Kase Johnstun

Kase Johnstun lives and writes in Ogden, Utah. He is an award-winning essayist and author whose work has appeared and syndicated nationally and internationally. His book “Beyond the Grip of Craniosynostosis” (McFarland 2015) was the League of Utah Writers 2015 Gold Quill Winner in Nonfiction, and he is the founder of Ogden Pub Runners, which aims to support physical fitness and support local, independent business owners in the community.

Forty Under 40 Entry Form:

“Kase Johnstun lives and writes in Ogden, Utah, and I am nominating him for the 40 under 40 for the Arts, Entertainment, and Media category. First and foremost, Kase is an amazing Ogden writer on the up-and-up. He is the author of recently released “Beyond the Grip Craniosynostosis” (McFarland & Co), which has been featured in Pennsylvania Parenting Magazine, Portland Family Magazine, The Ogden Standard Examiner, and many other places, as well as having mentions in the Chicago Tribune and the Seattle Times.

His work has been published widely by literary journals and trade magazines, including, but not limited to, Yahoo Parenting, Creative Nonfiction Magazine, and The Chronicle Review. He is the co-editor/author of “Utah Reflections: Stories from the Wasatch Front (The History Press), which was named the Salt Lake Tribune’s book of the month for August 2014. His essay collection “Tortillas for Honkies” was named a finalist for the 2013 Autumn House press Nonfiction Awards (most of the essays in the collection have found homes in places like The Watershed Review, Label Me Latino/a, Prime Number Literary Magazine, and Animal Literary Magazine). He has an MFA in creative writing from Pacific University and an MA in English Literature and Creative Writing from Kansas State University and has been invited to speak and read for the Aquinas Institute, Brigham Young Universities’ reading series, and Post 134.

Secondly, Kase shines as an Ogden resident who is working to make Northern Utah/Ogden a better place, and to enhance the arts in this area. Kase is a member of the Ogden Arts Committee and the Saint Joseph Aquinas Institute. He is an alumnus of St. Joseph Catholic High School and a long time support of St. Joseph schools. He is an avid supporter of the literary arts scene and determined to build this scene in Ogden — regularly organizing public readings, co-organizing the weekly Poet Flow reading series (Lighthouse Lounge, every Tuesday at 7 p.m.) with Janica Johnstun, and organizing the recent Banned Books Reading (October 3rd) on Historic 25th Street. He is the Founder of the Ogden Pub Runners group (and a current member of the OPR Board), which has a weekly membership of roughly 20-30 participants.

Kase has writing talent to be sure, but he shines in Northern Utah as a force for artistic growth and change. He’s always looking for ways to bring the Ogden community up and bring its members closer together.” – Anonymous