Author Event with Grant Overstake

For the first time locally, Wichita audiences will experience the acclaimed full-cast drama of The Real Education of TJ Crowley: Coming of Age on the Redline, alongside the newly released script-book edition that elevates the story into an immersive “read + hear” format. It’s an invitation to live the story, reflect together, and connect with history that still echoes in our city.

Grant served as executive producer and co-author of the audio drama script, collaborating with acclaimed producer-director May Wuthrich.

Join the Conversation — Father & Daughter Edition

Author Grant Overstake and his daughter, interviewer Jillian Forsberg, lead an intimate dialogue about the story’s Wichita roots, redlining and civil-rights history, the new script format, and the power of listening together. Enjoy a live read-along of a short scene followed by guided discussion, audience reflection, and connection.

About the Author — Grant Overstake

Grant Overstake is an award-winning author and journalist whose YA novels explore personal growth, social justice, and emotional resilience. His second novel, The Real Education of TJ Crowley, was named Book of the Year by the Kansas Authors Club and evolved into a full-cast audio drama honored with the 2025 Audie Award for Best Young Adult Audiobook, the IPPY Gold Medal for Outstanding Audiobook of the Year, and an AudioFile Earphones Award. A Wichita native, Grant draws on his lived experience during the civil-rights era to tell a story rooted in place and purpose.

About the Interviewer — Jillian Forsberg

Jillian Forsberg is an award-winning historical fiction author of “animal historical fiction,” including the 2025 Kansas Notable Book The Rhino Keeper and its new companion novel The Porcelain Menagerie. She holds a master’s degree in public history from Wichita State University, and is the youngest daughter of Grant and Claire Overstake.

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