About Tom
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Tom Mach won awards for each of three historical novels in his trilogy --Sissy!, All Parts Together, and Angels at Sunset.
His major awards include the Coffin Book Award for Sissy! and the Nelson Poetry Brook Award for The Uni Verse. Mach was a university instructor, journalist, editor of South Bay Accent and Software Supermarket, and a monthly columnist for the Senior Monthly. He wrote a collection of short stories, song lyrics, two plays for the stage and two children’s books --The Invisible Twins and Homer the Roamer. He went on to write his memoir called Persistence, Then Peace. |
One of his novels (Angels at Sunset) was nominated in 2012 by an Eastern college for the Nobel Prize for Literature He is particularly proud of the Lifetime Achievement Award he earned at the Kansas Authors Club and the Jack London Award from the California Writers Club. He wrote three Christian novels: Forgiveness Forever, Three Years With Jesus, and Unearthing the True Cross.
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In 2011 Sissy! and All Parts Together were listed by the Kansas State Library as worthy to be included among the 150 best Kansas books (which would include authors such as Truman Capote and Laura Ingalls Wilder). Sissy! won the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award while All Parts Together was a Best Books Award Finalist. Angels at Sunset received 5-star reviews as well as glowing comments from several reviewers. One avid reader claimed it was the best book she had ever read. In addition, Tom has written two children's books--Homer the Roamer and The Invisible Twins and children who have read them enjoyed them. At Canoas Elementary School in San Jose, where Mach taught 4th graders as a full-time tutor, the teacher requested several copies of Homer because it was so popular with her students.
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In March, 2012, the state of Kansas issued a proclamation honoring Mr. Mach for his help in recognizing the 100th anniversary of the 1912 passage of Kansas Suffrage by proclaiming 2012 in honor of his book and officially calling it the “Kansas Angels at Sunset Centennial.”
Tom Mach is also a playwright having had one of his plays, Brain Trust, performed at the EMU Theater in Lawrence, and having published recently a comedy play called You're a Real Character. This play, in book form, is available a Barnes & Noble and at Amazon.
His poetry collection, The Uni Verse, won the Nelson Poetry Book Award, while his other collection, The Museum Muse, received high praise from Amazon reviewers. The next poetry book Mach has written is Poetry Collection, which contains 120 of his poems, including many which have been published. A Shakespeare Sonnet Shakeup is his last poetry collection. Mr. Mach has written numerous other books as well–including a collection of short stories entitled Tom's Travels. [One author claimed his stories had "O. Henry twists" which engaged the reader.]
Tom Mach is also a playwright having had one of his plays, Brain Trust, performed at the EMU Theater in Lawrence, and having published recently a comedy play called You're a Real Character. This play, in book form, is available a Barnes & Noble and at Amazon.
His poetry collection, The Uni Verse, won the Nelson Poetry Book Award, while his other collection, The Museum Muse, received high praise from Amazon reviewers. The next poetry book Mach has written is Poetry Collection, which contains 120 of his poems, including many which have been published. A Shakespeare Sonnet Shakeup is his last poetry collection. Mr. Mach has written numerous other books as well–including a collection of short stories entitled Tom's Travels. [One author claimed his stories had "O. Henry twists" which engaged the reader.]
Mach was a former copywriter, editor of two magazines, conducted writing workshops in Ohio, California, and Kansas, and taught writing at KU’s Continuing Education Program. In addition to numerous articles he had authored in national and regional publications, he was past president with the California Writers Club and the Kansas Authors Club. He won the Jack London Award in California and the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award with the Kansas Authors Club.
He currently resides with his wife in Lawrence, Kansas, where he is also involved in volunteer work to help both adults and children with their writing skills. His work with children included teaching a "Writing as an Adventure" course for the Lawrence Parks & Recreation District, poetry to American Indian children at the Pelathe Community Center, tutoring fourth and fifth graders at a California public school, and helping first graders at St. John's School write short pieces. He taught an adult writing class for Kansas University's Osher program, held numerous workshops for Kansas Authors Club members, gave a presentation at the Dole Institute in Kansas, and made presentations at book club meetings, church events, and women's organizations.
He currently resides with his wife in Lawrence, Kansas, where he is also involved in volunteer work to help both adults and children with their writing skills. His work with children included teaching a "Writing as an Adventure" course for the Lawrence Parks & Recreation District, poetry to American Indian children at the Pelathe Community Center, tutoring fourth and fifth graders at a California public school, and helping first graders at St. John's School write short pieces. He taught an adult writing class for Kansas University's Osher program, held numerous workshops for Kansas Authors Club members, gave a presentation at the Dole Institute in Kansas, and made presentations at book club meetings, church events, and women's organizations.
In Tom's Words
I retired from my job as a market research analyst in 2001 and, after that, I volunteered to help students at different schools to learn to read and write. (See photo.) God has also blessed me by having me become a grandpa for my son's children.
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I love being a grandpa, so much so that I started a free newsletter called Grandpa's Memories, which contains random thoughts from my exciting role.
I consider memories to be a vacation to our past, & the great ones stay with you forever, like a faithful friend. As writer Saul Bellow once said, "Everybody needs his memories. They keep the wolf of insignificance from the door." |
