This past year has been one of the busiest I can remember, which has proved to be both exciting and exhausting. In the last twelve months, I’ve made 85 in-person appearances across the country and 25 virtual appearances from my home. I’ve promised myself (and my wife) that I will cut back on my commitments in the coming year. Which, quite honestly, won’t be easy, because I have a hard time turning down an invitation to speak—and I do love talking about myself.
Here in the North Country, we embrace winter. You have to or the cold months just drag on. In St. Paul, we celebrate the icy season with our Winter Carnival, an opportunity for both snow and ice sculptors to show off their skills and their magnificent creations for the enjoyment of those souls brave enough to endure the frigid temperatures.
I confess that every year in March I sneak away from Minnesota to take part in the Tucson Festival of Books, for my money the best of the large book celebrations in this country. This year I was lucky enough to be paired with my good friend and fine writer Craig Johnson, author of the long-running Longmire series, the source for the hugely-popular television series. He’s a guy whose imposing physical presence and wonderful sense of humor fill up a room no matter how large the space.
Because I believe that in a democracy, we should make our voices heard, I participated in several marches and gatherings to protest what I view as an erosion of the democratic principles upon which our nation was founded. And going forward, I’ll continue to do the same.
Outside my home state of Minnesota, Sedona is my favorite place to hang out. I go every year with my family to enjoy the beauty of the Red Rocks area and hike as many of the beautiful trails as I can. This year it was in May, and although amid a busy appearance schedule, my time there refreshed me in every way.
Inside Minnesota, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is among my favorite getaways. This pristine territory on the Canadian border is a million acres of deep forests, clean lakes, and fast-running water. For the past several years, I’ve made the trip as a featured presenter and guest of Wilderness Inquiry, an organization dedicated to making all the outdoors accessible to everyone despite their physical or emotional challenges. I’m often in the company of folks who’ve never been to the BWCAW, and sometimes those who’ve never been in a canoe before. It can be a challenge, but oh my, do we have fun!
The book tour for Apostle’s Cove began in late August and continued into December. My tour schedule took me from Paul Bunyan country all the way down to alligator country. As I’ve said, it was exhausting but wonderfully gratifying to see so many folks turn out to hear me speak.
In November, I celebrated my 75th birthday. At the moment, I’m still trying to settle on an appropriate way in this year to mark three-quarters of a century on earth. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them.
And so, as I look forward to 2026, I see a new book releasing in August. It will be #22 in my Cork O’Connor series, a novel titled God’s Country. I know I’m prejudiced, but I think it’s pretty good.
To all of you who follow me on social media and to those who’ve been kind enough to turn out for one of my events or signings, I wish you the best in the New Year. May all our lives be filled with a continued hope for the welfare of our planet and for all creatures great and small.
Happy New Year Kent! You won’t remember me but I’m the retired cop who was born and raised in Ely who asked about your law enforcement sources when you were in Perham last summer. I spent most of my career in Duluth but started my career as BWCA Deputy Sheriff in Ely! It wasn’t as exciting as your books! I am penning a memoir triggered by my oldest daughter who is an officer in Madison Wi. After a year and a half on the job she called me at 6am and asked me, ” How did you keep your soul doing this job?” My written answer turned into 40 chapters!
It was a pleasure meeting you. I visit my granddaughter in St. Paul often when I return to Minnesota in the summer, I live in Mazatlan for 6+ months of the year. If you ever have time for coffee and conversation …
Happy New Year! Having read all of your stand-alones in previous years, this is the year I made the O’Connor family and friends a part of my life. I started in September and just started Heven’s Keep. I look forward to many more!
(Also, kudos for choosing David Chandler as your narrator! He is fantastic!)
Happy New Year. Looking forward to reading more of your books in 2026. Hope you can find that sweet spot of work less and enjoy your family time more in 2026. It is something we all struggle with.
Can’t wait for your next Cork O’Connor book! After being introduced to your work this summer, I have ripped through the entire series and now wait impatiently for the latest book!
Thank you for all the joy your books bring to my life.
Happy 2026! I’m looking forward to “God’s Country “!
Thanks for the update. I am looking forward to reading God’s Country in August! If you ever come to the McGregor or Aitkin libraries I will be there to meet you. Happy New Year to you and your wife.
Thank you for the deep pleasure your books have given me over the years. I hope you still enjoy writing them so that we can look forward not just to God’s Country but to others beyond. Celebrate your 75th with visits to all the people and places you love best, and treat yourself to feasts along the way!
Happy New Year to You and Yours! 2025 was quite a year for me, too, with a breast cancer diagnosis in May followed by a mastectomy in July and radiation in September. My final session was on Sept. 22 and on the 24th I flew to Costa Rica for 10-days of enjoying much that makes that country such a wonderful place, from a whitewater rafting adventure to hiking through Mistico Park with its six hanging bridges and 10 stationary spans. I celebrated #78 in San Jose and treated myself to a private tour of the Toucan Rescue Ranch (Rescue, Rehabilitate, Rewild), where I made the acquaintance of Lennie, a two-fingered sloth who has become an Ambassador for his species; although his injuries were healed, he couldn’t be returned to the forest, so now he is living his best life at the Rescue and thoroughly enchanting everyone he meets. As I continue to adjust to my new normal, I am making plans to travel to the Azores in May. My mantra has become: “While cancer’s at bay, Lill will play!” All the best! Cheers, Lill
Wishing you health and happiness in the coming year! Your books have given me a great deal of pleasure over the years. Keep them coming.
Thanks for your stories! I look forward with that you will be in Elkader, Iowa next May sponsored by our Friends of the Library.
Happy new year,
Lucy Sharp
We are looking forward to your book coming out in August . You are an amazing writer and stay active , that’s what keeps you young . We missed you this year in Brainerd at the Wine and Words fundraiser for the Library . It’s our first one we missed in years . Hoping you will still come to that event .
Your books are a highlight of my reading year. I have read all of your books and some more than once.
The honesty and positivity you show for the American Indian culture and history is wonderful and so appreciated. Keep up the great work!!
Thanks for pics with your “High lights”. Expect to see & hear you again at the Tucson Festival of Books, It was such a treat to be with you at the Fri. night dinner & celebrate Craig Johnson’s award. I know who my vote is for this year! Do you ever sleep? Barbara , raised in Albert Lea.
Thank you for your wonderful books – series and stand-alone books. I have read and enjoyed them all and am eagerly anticipating God’s Country! Hoping for many more! Happy 2026 to you and your family!
Your books have become one of the main reasons I survived commuting (yes, I know commuting in MN is wimpy, compared to Southern California) and I am continually captivated by the O’Connor family.
And every re-read or re-listen is excellent as well.
Happy New Year to you and your family!
I enjoy reading your books and look forward to the next Cork O’Connor adventure. I met you at the Minneapolis Bouchercon and met your lovely wife and you at the Nashville Bouchercon. Wishing you a healthy and happy 2026.
Happy New Year! We love reading your books. Looking forward to reading God’s Country in August. Hope you have a wonderful 2026.
You just gave me the best news of this short-so far- new year! Another Cork book! Since I need to reread them all (why not?) before starting a new one, that should give me many lovely hours in my favorite part of the world!
I have a suggestion on something to help you celebrate your 75th: get on the waiting list for an apartment at Episcopal Homes. Some folks wait for a few years to get to the top of the list, but the wait is worth it. We’ve lived here now for 11 years, enjoying the company of others and a very active social agenda executed by some caring and fun-loving employees. Did I mention our jam-packed library in my independent building The Terrace? (It has all your books, many of them donated by me.)
Best of all, EHomes is right in the middle of St. Paul. Come and see us. If you aren’t ready to move in when your name comes up, you can pass on the opportunity until you are ready. You never know when you might need to give up the strenuous tasks of home-ownership and be ready to share your time and talents with others who are not-so-young anymore. Mac and I have been busy and happy here. I’m sure you’d like it too. No—nobody paid me for this commercial. I do know I’d enjoy having you and your wife as neighbors.
Happy 2026! I have Trickster’s Point on my lap right now–so happy to be working my way through your Cork O’Connor series and have loved your stand alones, as well! Thanks for the great stories, and have a wonderful new year!
Happy New Year, and Happy 75th Birthday in advance! I was introduced to your books when I picked up the first in the Cork O’Connor series in a little independent bookstore in Cherokee Iowa called The Book Vine. We always stop there when visiting my aunt and uncle mid-July. I was hooked. I have read every book in the series, as well as the stand-alone ones, no regrets! It always amazes me how you can draw unique and engrossing stories endlessly out of the same small town, and never get redundant. And I appreciate how the family at the center of the stories grows, matures and change in unexpected ways. Living in Minnesota as I have for almost 70 years, I can connect with your descriptions of the great North Woods, or as we refer to it, “Up Nort’. Can’t wait till your new book comes out, it’s always on my automatic pre-order list. Hoping to catch you next time you come through St. Cloud! And had to mention it was fun to see you with Craig Johnson, just recently finished one of the Longmire series. I’m working my way through those also. Absolutely love the dry humor there, especially between Walt and Henry. I also like that the books and TV series are different enough that they can be enjoyed separately, without feeling either is off. Anyway, enjoy your year, keep writing, and do what makes you happy for your birthday!
Happy New Year and Happy Birthday! Thank you again for coming to Eden Valley’s Open House for our stand alone community library 12 years ago- still going strong!!! I buy your books, read immediately and then pass on to my church library where I talk many into reading your “Next ” book! Looking forward to someday reading the next story in the “Amazing Grace” series??? Happy writing!!!
Pairing those “J’s” and “K’s” at booksigning/Festival events means sometimes you get Craig Johnson and sometimes Dan Jorgensen — much to my delight! It was great to share the signing table with you at the South Dakota Festival of Books and I appreciated your words of wisdom and support. All the best for the 2026 year and your newest title.