R.W. Holmen's Blog: Spirit of a Liberal, page 8

Celebrating 35 years of the Loft and 10 years of the Open Book

I have frequently extolled the great experience of the seminars and workshops of the Loft Literary Center of Minneapolis.  When one thinks of struggling artists, one assumes an organization such as the Loft might also limp along always in danger of tripping on a shoestring budget, but that is really not the case.  Well supported by several substantial foundations, the Loft is thriving.  The front page of the Loft website features info about the upcoming 35th anniversary celebration scheduled ...

Writers helping writers

Decades ago, my high school English teacher said our class had two good writers … one who was naturally creative and one who got by on his smarts.  I was the latter.  When I started the process of writing this novel, my daughter, who is the real literary bright bulb in our family, suggested that my writer's voice sounded too much like a lawyer.  Imagine that … who would have thought that twenty-five years of writing legal briefs would leave an imprint?.  But was it indelible? 

My daughter...

Enter a free book giveaway contest: Update with winners

Since this is a new "book blog", I'm learning. I've discovered that book giveaways are hot, so what the heck, I'll give it a try. Thus, I am announcing a book giveaway (two books, actually); the winners will receive a copy of  A Wretched Man to be shipped to you at my expense. Entries will be accepted until May 14th when the winners will be announced. Decisions of the judges (that's me) are final. Winners will be expected (but not required) to write a review in appropriate forums*.

You enter b...

Enter a free book giveaway contest

Since this is a new "book blog", I'm learning. I've discovered that book giveaways are hot, so what the heck, I'll give it a try. Thus, I am announcing a book giveaway (two books, actually); the winners will receive a copy of  A Wretched Man to be shipped to you at my expense. Entries will be accepted until May 14th when the winners will be announced. Decisions of the judges (that's me) are final. Winners will be expected (but not required) to write a review in appropriate forums*.

Fill...

Paul and Romans, chapter one

I often refer to Paul as enigma when I explain why I was drawn to write a novel about him.  His writings about a gracious God and Christian egalitarianism–no longer Jew or Greek … slave or free … male and female—have informed and inspired theologian and laity alike over the centuries.  But, charges of anti-Semitism, apologist for slavery, misogynist, and gay-bashing homophobe are also levied against his writings.  The simple explanation, of course, is that Pauline views were shaped by the...

Event: Display booth at church convention

Last weekend, Lynn and I returned to our old stomping grounds, the NE Minnesota Synod of the ELCA.  We attended the annual assembly of Lutherans from northern Minnesota for the purpose of promoting the novel through a display booth.

The event was successful on multiple levels.  First, it was a lot of fun to return to Cragun's Resort near Brainerd, which is the site for the assembly in even years (the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center in odd years).  We saw many friends from our past ...

Local newspaper offers story

My hometown newspaper, the Northfield News, published a story about me and my book last week.  Thanks for a nice article, Brenda Ward, which I reprint below:

The Apostle Paul was a highly important man in the history of Christianity. Though he never actually met Jesus, his letters are credited for being the foundation of the New Testament.

Recently, Northfield author RW "Obie" Holmen took on this controversial figure, writing and publishing a book of historical fiction titled, "A Wretched Man...

KYMN Radio Guest

Yesterday, April 16th, I was privileged to be Paula Granquist's guest on her Art Zany radio program broadcast in the Northfield-Cannon River Valley area on KYMN radio.  An audio feed is available for replay here.  The whole show takes about thrity-six minutes, and I appear three or four minutes after the preliminaries.

Why Paul?

Next week, I will speak at the Northfield bookstore, Monkey See, Monkey Read with more public appearances to follow.  I will read an early chapter from the novel, but first I will offer a few comments about my journey of writing, which I publish here.

The most frequent question I hear is "Why Paul? Why did you choose to write about Paul?"

Why bother with a man nearly 2000 years dead with a reputation as an anti-Semite, apologist for slavery, misogynist, and a gay-bashing homophobe? Paul was...

Northfield daughter, author Siri Hustvedt speaks

On a Friday evening a week ago, author Siri Hustvedt addressed a packed upper floor of the Northfield Public Libary.  Now resident in Brooklyn but born and raised in Northfield, Hustvedt said that all her writings contain memories of her Northfield childhood.  Indeed, much of her 45 minute address related to her philosophy of writing in which memory and imagination are intertwined.  For Hustvedt, the creative process of writing fiction is akin to child play and fantasizing, the alteration...