Joe McKenzie is the author of At The Mercy of Ourselves, a book of poetry published by SpartanPress of Kansas City in 2019. The book is available on Amazon, as well as at Ad Astra Books and Coffee in Salina. He has been writing and doing readings for many years. His writing has been commissioned and exhibited. Joe has won a new voice award for his poetry. Before retiring as Director of the Salina Public Library, Joe helped plan the annual Salina Spring Poetry Reading Series, which brought award winning poets to the city. In addition to writing in retirement, Joe remains active in Salina, enjoys hiking and traveling with his wife, Mary Lou, and playing with grandchildren.

Lori Brack graduated from Great Bend High School in 1974. She has degrees from KU and Western Washington University. Her 2018 book of poems, Museum Made of Breath, was published by Spartan Press. Her poems and essays have appeared in national literary online and print journals including North American Review, Another Chicago Magazine, Entropy, Fourth River, and Mid-American Review. She manages a project in Salina dedicated to the professional development of artists in all genres, and assists with a KU-public school project bringing Asian art to Kansas students.