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 […]
Common Ground and Mary Hanson Show
It’s scary to be in front of a TV camera! Last summer I spent time with the good people from Common Ground. If you’ve watched their program, you know they highlight different artists in Northern Minnesota. The good news is that my segment will air on Thursday night, March 22, at 7pm. The program is […]
February Has been a Great Month
I started out the month by doing a presentation at the Runestone Museum in Alexandria, Minnesota. The turnout was double what they expected and filled with enthusiastic readers and history buffs. What fun! We sold out our entire supply of books–that’s a first! Then last week I started my first of nine weekly book talks […]
How I got Started
My childhood was spent on the family dairy farm in rural Otter Tail County. Being the middle child, I often felt too young to tag along with the older kids and too old to play with the younger ones. As a result, I spent a lot of time listening. I loved hearing my grandparents (who […]
Letters from 7th Graders
I’ve received a couple of packets of letters from Forestview seventh graders who attended my presentations and read ABERCROMBIE TRAIL as an English project. What fun to hear their responses. My very favorite is from a student who compliments me on my presentation and then admits that he was absent that day! Another student said […]
Lake Region Review Reading
I just got back from doing a reading with the Lake Region Review participants in Fergus Falls. There’s something about hearing a writer read her work. I especially enjoyed hearing Mark Vinz read his poetry published in this year’s Lake Region Review.