Local/Regional Authors & Artists
The latest titles and the most popular books from our local and regional authors.
"A. J. Underwood, Pioneer of Print: The Story of a Minnesota Newspaperman"
From Local Author Ben Underwood
Minnesota, 1872. Tired from another fall corn harvest, forty-year-old A. J. Underwood wonders if there’s an easier life. A. J. revels in the challenges of farm work, but his bleeding hands, the wear and tear of shucking corn, trigger doubts. The Civil War veteran and part-time legislator has recently met George B. Wright, a surveyor and land developer, in the halls of the state capitol. Wright has a civic mission—to convince A. J. to start a newspaper in Wright’s new development, Fergus Falls, a fledgling frontier town in west-central Minnesota.
A risk-taker since his twenties, A. J.’s once-restless spirit has been tempered by the life he shares with his wife and their four children in Medina, Minnesota. Bountiful crops of corn, oats, and wheat are finally paying off after nearly a decade. But now, thanks to Wright, a new seed has been planted. With determination, A. J. embarks on a journey that reshapes not only his destiny but also the fate of a blossoming prairie town. Fueled by his encounter with Wright and armed once again with brimming aspirations, he envisions a beacon of truth amid the railroad towns of Minnesota—the historical Fergus Falls Daily Journal.
"Farmsteads and Old Neighborhoods"
The latest book from Local Author Tom Hintgen
A good way to encourage appreciation for the past is to rekindle and share memories from previous years. Farmsteads and Old Neighborhoods is a collection of some of those memories from in and around Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Author Tom Hintgen’s Farmsteads and Old Neighborhoods drips with nostalgia. It’s backyard history at its best. No organized playdates in those days. Just people coming together to enjoy what life offered in the 1950s and 60s. Enjoy this book as people in their later years recall growing up on area farms and in city neighborhoods.
Enjoy going back in time through the pages of Farmsteads and Old Neighborhoods, the latest book from Fergus Falls author Tom Hintgen.
"Golden Memories of Fergus Falls, late 1940's to early 1970's"
From Local Author Tom Hintgen
Ask people who grew up in Fergus Falls in the 1950s and 60s about their favorite memories and corner grocery stores are at or near the top of the list. During the 1950s and 60s, Fergus Falls had close to 25 neighborhood grocery stores scattered throughout the city. Now they are only a memory. Some of the other 20 chapters include Washington School Memories, fun at Lake Alice, downtown places such as the Skogmo Cafe, the Fergus Falls Red Sox, VFW and American Legion baseball teams, passenger trains, the outdoor theater, Balmoral dance hall and Dwight Eisenhower coming to Glendalough near Battle Lake.
"Perpich: A Minnesota Original "
Benjamin Schierer, Author
The story of Minnesota’s longest-serving governor and his role in propelling the state to the global stage, woven together from interviews with influential civic leaders.
Rudy Perpich was one of a kind. As Minnesota’s longest-serving governor, he built bridges where others saw impassible divides: between rural and urban life, labor and business interests, local politics and international trade.
Perpich: A Minnesota Original explores the life and legacy of one of the state’s most consequential political figures. Crafted from oral histories of influential leaders—including Paul Wellstone, Marlene Johnson, James Oberstar, Joan Growe, Mark Dayton, Sandra Gardebring Ogren, Roger Moe, and Arne Carlson, this volume demonstrates how Perpich’s political fortunes mirrored those of the state. It follows Perpich from his youth on the Iron Range to his political forays on the school board and in the statehouse, including his decade-spanning stints in the governor’s mansion.
Ben Schierer served two terms as mayor of Fergus Falls, MN. He and his wife, Tessa, have 5 children. A former Bush Fellow, NewDEAL Leader, and Presidential Leadership Scholar, he received his master’s in public affairs from the Hubert H Humphrey Institute.
"The Owl and the Pony "
Reggie Grecco, Author
In “The Owl and the Pony,” Reggie Grecco paints a vivid portrait of her life’s journey—a narrative woven with resilience, passion, and profound selfdiscovery threads. The tale unfurls with Reggie’s early encounters with fame, where she navigates the glitzy realms of celebrity and entertainment. However, behind the dazzling façade lies a difficult battle with addiction, a struggle that propels Reggie into a turbulent odyssey. In the chaos, travel emerges as Reggie’s sanctuary, offering her solace and a canvas for introspection. Yet, destiny takes a sharp turn as Reggie confronts a sudden loss of sight. Despite this formidable challenge, Reggie’s spirit remains unbroken, fueling a quest for inner enlightenment and emotional renewal. Through Reggie’s candid reflections and poignant anecdotes, “The Owl and the Pony” delves into the depths of resilience, addiction’s complexities, and self-acceptance’s transformative power. It is a narrative that transcends hardship, illuminating the path to redemption and the profound wisdom gained through life’s darkest moments.
Reggie Grecco lives in Minnesota, loves music and is excited about the next chapter of her life.
"Running with the Son: Keeping our eyes on the Prize!"
Patsy Shannon, Author
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of darkness, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me…” the 23rd Psalm
Patsy Shannon grew up with a passion for running; from the streets of Enumclaw, Washington, to setting high school and collegiate records in track and field. Despite the many hurdles in her life, she had it all, except…where was God?
It took a near death experience for her to understand that unless you have your eyes on the prize, that prize being Jesus Christ, all the awards she’d acquired were without meaning.
In this book, Patsy describes through her stories and poems what it was like growing up in a poor Irish family, all the while competing to be the best. One doesn’t have to be a runner to appreciate the stories here, this is a journey of Faith that will inspire, motivate and empower all. The true meaning of life goes beyond the award, rather, it’s the reward that counts!
Keeping your eyes on the Prize…never lose focus!
Patsy Shannon grew up in Enumclaw, Washington. She attended North Dakota State University where she earned her Master’s Degree, MS, in child development and family science. Patsy continues to run and finds those outings are great opportunities to become inspired to write. Patsy currently lives in West Central Minnesota.
"The Thirteenth Crime: The Ghosts of Injustice in Frontier Otter Tail County"
Janet Preus, Author
The May night in 1996 I visited the site of Lillie Field’s murder, it was pleasant. A teaching colleague, his son and my daughter, both teens, came along. The waning moon provided some half-light, and our feet rustled along the top of the embankment where a fence line reminded us that these woods belonged to someone. Otherwise, it was as if it had been left to Lillie herself—untouched, it appeared, since the farm was abandoned decades ago.
We sat and waited for Lillie’s ghost, a specter in white, to appear. She didn’t, and eventually we retraced our way back to my Chevy Blazer, but I was still thinking about Lillie. I had nothing to do with this young girl from more than a century back. She wasn’t my family, but that didn’t seem to matter to her; she had my attention, and she wasn’t letting go.
“This must be the way ghosts operate,” I thought, “Invading our consciousness and just staying there.”
Ghosts. Plural. There were more spirits circling the dark corners of Otter Tail County’s past, and the list grew. Persistent though she was, Lillie would have to wait. Surely all ghosts want their stories told, especially those who left this earth without the satisfaction of a just conclusion.
Janet Preus is a writer, playwright, songwriter and theater reviewer. She’s been a teacher of English, speech and theater and directed dozens of plays, musicals and light opera productions.
She’s won national awards for songwriting, and as a reporter and editor, she won state awards in broadcast and print journalism. She lives in her cabin in the north woods, where she’s working on getting up a full production of a new musical, writing short-form pieces, and hiking or skiing in the woods every day she can.
"If These Walls Could Talk "
Pat Connelly, Author
Keep it Simple, Keep it Fun, And most importantly, Keep it Friendly.
This tagline has been the focus of Dairyland since 1955. Many things have changed since the inception of Dairyland. Day by day, month by month, year by year – Dairyland has slowly evolved into a long standing tradition and favorite of many. For almost seven decades, Dairyland in Fergus Falls has been cooking food, serving ice cream treats and forging relationships with its customers, the local community and beyond.
“If These Walls Could Talk” is written from the perspective of the iconic building. It talks about all it has seen since its inception. It is a historical nostalgic Americana book drawing people of all ages.
Pat Connelly is the owner/operator of Dairyland in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.