On Saturday, October 5,  John Moessner (center) was announced Winner of the 2024 Thorpe Menn Literary Excellence Award for his book of poetry, Harmonia. Second Place went to Catherine Browder (pictured right) for her novel, The Manning Girl, and Third Place to Jenn Bailey for her children’s book, Henry Like Always. Moessner was awarded $300, and the two runners up each received an award of $100. All three were presented a personalized framed certificate of their award.

Desideria Mesa, 2023 Thorpe Menn Award winner for her novel, Bindle Punk Bruja, was the keynote speaker at the award luncheon before 55 attendees. The luncheon was held in the Auditorium at Woodneath Library Center, Mid-Continent Public Library. This was the 46th year the award, sponsored by AAUW-Kansas City Branch, was presented to authors
residing in the Greater Kansas City area.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2024 THORPE MENN AWARD NOMINEES

Henry Like Always by Jenn Bailey

The Phantoms of Wakarusa by Fran Borin

The Spirit of Quindaro by Fran Borin

The Manning Girl by Catherine Browder

Same Window Different Views by Tyree Colbert

Benny’s Bump by John E. Davis

What Lies in the Middle by Bekki Diefendort

No Sacrifice Too Great: The 1st Infantry Division in World War II by Gregory Fontenot

When Heart Shall Fail: A Second Chance in Frontier Oregon by Theresa Hupp

Infantrymen of the Air: An Operational History of the Royal Italian Airborne Forces in the Second World War, 1936-1942 by Jeffrey W.S. Leser

Self-Defense by Corey Mertes

Harmonia by John Moessner

Court of No Records by Jenny Molberg

BridgeKeeper by L.S. Moore

Bull in the Ring by Al Ortolani

Skywalks: Robert Gordon’s Untold Story of Hallmark’s Kansas City Disaster by R. Eli Paul

The Receipt by Trish Reeves

Everything I Know by Claudia Recinos Seldeen

Zaiya’s First Road Trip by Rochelle D. Slaughter

The Book of Charlie: 109 Years in the Pursuit of Happiness by David Von Drehle

Click here for guidelines to entering or nominating an author for the 2025 award.