HACKENSACK — Over 30 Minnesota authors gathered earlier this month at the Northwoods Art & Book Festival in Hackensack, Minnesota. The annual festival, now in its 31st season, draws crowds of artists, visitors and residents from the community together, including a strong showing of writers and book lovers, proving that Minnesota is a state rich in literature.
KAXE Morning Show host Heidi Holtan and What We’re Reading’s Tammy Bobrowsky attended the festival and interviewed the authors and share this special series of "lightning talks."
Mary Seifert, Inver Grove Heights
Mary Seifert previously lived in Willmar, Minnesota where her books take place. Her latest is Golfing, Gardens & Ghosts, book 11 of her Katie & Maverick Cozy Mysteries series, which features a math teacher and her dog who solve crimes in West Central Minnesota.
Seifert loves writing books and meeting people and especially loves the research aspect of writing.
“Book 10 was Airplanes, Atlanta, and an Assassin, and it happens in Atlanta. So, I had to travel to Atlanta and visit all the wonderful things that happened in Atlanta. That's part of what makes the writing so much fun,” she said.
Visit Mary Seifert’s website for more information.
Jeff Krogstad, Belgrade
Jeff Krogstad’s latest book, Lost River, is book three in the Kim Norby series and takes place on the Canadian border near Warroad. Jeff explained that the story focuses on “cross-border issues and things that get across the international border that shouldn't and what kind of messes that creates.”
Krogstad loves connecting with readers. “There's nothing better than a good story and being able to craft a good story and enjoy it with other people and tell people about it. That's just the best thing in the world,” he said.
Learn more about Jeff Krogstad and his work here.
J.D. Delzer, Richfield
J.D. Delzer is the author of the young adult adventure/fantasy series Buccaneer of Nemaris. The latest book in the series is Of Scimitars and Sands.
While Delzer enjoys writing, he noted that it was also something he felt he needed to. He explained, “It was one of those pastimes that you just kind of have to get out of you or else you won't sleep at night.”
Find more about J.D. Delzer and his books on his website.
Mary Perrine, Cologne
Mary Perrine’s newest book is Through the Fall, a psychological thriller that takes place in the Brainerd Lakes area, featuring a woman in her 30s who learns she was kidnapped as an infant. It’s the sequel to Through the Fire, which came out in 2025.
After an early retirement, Perrine transitioned from teaching writing to writing on her own.
She said, “I always knew I wanted to write from the time I was four years old and my mom would take me places and sit me on a bench and tell me to watch people and make up stories about them. And I said, ‘You taught me to lie, mom.’ So, I've always loved writing.”
More about Mary Perrine and her books can be found on her website.
Joe Egan, Carver
Joe Egan’s latest book is Backwoods Crossing. It's the second book in the Jack Walker thriller series, which began with Steer Clear, a book which features a prolonged car chase that was inspired by Egan sitting in traffic with his wife. “I was in the middle of the interstate…and I looked at my wife in the front seat and I said, ‘You know, this would be the perfect setting for a car chase because nobody would find you,’” he explained.
Egan has always loved telling stories. He reminisced, “When I was a child, I was that crazy 6, 7, 8-year-old kid who was creating fake student newspapers. And that has just carried over into publishing books.”
Learn more about Joe Egan and his books here.
C.A. Lewis, Twin Cities
C.A. Lewis has recently wrapped up her debut Chronicles of Kamore series with her fifth book, Flames of Insurgence.
The Chronicles of Kamore series take place in a world where magic is outlawed and a group of rebels under the guise of a traveling circus search the country for their people.
As a writer, Lewis enjoys writing characters. “I love writing because it's so fun to see where the characters take you and…the twists and turns as you explore their character development.”
Find C.A. Lewis’s books here.
This was part 3 in our series of lighting talks with Minnesota authors at the Northwoods Art & Book Festival in Hackensack. We'll continue to feature more authors weekly.
Looking for a good book recommendation? Want to recommend a book you've just read? Check out our What We're Reading page on Facebook, or text us at 218-326-1234.
What We're Reading is made possible in part by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
