Join Lake Superior Writers and the Duluth Public Library as they welcome author and historian Jeffrey M. Sauve for an afternoon of true crime, historical sleuthing and the art of writing period literature. Jeffrey will present his latest book, Wheels of Murder: The 1896 Bank Robbery That Shocked a Small Prairie Town, the dramatic follow‑up to his 2023 Northern Minnesota Book Award–winning Murder at Minnesota Point.
Wheels of Murder recounts the astonishing exploits of Hans and Lew Kellihan, Iowa‑born brothers whose ill‑fated heist in Sherburn, Minnesota, marked the world’s first bank robbery carried out on bicycles. Their brazen act on Oct. 7, 1896, unleashed a 150‑mile chase across southern Minnesota and northern Iowa that captured national newspaper attention. Jeffrey’s narrative brings to life the crime, the pursuit, and the communities caught in its wake.
Known for his lively, immersive presentations, Jeffrey will also discuss the craft behind writing historically grounded fiction and nonfiction. Topics include developing sympathetic characters within period constraints, shaping authentic dialogue, prospecting stories in the digital age, drawing on local historical resources, and honoring the past while creating a dramatic, compelling narrative.
Program: Saturday, Sept. 26 from 1 – 2:30 at the Duluth Public Library, upstairs in the Local History Center. All library programs and resources are free and open to the public.
Lake Superior Writers 