Iola brings back a lot of great childhood memories for author Amy Thomas. She recalls visiting Sutherland farms, watching the city band play in the square and spending time with her grandparents, Kendall and Shirley Ashford.
Their quaint blue home on South Washington Avenue in Iola is the setting of Thomas’ debut children’s novel, “The Abominog: The Adventures of Kirk and David.”
The novel is based on a bedtime story her father, David Ashford, used to tell her as a child. Ashford grew up in Iola and attended Iola High School, graduating in 1974. He went to Allen Community College where he met Thomas’ mother.
“My dad is a big music fan and I loved looking at all of his albums as a kid,” Thomas said. “There was this one album that always scared me, ‘Abominog’ by Uriah Heep. Dad created this story about him and his friend Kirk and I made it into a full story.”
The story takes place in Iola in 1969. On a rainy day, teenagers Kirk and David are playing catch in the basement and the ball rolls to a door. Behind the door is a lake and in the lake is a monster, the Abominog. The Abominog kidnaps Kirk, and David has to complete a task to save his friend.
Ashford is credited on the cover for creating the idea for her novel.
“He’s one proud daddy,” she said. “I gave him a rough draft for his birthday.”
Thomas currently lives in Virginia, but she grew up in Bonner Springs. She graduated from Kansas State University and majored in criminology.
She received a master’s in applied behavioral science from Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio.
“Writing started as a hobby,” she said. “It is an outlet for me.”
Thomas also blogs on her website passionatepurpose.org. Her novel is self-published under her own company, Passionate Purpose.
“It is really difficult to break through,” into the publishing field, she said. “My husband really helped me out in the uncharted territory.”
Her husband, Dustin, is in the Air Force and their family has traveled across many states. Thomas stays at home and homeschools her two daughters, Rhianna and Sydney. The girls are active in gymnastics and piano. Thomas writes in the quiet of evenings.
“When my husband was deployed I got a lot of it done,” she said.
“Abominog” was released in early September and there will be a sequel.
The book is available on the Amazon website. Thomas said she is also working to make it available on Barnes and Noble.
Thomas said the book can also be found on her website. The story is geared for children 8 to 13.
Thomas said she doesn’t get to make it back to Iola often.
“I really cherish my dad’s stories,” she said. “I want to share them and pass them down to my kids.”
Fond memories the basis for children’s book
