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.
Alvin Brooks, 2022 Thorpe Menn Book Award winner for his memoir, Binding Us Together, was the keynote speaker at the Award Luncheon before 61 attendees. The luncheon was held in the Auditorium at Woodneath Library Center, Mid-Continent Public Library. This was the 45th year the award, sponsored by AAUW-Kansas City branch, was presented to authors residing in the Greater Kansas City area.
A grand total of $9,240 was awarded to local organizations to help fund their programs that promote equity, education, intellectual growth, individual worth, and development of opportunities for women and girls, at the Wagy Awards & Holiday Luncheon on December 3 at Pierpont’s in Union Station.