This press release contains dated information and should be used for background only.
KANSAS CITY, KS.--Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD), Mooncorn people and magical dolls are not items most people would find on the same resume. Jared James Grantham, MD, however, has all three on his extensive list of accomplishments.
Dr. Grantham is a University Distinguished Professor and the director emeritus of the Kidney Institute at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He is also an author of children’s books.
Dr. Grantham says that he is in love with the creative process. Writing children’s fantasy stories takes creativity just like conducting research on kidney disease.
“It takes creativity to think of new research ideas for kidney disease just like it does to come up with children’s fantasy books,” Dr. Grantham said. “You have to find something that has never been done before in both scenarios.”
Dr. Grantham published his first children’s book, Ashley and the Mooncorn People, in 2002. He had so much fun publishing the first book that he decided to do it all over again. This time the story is Ashley and the Dollmaker.
“Most physicians feed on gratification from their patients. It is much the same with writing a book.” Dr. Grantham said. “It is really exciting to see a child smile because of something you created.”
Ashley and the Dollmaker begins by resolving the Mooncorn story from the first book, and then moves into an adventure with Ashley and Iola, the dollmaker, patterned after Dr. Grantham’s mother, Ista. Ista learned to make porcelain dolls that she would donate to churches for sale at bazaars and other community events. The dolls would sell for $500 to $600 a piece.
Ashley is Dr. Grantham’s first-born grandchild and part of his inspiration for his children’s stories. A third book in the Ashley series is already in the works. This adventure will show Ashley dealing with the struggles of becoming a teenager, while having magical powers.
“A lot of people kept asking me, ‘What happened?’” Dr. Grantham said. “I thought that maybe the story should continue.”
Ashley and the Dollmaker can be purchased from the KUMC Bookstore, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, Kan. The phone number is (913) 588-2542. Both books can be purchased online at www.ashleystories.com. On Thurs., Oct. 21, Dr. Grantham will be signing copies of his new book in front of the University of Kansas Hospital cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. One dollar of the proceeds from each book will be donated to the KUMC Auxiliary.
Dr. Grantham is a Kansas-native growing up in Johnson near the Colorado border. He graduated from Baker University in 1958. After graduation he attended the University of Kansas School of Medicine and became a doctor in 1962. Dr. Grantham was a staff researcher at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland before he returned to KU in 1969.
Editor’s Note:
Ashley is the daughter of Dr. Grantham’s only daughter, Janeane. Her father is Jerry Houchin. Both parents are graduates of KUMC. They live in Salina, Kan.