Kathy Amen Design

Hey I almost forgot to post this on my business page! I’m in the process of moving myself and my business to Substack and will be stepping away from Facebook once everything is in place.

You’ll be able to find me there, along with my contact information, and I’m always available through my website: www.KathyAmen.com

Thank you,
Kathy

https://betweendraftsandrewrites.substack.com/

Between Drafts | Kathy Amen | Substack Between Drafts is where I share the quiet, in-between work of making books—and the life unfolding alongside it. Click to read Between Drafts, by Kathy Amen, a Substack publication. Launched 13 days ago.

A huge thank you to our incredible sponsors who help make the Pikes Peak Writers Conference possible each year. Your support helps us bring in amazing speakers, offer workshops, and create opportunities for writers to learn, connect, and grow. We truly couldn’t do this without you!
Join us at the best little writing conference around! Registration is open now! https://bit.ly/49wrszK

Tune in at 4:00 to hear Moss talk about his experiences on the Hippie Trail in the early 1970s.

KBUT Live Stream Listen live to KBUT

Join us March 16 at 4 PM as Moss Wagner shares his fascinating stories from the Hippie Trail! If you miss it don’t worry there will be a replay on KBUTs West Elk Word archive.

KBUT Live Stream Listen live to KBUT

Another publication is finished and printed, and I’ve shared personal notes and photos from the process on my blog, “Between Drafts.”

Reflections on “Adventures on (and Sometimes Off) the Hippie Trail, 1972–75”

When you work closely with an author on their book, you come to know them on an intimate level. You learn their daily routines and habits; you hear the stories of how they arrived at the place where they could entrust their manuscript to a relative stranger—someone who will shape it into a finished, living, breathing account of their experiences. I was honored that Moss chose me to help bring his book into the world.

My journey with Moss began with a phone call from a Crested Butte number that I curiously answered on a Friday evening. He introduced himself as Moss Wagner and said he had a manuscript that needed to be digitized so it could be made into a book. Moss mentioned that he had seen my ad in the Crested Butte News and had held on to it for nearly a year before he was ready to call...

Read the full article here:

https://kathyamen.com/adventures-on-and-sometimes-off-the-hippie-trail-1972-75/

Check out my latest “Between Drafts” blog:

Reflections on “Adventures on (and Sometimes Off) the Hippie Trail, 1972–75” - Kathy Amen That’s Moss, clean-shaven, sporting a new earring and a fresh tattoo, Goa, India

Just finished the design for this year’s Crested Butte Wildflower Festival T-shirt—and this year marks the festival’s 40th anniversary!

This year’s poster artist is Susan Anderton, a true Crested Butte icon and the very first Wildflower Festival poster artist in 1986. She has created many Crested Butte posters over the years, two of which are cherished pieces hanging in my home.

https://crestedbuttewildflowerfestival.org/

Some projects stay with you long after they’re finished.
“Valley of Castles, Cattle & Coal” was one of those.

This book asked for patience, care, and deep respect for the stories it holds. Every page, photo, and decision was part of honoring a place and the people who shaped it. These images offer a small glimpse into the quiet, behind-the-scenes work that brings a book like this to life.

It was a privilege to work with Gary and Teresa Steffens over the past year, whose dedication to preserving the history of the Ohio Creek Valley made this project possible. Their commitment to storytelling, research, and community shines throughout the book.

“Valley of Castles, Cattle & Coal” is available through Abracadabra! (The Bookworm), and directly from the author at [email protected], more vendors will be announced soon.

Here are a few photos from the process—moments along the way that helped shape this book.

Between Drafts Blog:
https://kathyamen.com/valley-of-castles-cattle-coal/

The Wildflower crew and t-shirts I designed! Pretty cool!

At the Crested Butte Farmer’s Market

2025 Crested Butte Wildflower Festival t-shirts and tote bag.