This past Tuesday, Kirkus revealed the list of finalists for the inaugural Kirkus Indie Awards to “celebrate the excellence, breadth, and depth of independently published books.”
To my astonishment, The Land of Everlasting Sky was named one of six finalists in the category of memoir. (Winners will be announced on Aug. 27. I already feel like a winner knowing I made the short list!)
The newly renovated Moorhead Public Library hosted a conversation between me and Karen Kakaygeesick-Dethmers on Wednesday, July 9, at 6 pm. about the land of “Everlasting Sky.”
To my astonishment, a former student of mine, James Sigman, walked in the room and took a seat in the back row. We both subscribe to each other’s Substack. He flew in from NYC to Minneapolis for a concert, and added a three-hour bus trip to Fargo-Moorhead to surprise his old college journalism professor.
After I gave a short reading from the book, Karen talked about her memories of her great-grandfather Kakaygeesick, his funeral, and the land where he lived on Muskeg Bay. She remembere that the allotment papers granted Kakaygeesick 102 acres, but most of those acres were under water during her lifetime.
Karen moved with her husband, Dan Dethmers, to Moorhead a few years ago. Her brother, John, lived there, too, and worked in food service at Concordia College. Karen, a nature photographer, and John, a painter in the Woodlands School of Art, had an art exhibition at the Spirit Room Gallery in Moorhead in May 2023. John Kakaygeesick died in September 2024. His son, John Jr., came to the library on Wenesday evening, and we took a photo together.
On Thursday, July 9, Warroad novelist Kim Hruba moderated a discussion with me and Don Kakaygeesick at the Warroad Public Library and co-sonspored by Folk School Warroad.
Less than an hour before the event, I was driving towards Warroad when I blew my right front tire. I pulled to the shoulder of Highway 11 about three miles east of town. Almost immediately, someone pulled over on the other side of the road and offered assistance. Tom (whose last name I didn’t catch) gave me a lift to the library, carried in my case of books, and called Warroad Motors to have my car towed and the tire fixed. He promised they’d give me a call when it was fixed. The program began promptly at 6:30 pm to a full house.
During the presentation, a cell phone started to ring. Who forgot to turn their phone off?
Me! It was Warroad Motors. I let it go to voicemail. We continued the conversation and took questions and comments from the audience.
Deb Sinness was in the audience and deserves an award for traveling the farthest to see us in Warroad. Deb and her partner, Kate, started in Tucson, Arizona, at the end of April and have been traveling the country in an RV. They booked two nights in the Roseau campground in order to attend the book talk in Warroad.
For the past five years, Deb Sinness and I have been part of the Wild Rice Write Club, meeting every two weeks on Thursday mornings for an hour of writing and holding each other accountable. I may be the first one in our group to have a published book, but Deb will soon be the second.
After our presentation, Don Kakaygeesick and I signed books. The library didn’t shut its doors until 8:30 pm. By then Warroad Motors was closed and no one answered the phone.
Kim Hruba gave me a lift back to the river house north of Baudette where I am staying. In the morning, I called Warroad Motors, and Lee, the owner, drove 38 miles to pick me up to retrieve my car in Warroad. He charged me for the tow and a used tire — less than $200 — and got me back on the road to continue my book tour. To my astonishment, again.
Next up?
On Monday, Don Kakaygeesick and I will be in conversation at the Roseau County Museum at 11 am. The book talk will be moderated by local author, Kathryn Magnusson, and co-sponsore by the Roseau Public Library.
On Tuesday, July 14, from 6-8 pm, I will be teaching an introductory class in Swedish wheat weaving at Folk School Warroad. Preregistration is required.
Thursday, July 16, Don Kakaygeesick and I will be in conversation in Baudette. The newly renovated Lake of the Woods County Museum hosts the event co-sponsored by the Baudette Public Library. Gretchen Mehmel, who serves on the museum board, will moderate the discussion.
Then on to Duluth!
On Saturday, July 18, at 7 pm, at Zenith Bookstore in Duluth, I will be in conversation with Konnie LeMay, board chair of Lake Superior Writers.
And if I haven’t yet met you at a book talk in person, you can celebrate with me on Saturday, July 25 at 3 pm ET for Wham! Bam! Book! Slam! hosted by Nan Tepper. Instead of listening to a recitation for a book, this will be a live storytelling event online and I’ve asked Nan, Elizabeth Rynecki and Susan J Tweit to join me in tellng a story on a theme in my book. Who are you and where are you from? Come join the fun!
To reserve your seat at the story slam (and receive the Zoom link), preregister here.
For my birthday this week, I’m wishing for a few more reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Your gift will help readers find this book through the algorithmic forces of the internet. And if your public library hasn’t yet ordered a copy, please put in a request. I have relied on readers like you to bring this book out into the world. And I am incredibly grateful. THANK YOU!
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