Local author's Kansas City guidebook hits shelves next week
'Moon Kansas City' is author Katy Ryan's 256 page love letter to Kansas City
Thursday, March 25, 2010
What do Bangkok, Disney World, Patagonia and Kansas City all have in common?
Simple: They all have their own Moon Guides, or at least they will once the Kansas City edition of the popular travel series hits the shelves on March 30.
Authored by local journalist and KCFreePress.com contributor Katy Ryan, Moon Kansas City is the latest in the series that was founded in 1973 as a collective of world travelers and writers. Ryan put in a proposal to write the book in early 2009 and spent the following 10 months researching and writing about the city she'd lived in since graduating from the University of Missouri in 2004.
What's the hardest thing about writing a guide book about Kansas City?
The two most difficult tasks I encountered while writing were how to divide Kansas City in regards to maps and districts of interest — when you look at it, Kansas City is a huge area with a larger metropolitan area that touches 18 counties. Once those areas were defined, it was challenging to find the venues and points of interest to include. Places open, places close, and you want to find that mix of restaurants or shops or sights that are a bit off the beaten path to combine with the more major attractions that receive the majority of publicity.
In what way did being from KC affect your writing of the book?
I'm not actually from Kansas City; I'm a Columbia native and had been coming to Kansas City since childhood to visit family. I jumped at the chance to write the book because, although Kansas City is gaining increased notoriety because of urban and suburban development, there are still so many who dismiss Kansas City as a hick paradise with nothing to offer a cultured traveler. Having a close connection to Kansas City has made me rather protective of the city, and I knew there was a much greater story to tell that would help make others realize KC as a worthwhile tourist destination.
I have a friend named Nick from New York who once said to me, "I hear there's nothing but cornfields, cows and wizards in Kansas, why the flip would I want to go to Kansas City?" What in your guide might convince him otherwise?
Nick, stereotypes aren't everything! And that's a point I address throughout the guide. Through my research and the points of interest I've compiled, I want people to know that Kansas City is a cultural hotbed with a thriving arts community, a flourishing fashion industry and historic roots that continue to shape where the city is headed. People often immediately associate Kansas City with the "Wizard of Oz," but in reality, the wizards you'll find are those in Kansas City's restaurants, which are deliciously elevating the city's culinary scene to one that includes James Beard nominees, cutting-edge techniques and chefs who are putting a gourmet spin on everything from burgers and snowcones to sandwiches and chocolate.
This book is a 256-page love letter to Kansas City. I want readers to finish with similar feelings of excitement and enthusiasm that I have for the city, and realize that some of the misconceptions they may have about Kansas City no longer apply. That being said, I do address local history, the economy and other background topics. Readers will walk away informed about some of the more significant connections to Kansas City — why is barbecue a big deal? Just how many fountains are there? How did the jazz scene flourish? But more than that, travelers will realize Kansas City has something for everyone, regardless of interests. Families, music aficionados, foodies, shopaholics, art appreciators, thrill-seekers, history buffs — the greatest thing about Kansas City is its versatility, and Moon Kansas City is a physical manifestation of that variety.
What discussions did you have about the cover?
Moon Kansas City cover, courtesy of Avalon Travel
The graphics editor sent me five options, all of which were immediately eye-catching. It was a tough decision to make — you want a cover that's attractive, appealing and representative of the city, but because Kansas City is so diverse and multi-faceted, it's tough to describe it using a single image. There was some conversation about avoiding a couple of the cover options because they appeared too similar to other available books, and in the end, I was torn between a photo of a Nelson-Atkins shuttlecock and the downtown photo shot from Barney Allis Plaza. With help from the graphics team, we decided on the downtown photo, and I think it's a fantastic choice.
What did you learn about Kansas City while researching and writing the Moon Guide?
I learned so much about Kansas City — I feel like a walking encyclopedia, and I'm sure my friends and family are tired of me reciting facts and information! Before I began writing, I had a solid grasp on the sights, restaurants, nightlife, shops and arts and leisure options that appear in the book, but I had a lot of research to do in regards to Kansas City history and most of the background/essential information that's found in the latter half of the book. I love to research, so this was one of my favorite parts of the process, and it was eye-opening to learn concrete facts about some of the city's more infamous moments and figures including the mafia, Tom Pendergast, William Rockhill Nelson and George Kessler. And who knew Kansas City produced so many famous residents? I didn't realize Russell Stover began here, or that Walt Disney's rumored inspiration for Mickey Mouse came from a mouse that inhabited his downtown Kansas City studio. While writing Moon Kansas City, I also became fascinated with local architecture. Downtown Kansas City is a veritable architectural stronghold home to one of the most significant examples of Art Deco architecture found in the nation, Municipal Auditorium.
I discovered new points of interest in every chapter. One of the challenging parts of navigating Kansas City is that some of the restaurants, sights and museums are hidden away without much around them, so you have to know what you're looking for while you're exploring. Some of my favorite recent discoveries include the Linda Hall Library, numerous galleries and the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank. I also discovered a lot of walking tours that I didn't know existed and that are great ways to see the city, especially if you're into certain themes like architecture, arts or local history.
Keep up on information regarding Moon Kansas City's debut on Facebook or on Katy's blog, kckaty.wordpress.com.
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