Sarah Bagby Hosts Virtual ‘Maggie' Launch at Watermark Books and Cafe'

WICHITA, Kan. (June 1, 2021) — It was a gold-medal evening for Maggie Vaults Over the Moon’s virtual book launch celebration, hosted by Sarah Bagby and Watermark Books and Cafe’.

Maggie’s virtual book launch was hosted by Sarah Bagby, Owner, Watermark Books & Cafe’

Participants logged-in from across the nation to cheer the re-release of the beloved novel and to hear from author Grant Overstake and Dr. Melissa White, who co-wrote the new edition, which also includes a foreword by Olympic Champion Katerina Stefanidi.

“If you haven't read about Maggie, you really need to now because you'll fall in love with her,” said program host Sarah Bagby, a world-class book reviewer who served as a fiction judge for the National Book Awards. “Everyone's talking about the Olympics, and so this book will just add to that experience of watching the Olympics with a little more heart and soul than what you get from watching it on TV.

“Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is your required summer reading!” Bagby added.

Hailed one of the great track and field novels of all time, the saga of a gritty Kansas farm girl’s quest to master the daring sport of pole-vaulting has stirred the hopes and dreams of readers around the world. In addition to the original story, the new “Class Set Version” includes questions for young people written by Dr. White, a Language Arts (ELA) Teacher and Mental Performance Consultant with a Doctorate in Sport Psychology.

Overstake, a former Miami Herald sportswriter and Wichita native, has written and published two award-winning young adult novels, Maggie Vaults Over the Moon, and The Real Education of TJ Crowley, through his own imprint, Grain Valley Publishing Company.

Bagby has endorsed both novels, which are set in Kansas.

Overstake talked about the setting for Maggie Vaults Over the Moon, which captures rural life in the Wheat State. Dr. White read a passage from the book and shared one of the chapter questions which deal with grief, overcoming obstacles, determination, and resilience.

Bagby said the chapter questions had enhanced her own reading experience and recommended the story for adult book studies.

“I am so ready to share this book with everybody!” Bagby added.

Maggie Vaults Over the Moon is available online and in the store at Watermark Books in Wichita.