testimonial “Arlene Graber consistently writes high-quality articles for the paper and is conscientious about deadlines. Arlene is a well-informed generalist who actively seeks out sources and background material for her articles. She can be depended upon for thoughtful input on any project.” — Cathy Feemster, Publisher and Editor, East Wichita News

Arlene has over 20 years of experience writing for newspapers and magazines. Her work has been published in:

• The Wichita Eagle
• The Wichita Business Journal
• East Wichita News
• Kansas! magazine
• Kansas Traveler
• Territorial Magazine
• Transport Topics
• Small Farmers Journal
• Country Register

In addition, she has published devotionals in:

• Chicken Soup for the Soul: Grandmothers (“Best Friend”). Published in 2011.
• Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Tough Times (“Ask, Receive, Thank”). Published in 2011.
• Lookout
• Mature Living

ARTICLES

James and Kathy Wiebe

They work, play, and live together. James and Kathy Wiebe also eat, pray and love together. 24/7? Some days, but individuality and differing outside interests reign for this couple.

– Published in East Wichita News, February 2011

Electronic Books

I have a confession. I know I’ve said otherwise, but with the newest craze in technology, and the virtues thereof, it’s possible I will soon join the millions who carry one single electronic device downloaded with a plethora of books, magazines, and newspapers.

A Best Seller

It was Friday afternoon. As I drove home from a fact-filled day of journalism, dreams of curling up into my overstuffed chair with a good fiction book danced across my mind.

Unfortunately it wasn’t going to happen.

– Published in The Lookout, July 13, 2009

The Huxmans: Sweetheart Communicators

She teaches it. He does it. Jesse and Dr. Susan Huxman are a couple that lives, breathes, and educates vocal and media communications. Jesse is Director of Content at KPTS-TV, and Susan is Director of the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University. Individually, they each have a two-decade foundation of working experience in the field, and are experts in all areas of communication.

– Published in East Wichita News, February 2009

Rocket, Set, Launch

“Oops a little early,” murmurs Mark Weaver. “It popped (meaning the parachute opened) while it was going up. You want the rocket to go straight up, have the parachute open exactly at the top of the flight without tangles, and have the rocket float back. There goes another one.”

Swish, silence, pop and the parachute opens at the top of flight. “That’s what you want.”

– Published in Kansas Traveler, Summer 2008

The Deal for a Dealmaker

You haven’t heard of The Deal yet, but one of the soon-to-be-released movie’s producers, Art Allen, has spread his wings from Wichita to New York to South Africa. William H. Macy, star of The Deal, has dubbed Allen one of the film’s “dealmakers.”

Allen recently returned to Wichita and his regular life as a New York Life Insurance Agent from location shooting in Cape Town, South Africa.

– Published in East Wichita News, January 2008

DeSoto Discipline

I stand majestically in the driveway, basking in the morning sun. My shiny mint green body glistens, showing off sparkling three-window sides and a heavy chrome grill set on a wraparound chrome bumper. I am a 1949 DeSoto Sedan, and one of the first cars to have an automatic transmission with fluid drive—a big selling point in the ’50s.

When Wilson, that’s my owner, brought me home to meet the family, there was shouts of admiration when they saw my large, sturdy, frame trimmed in chrome perched on top of wide whites. The family seemed nice, but it was the owner that I liked best.

3rd Place Winner, Memoir Category — Kansas Writers Association contest, 2007