150 Years Ago Today
One hundred fifty years ago thirty eight Dakota warriors were hanged in Mankato, Minnesota, in the largest mass hanging in U.S. history. Three hundred and three braves were condemned to death by a military tribunal at the close of the 1862 Dakota Conflict. Bishop Henry Whipple gathered information proving most were innocent. He contacted President […]
Scandinavian Christmas Recipes
When I think of Christmas, I remember the Scandinavian foods from my childhood: Krumkakke (a round crispy tube cooky), lefse ( soft flat bread made from potatoes and served with brown sugar and butter), pickled herring, lutefisk with melted butter, fattigmand (poor man’s cookies), and klub (potato dumplings with bits of salt pork in the […]
Talking Writing
Yesterday I visited two high school classes in Pillager, MN, and shared my work and writing journey. What joy to find fellow writers among the students. When it comes to writing, age no longer matters. A writer is a writer is a writer. I was still flying high after my morning with the English and […]
Scandinavian Heritage
A Texas friend wrote me after seeing photos of the Minot Hostfest on my Face Book page. She commented that she felt envious about my Scandinavian roots and how we celebrated our traditions with such enthusiasm. I had never thought of this before. My Scandinavian heritage, like my large extended family, is something I’ve always […]
Blooming Prairie News
It’s been a whirlwind since the August 14 book launch for BLOOMING PRAIRIE. Since then I’ve signed books in Mankato, New Ulm, Crosby, Fort Abercrombie, and Dorset. I attended a great book club in Hackensack, co-taught a writing workshop with my sister Angela Foster, and spoke to the Glenwood Sons of Norway. I’m getting ready […]
Book Launch for BLOOMING PRAIRIE
Plans for an August 14 launch party for BLOOMING PRAIRIE are underway. The restaurant is reserved, decorations are planned and the cake is ordered. The publisher promises the copies of the book will be in hand. The invitations are out and my publicist sends me a daily update with the number of tickets reserved. It’s […]
Measured, though Exuberant
Last week I enjoyed a thirty-minute organ recital performed by Joe Trucano at Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa. As I sat in the sanctuary soaking in the glorious music, I compared music to writing. There are several similarities. Writing, as well as music, is defined by melody, harmony, and rhythm. The sub-plots, characters, and […]
Western Writers Convention 2012
The Western Writers of America know how to put on a great convention. What fun to mingle with other writers passionate about stories and articles set west of the Mississippi River. While I’m not a cowgirl by any stretch of the imagination, my historical novels about pioneer life in 19th century Minnesota fit the criteria […]
Blooming Prairie to the Editor
I’ve just given birth to a 106,451 word baby. Blooming Prairie has been a labor of love and has consumed most of this past season. As I spent today going over it one last time before sending it off to the editor, I was reminded again of the mysteries of the writing process. Someone asked […]
S IS FOR SPUR AWARD
Simply spoken, I’m shocked and stupefied. It may sound silly, but spin me a little slack. Of course, I’m ecstatic. BIRDIE, my third novel in the ABERCROMBIE TRAIL SERIES, just won the 2012 Spur Award for best western juvenile fiction. I didn’t see it coming though my sister, Claudia, tells me that BIRDIE is her […]