Annette Hope Billings, also known as “Miss Netta Bee,” will share some Kansas yarns drawing from African American storytelling heritage during an upcoming event at the Lawrence Public Library.
Billings is a poet, storyteller and actress from Topeka who was a 2026 recipient of a Governor’s Award for Excellence in Artistic Achievement in Literature.
She’ll share her talents with the Lawrence community from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 22 in the library auditorium, 707 Vermont St. The library requests that attendees register at this link.
“Using the rhythms of poetry, Annette spins stories about Kansas and the people who live here,” the event description reads. “She draws upon the rich traditions of African American storytelling and engages audiences of all ages into a world filled with joy, hope, and humor.”
Billings will sell her books after the presentation, some of which can also be checked out from the library. Billings is the author of four poetry titles, including her most recent publication, “Just Shy of Stars.”
This event is part of a series developed by Humanities Kansas called “Kansas Folklife: Celebrating Kansas Traditions.”
If local news matters to you, please help us keep doing this work.
Don’t miss a beat — get the latest news from the Times delivered to your inbox:
Click here to learn more about our newsletters first
This post is by the Lawrence Times news team.
If you have news tips, questions, comments, concerns, compliments or corrections for our team, please reach out and let us know what’s on your mind. Email us at Hello@LawrenceKSTimes.com (don’t forget the KS!), or find more contact info and a quick contact form at LawrenceKSTimes.com/contact.
Follow us so you won’t miss the local news that matters most to you:
