Midwest Booksellers Association

Miriam Daughter of Finnish Immigrants is listed on page 7 in the Midwest Booksellers Association fall catalog as a blue ribbon "Midwest Favorite." Independent bookstores distribute the MBA catalog through newspapers, in-store displays, "bag stuffers," and direct mailings to customers. They feature titles at book fairs, open houses, and holiday events. The MBA Catalog is also promoted on their websites, newsletters and in radio and print advertising. Check out the MBA website for independent book stores in your community and download the catalog at www.midwestbooksellers.org. Miriam's story makes a great gift for readers young and old!

Keep Going Writers

An article I wrote about my Finnish grandparents and their family's assimilation into the rural American culture in the early 1900s was recently published in the "Journal of Finnish Studies." The journal is published by the University of Toronto. The editor had a list of suggestions for revisions that I needed to address before I submitted it for final acceptance. Seeing it in print made all the hard work worth it!

Rolling Along With Writing

I am headed for the La Jolla Writers Conference November 6-8th. The conference inspired me so much last year that I decided to go again. I have a chunk of my book, Mice in the Kitchen, drafted so I can read parts of it in the sessions and get feedback. During a "pitch session" I will have three minutes to sell the idea to possible agents and publicists. I am also busy marketing Miriam Daughter of Finnish Immigrants. I participated in the Midwest Booksellers Trade show in September where I met many bookstore owners throughout the midwest. The book is listed in the Midwest Booksellers catalog which reaches independent bookstores throughout the midwest. I will be doing a signing at Howard Street Booksellers in Hibbing, Minnesota November 14th from 1:00-3:00. Besides writing, teaching an evening graduate class at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls is keeping me very busy. It requires lots of preparation, but is very rewarding. Hope your writing is rolling along, it really is a labor of love!

How Did I Ever Have Time To Work!

I can't believe how fast the time goes around here. Between hours spent promoting our book, Miriam Daughter of Finnish Immigrants, tapping out a few pages here and there on Mice in the Kitchen and planning to teach a class at the University of River Falls this semester I can't seem to get everything done. I don't know HOW I did it when I was teaching full time. Thank goodness for retirement. Hope all of your writing is moving along at a faster clip than mine!

Today I tackled the revision of Mice In the Kitchen, one page at a time. Luckily the revision only has two pages so far! If you are into memoir or personal narrative, the September Writer's Digest has a whole section of excellent articles. I set a goal of 500 words a day unfortunately my blog post does not count. Let me know how your writing is going.

Radio Interview

In July KAXE radio in northern Minnesota interviewed me about our book, Miriam Daughter of Finnish Immigrants. The hosts, Scott and Maggie, asked great questions. I enjoyed our twenty minute radio conversation and would love to share our family's story with others. Getting the book translated into Finnish is my next goal. All of you writers out there, keep writing!

Greatest Generation Stories

The Minnesota History Center is collecting stories about the Great Depression, World War II and the 1950s Baby Boomers for their Greatest Generation Exhibit. Check out the excerpts from our book, Miriam Daughter of Finnish Immigrants that are posted on their website.