May 27, 2026
NOTO
I’ll be reading from “Goodbye, Butterfly: Murder, faith and forgiveness in a small Kansas town” during the Topeka chapter of the Kansas Authors Club’s Words in the Wind Open Mic event. The event will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 27, at Round Table Bookstore in NOTO.
In addition to reading, I’ll sign books, which will be available for purchase from the bookstore. If you already have a copy, bring it and I’ll sign it.
The book began as a capstone assignment when I was a graduate student at Washburn University. Released in September 2024, “GB” was a hot new release on Amazon, including a stint as the top-ranked Midwest history book, and all of the copies at the TSCPL were checked out/on hold for nearly a year straight. It is on its third print.
On Oct. 19, 1991, the small town of Dover, Kansas, and the Keller family were forever changed. Brenda Keller, the 12-year-old daughter of the town’s pastor, was abducted, raped and murdered by a man who should have been behind bars. Through unimaginable sadness, the Keller family pushed forward relying heavily on their faith to live full lives dedicated to honoring their daughter.


