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Our primary mission is to write and publish noteworthy fiction and nonfiction books, for children and adults, to celebrate the rich heritage and history of our area, particularly those subjects that are national in scope and importance. About Dr. Jean A. Lukesh Longtime School Librarian, Media Specialist, Integration Specialist, Educator, Author, Editor, Publisher, and Presenter
Education:
- B.A. Education (Magna Cum Laude), Middle School Education, with endorsements in Language Arts, Social Sciences, General Science, and Educational Media - M.A. Education in English - M.A. Education in History - Certificate in Publishing, from Denver University Publishing Institute - Ed.D. (Doctor of Education), Curriculum and Instruction (Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum) Honors: - 2006 inducted as an Admiral in the Nebraska Navy - 2008 University of Nebraska - Kearney: Distinguished Alumni Award - 2009 Grand Island [Nebraska] Senior High: Hall of Honor inductee - 2010 Mari Sandoz Award from the Nebraska Library Association - 2012 Mountain/Plains Library Association's Literary Contributions Award - 2013 Central Nebraska Reading Council's Celebrate Literacy Award Book Awards: - 2005 "Texty" National Textbook Award for El-Hi Humanities and Social Sciences from the Text and Academic Authors Association - for The Nebraska Adventure - 2006 & 2008 Nebraska Book Awards from the Nebraska Center for the Book and the Library of Congress - for The Nebraska Adventure and the 150: A Commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of Hall County, Nebraska - 2006 & 2008 Moonshell Literary Awards from the Moonshell Arts and Humanities Council - for The Nebraska Adventure and the 150: A Commemoration of the Sesquicentennial of Hall County, Nebraska - 2011 "IPPY" National/International Award, Bronze Medal for Multicultural Nonfiction for Children/Teens/Young Adults, from the Jenkins Group- for Lucky Ears: The True Story of Ben Kuroki, World War II Hero - 2011 "Moonbeam" National/International Award, Bronze Medal for Multicultural Nonfiction for Young Adults, from the Jenkins Group- for Lucky Ears: The True Story of Ben Kuroki, World War II Hero - 2012 SPUR National Award Finalist for Best Western Juvenile Nonfiction, from the Western Writers of America- for Wolves in Blue: Stories of the North Brothers and Their Pawnee Scouts - 2012 Benjamin Franklin Finalist Award for Teen Nonfiction, from the Independent Book Publishers Association- for Wolves in Blue: Stories of the North Brothers and Their Pawnee Scouts - 2012 "Moonbeam" National/International Award, Gold Medal for Children's Poetry- for Doorstep Orphan: Eugene Field and a Trilogy of His Best Loved Poems - 2013 Nebraska Press Women’s 1st Place Communications Award for Children’s/Young Adult Nonfiction- for Doorstep Orphan: Eugene Field and a Trilogy of His Best Loved Poems - 2013 National Federation of Press Women's 2nd Place Communications Award Children’s/Young Adult Nonfiction- for Doorstep Orphan: Eugene Field and a Trilogy of His Best Loved Poems - 2013 “Moonbeam” National/International Award, Gold Medal for Young Adult Multicultural Nonfiction- for Eagle of Delight: Portrait of the Plains Indian Girl in the White House - 2013 Literary Classics, Gold Medal for Young Adult Nonfiction- for Eagle of Delight: Portrait of the Plains Indian Girl in the White House - 2013 Literary Classics LUMEN Gold Medal Award- for Young Adult Nonfiction for Eagle of Delight: Portrait of the Plains Indian Girl in the White House - 2013 Forword Review's (IndieFab) Book of the Year Finalist for Young Adult Nonfiction for Eagle of Delight: Portrait of the Plains Indian Girl in the White House - 2013 Forword Review's (IndieFab) Book of the Year Honorable Mention for Children's Nonfiction for Eagle of Delight: Portrait of the Plains Indian Girl in the White House - 2014 Western Writers of America (WWA) SPUR (Gold Medal) Award- for Children's/Young Adult Nonfiction for Eagle of Delight: Portrait of the Plains Indian Girl in the White House - 2014 Benjamin Franklin (Silver) Finalist - for Teen Nonfiction for Eagle of Delight: Portrait of the Plains Indian Girl in the White House Organizations & Affiliations: - Nebraska Writers Guild Past President 1998-1999, and LIFE Member - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators - Text and Academic Authors Association - Western Writers of America - Women Writing the West - Sisters in Crime (women mystery writers) - National Federation of Press Women - Nebraska Press Women - Nebraska State Reading Association - Nebraska State Historical Society - Writes the "Nebraska Trivia Quiz" column and some articles - for Nebraska Life Magazine - Writes Lesson Plans for School Library Monthly Magazine - Edits for various small national presses - First published illustration at the age of 12 - Mentored by well-known graphic designer Marlin Gauthier - Recognized Nationally for Outdoor Advertising - Recognized for Small Market Video Productions - Recognized for Packaging Designs - Worked as a Creative Director/Marketing for retail chain - Created over 500 Corporate Logos - Works as a full time creative source for publishing - Authored Bo Dog: The Way I See It, Stuff Happens (a cartoon book), 2013 Organizations & Affiliations: - Nebraska Writers Guild since 1987 - Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Production art is a specialty. I have produced visual communications for over four decades. One last thing, I just read this in the book entitled, The Fine Print of Self Publishing, by Mark Levine (ISBN # 978-1-935098-55-3): "He Who Designs His Own Cover or Interior Has a Fool for a Designer." Levine says, "We all judge books by their covers in many facets of life, however unfairly. This is especially true for actual books. A bad cover will kill your book." That advice is near and dear to my heart, but it is better when it comes from someone else, other than me. I strongly recommend that all authors need to read Levine's book.--REL |