"Author's note: Spring 2002"--Page 11.

As guests in Cowley County, Kansas, as part of a National Artists Residency Program, Artists & Communities: America Creates for the Millennium, Bill Botzow and Meg Cottam were immediately struck by the area residents, their rich descriptions of Cowley County and why they consider this part of Kansas so special. Stories were gathered throughout the 1000 square miles of Cowley County in collaboration with the community members. This book compiles and maps the "Moving Stories and Telling Places" of Cowley County ... stories of an area that often transformed the residents and defined their lives. The majority of the storytellers reside in and around two major towns, Winfield and Arkansas City, however, most of the locations described are in the surrounding areas. These tales show a genuine love of nature and Cowley County, as well as a deep appreciation of human history. The storytellers you will meet are the champions of the "places" they've selected. Explore and experience this little slice of Kansas for yourself through the eyes of the people who love and live in Cowley County. Enjoy your journey.