Stefanie Nici asked Kevin A. Kuhn:

I read you are working on your third book. Where does it take place and why did you choose that particular area?

Kevin A. Kuhn My work-in-progress is set in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Perhaps, more significant, it begins in the late 1800’s. Although I grew up in the Midwest, I didn’t move to Minnesota until my late thirties. I’ve grown to love Minnesota’s lakes, forests, prairies, and people. Setting a book in Minnesota in the late 1800’s gave me an excuse to research the rich history of Minnesota. I had no idea the state was one the flour capital of the world, producing more flour than any other state or country. The combination of the southern flowing Mississippi river and the transcontinental railroad meant that Minnesota flour could be distributed throughout the country. With Minneapolis being near the heart the Midwest grain fields, it was the perfect setting for enormous mills.

Of course, like most of America, it has a dark side as well. Large populations of native Indians, primarily the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes were steadily pushed from their lands. This climaxed with the Dakota War of 1862, which started from skirmishes due to the starvation of natives from loss of habitat of huntable game. The day after Christmas, the 6th Minnesota Infantry committed the largest mass execution in U.S. history, by hanging 38 native Indians.

Since that dark time, Minnesota has steadily become more progressive. It has also become a Midwest hub of business with a variety of corporate headquarters such as 3M, Cargill, General Mills, Best Buy, Target, UnitedHealth Group, and Medtronic. It’s a beautiful state and has one of healthiest populations in the U.S. I’m grateful I chose to set my WIP in Minneapolis, as it’s essential to understand the history (good and the bad) of the place we call home.

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