The October NorthWords includes:
Notes from the Board Room
I’ve had the fun and privilege of interviewing several published authors over the years whose work I much admire.
That is one of the things that delights me so much about Lake Superior Writers’ series of Book Club for Writers events. Talking to an author about their work, their work habits and how in the world they managed to get published is always a thrill for me.
This month, LSW, along with our “partners in crime,” the Duluth Public Library (and thanks in part to an Arrowhead Regional Arts Council operational grant) proudly will host Brian Freeman, a Minnesota author with a worldwide reach, for our Book Club for Writers. The event will be “hybrid,” with a gathering of us writerly types in the Green Room of the library, starting at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11. Others can join via Zoom, which is how we will see Brian on the big screen. You can sign up through the Library.
Thirteen of Brian’s noir thrillers focus on a haunted Duluth police officer, Lt. Jonathan Stride. But Brian is one of the most prolific writers I’ve met; he often has two or three books published a year. His plots span the globe and go beyond one major character. In fact, he recently “inherited” the Jason Bourne series originally penned by Robert Ludlum and made famous in the movies by Matt Damon. Brian’s book, Photograph, will be released Oct. 7. The Bourne Vendetta was released in January and the Bourne Escape was released in July. Uff da.
How does a writer of Duluth-based novels find a U.K. publisher, have his work translated into 23 languages for 46 countries … and then earns an authorial bequest of an internationally famed character? And what’s this we hear about Italy loving Duluth? All of these questions, plus your queries, will be part of our “Conversation with Brian Freeman.”
Just to whet your writerly whistle for hearing Brian … and to show what a nice fellow he really is, despite all that murder stuff … I’m adding a short Q&A with Brian published in 2022 in Lake Superior Magazine …
How did you come to choose a Big Lake or northwoods setting for your Stride series?
I first visited Duluth back in 1982 when I was still in college. Even then, I remember thinking it would be a great place for thrillers. I love to use the outdoors as a backdrop for my stories. Plus, Duluth is big enough that you can imagine dark things happening there, but small enough that you keep bumping into your past around every corner. That’s exactly the kind of world Stride lives in.
What do you like most about your lead character and does the setting influence him?
Stride is very much a northern Minnesota kind of hero. He’s fiercely determined, just like his name suggests. He tucks his chin against the bitter wind, puts one foot in front of the other and keeps moving forward.
Do you have a favorite fan observation about your setting?
I remember a review that said, “Nobody writes weather like Brian Freeman.” For a Minnesotan, that’s high praise! And Stride sure does face a lot of extreme weather in my series. Then again, it’s Duluth — so of course, he does.
– Konnie LeMay, chair on the Lake Superior Writers Board
Lake Superior Writers News & Events
Book Club for Writers: Brian Freeman
October 11 from 1pm-2:30pm over Zoom or in the Green Room at Duluth Public Library, Main Library, 520 W. Superior St., Duluth MN
Join us for a virtual conversation with author Brian Freeman in partnership with Lake Superior Writers!
This program is for adults. Attend the video conference at the library or register to attend virtually from your own device.
Virtual Writers’ Cafe
October 11 at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom
Join a group of local writers to connect about current writing projects, upcoming events, and general discussion. Virtual Writers’ Café at 9:30 a.m. Don’t forget to use the new registration form on the Virtual Writers’ Cafe page that sets you up for the Cafe through May 2026! This monthly event is free and open to all.
Writing Circles
Writing Circles are where writers of a particular genre like general fiction, memoir, fantasy, mystery and more can gather together to talk about writing and get feedback on their works-in-progress! We will be announcing new Writing Circles as volunteer leaders organize their groups. If you are interested in starting a Writing Circle — either online or in person in the region — please email writers@lakesuperiorwriters.org.
Literary Events
Meet & Greet: CS Yelle presents Northern Lights: Coded to Kill
October 4, 2025 from 11am-1pm at Zenith Bookstore 318 N Central Ave., Duluth, MN
Join Zenith Bookstore for a Meet & Greet/Signing with northern Minnesota YA fantasy author CS Yelle on Saturday, Oct. 4th 11-1PM. He will be introducing his latest book, Northern Lights: Coded to Kill to Zenith readers. CS Yelle’s fantasy books are favorites with young adults and adults, alike.
https://zenithbookstore.com/events/3444620251004
Book Release Party for Janis Fairbanks’ Sugar Bush Babies: Stories of My Ojibwe Grandmother
October 10, 2025 from 6pm-8pm in the Commons at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, 2101 14th St., Cloquet, MN 55720
Join us to celebrate FDL Elder Janis Fairbanks’ book Sugar Bush Babies: Stories of My Ojibwe Grandmother! Pipe and drum begin at 6, with conversation, book signing, and feast to follow. All are welcome; there will be activities for children.
Banned Books Read-In
October 11, 2025 from 10am-12pm in the Green Room at the Main Library, Duluth Public Library, 520 Superior Street, Duluth, MN
Celebrate Banned Books Week by reading at your local library! Grab your current read or check out something new and join us in supporting everyone’s right to read. Learn more: https://duluthlibrary.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=221476
Meet & Greet: Linda LeGarde Grover Author of A Song Over Miskwaa Rapids
October 11, 2025 from 1pm-3pm at Zenith Bookstore, 318 N Central Ave Duluth, MN
Zenith Bookstore is delighted to welcome award-winning, Duluth author Linda LeGarde Grover for a meet and greet on Saturday, October 11th 1-3 PM. Linda will sign and share one-on-one with guests the paperback release of her novel A Song Over Miskwaa Rapids (University of Minnesota Press).
When a rock is dislodged from its slope by mischievous ancestors, the past rises to meet the present, and Half-Dime Hill gives up a gruesome secret it has kept for half a century. Some people of Mozhay Point have theories about what happened; others know—and the discovery stirs memories long buried, reviving a terrible story yet to be told. A fifty-year-old mystery converges with a present-day struggle over family, land, and history.
Poetry Reading
October 12, 2025 from 2pm-4pm at the Drummond Public Library, 14990 Superior Street, Drummond, WI
Audience members first will be invited to share one or two short poems on any theme. Then regional poets published in the 2026 Wisconsin Poets (Desk) Calendar will read their works. Nancy Austin (Hazelhurst), Jan Chronister (Maple), William Norine (Grantsburg), Diana Randolph (Drummond), Peggy Trojan (Brule), and Lucy Tyrrell (Bayfield) were invited to be featured poets. Calendars and poets’ books will be available for purchase. Refreshments will be served.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day Storytime with Sam Zimmerman
October 12, 2025 from 11am-11:30am at Zenith Bookstore, 318 N Central Ave., Duluth, MN
Join Zenith Bookstore for a special story time on Sunday, October 12th 11-11:30 am. Author and Illustrator, Sam Zimmerman will be our special guest. Sam will read from his book How the Birds Got Their Songs. He will also talk to kids about being an illustrator and share his book I am on Indigenous Land. This is geared towards kids in kindergarten and under. It is a free and family-friendly event. Cuddle up with your favorite blanket or stuffed animal and invite your friends!
Book Launch: Ryan Vine – The Cave: Poems
October 14, 2025 at 7pm at Ursa Minor Brewing 2415 W Superior St Duluth, MN
Join us as we celebrate the Book Launch for Ryan Vine’s The Cave: Poems (Texas Review Press). Zenith Bookstore will be hosting this event at Ursa Minor Brewing (2415 W. Superior St.) on Tuesday, October 14th at 7 PM. Bring a few friends, grab a beer, and enjoy this special evening with Ryan. He will share from his book, answer questions from the audience, and sign copies of The Cave, which will be available for purchase.
The Cave: Poems, the long-awaited second collection from award-winning poet Ryan Vine, is described as “powerful and completely realized,” “profound and enduring,” and “utterly masterful and deeply moving.” The Cave contains haunting meditations on fatherhood, fearless contemplations of place and lineage, clear-eyed examinations of generational trauma, and moves – from narrative to lyric to narrative to lyric – toward a more perfect and complete clarity.
Janis Fairbanks in conversation with Linda LeGarde Grover: Sugar Bush Babies
October 21, 2025 at 7pm at Zenith Bookstore, 318 N Central Ave., Duluth, MN
Join Zenith Bookstore for a thought-provoking evening of history on Tuesday, October 21st at 7pm. Janis A. Fairbanks will be in conversation with Linda LeGarde Grover for her new book, Sugar Bush Babies: Stories of My Ojibwe Grandmother. They will talk about her book, answer questions from the audience, and then personally autograph copies of it. This is the perfect event to bring a friend or perhaps your whole book club!
A lyrical memoir, Sugar Bush Babies: Stories of My Ojibwe Grandmother conveys the eloquence of women speaking and sharing through generations and the lasting power of tradition. There are tales told at nighttime or during thunderstorms; lessons in Native medicine; stories of Grandma’s recollections of boarding school, Daddy’s days as a lumberjack, and Mother’s special powers; memories of wash days and dancing, of powwows and Girl Scout camp, of snaring rabbits, selling lilacs, and attending the circus.
Poetry Reading and Open Mic
October 22, 2025 at 6:30pm at Ontonagon Township Library, 311 North Steel St., Ontonagon, MI
Ontonagon County Poet Laureate Marlene Broemer will celebrate the appointment of Arthur Sze, as Poet Laureate of the USA and welcome Youth Poet Laureate, Anthony Badgero and others to read poetry.
Meet & Greet: Luke Moravec – Ghost Town Run
October 25, 2025 from 11am-1pm at Zenith Bookstore, 318 N Central Ave., Duluth, MN
Join us for a spooky early Halloween Meet & Greet with local author, radio host, and playwright, Luke Moravec on Saturday, October 25th at 11-1pm. Ghost Town Run is the perfect book to scare even the bravest young souls. Luke will personally sign and talk one-on-one with people. Don’t be afraid. Come on out!
Toby just wanted to sleep. Midnight races. Time oddities. Monsters. They all collide when fourteen-year-old Toby Heckler is dragged out of bed and reluctantly tags along with his track-star cousin, Seth, on nightly excursions around their hometown of Brighton. Together they discover that after midnight, time slows, and supernatural creatures emerge. Despite the paranormal happenings, a series of late-night foot races are introduced and soon teams of neighborhood kids are carelessly bounding about the late-night world. But the joy and freedom of summer nights disappear quickly. As more hidden dangers are revealed, it is Toby who must stay awake, push himself to his physical limit, and face his greatest fears. Ghost Town Run blends mystery, comedy, and cosmic horror into an original adventure for all ages.
Natural Life: A Poetic Field Guide Book Launch
October 25, 2025 from 1pm-3pm at Foxes & Fireflies Booksellers, 1401 Tower Ave., Superior, WI
Join Stanley Kusunoki in celebration of a brand-new collection of poetry and a new publisher! Natural Life is Stanley’s way of looking at the wonders and worries of the world we live in. Poems range from delight of a solar eclipse, the adventures of a saw-whet owl, a backyard mystery, to railing at man’s injustice to the planet and to each other. He continues his tradition of including students work.
Book Launch: Naomi Yaeger in conversation with Linda LeGarde Grover – Blooming Hollyhocks
October 28, 2025 at 6:30pm at Wussow’s Concert Cafe, 324 N Central Ave., Duluth, MN
Join Zenith Bookstore and Wussow’s Concert Café for the Book Launch of Naomi Yaeger’s book, Blooming Hollyhocks: Tales of Joy During Hard Times on Tuesday, October 28th 6:30pm at Wussow’s. Naomi will sit down with award-winning author Linda LeGarde Grover to talk about storytelling, resilience, and the ties that bind communities together. As a special treat, Naomi’s husband, Terry Larson, will bring a bit of the era to life on his banjo with some American folk favorites. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
“If you enjoy reading historical fiction or narrative nonfiction the style of Laura Ingalls Wilder, or Earl Hammer, Jr, who wrote Spenser’s Mountain, the inspiration of the TV show The Waltons, you likely will enjoy my book, Blooming Hollyhocks: Tales of Joy During Hard Times.” ~ Naomi Yaeger
Opportunities
Get Ready to Write a Novel Workshop with Rehema Clarken
October 7, 2025 from 6pm-7:30pm at Copper Country Community Arts Center, 126 Quincy Street, Hancock, MI
Tuesday, October 7 from 6-7:30pm
This ninety-minute workshop will help you discover what you want to share by writing your story. This will fuel you through the entire writing journey which is often convoluted and cantankerous. Each student will complete short activities in a workbook. Rehema will provide workbooks, but students should bring a computer and/or a journal and pens. Geared for Adults and youth 15+
Deadline to register: September 30
Fee: $25 or $20 current CCCAC members
TO REGISTER: Stop by, call us at 906-482-2333, or pay online by the deadline. When paying online, please note which classes & pay at the member/ non-member rate. https://www.coppercountryarts.com/classes–programs.html
Finding Your Narrative
October 8, 15, and 22 from 5pm-7pm
This three-week course will explore the craft of expressing identities, navigating grief, and better understanding mental health through writing. Each week will have thematic reading excerpts. We will analyze and discuss these examples and thus identify how the narrative effectively relates to readers. After reading and analysis, you will be provided with prompts and free writing time. There will be group feedback and time for community building.
Oct. 8th, 15th, and 22nd from 5:00-7:00pm
Register at http://www.uwsuper.edu/academics/continuing-education/personal-enrichment-programs/
FDLTCC’s Thunderbird Review Accepting Submissions
Submissions accepted October 15-December 15
FDLTCC’s Thunderbird Review is accepting submissions from October 15-December 15. Visit the FDLTCC’s Thunderbird Review page on our website for more information. https://fdltcc.edu/community-engagement/thunderbird-press/the-thunderbird-review/
Writers’ Monthly Get Together
October 18, 2025, from 10am-11am at Foxes & Fireflies Booksellers, 1401 Tower Ave. Superior, WI
Looking for a place to talk about writing, share writerly advice, and hang out with other writers? Join fellow writers at Foxes & Fireflies Booksellers on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10-11 a.m. in a spacious conference room, located at the back of the bookstore.
Refreshments aren’t available onsite, but feel free to bring in your own beverages and snacks if you wish. All writers are welcome. There is no fee or requirement to join anything, just a chance to be part of a writing community.
Poetry for the Page and the Stage: Exploring Grief, Loss, and Power
October 19, 2025 from 1pm-3pm at the Duluth Folk School Library, 1917 W Superior St., Duluth, MN
Participants will hear examples of spoken word poetry and hone their own self expression practices to work towards new pieces to share. We will use sensation and memory to deepen the poetic creation process. And if desired, participants can practice speaking their work aloud. Cost: $15
Offered as part of a series of creative workshops leading up to the 2025 Duluth ALL Souls Night. This class was made possible with the generous support of a grant from the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation.
For more information and to sign up, visit: https://duluthfolkschool.com/events/poetry-for-the-page-and-the-stage-exploring-grief-loss-and-power/
Creative Writing: Nature Writing with Brian Malloy
October 22, 2025 from 6pm to 8 pm at Grand Marais Library, 104 2nd Ave W, Grand Marais, MN
Nature writing can take the form of prose or verse, with themes of place (Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez), culture (Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer), and adventure (Lost in the Wild by Cary J. Griffith), among many others. Through examples and exercises, we will try our hands at making the natural world come alive on the page.
Creative Writing: Personal Essay with Brian Malloy
October 29, 2025 from 6pm to 8 pm at Grand Marais Library, 104 2nd Ave W, Grand Marais, MN
The personal essay shares with readers an interesting, thought-provoking, entertaining, and/or funny experience you’ve had. We’ll identify essay topics by making lists (e.g., hobbies, interests, passions, jobs, places you’ve lived or visited, turning points in your life, and issues you care about). Once you’ve identified your topic, we’ll look at structures to frame your personal essay.
Rhythm and Revolution: The America at 250 Poetry Project
Submissions due October 31, 2025
The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, as the Library of Congress-designated Minnesota Center for the Book, is conducting an open call for new/original (unpublished) poetry as part of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) states, this upcoming anniversary is an opportunity for us as a people to engage with history and reflect upon the full sweep of our nation’s past “beginning millennia before 1776 and continuing to the present – to build a stronger future.”
Using themes provided by AASLH, “Rhythm and Revolution” invites writers to share their ideas in poetic form of how we see ourselves in history, appreciate its relevance, and understand how the diverse people of the past and present contribute to the American story. We hope that the poetry recognized through this project adds to meaningful dialogue and mutual understanding.
The submission deadline is Friday, October 31st, 2025. For guidelines and more information, visit https://thefriends.org/minnesota-center-for-the-book/
Learn To Write Your Humor Stories
November 1, 2025 from 1pm-4pm at Foxes & Fireflies Booksellers, 1401 Tower Ave. Superior, WI
Learn To Write Your Humor Stories workshop will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025 from 1:00-4:00pm at Foxes & Fireflies Booksellers – 1401 Tower Avenue Superior WI 54880. We will discuss writing barriers and habits; observational/situational humor; story structure; and will practice skills learned. Only 8 spots available. $47 includes notebook, pen, goodies and light refreshments. Register with this link: https://pci.jotform.com/form/250247150123140
Exhibit at the North Shore Readers & Writers Festival
November 5-8, 2025 in Grand Marais
Invitation to exhibit at the North Shore Readers & Writers Festival hosted by the Grand Marais Art Colony
Gentle Yoga and Writing in the Lotus Studio
November 6, 2025 from 5pm-6:30pm at Svälja Whole-Being 16 1/2 N 1st Ave. W., Duluth, MN
The class will begin with Gentle Yoga guided by Melissa where postures are practiced gently and slowly with a combination of moving and stillness accompanied by ambient music. In the second portion of the class, the writing prompt will be guided by guest writer, Felicia Schneiderhan.
For more information and to register, visit: https://www.svalja.yoga/schedule
Felicia is a Duluth-based writer, editor, and teacher. She’s especially interested in the connections between physical engagement in the world and creative inspiration—which is why she loves the yoga/writing class and is excited to guest lead the writing prompt.
U.P. Reader Accepting Submissions
Deadline: November 10, 2025
Time is running out for writers to submit to the 10th anniversary edition of the U.P. Reader. Send us your original stories, poems, memoir, humor, and genre fiction up to 5,000 words. Our jury welcomes all themes and topics, although they prefer material related to life in the Northwoods. Each edition appears in paperback, hardcover, eBook, and audiobook simultaneously. Those selected receive a comp copy and ability to purchase additional copies at half retail price. Hurry, deadline to submit is November 10, 2025. Submission requirements available on UPReader.org site.
KUDOS – News about our members
The paperback edition of Linda LeGarde Grover’s A Song Over Miskwaa Rapids will be released on October 7. There will be a meet-and-greet book signing at Zenith Bookstore on Saturday October from 1:00-3:00.
Alice Marks hit the jackpot with three submissions selected for anthologies for the fall:
Jackpine Writers’ Bloc/Talking Stick (creative Twist Category)/ – “Where Were You When the Lights Went
Out”; MaysPublishing /Stir-fry in Sci Fi / “PickleBall and a Little AI in outer Space”; and Highland Publishing / Animal Mayhem “Murder on her Mind”
Liz Minette has a poem in Fall 2025 issue of Chiron Review. https://chironreview.godaddysites.com
Lake Superior Writers Blog
Lake Superior Writers invites members to submit guest posts for possible inclusion on our blog. Please visit our blog information page for more details.
Our blog currently features Minnesota Writers Spotlight on Margi Preus
Lake Superior Writers 