In November, 1862, following a bloody conflict with white settlers and soldiers in southern Minnesota, more than 1600 Dakota women, children, and the elderly were imprisoned in a concentration camp at Fort Snelling. The fort was built at the confluence of the Minnesota River and the Mississippi. The Dakota call this place B’dote, “where two … Read more
Honestly, January 1, 2024, seems like eons ago. So much has happened in the past year, so many wonderful memories created. From an Edgar nomination (didn’t win) to a Boundary Waters adventure to a whirlwind tour that ended with an epic battle between me and a stuffed rattlesnake, the year has been filled with delights. … Read more
My mother always wanted me to be a doctor. She finally got her wish. On Saturday, I had the honor of delivering the commencement address to the 2024 graduating class of Hamline University in St. Paul. Along with the honor came a degree. I am now an honorary Doctor of Letters. It was a wonderfully … Read more
2023 was extraordinary year for me, with so much to be thankful for. From the experimental publication of an original audio book (The Levee) in February to the more traditional publication of my newest stand-alone novel The River We Remember this past fall, it’s been a joyride, start to finish. The Levee billboard in Times … Read more
It’s so visually fitting that on our final stop in Alaska at Denali National Park the clouds parted and a rainbow arced across the sky for several hours. The overcast kept us from seeing that awe-inspiring mountain up close, but the rainbow was a wonderful final gift. As my time in amazing Alaska comes to … Read more