Author Event Virginia, Minnesota

A wonderful experience, signing books at Woodward's in Virginia, MN. Shirley and Brandy were wonderful hosts. Many thanks to Shirley for a successful event and great job on the photo, Brandy!

Book Makes Great Gift

"I loved your book, Miriam Daughter of Finnish Immigrants, so much, I bought more copies for gifts!" Miriam's story is a great gift for readers. It provides an honest picture of how life was for a family of nine during the Great Depression. Available through independent bookstores and online at Amazon.com.

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. I have a chunk of my book drafted and ready for 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. Hope your writing is rolling along,

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!

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!