HACKENSACK — Over 30 Minnesota authors gathered in August 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 presence of writers and book lovers, proving that Minnesota is a state rich in literature.
KAXE’s Morning Show host Heidi Holtan and What We’re Reading’s Tammy Bobrowsky attended the festival and interviewed the authors and now have this special series of lighting talks to share.
Julie Guth, Deerwood
Julie Guth’s newest book is Nikki: Nice and Naughty which is based on her experience with “a very challenging miniature schnauzer puppy” and includes a code for an accompanying song. Her previous book, Bailey's Big Spirit, also featured a mini-schnauzer who becomes best friends with a golden doodle.
Guth has been writing and drawing since she was young. She considers herself a “reading addict,” admitting, “If I don't have anything to read in my house, I'll read cereal boxes.”
Learn more about Julie Guth and her work here.
Jason Lee Willis, Mankato
Jason Lee Willis is the author of several books, including The Dreamcatcher Chronicles and The Alchemist Chronicles book series.
Willis loves writing because “It allows me to get all those awkward social moments right. In my life, I often wish I had the delete button. So as an author, it allows me to get it right and hit that delete button.”
You can learn more about Jason Lee Willis and his writing on his website.
Brian Duren, Minneapolis
Brian Duren’s latest book is a multi-generational story about a family struggling to understand, forgive, and remain a family. It’s called Day Brings Back the Night. Spanning from 1989 to current day, and from the point of view of three family members, the story explores trauma and love.
When it comes to a love of writing, Duren is succinct.
“I love writing simply because I love writing.”
Find more information about Brian Duren here.
Jan D. Payne, Longville
Growing up on the Navajo Reservation in the Four Corners area influenced Jan D. Payne writing.
She is the author the Martin Sinclair mystery thriller series which takes place on the Navajo Reservation. The latest book is Changing Woman’s Hair, book two in the series.
Payne describes her books as having “a lot of murder, a lot of mayhem.” As a writer, she writes the kind of books she likes to read.
Learn more about Jan D. Payne and her work on her website.
Christine Husom, Buffalo
Christine Husom’s latest book is the fifth book in her Snow Globe Show Mysteries series. It’s called Snow Place Like Home.
Husom is currently working on book twelve in her suspenseful police procedural Winnebago County Mysteries, a series fueled by her time working for the Wright County Sherriff.
As a child, Husom recounts the excitement of learning to read so she could finally write down her stories. “Because I was kind of making up stories before I could read or write,” she said.
More information on Chistine Husom and her books can be found here.
William Durbin, Lake Vermilion
After writing 13 historical novels, William Durbin switched to something more contemporary. His latest book is Bubble Sheet Blues. It’s about an 8th grade boy who decides to start a protest against standardized testing.
After retiring from teaching English for 25 years, Durbin was happy to do what he’d long dreamed about and has been writing full-time for the last 25 years.
Learn more about William Durbin and his books at his website.
This was part 4 of our lightning talks with Minnesota authors at the 2026 Northwoods Art & Book Festival in Hackensack, Minnesota. We'll continue to feature more Minnesota 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.
