Candace Simar's Blog, page 2
August 23, 2024
Events
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Agent and Publicist Krista Soukup
Minot Hostfest photos
Past Appearances8/17/24 Ortonville Corn Days Book Talk at Pavillion 11am Look for me at the library booth8/10/24 Hackensack Book Festival8/8/24 9:15-10:15 Zoom presentation Flere Lag Stevne Willmar, MN8/5/24-8/9/24 Camp Candace College of Saint Benedict Sheila O’Connor presenter 7/27/24 Fort Abercrombie Galvanized Yankee Day 7/26/24 Grant County Historical Society 7/18/24 Crosslake Historical Log Village 7/13/24 Hackensack Sweetheart Days 7/12/24 Grand Rapids Wildflower Books 7/11/24 Thief River Falls Wine and Art Walk 7/6/24 Cattales Books Brainerd 10-12noon7/4/24 Green Porch Gifts Pequot Lakes 7/3/24 Lifehouse Coffee Shop Pine River 6/29/24 Our Lady of Lourdes Rhubarb Festival Pine River6/26/24 Barb Sjoblad Book Club6/24/24 Colleen Moser Book Club 6/14/24 Tyler Library 6pm Meeting at Fire Hall 101 E. Lincoln, Tyler MN6/13/24 Fulda/Slayton/ Tracy/Westbrook Library event: Painted Prairie Vineyard, 1575 250th Avenue, Currie MN 6/12/24 Rock County Library 6pm Luverne, MN6/12/24 Wabasso Library 6/8/24 Alexandria Reads Sister Lumberjack 6/6/24 Stevens County Historical Society Morris MN 6/1/24 Wadena Library 5/25/24 Fort Abercrombie Opening Day5/11/24 Turtle Town Books Nisswa 5/9/24 6:30 pm Bagley Public Library 5/9/24 2pm Detroit Lakes Public Library 5/8/24 Moorhead Public Library 5/8/24 2pm Barnesville Public Library 5/7/24 630 pm Mahnomen Public Library 5/7/24 2pm Fosston Public Library 4/29/24 Upsala Library 6pm4/29/24 Little Falls Carnegie Library 2-3pm 4/27/24 Beagle Books Park Rapids 12-2pm 4/26/24 Cherry Street Books Alexandria 3-5:30pm 4/26/24 Victor Lundeen’s Book Store Fergus Falls 11 to 1:30pm4/13/24 Sauk Centre Library Reads ABERCROMBIE TRAIL 1pm4/11/24 Pequot Lakes Library 2pm-3pm4/10/24 Tell Me About Your Book Podcast interview4/8/24 Radio Interview 10:15am to 10:30am WJONMonday 4/1/24 Brainerd Library 12-2pmMarch 18, 2024 Interview Podcast History Through FictionMarch 17, 2024 SISTER LUMBERJACK launch Brainerd Arboretum 2-4pmMarch 14, 2024 Rendevouz with a Writer podcast interview3/11/24 Interview Podcast Minnesota Medley3/7/24 Softest Lore Podcast interviewJanuary 18/February 22 2024 Pencil to Paper Zoom Classes: the Nuts and Bolts of Writing noon to 2pm every Thursday CST Contact Blue Cottage Agency for more details11/25/23 Lionseed Books Battle Lake MN Author Talk 2pm11/16/23 1pm Walker Sons of Norway11/11/23 Daughters of Norway, Kringen Lodge, Fargo 11/4/23 Wadena Library, Meet the Authors Simar presentation at 11am10/30/23-11/4/23 Studium, College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph, MN10/24/23 School Presentations 5th/6th graders, 9th grade, 11th grade South Platte Public Schools, Big Springs, Nebraska10/14/23 Women Writing the West Conference Presenter: DIAGLOGUE, A WRITER’S FRIEND9/25/23-9/29/23 Personal Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck9/9/23 Dalton Threshing Bee Saturday 10 to 4pm8/14-8/18/23 Camp Candace Writing Retreat with Sheila O’Connor presenter8/12/23 Hackensack Book and Arts Fair8/5/23 Saturday, Fort Abercrombie 7/27/23 Thief River Falls Zehlians Art and Wine Walk 7/25/23 Kimball Historical Society The Rocky Mountain Locusts and Frontier Life7/7/23 and 7/8/23 Pine River 150th Celebration Variety Show- debut of Tamarack Down6/14/23 and 6/21/23 Writing Class for Middle Schoolers Pequot Lakes Library6/27/23 Park Rapids Author FestMay 27, 2023 Fort Abercrombie Historical Site Opening Day3/8/23 Coldspring Historical Society5/27/23 Saturday, Fort Abercrombie Historical Society The Rocky Mountain Locust Plagues of the 1870s2/26-2/28/23 Writer’s Winter Getaway Brainerd, MN Baymont Inn2/14/23 Lake Superior Writers Association Zoom writing class part 2 Dialogue2/7/23 Lake Superior Writers Association Zoom writing class part 1 Writing Historical FictionJanuary 19, 2023 to Feb 9, 2023 Pencil to Paper Write Your Way Through Winter Online Zoom ClassesJanuary 2023 Pencil to Paper Write Your Way Through Winter Online Zoom Classes2/7/23 Lake Superior Writers Association Zoom writing class part 12/14/23 Lake Superior Writers Association Zoom writing class part 22/26-2/28/23 Writer’s Winter Getaway Brainerd, MN Baymont Inn5/27/23 Fort Abercrombie Historical Site 10-37/7/23 Pine River 150th Celebration- debut of my play Tamarack Down 7/15/23 Hackensack Book and Arts Fair8/14-8/18/23 Camp Candace Writing Retreat with Sheila O’Connor presenter9/9/23 Dalton Threshing Bee Saturday 10 to 4pm12/6/22 Nisswa American Legion noon Our Lady of the Lakes parish Christmas party presenter It Really Happened Here12/14/22 Riccori Community Center, Cold Spring MN 6pm book talk about the Rocky Mountain locust plagues of the 1870s11/17/22 Walker Sons of Norway10/28/22-10/29/22 Will Rogers Medallion for Terrible and Wonderful, Fort Worth, Texas10/20-10/22/22 Women Writing the West Conference Oklahoma City Presenter Historical Fiction Panel and 3rd place Laura Award for short story, Touched10/15/22 Lakes Area Writers Association Fall conference Presenter “Scene, the Basic Building Block”10/13/22 Lake Superior Writers Book Club zoom 630 to 8pm talking about Shelterbelts9/27/22 Enderlin ND Library presentation 7pm9/17/22 Jack Pine Writers Park Rapids–Workshop PresenterAugust 13, 2022 Hackensack Arts and Book Festival 11:30 PresentationAugust 1-5, 2022 Camp Candace College of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph MN7/26/22 Lois Kuntz book club4/22/22 Brainerd Senior Center Lunch and Learning4/25/2022 St. Francis 8th grade writing class4/9/2022 St. Francis Presentation4/9/2022 St. Francis Church Spiritual Writing Workshop with Deacon Mike Knuth3/28/22 St. Vincent De Paul Catholic Church Brooklyn Park, MNPencil To Paper Write your Way through the Winter Doldrums Jan/Feb 2022 Zoom1/11/22-1/21/22 Studium writing retreat Saint Joseph, MN1/31/22 St. Francis School, Brainerd 8th grade reads Abercrombie Trail11/1/21 Brainerd Library Brown Bag Presentation zoom10/30/21 Lakes Area Writer’s Alliance Conference–presenterOctober 21-October 22 Mentorship Program begins (message if you might be interested)9/11/21 Dalton Threshing Bee9/10/21 Ashby Living Center, Ashby MN8/25/21 Crosslake Historical Society, Crosslake MN8/14/21 Hackensack MN Art and Book Festival7/24/21 Fort Abercrombie, Abercrombie, NDJune 15-17, 2021 Camp Candace Plan B Writing Retreat Presenter5/8/21 Cattales Books, Brainerd MN4/26/21 Thief River Falls Sons of Norway4/10/21 -4/16/21 Studium Writing Retreat with Sisters of Saint Benedict, St. Joseph MN2/28/21-3/6/21 Personal Writing Retreat at Annunciation MonasteryInstructor: Pencil to Paper Write Your Way through the Pandemic Thursdays Jan and Feb 20211/18/21 Guest appearance FB LIVE Pam Nowak book launch 6:30-7:30 pm10/16/20 Virtual reading WWW convention 2nd place Laura Short Fiction Award for TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS9/19/20 Presenter: Talking Stick Writing workshop 9-12, Jackpine Writers Bloc VIRTUAL3/10/20 Thief River Falls Library 6pm3/10/20 Young Author’s Conference Thief River Falls, MN12/14/19 Cattales Book Signing Spoilt Quilt AnthologyNovember 9-16, 2019 Studium writing residency College of Saint Benedict10/26/19 Will Rogers Medallion Awards, Fort Worth TX10/1/19 University of Mary North Dakota History Class presentationSept 25-28 Minot Hostfest9/15/19 Well Read Moms Brainerd8/27/19 2pm Detroit Lakes Library9/7/19 Dalton Threshing Bee8/10/19 Northwoods Arts and Books Festival Hackensack, MN8/8/19 WCCO TV interview Up at the Lake Segment8/3-8/4/19 Aber Days Fort AbercrombieJuly 26-August 2 Camp Candace 2019 with Sheila O’Connor7/16/19 Lutheran Church of the Cross Book Club7/2/19 Kids Book Club Pequot Lakes LibraryKids Writing Club Pequot Lakes Library Wednesdays June and July6/13/19 Prospect House Battle Lake6/13-6/18/19 Personal Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery6/6/19 Alexandria Library–Community Reads Shelterbelts and Grand Arbor Assisted Living5/18/19 Saturday Timeless Appeal Pequot Lakes4/29/19 Plum Creek Library Tour: Ivanhoe Library,Laverne Library; Pipestone Library4/26/19 Presentation District CCW at St. Christopher’s Catholic Church Nisswa4/9/19-4/14/19 Personal Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery Bismarck4/9/19 Cooperstown ND Library4/8/19 Perham Library3/1/19-3/15/19 Personal Writing Retreat2/19-2/20-2/21 Writing Workshops Pequot Lakes Middle School2/9/19 Brainerd AUW1/29/19 Book Club Lakes Latte Pequot Lakes1/26/19 BWA Author Talk1/11/19 Pillager High School11/13/18 Adventure Day Staples, MN Middle School Writing ConferenceWriting Retreat Studium College of Saint Benedict’s, St. Joseph, MN October 26-November 210/25/18 Hutchinson Library10/25/18 Hutchinson Montessori School10/4/18 East Grand Forks, MN Schools10/2/18 U of Mary History Class9/25-9/29/18 Minot Hostfest9/25/18 The View Senior Living Minot, ND9/19/18 Upsala Library9/15/18 Marshall MN Library Boot Camp with Angela Foster9/8/18 Dalton Threshing Bee8/29/18 Danish Sisterhood Brainerd8/25/18 Beagle Books Park Rapids8/12/18 Fort Abercrombie launch for ESCAPE TO FORT ABERCROMBIE’8/11/18 Hackensack Arts and Book Fair8/4/18 Grant County Historical Society Museum Elbow LakeJuly 16-20, 2018 Writing Retreat at College of St. Benedict with Sheila O’ConnorJuly 4, 2018 Pequot Lakes Timeless TreasuresJune 15-16 2018 Bismarck ND Sons of Norway District Convention6/20-23 Western Writers of America Convention Billings, MT5/15/18 Book Launch ESCAPE TO FORT ABERCROMBIE The Crossing Arts Brainerd5/19/18 Brainerd Library Workshop TIPS FOR WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION4/25/18 Ellsworth Wisconsin Library4/23/18 Woodville Wisconsin, Sons of Norway4/19/18 Eagle View Elementary Pequot Lakes4/14/18 The Crossing Boot Camp4/12/18 Sauk Centre Library 6pm4/4/18 Royalton Library 6pm4/2/18 Book Club Sharon Lembke, Leonard MN3/22/18 Aitkin Library 6pm3/12/18 Chappell, NE Creek Valley Elementary School and High School3/9/18 Julesburg, CO High School3/2/18-3/7/18 Personal writing retreat at Annunciation Monastery2/10/18 Fergus Falls Library workshop 1-2:30 and publishing panel at 3p1/30/18 Northern Lakes Living1/25/18 Arizona Book club via SKYPE. Sharon Anderson1/8/18 Crosby Women’s Club12/19/17 Pequot Lakes Rotary Club12/16/17 Nat’s Books Uptown Minneapolis12/9/17 Cherry Street Books Alexandria12/2/17 Beagle Books Park Rapids 11/24/17 Turtle Town Books 12-2pm11/15/17 Fulda Library 2:30pm11/15/17 Jackson Library 11am11/14/17 Lamberton Library 6pm11/14/17 Tracy Library 2:3011/14/17 Redwood Falls Library 12n11/13/17 Marshall Library 6pm11/13/17 Hendricks Library 2pm11/13/17 Tyler Library 10am 11/11/17 Kringle Days at the Crossing Brainerd 12-2pm11/6/17 Grant County Museum Elbow Lake, 10/23/17 Todd County Historical Society Dinner 10/3/17 University of Mary North Dakota History ClassWed-Saturday 9/27-9/30 Minot Hostfest9/21/17 Pequot Library Celebrating DEAR HOMEFOLKS 9/20/17 Terri Grimes Book Club 9/15/17 Fessenden, ND Sons of Norway 9/14/17 Grand Forks Sons of Norway 9/14/17 Book World Grand Forks 9/13/17 Roseau County Museum/Sons of Norway 9/9/17 Dalton Threshing Bee8/28/17 DEAR HOMEFOLKS Launch Brainerd Library8/12/17 Hackensack Art and Book Festival8/7/17 Eden Valley Library and Book Club8/3/17 Writing in the Garden co-presenter with Angela Foster7/29-7/30 Aber Days Fort Abercrombie7/17-7/21 Writing retreat with Sheila O’Connor6/21-6/24 Western Writers of America Convention Kansas City6/14/17 Shirley Greves Book Club6/10-6/11 Living History at Fort Abercrombie5/13/17 Pequot Lakes Library5/11/17 Fergus Falls Daughters of the American Revolution5/6/17 Norse Fest Devil’s Lake Sons of Norway 100th anniversary4/28/17 The Center Brainerd4/26/17 Clearwater Library4/18/17 Sue Ready Book ClubHackensack4/15/2017 Daughters of Norway, MPLS, Norway House4/12/17 Loony Ladies Book Club Nisswa4/11/2017 Glenwood Literary Guild4/7//17 Isle Sons of Norway 630pm3/27/17 Nisswa Lions3/16/17 Chaska Evangelical Free Book Club Skype3/14/17 Crosby Unlimited Learning2/11/17 Open Book Store Wadena 11 am2/15/17 10am Eagle View Elementary Pequot Lakes1/12/17 Claire Steen Book Club1/7/17 Chapter Chicks Book Club via Skype12/21/16 Pillager High SchoolDecember 4,2016 Devil’s Lake Sons of NorwayNovember 18-20 Advanced Writer Retreat with Sheila O’Connor11/9/16 Cheryl Karlgaard Book Club Baxter10/13-10/15 Women Writing the West Convention Santa Fe, NM Shelterbelts Finalist Award10/12/16 Upsala School and Library10/11/16 Little Falls Library 6:30 pm9/27/16-10/1/16 Norsk Hostfest, Minot ND9/12/16 Amor Lutheran Church9/10/16 Dalton Threshing Bee 10-49/8/16 Fosston Sons of Norway8/23/16 Book Club Joan Askegaard Brainerd8/20/16 Halling Lag Stevne Alexandria 11am8/13/16 Hackensack Art Festival and Book Fair 9-38/6/16 Writing in the Garden Baxter Presenter with Angela Foster7/14/167 Lag Stevne Austin, MN6/20/16 Jean Collins Book Club Baxter6/14/16 Hillman Words and Wine Book ClubJune 11-12, 2016 Fort Abercrombie History Days6/4/16 Douglas County Historical Society Genealogy Guild5/20/16 Bismarck Sons of Norway5/13/15 Midwest Book Awards Gala Shelterbelts a finalist5/7/16 Fellesraad Centennial Celebration Brooklyn Park MN5/3/16 Excelsior Place Book Club 2:30 Brainerd4/27/16 Brainerd Senior Center4/19/16 Staples WELCA4/18/16 Owatonna Sons of Norway4/16/16 Glenwood Library4/15/16 Benson Public LibraryBenson Reads Abercrombie Trail4/14/16 Appleton Public Library4/13/16 Brainerd Public Library Book Clubreading SHELTERBELTS4/7/16 Brainerd Public Library–Workshop Presenter: Peeling Back the Layers to Discover Your Character3/14/16 Interview for The Mary Hanson Show Mpls3/12/16 Writing WorkshopPresenterSt. Alice Catholic Church 1/19/16 AAUW book clubMarcoIsland, Florida1/17/16 Sarasota FL Sons of Norway1/15/16 Clearwater FL Sons of Norway1/13/16 Tampa Bay Sons of Norway1/9/16 Estero FL Sons of Norway12/23/15 Pillager School12/12/15 Turtle Town Books12/10/15 Eagle Bend Library/Senior Center12/5/15 Victor Lundeen’s Books Fergus Falls12/4/15 Edgewood Vista Fair, Fargo11/25/15 Book World Baxter11/23/15 Radio Interview KAXE/KBXE11/21/15 Redwood Falls Library11/19/15 Walker Sons of Norway11/18/15 Lord of LifeSenior Club11/12/15 WELCA Crosslake11/9/15 Brainerd Senior Center11/2/15 Book Club Brainerd The Lodge Judy Shaw contact person10/27/15 Priscilla Balmer Book Club Crosslake10/4/15-10/10/15/15 Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck9/29/15-10/3/15 Minot Hostfest9/26/15 Family History Workshop Moorhead9/14/15Willmar Sons of Norway9/12-9/13/15 Dalton Threshing Bee8/23/15 Morris, MN Rural Life Conference8/13/15 North Brainerd Book Club8/11/15 Jolly Freetimers Trinity Lutheran Brainerd8/9/15Crosslake Artisan Fair8/1/15-8/2/15 Fort Abercrombie Civil War Days7/31/15Grant County Historical Museum Elbow Lake7/24/15 Writing in the Garden with Angela Foster, Baxter MN7/22/15 Book Club Colleen Moser contact person7/21/15 Lutheran Church of the Cross7/9-7/11/15 Seven Lag Stevne LaCrosse WisconsinJuly 4 Beagle Books, Park Rapids and Celebrity Judge for Pie ContestJuly 2 Cherry Street Books, Alexandria MN 1-3pmJune 15-June 29 Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, ND6/13/15 Turtle Town Books, Nisswa, MN5/18/15 TV interview Brainerd Cable5/16/15 SHELTERBELTS book launch Franklin Arts Center Brainerd, MN4/16/15Senior Coffee Talk, Bloomington, MN4/10/15-4/12/15 Writing Retreat Lanesboro MN3/23/15 Book Club Hutchinson via conference call3/21/15 Sun City AZ Sol Byer Sons of Norway Lodge3/19/15Western National Parks Assoc Store Tucson3/18/15 Tucson AZ Library3/14/15 Tucson Book Festival2/14/15 Isle Sons of Norway2/10/15 Milaca Library2/8/15 Vining Sons of Norway1/27/15 Skype Appearance Florida Book Club1/25/15 Unitarian Church Underwood MN1/24/15 Chanhassen Nisswa Book Club1/7/15 UCC prayer circle Claire Steen12/19/14 Pillager High School12/6/14-12/12/14 Writing Retreat Annunciation Monastery Bismarck12/5/14 Edgewood Vista Christmas Bazaar Fargo12/4/14 Ladies Christmas Tea, Garrison11/18/14 Hallett Library, Crosby MN11/12/14 Grand Rapids Library Writing Workshop with Angela Foster11/4/14 Pequot Lakes Rotary9/20/14 Apple Valley Galaxie Library9/7/14 Dalton Threshing BeeAugust 19-27 Writing Retreat at Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck ND8/16 and 8/17 McLeod County Fair8/10/14 Crosslake Artisan Fair8/2-8/3/2014 Fort Abercrombie Civil War Days7/17/14 Windom Sons of Norway7/17/14 Marshall Public Library7/11/14 Milaca Sons of NorwayJune 24-28 Western Writers of America Convention, Sacramento6/10/14 Crosslake Historical Society5/18/14 Dregne’sScandinavian Gifts Westby WI5/17/14 Whalan Stand-Still Parade5/15/14 Fergus Falls Library5/10/14 Daughters of the American Revolution5/3/14 Mounds Midway School of Nursing Reunion Luncheon4/29/14 Immanuel Lutheran Church Bellevue, NE4/26/14 West Zion Lutheran Church, Hancock MN4/10/14 Book Club Plymouth3/13/14 Common Ground Interview 7p Lakeland TV ch223/13/14 Sisters Book Club Backus2/28/14 Belgrade Library 6:30pm-7:30pm2/10/14 Crow Wing County Jail Literacy Program2/8/14 Featured poet/Poetry on the Wall Franklin Arts Center1/6/14 Bay Lake Book Club12/14/13 Cherry Street Books12/7/13 Nordic Galleri Fergus FallsNov 30-Dec 6 Writing retreat Annunciation Monastery11/29/13Turtle Town Books Nisswa11/20/13Willmar Book World11/19/13Graceville Library11/19/13Ortonville Library11/18/13 Morris Sons of Norway11/18/13 Morris with Linda Hodgeson at Stevens County Museum11/18/13 Morris Kiwanis
10/26/13Brainerd Writer’s Alliance workshop Presenter10/22/13 Pillager High SchoolOctober 1-5 Minot Hostfest9/28/13 Genealogy Conference Moorhead MN9/17/13 St. Cloud Area Genealogists9/14/13 Granite Falls Sons of Norway9/6 & 9/7 Dalton Threshing Bee9/1/13 Sister Wolf Books Dorset8/20/13 and 8/27/13 workshop at Crossing Arts in Brainerd8/17/13 Hackensack Art Fair and Book Festival8/15/13 Grand Rapids Sons of Norway8/3/13 Willmar Library Roundtable7/20/13 Pequot Lakes Library FARM GIRLS reading
7/11/13 7 Lag Stevne St. Cloud6/26/13-6/29/13 Western Writers of America Convention Las Vegas Spur Award Finalist6/21/13 WELCA Convention Redwood Falls6/20/13VestlandslagStevne Fergus FallsJune 9-16 Writing Retreat Benedictine Monastery Bismarck, ND6/8/13 Pierz Library5/21/13 Eden Prairie Book Club Sharon Arends contact person5/18/13 Whalan, Minnesota Stand-Still Parade5/16/13 Speaking of Books Prairie Bay5/15/13 Browns Valley Library5/15/13 Wheaton Library5/7/13 Women’s Expo presentation St. Gabriel’s Hospital Little Falls5/6/13 Little Falls radio interview5/1/13Writing Workshop Gonvick5/1/13 Gonvick Life Long Learning4/30 13 Edgewood Vista Fargo Mother Daughter Tea4/29/13 Brainerd Book Club4/26/13 Alexandria Radio Theater Farm Girls reading with Angela Foster4/26/13 Cherry Street Books Alexandria4/25/13 Staples Library4/23/13 Pine College Farm Girl Reading with Angela Foster4/20/13 Writer’s Boot Camp Crossing Arts Center Brainerd4/17/13 Hillman Sr. Group4/13/13 Spotlight on Books Grand Rapids4/11/13 North Brainerd Book Club4/8/13 Howard Lake Public Library 6pm3/28/13 Eagle Bend Library3/11/13 Brainerd Senior Center Farm Girls reading with Angela Foster3/11/13 Edgewood Vista Brainerd Book Club3/8/13 Pine City Arts Center Farm Girls reading with Angela Foster3/3/13 St. Paul Public Library3/1/13 Breath of Life Adult Day Care reading3/1/13 St. Francis School Brainerd2/18/13 Alexandria Study Club2/14/13 TV interview Brainerd city station2/9/13 Bookworld Baxter Farm Girls book signing with Angela Foster2/6/13 Subtext Book Store St. Paul2/5/13 3C’s Book Club Maple Plain1/30/13 Pillager High School AP English1/26/13 Poetry on the Wall –FARM GIRL launch party1/24/13 Crow Wing County Jail Book Clubs1/23/133wi radio interview1/22/13 Forestview Middle School Baxter1/18/13 Edgewood Vista Fargo1/18/13 Barnes & Noble Fargo1/17/13 Moorhead, MN Library1/12/13 Crossing Arts Brainerd. Writing Workshop co-presented with Angela Foster1/9/13 Granite City Book Club Stearns County Historical Society St. Cloud12/18/12 Lutheran Church of the Cross Book Club12/17/12 Baxter Book Club12/12/12 Eagle View Elementary School12/9/12Bookworld Baxter12/4/12 Pillager High School 10th graders11/16/12 Brainerd Sons of Norway11/12/12 South Long Lake Book Club11/10/12 Brainerd Senior Center Craft Fair and Christmas Bazaar11/2/12 Alexandria Radio Theater reading from LAKE REGION REVIEW short story,JULEBUKKING10/27/12 Brainerd Writers Alliance Workshop10/25/12 DNR book club10/20/12 Barnes & Noble St. Cloud10/17/12 Pine River Book Club10/12/12 Memo Conference St. Cloud, MN10/10/12 Stearns County Historical Society St. Cloud10/6/12 Lake Region Writers presentation Fergus Falls, M State10/3/12 Breezy Point Women’s Club9/26-9/30Minot Hostfest9/22/12 Grant County Historical Museum, Elbow Lake9/22/12 Pioneer Nursing Home Fergus Falls9/18/12 The Crossing Arts Alliance Gift Shop Brainerd Featured Artist9/15/12 Jack Pine Writer’s Workshop am and Talking Stick Party Menagha9/7-9/9/12 Dalton Threshing Bee9/4/12 Sons of Norway Glenwood9/2/12 Sister Wolf Books Dorset9/1/12 Fort Abercrombie, North Dakota8/28/12 Writing in the Garden Workshop Baxter8/25/12 New Ulm Brown County Historical Society8/24/12 Sven and Ole Books, New Ulm8/23/12 Old Time Antiques Mankato8/21/12 Walker Book Club8/20/12 Evergreen Up North, Crosby MN8/18/12 Hackensack Arts Fair and Book Festival8/14/12 BLOOMING PRAIRIE LAUNCH Prairie Bay, Baxter8/10/12 interview with Lon Schmidt 3Wi 1270 AM radio8/1/12-8/4/12TronderlagStevne Fargo6/22/12 -6/23/12 Nordic Festival Moorhead6/16/12WWASpur Award Presentation -BIRDIE6/14/12-6/16/12 Western Writers of America Convention Albuquerque, NM6/10/12 Beagle Books/Y Steak House Park Rapids Sunday Classics 6/8/12 The Crossing Art Center Reading with Lake Region Review Contributors5/25/12 Dylan Days Contest Award and Reading5/7/12 Fergus Falls Sons of Norway 5/5/12 Akeley First Lutheran Church4/25/12 Clearwater Library 4/24/12 Crow Wing County Historical Society Annual Meeting 4/23/12wwwi radio interview4/14/12 Grant County Historical Society Annual Meeting Elbow Lake2/7/12-4/10/12 Crow Wing County Jail Weekly Literacy Program3/22/12 Common Ground Bemidji Public TV3/24/12 Bloomington Arts Center Writers’ Festival and Book Fair3/16/12 Sons of Norway, Brainerd 3/13/12 Long Prairie Library 3/10/12 Glenwood Estates Assisted Living 3/10/12 Glenwood Library3/6/12Interview for the Mary Hanson Show on TPT2/22/12 Brainerd Senior Citizens Center2/8/12Wadena/Staples/Long Prairie AEC Program2/1/12Runestone Museum Alexandria1/14/12 Hutchinson Sons of Norway12/17/11 Reading for Lake Region Review Otter Tail County Historical Society Fergus Falls12/9/11 Book World Baxter12/9/11 St. Francis School Brainerd12/1/11interview Radiothon 11/26/11Turtle Town Books Nisswa11/19/11 Danish Sisterhood Brainerd 11/14/11Forestview Middle School Baxter10/27/11 New Ulm Library 10/27/11Hanska,MN Library 10/26/11 Sleepy Eye MN Library 10/25/11 Springfield, MN Library 10/25/11 Springfield, MN Library10/22/11 Evansville Care Center 10/22/11 Evansville Art Center Book Club 10/20/11 Alexandria Library 10/20/11 Glenwood Estates Assisted Living10/18/11 Lutheran Church of the Cross Book Club Nisswa10/16/11 Underwood Unitarian Church10/13/11Pine River Book Club Shirley Hovey9/28/11Hostfest, Minot, ND 9/27/11Artsage, Edgewood Vista, Fargo ND 9/27/11Sandford Health Fargo Gift Shop9/23/11Midwest Booksellers Association Mpls.9/20/11 St. Cloud Community Ed Book Club 9/19/11 Book Club Prairie Bay Gail Brecht contact person 9/17/11 Talking Stick Release Party Park Rapids9/14/11Nisswa Reads Book Club9/9/11 Dalton Threshing Bee8/25/11 Eagle Bend Senior Center8/20/11 Hackensack Art Festival and Book Fair8/19/11 Beagle Book Signing Park Rapids8/7/11 Sister Wolf Book Signing Dorset8/5/11Elbow Lake Museum Flekkefest7/30/11 Pequot Lakes Library7/14/11 North Brainerd Book Club7/7/11 ABC Book Club Baxter6/26/11Zandbroz Book Signing Fargo6/21/11 Western Writers of America Convention6/17/11 Bookin It signing Little Falls6/15/11 Staples Senior Center6/13/11 Baxter Book Club6/9/11 Schaefer’s Market5/24/11 Outing Book Club5/18/11 Hawley Library5/17/11 Barnesville Library5/16/11 Breckinridge Library5/11/11 Cherry Street Books Alexandria5/10/11 Milan Library5/9/11 Upsala Library and School5/7/11 Book Launch Bar Harbor5/6/113Wi radio interview5/4/11 DNR Book Club5/3/11 Ada Library5/3/11 Twin Valley Library5/2/11 Moorhead Library4/23/11Graceville Library4/12/11 Hutchinson Library4/9/11 Spotlight on Books Grand Rapids3/22/11 Long Prairie Historical Society3/9/11Eagleview Elementary grades 3&41/12/11 Clearwater Library1/12/11Nisswa Book Club1/6/11 Pequot Women’s Club
August 12, 2024
Another Wonderful Week of Camp Candace
Another Great Year at Camp CandaceI just returned from the Spirituality Center at the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, MN. About a dozen writing friends and I rent the entire center, hire our favrotie writing professor, Sheila O’Connor, and have a wonderful week of studying the writing craft. We split the costs, bring our own food, and put it together as a group of friends. Sadly, there is no space to open it to the public, but I would encourage you to copy our example if you’re looking for an affordable writing retreat. It’s always the highlight of my year.
July 15, 2024
Check out this interview by Awesome Book Reviews
Featured Author Candace Simar
Featured Interview With Author Candace Simar
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
Candace Simar likes to imagine how things might have been in frontier America. She combines her passion for history with her Scandinavian heritage to create historical novels that wrap history in compelling stories. “It’s a painless history lesson with real history, lots of research, and good stories.”
I was raised on a dairy farm in western Minnesota. My adult life has been spent in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, where I drove past seven lakes every day on my way to work. My husband Keith and I recently celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary. We have three adult children and five grandkids.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
The Laura Ingalls Wilder books caught my attention in second grade. From there, I read Caddie Woodlawn, Nancy Drew, Lois Lenski, and Louisa May Alcott. In young adulthood, I became captivated by a Kentucky writer, Janice Holt Giles. At that time, I was a student, engaged to be married, and working as a nurse. I always said that if I were to write a book, I would pattern it after the books on American settlers by Janice Holt Giles. She’s still my hero, and the only author that I went out of my way to visit her grave.
The writing bug bit in my mid-forties. I joined a poetry group and was mentored by several elderly poets. Because of poetry, I learned to write with all five senses. Positive comments about my use of descriptions are because of my time spent studying poetry. I began writing small newspaper/magazine articles and was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul. I enjoyed writing small pieces and had no intention of delving into novels until a made a foray into family genealogy changed the direction of my life.
I discovered my great-grandfather had driven the stagecoach as a young Norwegian immigrant toward the end of the Civil War, a bit after the Dakota/US War. To my surprise, I discovered that my college-aged children, Minnesota born and educated, knew little about Minnesota’s role in the Civil War or the Indian War. Our son challenged me to write a book about it “if I cared.” I accepted his challenge–but then had to learn how to write a novel.
I attended every writing workshop that I could find. How amazing to study under MFA professors, editors, and Academy Award winners. I made it a personal mission to learn the writing craft. I’m still learning. Like any art form, there is always more to learn about writing.
My “Abercrombie Trail Series” (Abercrombie Trail 2009; Pomme de Terre 2010; Birdie 2011; Blooming Prairie 2012; and Sister Lumberjack 2024) received a Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. Did you know that frontier fiction is an offshoot of the western genre? I consider myself more of an historical novelist because my books take place in Minnesota and Dakota Territory.
I grew up hearing the family stories about the immigration experiences of my Norwegian and Danish great grandparents. Yes, those family stories creep into my the lives of my characters. I also use family names and places.
“Follow Whiskey Creek” is a stand-alone book about Scandinavian settlers finding refuge at Fort Abercrombie during the U.S./Dakota War. Formerly titled, Escape to Fort Abercrombie, it received a Will Rogers Gold Medallion and a Peacemaker Award from the Western Fictioneers.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
Other favorite authors are Leon Uris, Wilhelm Moberg, , Larry McMurtry, CJ Box, Kristin Hannah, Anthony Doerr, Flannery O’Connor, Jaqueline Winspear, and Caryll Houselander. I have fallen in love with the books by Laurie Weinstein set in the 1930s. Marcie Rendon’s mysteries about Native Americans during the Viet Nam war are excellent. I enjoy many genres and read several books at the same time. I love historical novels about World War 2, frontier America, and life in the 1930s. I look for authenticity, character development, and interesting time periods. If I feel I’ve learned something new from a novel, I’m satisfied.
Many historical novels are not sugar-coated. My research tells a different story. Life was very hard, especially for women. I write gritty stories about the struggles of realistic characters who are without language skills, education, family support, conveniences, or money. My books cover topics of Indian wars, immigration struggles, drought, grasshopper plagues, and the early logging days.
Shelterbelts (2015) is my only book set in the 20th century. It takes place in rural Minnesota at the close of WW2. I wrote it because I missed my parents who were married at that time. Though I created fictional characters, my setting is the land and the culture where I grew up, a place and time very much changed from that era. Shelterbelts was a finalist in both the Willa Literary Awards in Historical Fiction and the Midwest Book Awards.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
Sister Lumberjack, my latest book, is about an aging widow forced to take a job cooking for a rough and tough logging camp in 1892 Minnesota. Logging was dangerous work. No safety net existed for injured workers. Sister Lumberjack entwines the stories of a widow, a young lumberjack with “bottle fever,” and a most unusual Benedictine nun (loosely based on a real person) who sought to build hospitals to serve injured men. Their lives intersect at Starkweather Timber, a haywire logging operation where everything goes wrong. 30,000 lumberjacks butchered white pine during Minnesota’s glory days. You’ll meet some of them in Sister Lumberjack.
I began writing and researching Sister Lumberjack in 2018. Sister Lumberjack was slated for publication in 2020, but Covid delayed the process for a year, and then another. When the publisher was finally about to publish it the fall of 2022, the company went out of business, leaving Sister Lumberjack orphaned. It took two more years for it to be released by another publisher. The good news is that I had time for a major revision while seeking a new publisher. Sister Lumberjack is a stronger book because of the delay.
My husband spent forty years working as a forester for the State of Minnesota. He was my go-to for all things lumberjack. I researched the Benedictine health system and its early form of health insurance at monasteries in Minnesota and North Dakota. Solveig, my protagonist, deals with widowhood, being a woman in a man’s world, being a mother to a grown son who breaks promises made to a dying father, and the challenge to start over when you feel too old to do it. I think you’ll enjoy my story and I hope you read it.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profilesJuly 5, 2024
Reviews of Sister Lumberjack
Thank you, Kay and Jack Kraywinkle, for your review of Sister Lumberjack. You made my day.
Both my wife and I recently read Candice Simar’s latest book, Sister Lumberjack, and we both enjoyed it immensely. It was a facinating read and it’s apparent that as a piece of historical fiction she has done her research well. I’m a second generation Scandinavian here in the States, and have been facinated with the early logging history in Minnesota virtually all my life so I know it’s all accurate. She brings a very real and poingnant human element to the characters and makes the reader empathize with their struggles, fears and frustrations as well as their weaknesses. She is a highly skilled story teller and I may read this book again someday.
April 22, 2024
Candace Simar April Events
March 26, 2024
March 19, 2024
Candace Simar Interview On Rendezvous With A Writer
Award-winning author CANDACE SIMAR joins hosts Jim and Bobbi Jean Bell for an engaging conversation about her historical fiction novel SISTER LUMBERJACK. We follow a cast of unforgettable characters in a Minnesota logging camp during the winter of 1893. Obstacles abound. Will they survive the harsh and dangerous winter?
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March 6, 2024
Book Review of Sister Lumberjack by Charlie Johnson
SISTER LUMBERJACK
By Candace Simar
488 Pages
Published by North Star Press of St. Cloud, MN
ISBN 168201150X
SISTER LUMBERJACK by Candace Simar is one of those books that is unique in every sense of the word. Have you read books about nuns in the Northwoods of Minnesota, or about widows leaving their beloved farm to earn money, or about pencil neck money counters with the sense of fence post, or about winters so desperately nasty that even Siberia would feel tropical?
I would say you haven’t, but in SISTER LUMBERJACK, Candace Simar has given the reader all these notions – and she has presented them in full screen technicolor and stereophonic sound!
Her characters live deeply, live with passion, live with goals in mind – and yet each of them has flaws that wrap their intentions with distortion. The setting of a lumber camp is filled with pine fragrance, soft breezes and torrential rains and snows and sounds of the saws buzzing and the falling trees whomping to the ground as they are hauled away.
SISTER LUMBERJACK has a pace that will keep the reader awake late into the night. Each adventure involves one or more of the three dimensional characters – Solveig the widowed farm wife must deal with earning money, with losing a son (at least metaphorically). The enthusiastic young man Nels finds himself turning to the demon liquor, yet has a work ethic that will not perish. The dear nun, Sister Magdalena, for whom the book is named, brings intense faith in God as she delivers her messages from a convent in Duluth to the ribald men of the logging camps.
Train rides with soot filled cars? Chilled winters with conditions that make blizzards look like a walk in the park in April? Fist fights? Shouting arguments? Deep discussions about faith, about serving others? Despair at the loss of a friend or family member? Its all here, all wrapped by the wonderful writing skills of Candace Simar.
Simar’s track record with her books is impressive – good story telling, good characters, interesting plot lines – SISTER LUMBERJACK just might be at the top of the list of all of this author’s work.
December 3, 2023
Pencil To Paper: Write Your Way Through Winter Workshop Series
Registration Now OPEN! Pencil to Paper 2024: Write Your Way Through WinterJust as musicians practice scales to improve their overall performance, so writers study the components of writing craft to create dynamic prose. Join this year’s Pencil to Paper zoom classes to study the writing craft and take your writing to the next level.
Join us for a 6 week zoom class series, Pencil to Paper 2024: Write Your Way Through Winter. Learn “The Nuts and Bolts of the Writing Craft”. Have you dreamed of writing a book, but don’t know where to start? Perhaps you’re a published author who wants to improve your writing skills. Together we will investigate Character Development, Scene and Setting, Dialogue, Story Arc and Structure, Point of View, and ways to maximize your creativity. Instructor Candace Simar.
Link to Register: Pencil to Paper Registration Link
November 14, 2023
Sister Lumberjack, Finally!
Sister Lumberjack, finally!Sister Lumberjack, my soon-to-be-released historical novel, is set in a Minnesota Logging Camp in 1893 at the height of the white pine harvest. The book began as a fleeting thought while writing Abercrombie Trail (North Star Press 2009). Solveig, the indentured servant, became my favorite minor character. In fact, she tried to dominate the whole book and displace Evan Jacobson entirely. That, I could not allow to happen. (You may have noticed that she did not reappear in Pomme de Terre, Birdie, or Blooming Prairie. I was tired of fighting with her.)
But now, in her widowhood, Solveig Rognaldson returns as the star of Sister Lumberjack. She’s a strong character with a mind of her own. There’s no holding her back. I think you’ll love her as much as I do.
Sister Lumberjack is scheduled for release in March of 2024 with North Star Press. Chip Borkenhagen of RiverPlace Press created this beautiful cover. Blue Cottage Agency is working on publicity and a book launch, thanks to a generous (and much appreciated) Five Wings Arts Grant.
I’m thrilled to see it coming together.
