 |
|
Whether in person or online, I love connecting with readers! The summer calendar has opportunities for both.
First is the Launch Party for Balancing: Poems of the Female Immigrant Experience in the Upper Midwest, 1830-1930.
My local independent bookstore, Mystery To Me, will host this free online event at 7:00 PM Central Time, Thursday, July 1st. Follow this link to register.
|
| Finding Stories Behind Folk Arts |
|
I delight in featuring folk arts in the Chloe Ellefson mysteries. In the newest, The Weavers Revenge, Chloe expresses her eagerness to explore the tradition of Finnish American tradition of weaving rag rugs. Ralph Petty, her boss, responds with contempt: "Rags were made into rugs. End of story."
Chloe ignores him, of course, and discovers how weaving helped many women face life's most daunting challenges.
I'm grateful to the artists and scholars who provide insight into the handwork I explore--not just how-tos, but also what the very act of creating meant to the craftspeople.
That's why I'm so excited about my next piece of news!
|
|
Would you like to meet an expert with deep insight into the unbroken legacy of Finnish American rag rugs?
While researching The Weavers Revenge, I discovered the fabulous Finnish American Rag Rugs: Art, Tradition, & Ethnic Continuity, by Yvonne R. Lockwoood.
I'm delighted to announce that on Saturday, August 21, 2021, Dr. Lockwood will attend the special Chloe Ellefson program at the Hanka Homestead (featured in The Weaver's Revenge), in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. She will give an informal talk about rag rugs in the Michigan State University Museum collection.
My other special guest that day will be Alan Pape, an expert on Finnish log construction who launched the effort to restore and preserve the homestead. He's a great storyteller!
And, I will discuss how the story developed and show you featured locations. It's going to be a great afternoon!
Admission is free but registration is requested. Find more details on the registration page. I hope to see you there!
|
|
Writing Workshop - Online
6:00 PM Central Time - Tuesday - June 29
I'm offering a one-evening Writing Family Stories workshop. Stretch your writing muscles, find new inspiration, and get your questions answered. A fee and pre-registration are required.
Book Signing - In Person
1:30-3:30 PM Central Time - Saturday - August 7
Join me for this free outdoor event. I'll be signing copies of my Chloe mystery books and chatting with readers.
|
|
I've been writing poems about immigrant women for two decades. At a low point last winter, I decided to focus on creating something positive. And so, Balancing was born.
It's always daunting to send a new book out into the world. Imagine my joy when the collection's first review said this:
|
"The lucky reader who takes the time to be with these poems can't help but be riveted and spiritually enlarged by Kathleen's work."
|
Immigrant stories have always inspired me. I hope the poems in Balancing (and the Chloe mysteries too!) also inspire you.
|
P.S. - The final details of the 2022 Norway trip inspired by Fiddling With Fate have just been confirmed. The formal announcement is coming very soon!
|
Bestselling author Kathleen Ernst writes mysteries, historical fiction and non-fiction for adults and young readers, and poetry.
Over the years Kathleen's work has earned many honors, including an Emmy for Children's Educational TV, a Daughters of the American Revolution National Award for Literature...
...a Major Achievement Award from the Council for Wisconsin Writers, the Sterling North Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, plus Edgar Allan Poe and multiple Agatha Christie mystery award nominations . . . and more.
To date nearly 1.8 million audio, ebook, and print copies have been bought of her 40 published books. For details, click HERE.
|
Rug photo from The National Museum of Finland.
Italian Mother & Child photo from Wikimedia Commons.
Author photo by Mr. Ernst.
This email © 2021 Kathleen Ernst, LLC.
|
|
|
|
|
|
