Meet Grant Overstake

Introducing Grant Overstake, an accomplished author whose writing has resonated with readers of all ages. As a gifted storyteller, he has received recognition and acclaim for his work, drawing from his background as a former Miami Herald sportswriter and decathlon All-America. His sports-themed YA novels are infused with raw emotion and authenticity, offering inspiration to anyone who appreciates well-told stories of resilience, hope, and courage.

His premier novel, "Maggie Vaults Over the Moon" has been hailed as “a fine YA novel about perseverance in sports and in life” by KIRKUS REVIEWS and named one of the top track and field novels of all time by CITIUS MAG. The story follows a heroic teen’s quest to overcome hardship and grief on the family farm. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves stories of triumph over adversity. The novel has been republished as a classroom reader, featuring a foreword by Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi and chapter questions by Dr. Melissa White, making it an ideal choice for educators looking to inspire their students.

His second novel, "The Real Education of TJ Crowley" takes an unfiltered view of race relations in the tumultuous civil rights era. The book has been named Book of the Year by the Kansas Authors’ Club and selected as a National Book of the Month by Bookclubs.com. The story explores the costs of choosing friendship over hate and knowledge over fear, as it follows the rocky journey of a young teenager’s racial awakening in a volatile time of justice, hope, and change in American history.

For listening lovers, both of Grant’s novels have become great audio books. "Maggie Vaults Over the Moon" was performed brilliantly by Tavia Gilbert, Audie Award Female Narrator of the Year. "The Real Education of TJ Crowley" was adapted for audio by the author and acclaimed producer/director May Wuthrich. The radio theater style production stars Dani Martineck, Tavia Gilbert, Dion Graham, and a cast of fine supporting actors in an unforgettable listening experience.

Born and raised in Wichita, Kan., Grant discovered his passion for writing as a youngster, reading sports novels by Matt Christopher hidden in his math book, and later by studying the feature stories in Sports Illustrated. After being rejected for a spot on the junior high paper due to poor spelling, Grant went on to edit his high school newspaper, winning several awards. He landed his first professional writing job at age 18, working as a part-time sports reporter for the state’s largest newspaper, The Wichita Eagle.

At age 24, Grant landed a post as a Staff Writer at The Miami Herald, a paper that shaped the careers of many best-selling authors. He later returned to Kansas to produce weekly rural papers, winning dozens of awards from the Kansas Press Association, and a pair of Golden Wheat Awards from the Kansas Farm Bureau.

Still active in masters athletics, Grant and his wife, Claire, won the “Couples Spirit Award” for the decathlons they performed together during the 2020 Virtual Worldwide Masters Athletic Challenge Championships. After completing twenty events over two days, the duo ranked among the world leaders in the 60-64 age group.

The Overstakes live in a sunny lakeside apartment in Wichita. Claire is a science instructor at The Independent School. Grant writes from his desk overlooking a bird sanctuary in the heart of the city, a view he shares with his cool cat, Sunny D. He is an avid nature photographer and enjoys sharing his images on social media.