Meet Grant Overstake

Author and teaching artist Grant Overstake has written two award-winning novels on important themes for young people.

His premier novel, MAGGIE VAULTS OVER THE MOON (2012), earned rave reviews from Kirkus Reviews, National Book of the Week honors from Publishers Weekly, and was brilliantly performed on audio by Tavia Gilbert.

His most recent novel, THE REAL EDUCATION OF TJ CROWLEY, has been hailed an important work of historical young adult fiction.

The Real Education of TJ Crowley, (2018) was a “Candid Conversations on Race Book Club” selection by the Wichita Public Library; a national Book of the Month selection by Bookclubz; and named 2019 “Book of the Year” by the Kansas Authors’ Club. The book includes an excellent Educator Guide and is being taught in social studies, Kansas history, and criminal justice/ethnic studies courses in middle school, high school, and the college level.

Overstake began his writing career in journalism at age 18 as a sports reporter for The Wichita Eagle, then graduated from the University of Kansas, where he was the winner of the William Randolph Hearst Award, considered the Pulitzer Prize for college journalists. Overstake was an All-American in track and field in college, competing in the decathlon event for the KU Jayhawks and legendary coach Bob Timmons. At age 24, Grant joined The Miami Herald, writing a wide variety of sports stories and longform features. He later wrote and edited weekly newspapers in Kansas, earning numerous awards from the Kansas Press Association.

Today he shares his writing know-how as a teaching artist for Arts Partners of Wichita, and has presented workshops and spoken to school assemblies, reaching over 2,000 students to date. He has co-led the summer writing workshop for disadvantaged youth at Storytime Village and facilitates adult Artist's Way creativity workshops and memoir writing classes at various locations, including Watermark Books and Café, with owner Sarah Bagby, in Wichita. An experienced public speaker, Overstake sought diverse mentorship as he deepened his courageous writing on racism, and has been guided by experienced activists in the social justice space. He additionally sought training in community engagement and activism through the Academy for Leadership program at the Center for Courage and Renewal, a nonprofit organization founded in 1997 by author, activist, and educator Parker J. Palmer.

Grant and his wife Claire, a Presidential Award Winning 6th Grade Science teacher in USD 259, own their own indie publishing company, Grain Valley Publishing. Grant and Claire are All-Americans in Masters Track & Field, capturing the global “Couples Spirit Award” for the dual decathlon they completed during the 2020 Virtual Worldwide Masters Athletic Challenge Championships. The couple also enjoys singing with the acclaimed ARISE Ensemble, a multicultural choir dedicated to sharing the unifying message of negro spirituals; and the recipient of the 2019 Outstanding Arts Organization Award from the Wichita Arts Council.