 years. This is also recommended for folks who want to understand how we got to where we are now politically with the rise of Christian nationalism and the dismantling of our social safety nets. I enjoyed this and other books by Robert Reich.

A lot of good sports fiction books have been written, but you would never expect to find one about table tennis. This one is filled with personal growth and transformation, travel, dog chases, breaking and entering, culture, and even culinary adventures. 

Before I get into detail about this book, let me tell you a little bit of history I’ve had with the author. Hodges and I met while we were both taking college classes in journalism when he was working at the Olympic Training Center in 1990. 

Before I knew about his official involvement with table tennis, I met Hodges across a table where he soundly beat me. He also did it while performing parlor tricks like beating me with his briefcase or a calculator. He also claimed he could beat me with an ice cube. His domination over my mediocre college-level skills was so great that I didn’t even take him up on the ice cube challenge.

Even though he was a professional table tennis coach and non-traditional college student (he already had a math degree), Hodges was a writer, mainly of table tennis articles and short fiction stories. I’ve read a lot of his stories before he became a regularly published author. I have been a fan of his short stories for decades!

Hodges became a member of the U.S.A. Table Tennis Hall of Fame in 2003. He still coaches in clinics and at the Maryland Table Tennis Center, which he co-founded. 

The book is the ping pong version of Rocky and the Christmas Carol! Andy wants to be a table tennis champion and is willing to do whatever it takes. So he travels to the country that dominates table tennis – China! He meets the mysterious Coach Wang who helps guide Andy with meeting various spirits of legendary players. Andy learns a lot from each spirit. He trains for many months with each player. 

At the end of his training in China, Andy must get past the formidable competitor Dragon or die trying! The play-by-play action was so realistic I felt like I was tableside at one of the many matches I watched at the Olympic Training Center. 

Defeating the Dragon was not the end. Andy’s prize for defeating the Dragon is stolen and he must beat an even more skilled opponent. He digs deeper into his training, pulls out all the stops and has help from the spirits! 

Hodges did a great job of weaving together table tennis and Chinese history, along with stories about the legendary players into a compelling story. I was especially touched by the tragic story of Rong Guotuan who became a victim of China’s Cultural Revolution. Andy had to relive the pain of Rong’s own country betraying him. This is sad because a lot of Olympic athletes represent their countries with pride. 

I recommend this book readers of all ages who are interested in sports stories or table tennis. It’s also a good science fiction/fantasy if someone is looking for a quick read (just around 100 pages). 

I have found table tennis to be a fun sport for families to get into. Hodges is working on a unique children’s picture book that introduces kids to table tennis in humorous Seussian rhyme coming out in April entitled “Ping Pong Paddles Can’t Talk.”