Candace Simar's Blog

Vickie Smith kindly agreed to let me repost her blog from my book Launch for Sister Lumberjack.  She surprised me with a visit at last week’s book signing at Fitger’s Book Store in Duluth. It’s always fun to find readers who like my work. Click on this link for the full review. Thanks Vickie!

Book Launch of Sister Lumberjack by Candace Simar (Release Date April 16, 2024) _ Writing Near the Lake

 

How amazing to see ESCAPE TO FORT ABERCROMBIE translated into German and English. THANK YOU EK-2 Publishing for supporting my work. Seeing this is a dream come true.

Indians kidnap Mama and little Elsa. Fourteen-year-old Ryker Landstad promises his dying father to take the nine-year-old twins to safety. Despite the danger, they endeavor to reach Fort Abercrombie, trailed by deadly enemies.

Ryker Landstad had aspirations of fleeing their prairie homestead to join his older brother, Martin, who is serving in the Union Army. However, tragedy befalls them when Ryker and the twins discover their father wounded and their pregnant mother and baby Elsa abducted by the Sioux.
Before he dies, their father urges Ryker to fetch help from a neighbor.
After overcoming life-threatening situations, they finally reach Fort Abercrombie, only to find it under siege by 500 Sioux warriors.
Will the children be united with their beloved mother and their baby sister?
“I read Pommes de Terre from Candace Simar. This is a very vivid telling of a tragic American story. I’ve long been wanting something in fiction about the Great Sioux Uprising and her work is the best I have seen.”
Larry McMurtry, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Lonesome Dove.

Candace Simar won numerous prestigious awards, including the Will Rogers Gold Medallion and a Spur Award. She takes the reader right back to the days of the pioneers. Simar writes gripping tales with evocative clarity about times of hardship and hope that built the USA.
Join Ryker and his siblings now as they battle for survival in an unforgiving land during the times of the great Sioux uprising.

Buy the Book

 

I finished my upcoming book, Montana Matrimonial News.  North Star Press of Saint Cloud Minnesota will release it fall of 2025. I’m encouraged by the comments of beta readers: “I hated to put it down; It kept me glued to the page; evocative and captivating; and your best work yet.”

Montana Matrimonial News was inspired by a blog about newspapers in the 19th century dedicated to personal ads, similar to online dating today. Homesteaders were stuck on their claims in the middle of nowhere, and unable to find wives. Thus the Montana Matrimonial News and other newspapers brought men and women together. Michael Zimmer, a fellow Western Writer of America writer and author of The Poacher’s Daughter, wrote the blog. Look him up. His books are wonderful and I really enjoy his newsletter.

 

 

Escape to Fort Abercrombie has been out of print since its publisher, Five Star Cengage, went out of business in 2022. Happily, it has been picked up by EK-2 Publishing our of Germany. A German translation will be released in the fall of 2025 and an English reprint will be out this summer. What a thrill to see it translated into German, something I’ve long wanted. Thanks EK-2 Publishing and Manuela Schneider for making this happen.

My publicist Krista Soukup of Blue Cottage Agency recently asked me to read and review The Irish Girl by Ashley Sweeney, another Blue Cottage Agency author. I found it exceptional.

The Irish Girl‘s exquisite descriptions, vivid characters, and gripping storyline transport’s readers to a time and place where one misstep spells disaster. A Great Read! I recommend to Historical Fiction lovers especially those interested in Irish Immigration. Here is more about my fellow Women Writing the West and Western Writers of America author, Ashley Sweeney and her latest book:

From multi-award-winning historical fiction author Ashley E. Sweeney comes a family saga about the Irish immigrant experience spanning New York, Chicago, and Colorado so compelling that, USA Today best-selling author Kelli Estes says, “I read this story in one sitting.”

Feisty and resilient, thirteen-year-old Mary Agnes Coyne travels alone from Ireland to the United States in 1886 in Ashley E. Sweeney’s newest, The Irish Girl.

Forced from her family home after an accusation of incest, Mary Agnes endures an arduous sea voyage across the Atlantic with only a few pounds to her name and a letter to a parish priest. From the tenements of New York to the rough alleys of Chicago, Mary Agnes once and again suffers the bitter taste of prejudice for the crime of being poor, Catholic, and Irish.

Faced with another tragedy, she moves west to Colorado to begin life anew and there ponders her future.

Filled with lilting prose that Kirkus Reviews calls “poignant . . . vivid and compelling,” Sweeney again introduces a strong female protagonist whose experience mirror those of many of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers as they carved out a home in new land.

She Writes Press
December 10, 2024

Length: 344 pages
ISBN13: 9781647427764

Pre-order at:
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Target
BookShop
and your favorite bookseller!

Ashley Sweeny is a multi-award-winning author. Her previous novels, Eliza Waite, Answer Creek, and Hardland, have won a total of 17 awards, including the Nancy Pearl Book Award, Independent Press Award, WILLA Literary Award, and New Mexico-Arizona Book Award. Sweeney, a native New Yorker and graduate of Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, spends winters in Tucson and summers in the Pacific Northwest.

 

Thank you, Ashley, for a wonderful read!

Candace

 

 

 

It’s wonderful to receive feedback from readers. Last night a reader from North Dakota sent me the following: “I finished Sister Lumberjack two nights ago. I slowed down as I felt sad coming to the end. I have already shared it with a friend. Love it!”

I also received a letter from a woman in Little Falls, Minnesota: “I want to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your book, Sister Lumberjack. I thoroughtly enjoyed it. All three main characters were well-developed and their stories intertwined in a way that made me want to keep reading. ….I have recommended it to several others.”

Yesterday, a woman stopped me at the library and told me how much her book club enjoyed discussing Sister Lumberjack.

Writing is a lonely endeavor. Thank you for both reading and commenting on Sister Lumberjack and my other titles. Online reviews at Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Good Reads, and others are most welcome to smaller writers like me. Thank you for getting the word out!

History Through Fiction Releases New Anthology 3/1/25 and my story, Those Bereaved, is included. Yay!

I’m thrilled to announce that my short story, Julesburg Burning, is included in the anthology LUNGERS, LAWDOGS, AND LEGENDS released this week by Saddlebag Dispatches.  If you’re looking for westerns set in Colorado, this book is for you.

EventsUpcoming Appearances9/7/24 Dalton Threshing Association 10 to 3Tuesday 9/10/24 Long Prairie Library 1pm9/25-9/28 Minot HostfestWednesdat 10/2/24 Grey Eagle Library 5:30 pm10/8/24 Milaca Library evening10/4/24 Viking Sons of Norway Vining MN 6:30pm10/24/24 Wildflower Book Event Grand Rapids with Marcie Rendon12/20/24 Senior lunch and Learn Brainerd noonWednesday 4/30/25 NELL Life Long Learning Bagley, MN 9 amJanuary/February 2025 Pencil to Paper Zoom Weekly Classes  check back for more informationWriters Retreat last weekend in Febrary 2025 Contact me for detailsCamp Candace 2025
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Agent and Publicist Krista Soukup Minot Hostfest photos
Past Appearances8/17/24 Ortonville Corn Days  Book Talk at Pavillion 11am Look for me at the library booth8/10/24 Hackensack Book Festival8/8/24 9:15-10:15 Zoom presentation Flere Lag Stevne Willmar, MN8/5/24-8/9/24  Camp Candace  College of Saint Benedict  Sheila O’Connor presenter 7/27/24 Fort Abercrombie Galvanized Yankee Day 7/26/24  Grant County Historical Society 7/18/24 Crosslake Historical Log Village 7/13/24 Hackensack Sweetheart Days 7/12/24 Grand Rapids Wildflower Books 7/11/24 Thief River Falls Wine and Art Walk 7/6/24 Cattales Books Brainerd 10-12noon7/4/24 Green Porch Gifts Pequot Lakes 7/3/24 Lifehouse Coffee Shop Pine River 6/29/24 Our Lady of Lourdes Rhubarb Festival Pine River6/26/24 Barb Sjoblad Book Club6/24/24  Colleen Moser Book Club 6/14/24 Tyler Library  6pm Meeting at Fire Hall 101 E. Lincoln, Tyler MN6/13/24 Fulda/Slayton/ Tracy/Westbrook  Library event: Painted Prairie Vineyard, 1575 250th Avenue, Currie MN 6/12/24  Rock County Library 6pm Luverne, MN6/12/24 Wabasso Library 6/8/24  Alexandria Reads Sister Lumberjack 6/6/24 Stevens County Historical Society Morris MN 6/1/24 Wadena Library 5/25/24 Fort Abercrombie Opening Day5/11/24  Turtle Town Books  Nisswa 5/9/24 6:30 pm Bagley Public Library 5/9/24  2pm Detroit Lakes Public Library 5/8/24  Moorhead Public Library 5/8/24 2pm Barnesville Public Library 5/7/24  630 pm Mahnomen Public Library 5/7/24 2pm Fosston Public Library 4/29/24  Upsala Library 6pm4/29/24  Little Falls Carnegie Library 2-3pm 4/27/24 Beagle Books  Park Rapids 12-2pm 4/26/24 Cherry Street Books Alexandria 3-5:30pm 4/26/24 Victor Lundeen’s Book Store Fergus Falls 11 to 1:30pm4/13/24 Sauk Centre Library Reads ABERCROMBIE TRAIL 1pm4/11/24  Pequot Lakes Library 2pm-3pm4/10/24 Tell Me About Your Book Podcast interview4/8/24 Radio Interview 10:15am to 10:30am  WJONMonday 4/1/24 Brainerd Library 12-2pmMarch 18, 2024  Interview Podcast History Through FictionMarch 17, 2024  SISTER LUMBERJACK  launch  Brainerd Arboretum 2-4pmMarch 14, 2024  Rendevouz with a Writer podcast interview3/11/24 Interview Podcast Minnesota Medley3/7/24 Softest Lore Podcast interviewJanuary 18/February 22 2024  Pencil to Paper Zoom Classes: the Nuts and Bolts of Writing noon to 2pm every Thursday CST Contact Blue Cottage Agency for more details11/25/23  Lionseed Books  Battle Lake MN  Author Talk 2pm11/16/23 1pm Walker Sons of Norway11/11/23 Daughters of Norway, Kringen Lodge, Fargo 11/4/23 Wadena Library, Meet the Authors  Simar presentation at 11am10/30/23-11/4/23 Studium, College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN10/24/23 School Presentations  5th/6th graders, 9th grade, 11th grade South Platte Public Schools, Big Springs, Nebraska10/14/23 Women Writing the West Conference   Presenter: DIAGLOGUE, A WRITER’S FRIEND9/25/23-9/29/23  Personal Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck9/9/23 Dalton Threshing Bee Saturday 10 to 4pm8/14-8/18/23 Camp Candace Writing Retreat with Sheila O’Connor presenter8/12/23 Hackensack Book and Arts Fair8/5/23 Saturday, Fort Abercrombie  7/27/23 Thief River Falls Zehlians Art and Wine Walk  7/25/23  Kimball Historical Society The Rocky Mountain Locusts and Frontier Life7/7/23  and 7/8/23  Pine River 150th Celebration Variety Show- debut of Tamarack Down6/14/23 and 6/21/23 Writing Class for Middle Schoolers Pequot Lakes Library6/27/23 Park Rapids Author FestMay 27, 2023 Fort Abercrombie Historical Site  Opening Day3/8/23 Coldspring Historical Society5/27/23 Saturday, Fort Abercrombie Historical Society The Rocky Mountain Locust Plagues of the 1870s2/26-2/28/23 Writer’s Winter Getaway Brainerd, MN Baymont Inn2/14/23 Lake Superior Writers Association Zoom writing class part 2  Dialogue2/7/23 Lake Superior Writers Association Zoom writing class part 1  Writing Historical FictionJanuary 19, 2023 to Feb 9, 2023 Pencil to Paper Write Your Way Through Winter Online Zoom ClassesJanuary 2023 Pencil to Paper Write Your Way Through Winter Online Zoom Classes2/7/23 Lake Superior Writers Association Zoom writing class part 12/14/23 Lake Superior Writers Association Zoom writing class part 22/26-2/28/23 Writer’s Winter Getaway Brainerd, MN Baymont Inn5/27/23 Fort Abercrombie Historical Site 10-37/7/23 Pine River 150th Celebration- debut of my play Tamarack Down 7/15/23 Hackensack Book and Arts Fair8/14-8/18/23 Camp Candace Writing Retreat with Sheila O’Connor presenter9/9/23 Dalton Threshing Bee Saturday 10 to 4pm12/6/22 Nisswa American Legion noon Our Lady of the Lakes parish Christmas party presenter It Really Happened Here12/14/22 Riccori Community Center, Cold Spring MN 6pm book talk about the Rocky Mountain locust plagues of the 1870s11/17/22 Walker Sons of Norway10/28/22-10/29/22 Will Rogers Medallion for Terrible and Wonderful, Fort Worth, Texas10/20-10/22/22 Women Writing the West Conference Oklahoma City Presenter Historical Fiction Panel and 3rd place Laura Award for short story, Touched10/15/22 Lakes Area Writers Association Fall conference Presenter “Scene, the Basic Building Block”10/13/22 Lake Superior Writers Book Club zoom 630 to 8pm talking about Shelterbelts9/27/22 Enderlin ND Library presentation 7pm9/17/22 Jack Pine Writers Park Rapids–Workshop PresenterAugust 13, 2022 Hackensack Arts and Book Festival 11:30 PresentationAugust 1-5, 2022 Camp Candace College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph MN7/26/22 Lois Kuntz book club4/22/22 Brainerd Senior Center Lunch and Learning4/25/2022 St. Francis 8th grade writing class4/9/2022 St. Francis Presentation4/9/2022 St. Francis Church Spiritual Writing Workshop with Deacon Mike Knuth3/28/22 St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church Brooklyn Park, MNPencil To Paper Write your Way through the Winter Doldrums Jan/Feb 2022 Zoom1/11/22-1/21/22 Studium writing retreat Saint Joseph, MN1/31/22 St. Francis School, Brainerd 8th grade reads Abercrombie Trail11/1/21 Brainerd Library Brown Bag Presentation zoom10/30/21 Lakes Area Writer’s Alliance Conference–presenterOctober 21-October 22 Mentorship Program begins (message if you might be interested)9/11/21 Dalton Threshing Bee9/10/21 Ashby Living Center, Ashby MN8/25/21 Crosslake Historical Society, Crosslake MN8/14/21 Hackensack MN Art and Book Festival7/24/21 Fort Abercrombie, Abercrombie, NDJune 15-17, 2021 Camp Candace Plan B Writing Retreat Presenter5/8/21 Cattales Books, Brainerd MN4/26/21 Thief River Falls Sons of Norway4/10/21 -4/16/21 Studium Writing Retreat with Sisters of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph MN2/28/21-3/6/21 Personal Writing Retreat at Annunciation MonasteryInstructor: Pencil to Paper Write Your Way through the Pandemic Thursdays Jan and Feb 20211/18/21 Guest appearance FB LIVE Pam Nowak book launch 6:30-7:30 pm10/16/20 Virtual reading WWW convention 2nd place Laura Short Fiction Award for TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS9/19/20 Presenter: Talking Stick Writing workshop 9-12, Jackpine Writers Bloc VIRTUAL3/10/20 Thief River Falls Library 6pm3/10/20 Young Author’s Conference Thief River Falls, MN12/14/19 Cattales Book Signing Spoilt Quilt AnthologyNovember 9-16, 2019 Studium writing residency College of Saint Benedict10/26/19 Will Rogers Medallion Awards, Fort Worth TX10/1/19 University of Mary North Dakota History Class presentationSept 25-28 Minot Hostfest9/15/19 Well Read Moms Brainerd8/27/19 2pm Detroit Lakes Library9/7/19 Dalton Threshing Bee8/10/19 Northwoods Arts and Books Festival Hackensack, MN8/8/19 WCCO TV interview Up at the Lake Segment8/3-8/4/19 Aber Days Fort AbercrombieJuly 26-August 2 Camp Candace 2019 with Sheila O’Connor7/16/19 Lutheran Church of the Cross Book Club7/2/19 Kids Book Club Pequot Lakes LibraryKids Writing Club Pequot Lakes Library Wednesdays June and July6/13/19 Prospect House Battle Lake6/13-6/18/19 Personal Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery6/6/19 Alexandria Library–Community Reads Shelterbelts and Grand Arbor Assisted Living5/18/19 Saturday Timeless Appeal Pequot Lakes4/29/19 Plum Creek Library Tour: Ivanhoe Library,Laverne Library; Pipestone Library4/26/19 Presentation District CCW at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church Nisswa4/9/19-4/14/19 Personal Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery Bismarck4/9/19 Cooperstown ND Library4/8/19 Perham Library3/1/19-3/15/19 Personal Writing Retreat2/19-2/20-2/21 Writing Workshops Pequot Lakes Middle School2/9/19 Brainerd AUW1/29/19 Book Club Lakes Latte Pequot Lakes1/26/19 BWA Author Talk1/11/19 Pillager High School11/13/18 Adventure Day Staples, MN Middle School Writing ConferenceWriting Retreat Studium College of Saint Benedict’s, St. Joseph, MN October 26-November 210/25/18 Hutchinson Library10/25/18 Hutchinson Montessori School10/4/18 East Grand Forks, MN Schools10/2/18 U of Mary History Class9/25-9/29/18 Minot Hostfest9/25/18 The View Senior Living Minot, ND9/19/18 Upsala Library9/15/18 Marshall MN Library Boot Camp with Angela Foster9/8/18 Dalton Threshing Bee8/29/18 Danish Sisterhood Brainerd8/25/18 Beagle Books Park Rapids8/12/18 Fort Abercrombie launch for ESCAPE TO FORT ABERCROMBIE’8/11/18 Hackensack Arts and Book Fair8/4/18 Grant County Historical Society Museum Elbow LakeJuly 16-20, 2018 Writing Retreat at College of St. Benedict with Sheila O’ConnorJuly 4, 2018 Pequot Lakes Timeless TreasuresJune 15-16 2018 Bismarck ND Sons of Norway District Convention6/20-23 Western Writers of America Convention Billings, MT5/15/18 Book Launch ESCAPE TO FORT ABERCROMBIE The Crossing Arts Brainerd5/19/18 Brainerd Library Workshop TIPS FOR WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION4/25/18 Ellsworth Wisconsin Library4/23/18 Woodville Wisconsin, Sons of Norway4/19/18 Eagle View Elementary Pequot Lakes4/14/18 The Crossing Boot Camp4/12/18 Sauk Centre Library 6pm4/4/18 Royalton Library 6pm4/2/18 Book Club Sharon Lembke, Leonard MN3/22/18 Aitkin Library 6pm3/12/18 Chappell, NE Creek Valley Elementary School and High School3/9/18 Julesburg, CO High School3/2/18-3/7/18 Personal writing retreat at Annunciation Monastery2/10/18 Fergus Falls Library workshop 1-2:30 and publishing panel at 3p1/30/18 Northern Lakes Living1/25/18 Arizona Book club via SKYPE. Sharon Anderson1/8/18 Crosby Women’s Club12/19/17 Pequot Lakes Rotary Club12/16/17 Nat’s Books Uptown Minneapolis12/9/17 Cherry Street Books Alexandria12/2/17 Beagle Books Park Rapids 11/24/17 Turtle Town Books 12-2pm11/15/17 Fulda Library 2:30pm11/15/17 Jackson Library 11am11/14/17 Lamberton Library 6pm11/14/17 Tracy Library 2:3011/14/17 Redwood Falls Library 12n11/13/17 Marshall Library 6pm11/13/17 Hendricks Library 2pm11/13/17 Tyler Library 10am 11/11/17 Kringle Days at the Crossing Brainerd 12-2pm11/6/17 Grant County Museum Elbow Lake, 10/23/17 Todd County Historical Society Dinner 10/3/17 University of Mary North Dakota History ClassWed-Saturday 9/27-9/30 Minot Hostfest9/21/17 Pequot Library Celebrating DEAR HOMEFOLKS 9/20/17 Terri Grimes Book Club 9/15/17 Fessenden, ND Sons of Norway 9/14/17 Grand Forks Sons of Norway 9/14/17 Book World Grand Forks 9/13/17 Roseau County Museum/Sons of Norway 9/9/17 Dalton Threshing Bee8/28/17 DEAR HOMEFOLKS Launch Brainerd Library8/12/17 Hackensack Art and Book Festival8/7/17 Eden Valley Library and Book Club8/3/17 Writing in the Garden co-presenter with Angela Foster7/29-7/30 Aber Days Fort Abercrombie7/17-7/21 Writing retreat with Sheila O’Connor6/21-6/24 Western Writers of America Convention Kansas City6/14/17 Shirley Greves Book Club6/10-6/11 Living History at Fort Abercrombie5/13/17 Pequot Lakes Library5/11/17 Fergus Falls Daughters of the American Revolution5/6/17 Norse Fest Devil’s Lake Sons of Norway 100th anniversary4/28/17 The Center Brainerd4/26/17 Clearwater Library4/18/17 Sue Ready Book ClubHackensack4/15/2017 Daughters of Norway, MPLS, Norway House4/12/17 Loony Ladies Book Club Nisswa4/11/2017 Glenwood Literary Guild4/7//17 Isle Sons of Norway 630pm3/27/17 Nisswa Lions3/16/17 Chaska Evangelical Free Book Club Skype3/14/17 Crosby Unlimited Learning2/11/17 Open Book Store Wadena 11 am2/15/17 10am Eagle View Elementary Pequot Lakes1/12/17 Claire Steen Book Club1/7/17 Chapter Chicks Book Club via Skype12/21/16 Pillager High SchoolDecember 4,2016 Devil’s Lake Sons of NorwayNovember 18-20 Advanced Writer Retreat with Sheila O’Connor11/9/16 Cheryl Karlgaard Book Club Baxter10/13-10/15 Women Writing the West Convention Santa Fe, NM Shelterbelts Finalist Award10/12/16 Upsala School and Library10/11/16 Little Falls Library 6:30 pm9/27/16-10/1/16 Norsk Hostfest, Minot ND9/12/16 Amor Lutheran Church9/10/16 Dalton Threshing Bee 10-49/8/16 Fosston Sons of Norway8/23/16 Book Club Joan Askegaard Brainerd8/20/16 Halling Lag Stevne Alexandria 11am8/13/16 Hackensack Art Festival and Book Fair 9-38/6/16 Writing in the Garden Baxter Presenter with Angela Foster7/14/167 Lag Stevne Austin, MN6/20/16 Jean Collins Book Club Baxter6/14/16 Hillman Words and Wine Book ClubJune 11-12, 2016 Fort Abercrombie History Days6/4/16 Douglas County Historical Society Genealogy Guild5/20/16 Bismarck Sons of Norway5/13/15 Midwest Book Awards Gala Shelterbelts a finalist5/7/16 Fellesraad Centennial Celebration Brooklyn Park MN5/3/16 Excelsior Place Book Club 2:30 Brainerd4/27/16 Brainerd Senior Center4/19/16 Staples WELCA4/18/16 Owatonna Sons of Norway4/16/16 Glenwood Library4/15/16 Benson Public LibraryBenson Reads Abercrombie Trail4/14/16 Appleton Public Library4/13/16 Brainerd Public Library Book Clubreading SHELTERBELTS4/7/16 Brainerd Public Library–Workshop Presenter: Peeling Back the Layers to Discover Your Character3/14/16 Interview for The Mary Hanson Show Mpls3/12/16 Writing WorkshopPresenterSt. Alice Catholic Church 1/19/16 AAUW book clubMarcoIsland, Florida1/17/16 Sarasota FL Sons of Norway1/15/16 Clearwater FL Sons of Norway1/13/16 Tampa Bay Sons of Norway1/9/16 Estero FL Sons of Norway12/23/15 Pillager School12/12/15 Turtle Town Books12/10/15 Eagle Bend Library/Senior Center12/5/15 Victor Lundeen’s Books Fergus Falls12/4/15 Edgewood Vista Fair, Fargo11/25/15 Book World Baxter11/23/15 Radio Interview KAXE/KBXE11/21/15 Redwood Falls Library11/19/15 Walker Sons of Norway11/18/15 Lord of LifeSenior Club11/12/15 WELCA Crosslake11/9/15 Brainerd Senior Center11/2/15 Book Club Brainerd The Lodge Judy Shaw contact person10/27/15 Priscilla Balmer Book Club Crosslake10/4/15-10/10/15/15 Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck9/29/15-10/3/15 Minot Hostfest9/26/15 Family History Workshop Moorhead9/14/15Willmar Sons of Norway9/12-9/13/15 Dalton Threshing Bee8/23/15 Morris, MN Rural Life Conference8/13/15 North Brainerd Book Club8/11/15 Jolly Freetimers Trinity Lutheran Brainerd8/9/15Crosslake Artisan Fair8/1/15-8/2/15 Fort Abercrombie Civil War Days7/31/15Grant County Historical Museum Elbow Lake7/24/15 Writing in the Garden with Angela Foster, Baxter MN7/22/15 Book Club Colleen Moser contact person7/21/15 Lutheran Church of the Cross7/9-7/11/15 Seven Lag Stevne LaCrosse WisconsinJuly 4 Beagle Books, Park Rapids and Celebrity Judge for Pie ContestJuly 2 Cherry Street Books, Alexandria MN 1-3pmJune 15-June 29 Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, ND6/13/15 Turtle Town Books, Nisswa, MN5/18/15 TV interview Brainerd Cable5/16/15 SHELTERBELTS book launch Franklin Arts Center Brainerd, MN4/16/15Senior Coffee Talk, Bloomington, MN4/10/15-4/12/15 Writing Retreat Lanesboro MN3/23/15 Book Club Hutchinson via conference call3/21/15 Sun City AZ Sol Byer Sons of Norway Lodge3/19/15Western National Parks Assoc Store Tucson3/18/15 Tucson AZ Library3/14/15 Tucson Book Festival2/14/15 Isle Sons of Norway2/10/15 Milaca Library2/8/15 Vining Sons of Norway1/27/15 Skype Appearance Florida Book Club1/25/15 Unitarian Church Underwood MN1/24/15 Chanhassen Nisswa Book Club1/7/15 UCC prayer circle Claire Steen12/19/14 Pillager High School12/6/14-12/12/14 Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery Bismarck12/5/14 Edgewood Vista Christmas Bazaar Fargo12/4/14 Ladies Christmas Tea, Garrison11/18/14 Hallett Library, Crosby MN11/12/14 Grand Rapids Library Writing Workshop with Angela Foster11/4/14 Pequot Lakes Rotary9/20/14 Apple Valley Galaxie Library9/7/14 Dalton Threshing BeeAugust 19-27 Writing Retreat at Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck ND8/16 and 8/17 McLeod County Fair8/10/14 Crosslake Artisan Fair8/2-8/3/2014 Fort Abercrombie Civil War Days7/17/14 Windom Sons of Norway7/17/14 Marshall Public Library7/11/14 Milaca Sons of NorwayJune 24-28 Western Writers of America Convention, Sacramento6/10/14 Crosslake Historical Society5/18/14 Dregne’sScandinavian Gifts Westby WI5/17/14 Whalan Stand-Still Parade5/15/14 Fergus Falls Library5/10/14 Daughters of the American Revolution5/3/14 Mounds Midway School of Nursing Reunion Luncheon4/29/14 Immanuel Lutheran Church Bellevue, NE4/26/14 West Zion Lutheran Church, Hancock MN4/10/14 Book Club Plymouth3/13/14 Common Ground Interview 7p Lakeland TV ch223/13/14 Sisters Book Club Backus2/28/14 Belgrade Library 6:30pm-7:30pm2/10/14 Crow Wing County Jail Literacy Program2/8/14 Featured poet/Poetry on the Wall Franklin Arts Center1/6/14 Bay Lake Book Club12/14/13 Cherry Street Books12/7/13 Nordic Galleri Fergus FallsNov 30-Dec 6 Writing retreat Annunciation Monastery11/29/13Turtle Town Books Nisswa11/20/13Willmar Book World11/19/13Graceville Library11/19/13Ortonville Library11/18/13 Morris Sons of Norway11/18/13 Morris with Linda Hodgeson at Stevens County Museum11/18/13 Morris Kiwanis
10/26/13Brainerd Writer’s Alliance workshop Presenter10/22/13 Pillager High SchoolOctober 1-5 Minot Hostfest9/28/13 Genealogy Conference Moorhead MN9/17/13 St. Cloud Area Genealogists9/14/13 Granite Falls Sons of Norway9/6 & 9/7 Dalton Threshing Bee9/1/13 Sister Wolf Books Dorset8/20/13 and 8/27/13 workshop at Crossing Arts in Brainerd8/17/13 Hackensack Art Fair and Book Festival8/15/13 Grand Rapids Sons of Norway8/3/13 Willmar Library Roundtable7/20/13 Pequot Lakes Library FARM GIRLS reading
7/11/13 7 Lag Stevne St. Cloud6/26/13-6/29/13 Western Writers of America Convention Las Vegas Spur Award Finalist6/21/13 WELCA Convention Redwood Falls6/20/13VestlandslagStevne Fergus FallsJune 9-16 Writing Retreat Benedictine Monastery Bismarck, ND6/8/13 Pierz Library5/21/13 Eden Prairie Book Club Sharon Arends contact person5/18/13 Whalan, Minnesota Stand-Still Parade5/16/13 Speaking of Books Prairie Bay5/15/13 Browns Valley Library5/15/13 Wheaton Library5/7/13 Women’s Expo presentation St. Gabriel’s Hospital Little Falls5/6/13 Little Falls radio interview5/1/13Writing Workshop Gonvick5/1/13 Gonvick Life Long Learning4/30 13 Edgewood Vista Fargo Mother Daughter Tea4/29/13 Brainerd Book Club4/26/13 Alexandria Radio Theater Farm Girls reading with Angela Foster4/26/13 Cherry Street Books Alexandria4/25/13 Staples Library4/23/13 Pine College Farm Girl Reading with Angela Foster4/20/13 Writer’s Boot Camp Crossing Arts Center Brainerd4/17/13 Hillman Sr. Group4/13/13 Spotlight on Books Grand Rapids4/11/13 North Brainerd Book Club4/8/13 Howard Lake Public Library 6pm3/28/13 Eagle Bend Library3/11/13 Brainerd Senior Center Farm Girls reading with Angela Foster3/11/13 Edgewood Vista Brainerd Book Club3/8/13 Pine City Arts Center Farm Girls reading with Angela Foster3/3/13 St. Paul Public Library3/1/13 Breath of Life Adult Day Care reading3/1/13 St. Francis School Brainerd2/18/13 Alexandria Study Club2/14/13 TV interview Brainerd city station2/9/13 Bookworld Baxter Farm Girls book signing with Angela Foster2/6/13 Subtext Book Store St. Paul2/5/13 3C’s Book Club Maple Plain1/30/13 Pillager High School AP English1/26/13 Poetry on the Wall –FARM GIRL launch party1/24/13 Crow Wing County Jail Book Clubs1/23/133wi radio interview1/22/13 Forestview Middle School Baxter1/18/13 Edgewood Vista Fargo1/18/13 Barnes & Noble Fargo1/17/13 Moorhead, MN Library1/12/13 Crossing Arts Brainerd. Writing Workshop co-presented with Angela Foster1/9/13 Granite City Book Club Stearns County Historical Society St. Cloud12/18/12 Lutheran Church of the Cross Book Club12/17/12 Baxter Book Club12/12/12 Eagle View Elementary School12/9/12Bookworld Baxter12/4/12 Pillager High School 10th graders11/16/12 Brainerd Sons of Norway11/12/12 South Long Lake Book Club11/10/12 Brainerd Senior Center Craft Fair and Christmas Bazaar11/2/12 Alexandria Radio Theater reading from LAKE REGION REVIEW short story,JULEBUKKING10/27/12 Brainerd Writers Alliance Workshop10/25/12 DNR book club10/20/12 Barnes & Noble St. Cloud10/17/12 Pine River Book Club10/12/12 Memo Conference St. Cloud, MN10/10/12 Stearns County Historical Society St. Cloud10/6/12 Lake Region Writers presentation Fergus Falls, M State10/3/12 Breezy Point Women’s Club9/26-9/30Minot Hostfest9/22/12 Grant County Historical Museum, Elbow Lake9/22/12 Pioneer Nursing Home Fergus Falls9/18/12 The Crossing Arts Alliance Gift Shop Brainerd Featured Artist9/15/12 Jack Pine Writer’s Workshop am and Talking Stick Party Menagha9/7-9/9/12 Dalton Threshing Bee9/4/12 Sons of Norway Glenwood9/2/12 Sister Wolf Books Dorset9/1/12 Fort Abercrombie, North Dakota8/28/12 Writing in the Garden Workshop Baxter8/25/12 New Ulm Brown County Historical Society8/24/12 Sven and Ole Books, New Ulm8/23/12 Old Time Antiques Mankato8/21/12 Walker Book Club8/20/12 Evergreen Up North, Crosby MN8/18/12 Hackensack Arts Fair and Book Festival8/14/12 BLOOMING PRAIRIE LAUNCH Prairie Bay, Baxter8/10/12 interview with Lon Schmidt 3Wi 1270 AM radio8/1/12-8/4/12TronderlagStevne Fargo6/22/12 -6/23/12 Nordic Festival Moorhead6/16/12WWASpur Award Presentation -BIRDIE6/14/12-6/16/12 Western Writers of America Convention Albuquerque, NM6/10/12 Beagle Books/Y Steak House Park Rapids Sunday Classics 6/8/12 The Crossing Art Center Reading with Lake Region Review Contributors5/25/12 Dylan Days Contest Award and Reading5/7/12 Fergus Falls Sons of Norway 5/5/12 Akeley First Lutheran Church4/25/12 Clearwater Library 4/24/12 Crow Wing County Historical Society Annual Meeting 4/23/12wwwi radio interview4/14/12 Grant County Historical Society Annual Meeting Elbow Lake2/7/12-4/10/12 Crow Wing County Jail Weekly Literacy Program3/22/12 Common Ground Bemidji Public TV3/24/12 Bloomington Arts Center Writers’ Festival and Book Fair3/16/12 Sons of Norway, Brainerd 3/13/12 Long Prairie Library 3/10/12 Glenwood Estates Assisted Living 3/10/12 Glenwood Library3/6/12Interview for the Mary Hanson Show on TPT2/22/12 Brainerd Senior Citizens Center2/8/12Wadena/Staples/Long Prairie AEC Program2/1/12Runestone Museum Alexandria1/14/12 Hutchinson Sons of Norway12/17/11 Reading for Lake Region Review Otter Tail County Historical Society Fergus Falls12/9/11 Book World Baxter12/9/11 St. Francis School Brainerd12/1/11interview Radiothon 11/26/11Turtle Town Books Nisswa11/19/11 Danish Sisterhood Brainerd 11/14/11Forestview Middle School Baxter10/27/11 New Ulm Library 10/27/11Hanska,MN Library 10/26/11 Sleepy Eye MN Library 10/25/11 Springfield, MN Library 10/25/11 Springfield, MN Library10/22/11 Evansville Care Center 10/22/11 Evansville Art Center Book Club 10/20/11 Alexandria Library 10/20/11 Glenwood Estates Assisted Living10/18/11 Lutheran Church of the Cross Book Club Nisswa10/16/11 Underwood Unitarian Church10/13/11Pine River Book Club Shirley Hovey9/28/11Hostfest, Minot, ND 9/27/11Artsage, Edgewood Vista, Fargo ND 9/27/11Sandford Health Fargo Gift Shop9/23/11Midwest Booksellers Association Mpls.9/20/11 St. Cloud Community Ed Book Club 9/19/11 Book Club Prairie Bay Gail Brecht contact person 9/17/11 Talking Stick Release Party Park Rapids9/14/11Nisswa Reads Book Club9/9/11 Dalton Threshing Bee8/25/11 Eagle Bend Senior Center8/20/11 Hackensack Art Festival and Book Fair8/19/11 Beagle Book Signing Park Rapids8/7/11 Sister Wolf Book Signing Dorset8/5/11Elbow Lake Museum Flekkefest7/30/11 Pequot Lakes Library7/14/11 North Brainerd Book Club7/7/11 ABC Book Club Baxter6/26/11Zandbroz Book Signing Fargo6/21/11 Western Writers of America Convention6/17/11 Bookin It signing Little Falls6/15/11 Staples Senior Center6/13/11 Baxter Book Club6/9/11 Schaefer’s Market5/24/11 Outing Book Club5/18/11 Hawley Library5/17/11 Barnesville Library5/16/11 Breckinridge Library5/11/11 Cherry Street Books Alexandria5/10/11 Milan Library5/9/11 Upsala Library and School5/7/11 Book Launch Bar Harbor5/6/113Wi radio interview5/4/11 DNR Book Club5/3/11 Ada Library5/3/11 Twin Valley Library5/2/11 Moorhead Library4/23/11Graceville Library4/12/11 Hutchinson Library4/9/11 Spotlight on Books Grand Rapids3/22/11 Long Prairie Historical Society3/9/11Eagleview Elementary grades 3&41/12/11 Clearwater Library1/12/11Nisswa Book Club1/6/11 Pequot Women’s Club

Another Great Year at Camp Candace

I just returned from the Spirituality Center at the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, MN. About a dozen writing friends and I rent the entire center, hire our favrotie writing professor, Sheila O’Connor, and have a wonderful week of studying the writing craft. We split the costs, bring our own food, and put it together as a group of friends. Sadly, there is no space to open it to the public, but I would encourage you to copy our example if you’re looking for an affordable writing retreat. It’s always the highlight of my year.