Hello, Birdie
Article: Brainerd Daily Dispatch 5/5/11 Hello, Birdie Local author celebrates release of third novel Posted: May 4, 2011 – 3:55pm Pequot Lakes author Candace Simar’s third historical novel, “Birdie,” has been released, with a book event scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday at Bar Harbor Supper Club. Pequot Lakes author Candace Simar celebrated the release of […]
Book Talk in Hutchinson
This past week I journeyed to Hutchinson, Minnesota, as part of their Friends of the Library celebration. Their library was built as a Carnegie Library in 1904. The lovely old building was a perfect setting for discussing my historical novels set in 19th century Minnesota. How interesting to learn that the library is built on […]
Sitting Around Feeling Like a Failure
On Saturday I enjoyed a wonderful day at Spotlight on Books in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Besides the wonderful opportunity for sharing my historical novels, Abercrombie Trail and Pomme de Terre, with an audience of librarians, the conference included excellent workshops by Sarah Weeks and Alison McGhee. One thing that Alison McGhee said continues to resonate […]
Comments from Kids
A while back I told you about my invitation to speak to a class of 3rd and 4th graders in a multi-age classroom at a local elementary school. You may remember my anxiety about trying to teach story structure to kids. I used Cinderella as a template for structure and invited the children to make […]
Critique Groups
I enjoy the wonderful experience of being in an online critique group. Only three members, the group schedules submissions every two weeks with scheduled critiques to the others on the opposite week. It keeps us busy! How did I find this group? I was approached by another student at a writing workshop we both attended […]
Reading at Long Prairie
This week I did a reading for the good people at the Todd County Historical Society in Long Prairie. The weather threatened but hearty Minnesotans braved the snow in their usual fashion. We shared a great time talking about Minnesota history and Scandinavian immigration during the 19th century. I read a passage from POMME DE […]
public readings
Today I enjoyed a pleasant luncheon with the Nisswa Women’s Club. They invited me to come and speak about my novels, ABERCROMBIE TRAIL and POMME DE TERRE. I was surprised to find 94 women in attendance. Reading from my work at public events can be very stressful. I’m an ordinary person, not a public speaker. […]
St. Paul Pioneer Press Review of Pomme de Terre
I was pleasantly surprised to read Mary Ann Grossman’s review of Pomme de Terre in Sunday’s St. Paul Pioneer Press. She reviewed several books published by small Minnesota presses. Pomme de Terre is the second historical novel in my series about the 1862 Sioux Uprising. Abercrombie Trail was published in 2009 and Pomme de Terre […]
Galleys Here for BIRDIE
The galleys for my next book, BIRDIE, arrived yesterday and I’m both excited and scared. The story is written, it is really happening, and soon I’ll be able to tell if the effort was worthwhile. I’ve heard other writers share similar thoughts. It’s never easy to see your baby sent out into the world–warts and […]
In Trouble, Out of Trouble
I visited the 3rd and 4th graders at Eagleview Elementary today and met several aspiring novelists. What creativity and enthusiasm! Together we created Max, a ten-year-old boy and his friend, Sophie, and worked together to develop these characters. One thing we discussed was the need to increase tension by adding trouble and conflict to the […]