Hackensack Arts and Book Festival August 12, 2023
#Northwoods Arts and Book Festival #Hackensack #Hackensack Chambers of Commerce #Minnesota #Art #Books #Festival #Blue Cottage Agency I’ve attended the Hackensack Festival since its beginnings. There’s something for everyone. I enjoy the artwork and pottery. The Lions sell food. Local vendors sell honey, greeting cards, jewelry, and much more. I hope you can make it. […]
Hardtack and Salt pork, the Mainstay of Civil War Soldiering
I grew up on dried beef, and knew very well how it was made and how it tasted. In spite of this, until recently, I thought all salt pork was in a liquid brine. The re-enactors at Fort Abercrombie set me straight. One of the soldier’s wives brought samples of hardtack and salted pork. To […]
Kimball Historical Society Tuesday July 25th Rocky Mountain Locust Plagues of the 1870s
#Rockymountainlocusts #Kimballhistoricalsociety #Stearns County #Grasshopper Chapel I’m speaking at Kimball, Minnesota, on Tuesday, July 25th at 7pm. The topic? The Rocky Mountain Locusts and Frontier Life in Stearns County. The Rocky Mountain Locusts swarmed into Central North America in the 1870s devastating the crops for five years in […]
Favorite Historical Novels–Lately
People often ask what my favorite book is. Just one? Are they kidding? I’ve read LOTS of books in my lifetime and loved most of them. It’s hard to choose one, or even a single genre. Historical novels have been my mainstay throughout my adult life, but I like mysteries and nonfiction, too. Recently I […]
Pine River’s 150th Celebration
I’ve been doing a lot of research on frontier logging for SISTER LUMBERJACK, coming out in January of 2024. When Colleen Moser asked me to write a skit for the Variety Show, she allowed me to choose an historical topic pertinent to Pine River’s early days. Of course, I used my logging research to write […]
Fan Letter and Photos
Thank you, Dale, for taking the time to both read and comment on Abercrombie Trail. #Fort Abercrombie #Grankokken Savannah Waterfowl Area #Minnesota history #Civil War “Candace, I just wanted to reach out and say how great your books are. I’ve read two so far, Abercrombie Trail and Blooming Prairie. I just started Pomme De […]
Daily Inspiration: Meet Candace Simar (By VoyageMinnesota)
AS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON VOYAGEMINNESOTA.COM Today we’d like to introduce you to Candace Simar. Candace, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? I’ve always been a history buff. Quite by accident, I stumbled across a bit of family genealogy that I couldn’t wait […]
Let’s Write Your Story!
Anna V’s B&B in Lanesboro, MN, was my first solo venture in directing a writing retreat. Since that time in 2015, I have enjoyed teaching the craft of writing in many different places. What wonderful people I have met along the way. About 10% of the population feels they have a story to write. It’s […]
Bagley Friends of the Library Wall Hanging
I was so grateful to be included in this 2016 wall hanging created by the Bagley Friends of the Library. Minnesota authors were asked to autograph a strip of cloth that became the spines of the books on this gorgeous work of art. It was raffled off with the funds used to support library activities. […]
Norway’s Syttende Mai, Constitution Day
May 17 is Norway’s Syttende Mai, Constitution Day, to celebrate Norway’s independence from Sweden. It is a national holiday where everyone wears bunads and waves Norwegian flags in parades across the nation. Many Sons of Norway groups in the U.S. also celebrate with special foods and activities. I’m hoping to find a lutefisk dinner this […]