Maggie Vaults Over the Moon

Tag Archives: sports fiction


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Author Presents ‘Maggie’ to Elite Vaulters at Shocker Pre-State Challenge

Author Grant Overstake presented copies of his novel, 'Maggie Vaults Over the Moon' to winners of the Shocker Pre-State Challenge 2013 Elite Girls' Pole-Vault winners (shown from left to right): Hannah Middleton, Great Bend High School, third place; Emily Roland, Andale High School, first place; and Selam Ball, Great Bend High School, second place. (Photo by Brett Middleton).

Winners of the Shocker Pre-State Challenge 2013 Elite Girls’ Pole-Vault held April 12th at Cessna Stadium (from left): Hannah Middleton, Great Bend High School, third place; Emily Rowland, Andale High School, first place; and Selam Ball, Great Bend High School, second place. (Photos by Brett Middleton).

High-flying heroine Maggie Steele found herself on the awards stand at Cessna Stadium when copies of the new teen sports novel Maggie Vaults Over the Moon were presented to the winners of the Elite Girls’ Pole-Vault at the Shocker Pre-State Challenge 2013 track meet, held April 12th at Wichita State University.

WUSHOCKTRACKLOGOWichita-based author Grant Overstake awarded the medals and presented a copy of Maggie to Emily Roland, Andale High School, first place; Selam Ball, Great Bend High School, second place; and Hannah Middleton, Great Bend High School, third place. Continue Reading →


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‘Maggie’ Vaults to No. 3 on Watermark Books’ Best-Seller List!

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Best-sellers from Watermark Books

(As of April 21, 2013)

1. “Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain” by Ryan Blair

2. “Life After Life” by Kate Atkinson

3. “Maggie Vaults Over the Moon” by Grant Overstake

4. “A Kansas Soldier at War” by Ken Spurgeon Continue Reading →


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‘Maggie’ Earns ‘Five Golden Moons!’ from Five-Star Reviewer Fran Lewis

[Author's note: One of the greatest thrills a newly-published author can experience is to have a reviewer get excited about his or her first novel. I'm delighted that 'Maggie' earned a stellar recommendation from Fran Lewis, one of the blogosphere's most prolific and influential book reviewers! Like so many who follow this blog, Fran loved her journey to Grain Valley, Kansas. She grasped the story's message, and she fell in love with Maggie, Alex, Troy, Grandma, and all the other characters. Thank you, Fran, for reading my book, and for giving Maggie 'Five Gold Medals' and 'Five Golden Moons!' -- Grant Overstake]

Fran Lewis has reviewed more than 350 books on Amazon.com

Fran Lewis

Book reviewer Fran Lewis is a distinguished retired educator who worked in the New York City Public Schools as the Reading and Writing Staff Developer for over 36 years. She holds three masters Degrees and a PhD in Supervision and Administration. She is a member of Who’s Who of America’s Teachers and Who’s Who of America’s Executives from Cambridge. A successful writer and author, Fran has published ten books in various genres. Continue Reading →


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Kennesaw State’s Vaulters Love ‘Maggie!’

KennesawStateVaultersLoveMaggie

Kennesaw State University’s pole-vaulters, shown from left: Michael Owenby, Shawna Lehman, Jacy Robertson, Lauren Wilson, and Matt Morris. The squad is coached by Robbie Roberson. Maggie says, “Go Owls! Go!”

Maggie was delighted to receive an awesome photo from the Kennesaw State University Pole-Vaulting Squad!

Kennesaw_State_Athletics_Primary_LogoLocated in Kennesaw, Georgia, Kennesaw State is one of the strongest track and field teams in the South, competing in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

According to Owls’ Coach Robbie Robertson, his vaulters loved seeing their awesome sport highlighted in the new teen novel, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon by Grant Overstake. Robertson also coaches the Georgia Pole Vault Club. Continue Reading →


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Global Bookstore ‘Books Direct’ Introduces ‘Maggie’ to the World!

Maggie Vaults Over the Moon

The global online bookstore, Books Direct, has just introduced Maggie Vaults Over the Moon to its worldwide audience!

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To celebrate Maggie’s addition to its shelves, Books Direct is sponsoring a drawing for a free copy of the inspiring teen sports novel by Grant Overstake.

Books Direct is your one-stop online book store for the whole family. The Australia-based mega store boasts thousands and thousands of followers. You will find all the latest new releases and best-sellers – including e-books – aimed at all the women, children, teens, and men in your life.

Sign up to win a free copy of ’Maggie’ at Books Direct!


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‘Maggie’ Named an ‘Inspirational Pick’ by Midwest Book Review!

We were delighted to see Maggie Vaults Over the Moon receive the following endorsement from Midwest Book Review:

Maggie Vaults Over the Moon“When someone tells you that you can’t do something, it’s human nature to try to do it anyway. Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is an inspirational tale following Maggie as she enters the sport of pole vaulting, and is constantly told that she can’t pull off certain heights. Driven to prove them wrong, and with the backing of her loved ones, she succeeds beyond her wildest dreams. Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is an inspirational pick for young adult fiction collections.”

Midwest Book Review is an organization which maintains several book review publications. Established in 1976, the organization’s Editor-in-Chief is James A. Cox. Midwest Book Review produces several book review publications per month, with a goal of encouraging small press and increasing literacy. The organization has a focus on serving community and academic library organizations located in California, Wisconsin, and the upper Midwest.


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Do You Feel Yourself Soaring With Maggie? Science Explains Why

Kansas High School State Champion Taylor Marie Swanson felt herself soaring again reading "Maggie Vaults Over the Moon."

Kansas High School State Champion Taylor Marie Swanson felt herself soaring to a gold medal again reading “Maggie Vaults Over the Moon.”

If you feel yourself taking flight with heroine Maggie Steele as she pole-vaults over the moon, don’t be surprised.

Many readers of the new teen novel Maggie Vaults Over the Moon have actually felt the physical sensation of vaulting higher and higher – and a new study explains why.

According to the article, “Your Brain on Fiction”, something amazing happens to our brain when we simply read about fictional characters doing exciting and dramatic things. Our brain responds like we’re really doing those things ourselves. The study shows that when Maggie takes flight, readers do, too.

Maggie Vaults Over the MoonWriting for The New York Times, Annie Murphy Paul reports that, while many people today are fixated with digital devices and spending most of their free time on Facebook or Twitter, new evidence shows we could all benefit from putting away our smart phones and reading good fiction.

According to the story, scientists have come to realize that, to the brain, a fictional account can seem even more real than the real world: Continue Reading →


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Master’s All-Americans Like ‘Maggie Vaults Over the Moon’

TeamEllis

Master’s Track and Field All-Americans Ken and Joann Ellis, of Edmund, Oklahoma take a break from the pole-vault competition to pose with their favorite story about their favorite sport. Ken and Joann won several events at the Bill Butterworth Indoor Master’s Track and Field Meet held Saturday, Jan. 26th, at Wichita State University. They are longtime master’s track and field friends and age-group competitors of author Grant Overstake and his wife, Claire. “Go Team Ellis!”


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Kansas Librarian Foresees a ‘Maggie’ Movie!

Pass the popcorn!

A rural Kansas librarian and book reviewer predicts that Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is destined to become a movie.

“Forget Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” writes Stef Arbuckle, “I foresee the film industry picking up this book for a screenplay.”

Maggie Vaults Over the MoonAuthor Grant Overstake says, Why not?

This story about a brave and beautiful girl who overcomes hardship to find her dreams is the stuff movies are made of.

Arbuckle is the Public Library Director in Weir, Kansas, and reviewer for the Galena Sentinel-Times, the official newspaper of the City of Galena, City of Weir, USD #499, USD #404, and USD #247, in Cherokee County. The town of Weir  (Pop. 679) is about the same size as fictional Grain Valley in the new teen sports novel by Grant Overstake. Weir is even located in the Southeast corner of the state, where the story is set. Continue Reading →


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‘Maggie’ Author Supports Funding for Student Activities in Kansas Schools

KSHSAA Presentation

Author Grant Overstake, right, presents a copy of the teen sports novel, ‘Maggie Vaults Over the Moon’ to Mark Lentz, Assistant Executive Director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association. The story features the Kansas State Track and Field Championships, the largest track meet in the nation.

WICHITA, Kan. (Feb. 25) – Award-winning journalist and author Grant Overstake used his moment in the spotlight today to defend the value of extra-curricular activities as “an essential ingredient” for student success during a presentation to the Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA).

Locked in the ongoing budget battle in Topeka, school board officials and administrators in Kansas are feeling increasing pressure to eliminate even KSHAALOGOmore sports and activities from their schools. But the author said these activities deserve funding because they are fundamental for future success.

“I could go on and on about how KSHSAA programs helped me achieve more personally than I could ever have achieved without them,” said Overstake, a Wichita resident and graduate of Wichita Heights High School.

Overstake spoke before about 250 attendees of the United School Administrators of Kansas 42nd Annual Convention at the Hyatt Eagle Ballroom in downtown Wichita. He presented a copy of his new teen sports novel,  Maggie Vaults Over the Moon, to KSHSAA Assistant Director Mark Lentz. Continue Reading →

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