Writer's Block

A lasting legacy

September 5th, 2018

Annie Krapu Madeline Luke and Gary Krapu of Valley City and the High Plains Reader are pleased to announce the creation of the Anne Krapu-HPR Journalism Scholarship Foundation. Annually, the Foundation will award financial and mentoring support to one or two young writers who are interested in becoming journalists.

High Plains Reader was founded 24 years ago as a weekly Fargo-Moorhead area newsweekly paper owned by John Strand and Raul Gomez. HPR is an independent voice reporting on the arts,…

Harlan Ellison: a big fish in an ever-expanding pond

August 22nd, 2018

Harlan Ellison

by Randy Christianson
randybchrstnsn@hotmail.com

Harlan Ellison always liked rolling a grenade or two into the room before entering. If this were Readers' Digest, I might call him The Most Unforgettable Boy I Ever Met. 'Boy' because, as I saw for myself, he let his inner child come out to play quite frequently. In over six decades of creating--one to put himself on the map and five to maintain his status as a big fish in an ever-expanding pond--he never shed his rep as an enfant…

‘Murder on the Red River’

July 25th, 2018

Cover of Last year, regional author Marcie Rendon of the White Earth Anishinaabe Nation hosted a public discussion of her novel, “Murder on the Red River,” at the Plains Art Museum. Wednesday, August 1st, Rendon will be at the Fargo Public Library for a reading, author talk, and book signing. This event will be free and open to the public, with books available for purchase.

“Murder on the Red River” tells the story of a shrewd and resilient Native American woman and former foster child…

Illustrating ‘The Bear and His Daughter’

May 16th, 2018

“Mother” a red mother bear with a white baby bear - by Christina Johnson Three years ago, the children’s book “Peter the Slug” was self-published by local author Peter Schultz. Today, under the name Peter Fane, that same author has released “The Blind Dragon” and “The Bear and His Daughter,” both part of the Canon of Tarn series.

These books have a sizeable following, due to successful readings and book signings at several local businesses. Most recently, there was a reading and book giveaway last Tuesday at the Creative Plains Foundation.

Now…

FM celebrates Independent Bookstore Day

April 25th, 2018

Four local authors will be making appearances at Zandbroz Variety for this year’s celebration of Independent Bookstore Day.

In addition to providing free donuts and coffee, the store will offer limited edition items and chances to win prizes.

At 11 a.m., Alicia Underlee Nelson will be there to answer questions and sign copies of her book, North Dakota Beer: A Heady History. Printed by Arcadia Publishing as part of their American Palate series, this book is a chronicle of North Dakota's…

Danielle Teigen: ‘Hidden History of Fargo’ presentation

March 21st, 2018

On Tuesday the 27th, local author and journalist Danielle Teigen will give a presentation at Fargo Public Library on her book, “Hidden History of Fargo,” published by The History Press last August. This will be free and open to the public, with copies of the book available for purchase.

“Hidden History” focuses on influential figures in Fargo’s history, ranging from farmers, ranchers, and business tycoons. This includes the founders of the Forum, the first men to cross the Red…

A wealth of information: NDSU Archives to host open house

February 7th, 2018

Figure drawing at NDSU - photograph courtesy of NDSU Archives The NDSU archives look unassuming enough, located in a large warehouse near the interstate in the warehouse district in Fargo, but once inside one will discover a treasure trove of information. “We have over 20,000 books on the history of North Dakota, covering every topic you can think of. We do specialize in town and county histories, biographies, histories of various businesses... We cover a really wide array of subjects from North Dakota.” Says Trista Raezer-Stursa, head of the…

Local author to give presentation on North Dakota’s beer history

January 17th, 2018

Next Thursday, West Fargo author Alicia Underlee Nelson will give a presentation on North Dakota history at the Fargo Public Library; specifically, the history of our state's beer industry, as detailed in her book, North Dakota Beer: A Heady History. Nelson's book chronicles North Dakota's journey toward becoming the nation's biggest producer of malted barley, and the many setbacks along the way. North Dakota was admitted into the Union as a dry state in August of 1889, with a deadline…

Winter reading assignment: North Dakota’s geologic legacy

November 29th, 2017

John Bluemle’s new book, “North Dakota’s Geologic Legacy” (actually published in 2016 and now in its second printing), is the culmination of a career of more than 40 years he spent with the North Dakota Geological Survey, researching all facets of North Dakota’s geology, and carrying the title of State Geologist.

It’s his fourth in a series of books designed, as he says, “for physical and armchair travelers.” His earlier work, “The Face of North Dakota,” comprised…

Reading, book signing: former ND poet laureate Mark Vinz

November 24th, 2017

On Sunday, Mark Vinz will be at Zandbroz Variety to read from and sign copies of his latest book of poetry, “Man of the House: Scenes from a ’50s Childhood.” This autobiographical collection was published by MSUM’s New Rivers Press, while the book cover was designed by intern Mandi Wahl, a graphic design major with a minor in art.

Vinz previously read from “Man of the House” at the latest New Rivers Press book launch on November 9th. This took place in the Livingston Lord…