Sandra Moran, the subject of the April 2015 cover story in Camp, passed away on Nov. 7. She was an author, anthropologist, teacher, LIKEME Lighthouse board member, and a featured host on The Tenth Voice LGBT radio magazine on KKFI-FM (90.1). Sandra Moran will be greatly missed.
Moran’s journalism career included reporting assignments at the Topeka Capital-Journal and the Lawrence Journal-World. She was also a deputy press secretary for former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves, and an assistant adjunct professor at Johnson County Community College, where she taught classes on anthropology. She also traveled and led archaeology expeditions around the world.
Moran will be remembered for her legacy of fiction, including the novels All We Lack, Letters Never Sent, Nudge and The Addendum. Her last novel, State of Grace, is scheduled for publication in April 2016. At the time of her death, Moran was working on a book about the Harvey Girls, who were waitresses at the Harvey House at Union Station.
Her writing talent was not unnoticed by her peers. She received the following awards, fellowships and grants:
- 2014 ArtistINC Fellowship, Kansas City, Mo.
- 2013 Edmund White Award for Debut Fiction (Letters Never Sent), Triangle Awards (finalist)
- 2013 Rainbow Award for Historical Fiction (Letters Never Sent), Rainbow Awards (winner)
- 2013 Rainbow Award for Lesbian Debut Novel (Letters Never Sent), Rainbow Awards (winner)
- 2013 Rainbow Award for Best Lesbian Novel (Letters Never Sent), Rainbow Awards (finalist)
- 2013 Ann Bannon Popular Fiction Award (Letters Never Sent), Golden Crown Literary Society (winner)
- 2013 General Fiction Award (Letters Never Sent), Golden Crown Literary Society (winner)
- Kansas City’s LIKEME Lighthouse LGBT center, where Moran was an active volunteer and board member, already has plans to dedicate its library in Moran’s name.
Moran is survived by her wife, Cheryl Pletcher. At her Nov. 14 memorial service at Johnson County Community College, the auditorium was packed. One of the speakers, Moran’s friend Ann McMan, wrote on Moran’s Facebook page that the Lambda Literary Organization had already received $8,000 in donations honoring Moran for a scholarship fund.
Moran’s life and passing were also noted in these articles: