Meet Grant Overstake
Grant Overstake is an accomplished author, journalist, and former All-America decathlete whose compelling storytelling draws readers into worlds of resilience, growth, and social justice. His novels are marked by a deep authenticity, with themes that resonate across generations and genres.
Celebrated as the "Oscars of Audiobooks," this event, hosted by the Audio Publishers Association (APA), honored the industry’s finest in spoken-word storytelling. Captured on the red carpet, celebrating this incredible win: Claire Overstake, Dion Graham, Grant Overstake, Dani Martineck, Kevin R. Free, May Wuthrich, Graham Halstead, Thérèse Plummer, Tavia Gilbert, Brittany Pressley, and Michael Crouch. Cast members not pictured, Johnny Heller, Shayna Small, Ari Fliakos, Peter Berkrot, John Wright, and Sheila Brown Kinnard.
Overstake’s debut novel, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon, received widespread acclaim for its inspiring portrayal of perseverance in sports and life. Named one of the best track and field novels by CITIUS MAG and praised by KIRKUS REVIEWS as “a fine YA novel about perseverance in sports and in life,” the story follows a determined teen’s healing journey after a family tragedy.
The novel has since been republished as a classroom reader, complete with a foreword by Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi and chapter questions by Dr. Melissa White, making it a valuable resource for educators.
His second novel, The Real Education of TJ Crowley, dives into the complex realities of race relations during the Civil Rights era. Recognized as Book of the Year by the Kansas Authors’ Club and National Book of the Month by Bookclubs.com, it tells the story of a teenager’s racial awakening in a turbulent period of American history.
Both of Overstake’s novels have been adapted into captivating audiobooks, bringing his stories to life with award-winning performances. Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is narrated by Tavia Gilbert, Audie Award Female Narrator of the Year, while The Real Education of TJ Crowley features a radio theater-style adaptation, co-produced by Grant and May Wuthrich. The production, starring a talented cast including Dani Martineck, Dion Graham, and Tavia Gilbert, won the prestigious 2025 Audie Award for Best Young Adult Audiobook.
Award-Winning Journalist
Raised in Wichita, Kansas, Overstake discovered his passion for storytelling at an early age, devouring sports novels and feature stories in Sports Illustrated. Despite early setbacks, including being rejected from his junior high school paper, he went on to edit his high school newspaper, win multiple journalism awards, and secure a position as a staff writer for The Miami Herald. He later returned to Kansas to lead the Hillsboro Star-Journal, earning recognition from the Kansas Press Association and Kansas Farm Bureau.
As an author and teaching artist, Grant has inspired thousands of students through writing workshops and school assemblies focused on resilience and grit.
Teaching Artist
Beyond his writing career, Overstake has also dedicated himself to teaching and community service. As a teaching artist, he has presented writing workshops and school assemblies on resilience and grit to thousands of students.
Master’s Athletes
A lifelong athlete, Overstake continues to compete in masters athletics, alongside his wife, Claire, winning multiple awards at state and national levels. Together, they were honored with the "Couples Spirit Award" at the 2020 Virtual Worldwide Masters Athletic Challenge Championships.
ARISE Ensemble
Grant and Claire are also active members of the ARISE Ensemble, a multicultural choir promoting racial harmony and preserving the legacy of negro spirituals. The choir was founded by Josephine Brown, whose family inspired The Real Education of TJ Crowley.
At Home in Nature
The Overstakes live in Wichita, Kansas, where Grant, with feline companion Sunny D, writes from a desk overlooking a tranquil bird sanctuary. An avid nature photographer, he enjoys sharing his images on social media. Grant is the founder and CEO of Grain Valley Publishing, LLC, and continues to inspire readers and students alike through his writing, teaching, and advocacy for social justice through The Real Education Project, a nonprofit formed to support educational freedom.