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WILL ROGERS HISTORICAL FICTION TO APPEAR IN OKLAHOMA NEWSPAPERS
A new serial story for young readers begins Jan. 14 in newspapers across Oklahoma. "Will Rogers: Childhood Adventures of an Oklahoma Legend" is a weekly chapter story that explores what life may have been like for Will Rogers growing up in Indian Territory. The historical fiction story is provided exclusively to Oklahoma newspapers by the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation in remembrance of the 75th anniversary of Rogers' death.
Carolyn Estes, marketing director of the Oologah Lake Leader, wrote the story. She worked with the Will Rogers Memorial to find appropriate historic photographs.
"I think serial stories interest kids," said Estes. "It gives them excitement and something to look forward to in each week's paper. I decided that Will Rogers was an interesting young person to develop this story around. I wanted the young people to know how towns were developed and the vital role that railroads played in the development of towns in Oklahoma."
The eight-chapter serial story follows ten-year-old Will Rogers and his friend, Frank, as they herd cattle, sleep under the stars, swim in the Verdigris River and battle a prairie fire. They also learn about the arrival of a new railroad that will split the Rogers ranch in half and form the new town of Oologah, Okla.
Serial stories are short novels published as individual chapters in the newspaper. One chapter will appear each week, with the final chapter appearing during Newspapers in Education Week in early March.
Estes previously wrote a serial story about the Oklahoma Centennial for Oklahoma newspapers. Estes is also the creator and writer for the nationally syndicated Newspaper in Education feature For the Kid in You. Leader publisher Faith Wylie provides the design and art.
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