Throughout my 30-year media career, I‘ve won numerous accolades, including the Huck Boyd Leader of the Year Award, the Midwest Travel Network’s Rising Star Award, the Kansas Sampler Foundation WeKan Award, and many more. I’ve written three books about Kansas and co-authored two others.
Join a winning team with the services below for negotiable fees. Please get in touch with me for more information.
Table of contents
Services | Media | Awards | Contact us
Services
Freelance writing
Would you like an expert’s credibility? Then, hire me to write in your newsletter or print publication. For example, I wrote about dragon boating and designed a scavenger hunt for the 2024-25 Visit Fort Dodge (Iowa) Destination Guide.
Public relations
If you need press releases or other media needs, we can provide them. We write numerous releases annually for our activities, and we can take care of yours.
Public speaking
As a four-time published author of Kansas-themed books, I tell Kansas stories throughout the state. I can speak with or without audiovisual equipment.
Watch and listen to interviews: KWCH, April 28, 2023 | KSN Joplin, June 23, 2023 | KSN Wichita, June 28, 2023 | High Plains Public Radio, June 29, 2023 | Kansas Public Radio, June 29, 2023 | Read more press coverage below.
Copy editing
Use my decades of publication experience to check your publication.
Trivia game host
I have developed 300-plus Kansas trivia questions and will host a fun evening of learning about Kansas.
Photography
I am an award-winning photographer. Add my images to your collection.
Graphic design
I design T-shirts, posters, cards, and other products.
Media
2024
April
- Secret Kansas tied for No. 7 in the Wichita Public Library’s 10 most borrowed books of 2023 KSN | KCUR.
January
- Travel writer featuring Great Bend: Great Bend Post
- Glorious road trip in Kansas: GoNomad
2023
November
October
August
- Now that’s rural: Roxie Yonkey, Secret Kansas: Salina Post
June
- KPR presents “Secret Kansas:” Kansas Public Radio (includes audio)
- Author Roxie Yonkey unveils the secret side of Kansas: High Plains Public Radio (includes audio)
- Local author releases guide to Kansas hidden gems: University Daily Kansan
- Best-selling author to speak in Crawford County: Pittsburg Morning Sun
- Author Roxie Yonkey: Secret Kansas: KSN Joplin (includes video)
- “Secret Kansas” author to visit Winfield Public Library: Winfield Courier-Traveler
- Kansas author uncovers “Secret Kansas: KSN Wichita (includes video)
- Best-selling author to discuss book at Chanute, Erie libraries: Chanute Tribune
- Yonkey book signing this Saturday in Coolidge: Syracuse Journal
- Secret Kansas Meet and Greet: Library Market
- Unearthing Kansas’s buried treasures, an evening of exploration with Roxie Yonkey: Raven Bookstore
May
- Best-selling author to speak in Cottonwood Falls: Chase County Leader-News
- Kansas author to visit Junction City library: JC Post
April
- Lyon County History invites Yonkey to present “Secret Kansas”: Emporia State University Bulletin
- Newstalk: Travel journalist Roxie Yonkey: KWCH (includes video)
- From well-known to obscure, new book shares history, guide to Kansas people & sites: Wichita Eagle | AOL.com
- New book about Kansas explores fun places to go: Hutchinson News
- “Secret Kansas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful and Obscure: Living Well (includes video)
- Author’s new book reveals “Secret Kansas”: Pittsburg Morning Sun
- Kansas author coming to Newton to talk about the obscure: Harvey County Now
- Book event planned at Kansas car museum: KSAL
- Best-selling author to speak in Hays in mid-April: Hays Post
- Kansas author makes stop in Wichita for book signings: Visit Wichita
2022
December
September
- Kansas travel writers to visit Clay Center: Clay Center Dispatch
July
- What’s good about Goodland: Goodland Community Podcasts (audio)
April
- Best-selling authors to visit two Fort Scott attractions: FortScott.Biz
- Special events at the Lowell Milken Center during the Big Kansas Road Trip: FortScott.Biz
- Yonkey to speak at Kansas Oil Museum: El Dorado Times-Gazette
March
- Author to hold Strong City book signing: Council Grove Republican
- Best-selling author coming to Osawatomie: City of Osawatomie
January
- Where are they now? Roxie Yonkey: Syracuse Journal
2021
December
- Now that’s rural: Roxie Yonkey, “100 Things to Do in Kansas:” Hays Post
- Book signing with Roxie on the Road: Orphan Train Museum
- 100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die: Evolving Magazine
November
- Grade school student takes autographed books to show-and-tell: Syracuse Journal
- 100 Things to Do in Kansas: El Dorado Times-Gazette
- Ad Astra hosting book-signing event: Salina Journal
- Local author shares top activities, sites to see in Kansas: KMAN (includes audio)
October
- New Kansas travel book features local attractions: Emporia Gazette
- Author talk: 100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die: Newton Public Library
September
- I’ve written about 100 amazing things to see and do in Kansas. How many have you managed? Kansas Reflector
August
- Hit the road: Travel writers journey through North Iowa: Mason City Globe-Gazette
Honors and awards
The 2020s
- 2024 — Received a Mover and Shaker recognition from TravMedia.com, the “travel industry’s global media network.”
- 2024 — Received a second STE Superstar Award from Southern Travelers Explore in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
- 2023 — Received Collaboration of the Year from Midwest Travel Network. The citation reads, “When the pandemic hit, many of us were stuck at home. What we did have was content. Dannelle Gay of Wisconsin came up with the idea, “Let’s write a book featuring Midwest Road Trips.” It quickly came to fruition, as the Midwest Travel Network had connections to people from each Midwest state. Fast forward two years later, Midwest Road Trip Adventures & Midwest State Park Adventures are both #1 selling books. After a struggle with the first publisher, Theresa Goodrich took over as the publisher. Together, Dannelle & Theresa are leading a huge collaboration through this series of books.”
- 2022 — Authored the book Secret Kansas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. Signed contracts to write Historic Roadside Kansas and Amazing Kansas.
- 2022 — Received the Kansas Leader of the Year Award in the Creative Arts category from the Huck Boyd Institute for Rural Development.
- 2021 — Authored the book 100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die. Signed a contract to write the book Secret Kansas: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.
- 2021 — Named an STE Superstar at the Southern Travelers Explore Conference in Tupelo, Mississippi.
- 2020 — Received Midwest Travel Network’s Rising Star Award for travel bloggers who have been in business for two years or less.
- 2020 — Co-authored Midwest Road Trip Adventures with members of the Midwest Travel Network.
- 2020 — Named honorable mention Visitor Experience Award from National Scenic Byway Foundation for featuring Land and Sky Scenic Byway’s communities and points of interest during the Big Kansas Road Trip in May 2019.
- 2020 — Named honorable mention Interpretation Award as part of the Kansas Byways Program’s new kiosks and interpretive panels. Many of Roxie’s photos were included on Land and Sky’s panels.
The 2010s
- 2018 — Won Travel Industry Association of Kansas (TIAK) Visitor Guide (Designed In-House). The award came in the Small Budget Division (under $100,000 total income).
- 2017 — Earned Kansas Destination Specialist in TIAK’s certification program.
- 2017 — Won the WeKan! Award from Kansas Sampler Foundation. WeKan! recipients “have a cooperative spirit, show enthusiasm and dedication for their community, and [their] efforts have made a real difference in rural Kansas.” The award has no nomination process and is given once in a lifetime.
- 2016 — Won TIAK Print Marketing for Kansas I-70 Association’s Seventy on Kansas I-70 (PDF) campaign brochure.
2016 — Placed first and second in the Summer category in the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s photo contest.
- 2015 — Won TIAK Online Marketing Award (PDF) for VisitGoodland.com and its Twitter and Facebook accounts, @VisitGoodland.
- 2015 — Named fifth of the Top 10 Kansas-Related Facebook Pages You Should Like by F*ck You, I’m From Kansas.
- 2014 — Won Best of Show at High Plains Artfest in Oberlin, Kansas.
- 2013 — Named Juror’s Choice winner at High Plains Artfest.
- 2012 — Won Best in Class at High Plains Artfest.
- 2011 — Won TIAK Print Marketing Award for The Ultimate Guide to Northwest Kansas. The Ultimate Guide is about travel in the 18 Northwest Kansas counties.
- 2011 — Named People’s Choice Award winner, Flatlander Fall Festival Art Contest in Goodland, Kansas.
The 2000s
- 2005-07 — Received Silver Award each year from L.W. Barrett Co., Inc., for promotional product sales.
- 2001 — Won first place in Sportswriting (PDF) in Kansas Press Association (KPA) Daily Division I.
- 2000 — Named Friend of 4-H by Sherman County, Kansas, Extension District (Sherman County Extension is now Sunflower Extension District.)
- 2000 — Third place in sports coverage by KPA’s Weekly Division I.
The 1990s
- 1999 — Named Friend of Farm Bureau by Sherman County Farm Bureau.
- 1998 — Received Oscar Stauffer Award from Kansas High School Activities Association. The Stauffer Award honors KSHSAA’s sportswriter of the year.
- 1998 — Received Official Certificate of Congratulations from the Kansas House of Representatives.
- 1998 — Placed third in Sports Photography in Kansas Press Association‘s (KPA) Weekly Division II.
- 1998 — Placed third in Spot News in KPA’s Weekly Division II.
- 1998 — Placed third in Sports Photography in KPA’s Weekly Division II.
- 1998 — Placed honorable mention in Sports Writing in KPA’s Weekly Division II.
- 1997 — Won Sports Column Writing in KPA’s Weekly Division II.
- 1997 — Placed third in Sports Writing in KPA’s Weekly Division II.
- 1997 — Recognized for Distinguished Media Publicity from the Goodland Ambassadors Club.
- 1996 — Named Woman of the Year by Goodland (Kan.) Business & Professional Women.
- 1996 — Placed third in Spot News for KPA’s Weekly Division II.
- 1996 — Placed third in Editorial Pages for KPA’s Weekly Division II.
- 1996 — Placed second in Best Use of More Than One Color’s Weekly Division from the Kansas Newspaper Advertising Association (KNAA).
- 1996 — Placed honorable mention in Best Single Ad – Black and White in Weekly Division II from the KNAA.
- 1995 — Won General Excellence Award in KPA’s Weekly Division I. The award is given to the best newspaper in the category.
- 1995 — Placed second in KPA’s Weekly Division I’s Editorial Page contest.
- 1991 — Received Black & Gold Award from Goodland High’s Girls Athletic Association. The award is given “for support and service to Goodland High School activities.”
- 1991 — Placed third in the Commentary category in KPA’s Daily Division I.
- 1991 — Earned honorable mention for Sportswriting in KPA’s Daily Division I.
The 1980s
- 1989 — Named Best in the Nation for single-sport brochure in College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Division B.
- 1989 — Named Best in the Nation for women’s field hockey brochure in CoSIDA Division B.
- 1988 — Named Fourth Best in the Nation from CoSIDA for men’s basketball brochure.
