Kase Johnstun

Kase D. Johnstun is an American author known for his fiction and creative nonfiction works. Living and writing in Ogden, Utah, he has developed a reputation for crafting narratives that explore family, history, and identity. His most recent novel, Let the Wild Grasses Grow (2022), has received significant acclaim, including being named a Great Group Read by the Women's National Book Association, a High Plains Book Award Fiction finalist, and a Reading the West longlist nominee.

Johnstun's literary journey began with her debut non-fiction book, Beyond the Grip of Craniosynostosis (2015), a moving account of a rare medical condition that affects infants. The work was featured in publications such as the Chicago Tribune and the Seattle Times and won the Gold Quill in Creative Nonfiction from the League of Utah Writers. His exploration of this topic offered a deeply personal lens into a medical and emotional journey that resonated with many families.

As an essayist, Kase Johnstun achieved recognition with collections such as Tortillas for Honkies and Poker Tables, Coors, and Bunuelos, which were finalists for the Autumn House Press Nonfiction Awards in 2013 and 2020, respectively. His essays have been published in prominent literary journals and magazines, including The Real Story, Creative Nonfiction Magazine, and The Good Men Project.

Let the Wild Grasses Grow (2022) is a historical exploration of love, resilience, and cultural heritage set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and World War II. Johnstun describes Let the Wild Grasses Grow as a story about finding one's place in a landscape that is both familiar and unforgiving.

Johnstun is the co-editor of Utah Reflections: Stories from the Wasatch Front (2014). This collection captures the life and culture of Utah's Wasatch Front. This collection was named the Salt Lake Tribune's Book of the Month and a League of Utah Writers Recommended Reading in Nonfiction.

Throughout his career, Johnstun's writing has appeared on various platforms, from literary journals to mainstream magazines such as Southwest Magazine and Yahoo Parenting. His diverse body of work demonstrates his ability to navigate fiction and non-fiction, always with an eye towards capturing his subjects' lived experiences and emotional realities.

Reflecting on his writing style, Johnstun says, "I aim to tell stories that bridge personal experiences with broader histories, hoping to leave readers with a sense of connection to place, heritage and community".

Kase Johnstun lives and writes in Ogden, Utah.

Photo credit: kasejohnstun.com