What it means to be a modern military wife

Alison Buckholtz joins me on Realgoodwords this week - she's married to an active duty Navy pilot who never thought she'd be in the military world. Her new book is called "Standing By - The Making of an Military Family in a Time of World". She says,

"For me it was really about learning how to ask for help- and accept help when it was offered. That wasn't something that came naturally to me... I don't think that I could have survived deployment without that social safety net (other military spouses)"

finding ALTARS everywhere with Barbara Brown Taylor

I had a great conversation with Barbara Brown Taylor about her new book "An Altar in the World - A Geography of Faith". A former minister, she now teaches and has written about looking at everyday, not just Sundays, as an altar of sorts. She begins the book with this poem called CAPABLE FLESH. You can hear it live tonight at 6pm, CST here or Sunday morning at 9am. Or check the Realgoodwords archive.

The tender flesh itself
will be found one day
-quite surprisingly-
to be capable of receiving,
and yes, full
capable of embracing
the searing energies of God.
Go figure. Fear not.
For even at its beginning
the humble clay received
God's art, whereby
one part became the eye,
another the ear, and yet
another this impetuous hand.
Therefore, the flesh
is not to be excluded
from the wisdom and the power
that now and ever animates
all things. His life-giving
agency is made perfect,
we are told, in weakness-
made perfect in the flesh.
-St. Irenaeus (c.125-c.210)
adapted and translated by Scott Cairns

William Kent Krueger this week

Tune in for a discussion of William Kent Krueger's latest, "Red Knife".

William and I talked about the character that he writers about Cork O'Connor. Cork is half Irish-American, have Ojibwe. A former sheriff who is now a private investigator, he's a man that embodies the conflict that we often see in Northern Minnesota. As William said, "a fiction writer is always thinking where is the conflict?"

In "Red Knife" violence and how we deal with and handle it is at the core. Cork O'Connor has been called in to help with a conflict that concerns a man whose daughter has died due to meth addiction and the Ojibwe gang, Red Boyz, that supplied her with the drug.

Publishers Weekly called Red Knife "outstanding... Simply and elegantly told, this sad story of loyalty and honor, corruption and hatred, hauntingly carves utterly convincing characters, both red and white, into the consciousness."

William Kent Krueger is going to be speaking at Ironworld in Chisholm this Saturday

April 18: "For Love or Money: Six Reasons to Write," with "Cork O'Connor" series author William Kent Krueger
An Oregon native and former logger, construction worker and four-time Minnesota Book Award winner, Krueger will discuss both his work and why he chose to become a writer, including the compelling reasons for setting his novels on the Iron Range.

Book events coming up in Northern Minnesota

Coming up this weekend (April 10-11th) in the Brainerd/Nisswa area is the first annual Minnesota Author's weekend at Grandview Lodge featuring Doug Wood, Will Weaver and Mary Casanova. Some of the topics include Doug Wood's "Earth Songs and Earth Stories" and Will Weaver's "Pathways to Publication - But First Comes the Writing" and Mary Casanova's "No Less Than Stars".

Bestselling Minnesota mystery writer William Kent Krueger will be at Ironworld in Chisholm on Saturday April 18th from 2-3pm. Krueger writes mysteries set on the Iron Range featuring Cork O'Connor. The latest is "Red Knife". Publisher's Weekly called Red Knife "outstanding... Simply and elegantly told, this sad story of loyalty and honor, corruption and hatred, hauntingly carves utterly convincing characters, both red and white, into the consciousness."

Coming up Tuesday April 21st at the Grand Rapids Area Library there will be a noontime tribute to author Bill Holm for National Poetry Month. From 12-1:30 area writers and fans of Bill Holm will gather to read excerpts from his work. Later that evening, at 5:30 at Brewed Awakenings coffeehouse in Grand Rapids there will be a celebration of Itasca Community College's publication "Spring Thaw". You are invited to come listen to excerpts from the publication as well as share your own poetry.

MN Mystery authors Brian Freeman and Julie Kramer

On this week's episode of Realgoodwords, we're talking to two Minnesota mystery/suspense authors.

Brian Freeman is back with us. Brian writes the series of books about Jonathan Stride, a detective in Duluth. In his latest, "In the Dark" Jonathan's past is back. A murder that was committed when Jonathan was young was never solved and a woman who comes to town and is writing about it is determined to get him to look into the case. Reviewers said,

"Edgar-finalist Freeman's fourth thriller to feature Duluth, Minn., police lieutenant Jonathan Stride (after Stalked) may be his most ambitious—and accomplished—work to date.... Powered by darkly poetic atmospherics and deep character development (especially Stride, whose understated intensity, dignity and resilience are emblematic of the Twin Ports area itself), this harrowing and heartrending novel will leave readers guessing until the very last pages." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Brian has also embarked on a new writing journey - writing under a pseudonym (Ally O'Brien) and with a partner (his literary agent from London). His new "chick-lit" mystery series begins with "The Agency". It's the story of a tough, funny, British literary agent with a boss who turns up dead.

With an insider's take on the book biz, and an appealingly foul-mouthed heroine, this debut is fast, funny and a bit nasty not unlike Tess. A naughty, catty good time. --Kirkus

First time mystery writer Julie Kramer is also joining us. Though it is her first novel, the world of uncovering clues and motive and crime is far from new for author Julie Kramer. Julie is a television producer who worked for WCCO's I-team for many years and now works independently for NBC News. In her first novel, her sleuth is television news reporter Riley Spartz. Riley, always looking for ratings, has uncovered some cold cases that she hopes she can link together and solve in times for sweeps month.

"STALKING SUSAN is a fantastic debut. Julie Kramer has crafted a thriller that will get your heart racing."
—Vince Flynn, PROTECT AND DEFEND

These three novels I've mentioned run the gamut in terms of mystery - Brian's Jonathan Stride books are gritty - his new alter ego of Ally O'Brien and main character Tess Drake are flippy and fun with an edge - and Julie Kramer's Riley Spartz is smart and intense and working hard to make sure she can stay in the TV game. What kind of mystery appeals to you? What are your favorites? Here's some mystery websites to check out:

Minnesota Crime Wave
Uncle Hugo's Bookstore
Once Upon a Crime Bookstore
Reviewing the Evidence
Detectives Beyond Borders
Notes from the Handbasket

How do you find a new mystery to read?

dealing with Fear with Guy Finley

This week I featured an interview with Guy Finley on Realgoodwords - he's the author of "The Essential Laws of Fearless Living - Find the Power to Never Feel Powerless Again".

I had a great talk with Guy - he's a personable REAL guy who I immediately felt comfortable with...we talked about how our imaginations - our creations of things that are not real, are what we listen to... not the reality of situations.

Guy writes,

You have an unlimited storehouse of untapped energy lying dormant in your own heart and mind. It is the secret source of all that is wise, loving, timeless, and truly you.

If you didn't catch it, the audio archive will be available soon here.

upcoming books on Realgoodwords

Sandra Harper's new novel "High Tea" is a fun novel - the story of a L.A. establishment called Magpie's Tearoom. They pay strict attention to the tradition of High Tea including perfect, plain scones from Maggie's grandmother's recipe and traditional sandwiches. You can read chapter one here.

"Wintergirls" is the new novel by Laurie Halse Anderson.... Anderson is the bestselling author of the young adult novels "Speak" and "Catalyst" among others..."Wintergirls" explores the obsessive, competitive culture of eating disorders through the eyes of Lia.

Starred review, Booklist, Dec. 15, 2008"...a devastating portrait of the extremes of self-deception. This is a brutal and poetic deconstruction of how one girl stealthily vanishes into the depths of anorexia..." "Anderson illuminates a dark but utterly realistic world..."

Our friend Minnesota author Brian Freeman is back with two new mysteries. One continues the story of Duluth's Jonathan Stride... "In the Dark" (or in the U.K. "The Watcher" ) explores the mystery that Jonathan has never really wanted to look back into - the 1977 brutal killing of his girlfriend's sister. Also, Brian is writing a wholy different kind of novel, under another name. This one is called "The Agency"...

And Minnesota writer and judge Mark Munger will be talking with us soon about his biography of his uncle, Willard Munger. It's called "Mr. Environment: The Willard Munger Story".

State Representative Willard Munger was the longest serving member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. During his long career, Munger authored every major environmental or conservation law adopted by the state. Now his story, beginning with his birth in a log cabin in Otter Tail County, continuing with his search for work in the shipyards and factories of Duluth, and culminating with his storied legacy as Minnesota's "Mr. Environment" is ready for readers to enjoy.

Julie Kramer's first novel, "Stalking Susan" is a mystery that centers around Minneapolis news reporter who is looking into some cold cases that all involve the death of women named Susan. The author herself is a freelance TV news producer for NBC's Today Show, Nightly News and Dateline. She lives in Minnesota.

Stay tuned for more information! And post your current reading here!