Pageant Wagons brought light and literacy into a dark and illiterate era of European history. When they rolled into town, everyone stopped for a story. These horse-drawn, portable stages overflowed with all manner of costuming, masks, and props; the tools of the trade for the story merchant. They played a crucial part in the restoration of literacy and learning throughout Western Europe in the medieval dark ages, performing Miracle, Mystery and Morality plays about the life of Christ, saints, and allegorical stories applying biblical principles in everyday life. For most, this was the only Bible that people of the day had access to—acting out God's Word.
Learn more about the history of Pageant Wagons in Western Civilization and their impact on the world today in the AUDIO STORYTIME PODCAST, When the Pageant Wagon Comes to Town, below:
The PAGEANT WAGON has been the inspiration behind the writing, performance, and speaking programs of Pageant Wagon Productions since 2004; and the language arts tutoring and independent book publishing services of Pageant Wagon Publishing since 2014, featuring the works of Pageant Wagon Publishing founder, Kathryn Ross, as well as other authors.
MEET MISS KATHY Kathryn "Miss Kathy" Ross, writer, speaker, and dramatist, ignites a love of literature and learning, equipping young and old to develop a Family Literacy Lifestyle—Reading and Writing Together, Learning and Loving Together. She challenges families to deepen their literacy skills and grow into the greater things God has purposed for them, producing readers and thinkers who can engage the world from a biblical worldview, impacting their sphere of influence for God's Kingdom purposes. She believes interactive teaching and learning begins in the home as a family—all ages, all at the same time—and seeks to provide instructional and creative tools to the purpose through book publishing, mentoring, and networking. She has published monthly columns online in RUBY Magazine, Almost An Author, and A Thyme for Writers, and has been featured in the Christian Homeschool Association of Pennsylvania (CHAP) Magazine. Check out the Pageant Wagon Publishing Bookshop for more of her original works, plus new books from PWP authors young and old.
Performance Storyteller Founding Pageant Wagon Productions in 2004 as a performance storyteller, Miss Kathy was inspired by the stillness of birdsong, silent reflection, antiques, and teatime. She filtered her love of history, classic literature, and the arts through God’s Word, to inform her words. Her engaging personality with a splash of old-world elegance, topped off with a vintage hat, distinguished her captivating stage presence. Timeless truths leapt from the page and podium as she ministered literacy and Christian living principles in schools, churches, libraries, women’s groups, community events, retreats, and conferences for over a decade. She inspired young and old to pursue God’s goodness and beauty in their lives through a love of God, literature, and learning.
Book Shepherd and Independent Publisher In 2013, Miss Kathy's path took a sharp turn into independent publishing with the publication of her first picture book, Mother Chicken's Eggs: Choosing to Grow into Greater Things, featuring newbie illustrator Noah Berge Brown. Mentored as an independent publisher by Candy Abbott of Fruitbearer Publishing, Kathryn grew her skills and network through Marlene Bagnull's Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers Conferences. Before long, she realized she was called beyond the publication of her own works, but to mentor others in the development, writing, editing, and publication of their stories, tooling them for ministry.
Kathryn Ross is the author/owner of Pageant Wagon Publishing. She offers book shepherding services to Christian writers; focused specifically on helping women tell God's story through their story. She produces her own inspirational works for multi-generational readers while providing a full range of writing, editing, design, publishing, and consulting services to authors seeking publication.
Independent publishing is a growing alternative to traditional house publishing, allowing the author greater freedom in design and molding of their vision. Kathryn works closely with her clients to help them produce the most excellent publication in substance and design possible. Published authors with Pageant Wagon become part of the PWP Network Authors and participate in regional vendor shows and other events to market as ministry together. Contact Miss Kathy for a phone consult to discuss your book project needs and budget.
Pioneers with Pens Retreat Director As an independent publisher, Kathryn pioneered a Christian writers critique group, founding it with her own writing mentor Janice Hall Heck in the summer of 2014. The group saw the development of many regional authors including Pastor Bob Ossler and his books, Triumph Over Terror: Ground Zero Chaplain and ADHD: You've Got My Attention, and Linda Slomin's The Very Sensitive Princess.
The makeup of the group changed through the years, and in 2017 they hosted their first writers seminar day with prolific author and guest speaker Karen Whiting. The group had begun preparations for their second full day seminar when world events and the untimely loss of Kathryn's mentor Janice appeared to halt any future growth.
However, in the wake of Janice's homegoing, the group closed ranks and completely redefined their mission: to host annual Christian writers retreats and mentoring as a team and build a network of published authors actively minstering their books with a view to God's Kingdom influence purposes. The Good News Christian Writers Network Authors was born with a vision to become a "Hub for Christian Writers and Speakers in South Jersey."
Currently, under Kathryn 's director leadership, the Pioneers with Pens Christian Writers Retreat and Workshops is expanded to a two-day event on the grounds of facility partners Pastor Rob Schwinge at Restoration Family Farm. Writers gather to hear God and hone their skills annually on the last weekend of October. They meet again the first weekend in April at the farm for a 6-month fellowship Accountabili-TEA. In addition, alumni of the retreats and teas are invited to join the Facebook Group Page to share news and views on all things writing to the glory of God.