MUSEUM TO PRESENT ‘THE ART OF STORYTELLING’
Feb. 22 History Café to feature western history writers
The first History Café of 2023 will be a special time as we gather to listen to a distinguished panel of Western History authors Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 10:30 a.m. The panel will include Matt Vincent, Jean Gray and Luann Koester. The three authors have all written and published books about the fascinating history of the Northeastern Colorado plains and the stories that have shaped our history. The authors will discuss the whole writing and publishing process and will include information about writing your own personal family history.
Matt Vincent, a native of Yuma, Colorado grew up immersed in western history and lore. He graduated from Yuma High School in 1975 and from the University of Colorado School in 1980. He spent the next 40 years in the publishing industry, becoming an awardwinning newspaper and magazine writer, a photographer, and editor of several national fishing publications. Matt’s first book, “Wild Times and True Tales of the High Plains” has sold out after three printings. His second book, “The Chronicles of Custer: First Stand of a Failed Campaign” was released in 2022.
Jean Gray began her career as a journalist when she bought the Haxtun-fleming Herald in 1984. She was the publisher of that newspaper until she sold it in 2010. Having spent nearly three decades as a journalist, Jean knew many of the stories of the people there and during her years in the news business, one of her favorite things to do was write personal profiles. This fascination with personal stories led her to eventually write “Homesteading Haxtun and the High Plains: Northeastern Colorado History”. Jean specializes in teaching and encouraging people to write their own family history.
Our third panelist, Luann Koester, taught high school language arts as well as college composition for over 26 years. A fellow of the National and Colorado Writing Projects, she considers herself a writer teaching writers. Luann authored children’s book, “Gran Kissed the Blarney Stone” and is also a published poet. Her most recent book “Hawks Cry: The Story of a Cheyenne Hero” is a historical fiction novel that interweaves two time periods focusing on the young Cheyenne boy who was a true life hero at the Battle of Summit Springs. Luann has strong ties to Northeastern Colorado living on a cattle ranch near White Butte Creek. Her book launch for “Hawks Cry” will also take place at the Overland Trail Museum on Saturday, February 25 from 10 a.m. -2 p.m.
History Café is a monthly program at the Overland Trail Museum taking place in the High Plains Education Center on the last Wednesday of each month. Reservations are not required but are strongly encouraged as the programs have limited seating. Please call the Museum at 970-522-3895 to reserve your spot. We hope you will join us for muffins, coffee/ tea and history at the Overland Trail Museum.