Publisher's Note

MNHS Press around town: a selection of recent staff and author engagements this fall.

Like everyone this time of year, we've been busy! Winter holidays are upon us, and we've been around town for a wide variety of happy occasions—including the sampling of events shown in the photo above. Clockwise from upper left, acquisitions editor Ryan Hemmer (left) and Pushing the River author Frank Bures (right) staffed our table at the 25th Annual Twin Cities Book Festival in Union Depot; authors Bill Lindeke (left) and Drew M. Ross (right) launched Drew's new book Becoming the Twin Cities at the Minnesota History Center; authors T Williams (left) and David Lawrence Grant (right) presented their book Rewind at Moon Palace Books; and marketing and sales assistant Katie Olson (far right) spoke on a panel at Open Book for the Minnesota Book Publishers Roundtable. As a press, we're thankful for the ongoing support we receive from the public, and we value the exchange of ideas we have with readers near and far. In this month's newsletter, we continue an informal tradition of providing a gift guide, suggesting titles to bring home to friends and family—or for yourself. Cheers to all of us on the completion of another year, and best wishes for the new one ahead. Let's keep the conversation going!

Find something for every interest in our gift guide

For Young Readers and the Young at Heart

The Naming of Aki

Story by Thomas Peacock, illustrations by Allison Horner
hardcover, $18.95

"When the world (Aki) was first created, nothing had a name. And so the Creator called on the First Human to give names to the animals, plants and insects—as well as sounds and emotions. So begins this traditional Ojibwe legend, retold in spare, clean prose by Bayfield, Wis., writer Peacock, a member of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe. First Human walked the world with Ma’iingan, the wolf, and he, “like First Human, was honored and humbled to be the ‘way-ay, namer of things.” Georgia artist Horner’s glowing illustrations add to the dignity and beauty of the tale." —Laurie Hertzel, Minnesota Star Tribune

How to Draw a Tree

Story by David LaRochelle, illustrations by Colleen Muske
hardcover, $18.95

"The book is making me consider whether the cliché 'suitable for framing' is an exaggeration because every one of Stillwater artist Colleen Muske’s illustrations is a stunner that would look great on a wall. Muske somehow makes her brightly-colored paintings seem both impressionistic and . . . photorealistic. The realism is important because How to Draw a Tree really does want to teach us to do that. The inspiring text, by White Bear Lake writer David LaRochelle (a four-time Minnesota Book Award winner), offers simple advice on choosing a tree. . . . A lovely final exhortation does remind us that the authors want to encourage aspiring young artists. But this is a book for people who love trees, whether they want to draw them or not." —Chris Hewitt, Minnesota Star Tribune

Rings of Heartwood

Poems by Molly Beth Griffin, illustrations by Claudia McGehee
hardcover, $18.95

"Poems highlighting the growth patterns of 12 quite different plants and animals pair handily with a nonfiction page, the two parts spread in busy full-color scenes in strong line drawings and scratchboard. Griffin explains in an opening author’s note her intent to help children appreciate growth as a process of change in humans and other beings. . . . The picture book format might suggest a younger audience, but the varied levels of text and concepts offer many possibilities for browsing, reading, and discussion with older children. This beautifully executed package might be used for the enjoyment of poetry, to introduce related books, or to encourage the observation of creatures seen in backyards, parks, or other settings." —Margaret Bush, School Library Journal (starred review)

For Lovers of Entertainment and Adventure

True North Cabin Cookbook, Volume Two: Seasonal Recipes from a Cozy Kitchen 

Stephanie Hansen
hardcover, $29.95

"Dishing up regional flavor, the second volume of Stephanie Hansen’s True North Cabin Cookbook series includes . . . crowd-pleasing Scandinavian influences . . . including Swedish meatballs, elegant cocktails like Cranberry French 75, . . . and Hansen’s mother’s Cherries in the Snow dessert. Winter entertaining involves elaborate home dinners and cheesy dips, old-school goulashes, ragus, and hot dishes. . . . Some recipes vie to be declared the most Minnesotan, . . . but the book plays with Asian flavors too, as with the Gochujang Kimchi Meatloaf Muffins and in recipes spiked with lemongrass and ginger. . . . The book is marked by personalized elements, too, . . . . Indeed, humorous stories and poignant accounts abound, as with a story about surviving breast cancer and memories of lost loved ones. Seasonal Recipes from a Cozy Kitchen is a fun cookbook that oozes Minnesota charm." —Rachel Jagareski, Foreword Reviews

Home Club: Up-and-Comers and Comebacks at Acme Comedy Company

Patrick Strait
paperback, $24.95

"There may be no one better suited to make the case for the community-building power of comedy than Patrick Strait. . . . His most recent book, Home Club, tells the story of the place that has become synonymous with Minnesota stand-up: Acme Comedy Company. . . . As the local stand-up scene was evolving in the 1990s, Acme garnered a reputation for developing new talent and fostering a community open to new and controversial material. Even if comics bombed, they were welcomed back and encouraged to grow. The club supported career comics as well as the up-and-comers attending open mics and the annual Twin Cities' Funniest Person Contest. In short, it became a creative space for the next generation of comics like Tim Slagle, Nick Swardson, Tracey Ashley, and Mitch Hedberg (who recorded his second album there, 2003's Mitch All Together). . . . Before comedians like Hedberg were legends, they were once regular people striving to write material that they hoped would make a room laugh." —Joshua Preston, Rain Taxi Review (print edition)

Pushing the River: An Epic Battle, a Lost History, a Near Death, and Other True Canoeing Stories

Frank Bures
paperback, $24.95

“If you love paddling in Minnesota, in a canoe or kayak, with people or solo, this is the book for you. If you enjoy a good north woods yarn about the inexplicable (call it a ghost story), this is the book for you. And if you like a solid survival story, you’ll find more than a couple of compelling ones in Pushing the River. I loved this book, which should reside on every cabin bookshelf from southern Minnesota to the Hudson Bay (and plenty of houses in between).” 
—Cary J. Griffith, author of Lost in the Wild and Gunflint Falling

For Minnesota History Buffs

Martin Sabo: The Making of the Modern Legislature

Lori Sturdevant
paperback, $27.95

“From humble beginnings to speaker of the Minnesota House, to president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, to playing second base and managing the Democrats’ baseball team, to chairman of the Budget Committee in Congress, Martin Sabo was a unique and talented leader. Sturdevant’s fascinating and relevant biography captures both the what and the why of this soft-spoken ‘liberal decentralist’ and his role in Minnesota’s politics.”
—Tom Berg, legislator, US attorney, and author of Minnesota’s Miracle: Learning from the Government that Worked

Perpich: A Minnesota Original

Ben Schierer
with Lori Sturdevant
paperback, $19.95

“Rudy never lost his focus on the importance of public service, and Minnesota is better for it.” —Minnesota Governor Tim Walz

Perpich: A Minnesota Original explores the life and legacy of one of the state’s most consequential political figures. It follows Perpich from his youth on the Iron Range to his political forays on the school board and in the statehouse, and his decade-spanning stints in the governor’s mansion. It examines the qualities and quirks that allowed Perpich to develop policies that crossed geographic and partisan boundaries. Perpich is a portrait of a unique civic leader who left an indelible mark on the state, while propelling it to the global stage. 

The War at Home: Minnesota During the Great War, 1914-1920

Greg Gaut
paperback, $34.95

Americans went to war in 1917 literally against Germany but also against each other. The controversial decision to send an army to France came during a contentious time when farmers and workers challenged the wealthy, African Americans struggled against Jim Crow, women campaigned for suffrage, and millions crusaded against alcohol. In The War at Home, historian Greg Gaut focuses on the lives of individual Minnesotans to tell the dramatic story of this period, when the North Star State experienced bitter polarization, nativism, flagrant disregard for democratic norms, and intense, sometimes violent, confrontations.

Enmity and Empathy: Japanese Americans in Minnesota During World War II

Ka F. Wong
paperback, $34.95

"Allies are always important, especially in the face of war and racism. This book looks into dark days and demons, sharing the stories of victims and naming the heroes on both sides. Ka Wong offers us a significant contribution to an important and greatly underrepresented piece of United States history. I read it during what continues to be a sorrowful anniversary." —Linda Watanabe McFerrin, author of Namako, The Hand of Buddha, and Navigating the Divide 

Becoming the Twin Cities: Swindles, Schemes, and Enduring Rivalries

Drew M. Ross
paperback, $27.95

“Drew Ross’s book is essential reading for anyone who lives in, loves, or visits the Twin Cities as he explores the political shenanigans that have made the cities unique in their separate and strong identities. This is an immensely entertaining book you won’t want to put down. Anyone who relishes their history served up with equal parts of facts, lore, and humor will find Ross’s book a delicious meal!”
—Jonis Agee, author of The Bones of Paradise

For Fans of Moving and Powerful Memoir

Dear Jacob: A Mother's Journey of Hope 

Patty Wetterling
with Joy Baker
paperback, $22.95

“A behind-the-scenes look at a crime that shaped the state and the mother who refused to let it steal her hope, her kindness or her marriage.” —Minneapolis Star Tribune

Thousands of readers embraced Dear Jacob when it was published by MNHS Press in hardcover in 2023. The paperback edition, featuring a new afterword, makes this important first-person narrative of a pivotal moment in recent Minnesota history—and its enduring national effects—accessible to more readers. In 1989, eleven-year-old Jacob Wetterling was kidnapped not far from his home in St. Joseph, Minnesota. As the criminal investigation stretched out for years, his mother devoted herself to advocating for children. Patty successfully lobbied for the passage of the 1994 Jacob Wetterling Act, which established sex offender registries. She served on the board of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for over twenty years and became a nationally respected authority on child protection. Cowritten with Joy Baker, whose blog Joy the Curious helped lead investigators to evidence that resolved the case, this memoir chronicles both a personal and a collective story of contemporary history, one that permanently changed public policy.

Rewind: Lessons from Fifty Years of Activism

T Williams
with David Lawrence Grant
paperback, $29.95

"'We are standing on the shoulders of those who came before us,' said host Al McFarlane as he opened a special episode of The Conversation. It was more than an introduction—it was a declaration of purpose. Broadcast across Black Press USA, Insight News’ social media channels, and local cable stations, the program served as a multi-generational dialogue between trailblazing civil rights leader T. Williams, celebrated author and playwright David Lawrence Grant, and Gen Z attorney and columnist Haley Taylor Schlitz. The occasion: the release of Rewind: Lessons from Fifty Years of Activism, a memoir recounting Williams’ life as a community organizer, coalition-builder, and institutional disruptor. What unfolded during the hour-long episode was far more than a book talk. It was a reflective journey through the critical battles of Black Minnesotans across five decades—from the uprisings of the 1960s to the murder of George Floyd—and a challenge to future generations to carry the torch forward with strategy, solidarity, and historical perspective." —Trena V. Stubbs, Insight News

Forthcoming Release

Dish and Tell: Recipes from the Heart

Sarah Peterson
paperback, $24.95

Dish and Tell highlights treasured dishes from Sarah Peterson’s family recipe box—and collects stories from other passionate home cooks who opened their kitchens to share their own tried-and-true recipes. Peterson takes readers along as she visits, cooks, and bakes with friends old and new to present a smorgasbord of family favorites. Discover for yourself why these vintage recipes deserve a spot at the table. 

“How often do we struggle to replicate beloved family dishes, only to discover that the secret to Grandma’s baked beans is lost forever? Sarah Peterson’s Dish and Tell celebrates and documents the unsung heroes of the Midwestern table so the home cook knows every dash of mustard, splash of orange juice, and yes, packet of Jell-O needed to revive those moments of sweet sensory pleasure.” —Mary K. Tennis, author of Smoke on the Waterfront: The Northern Waters Smokehaus Cookbook

Pub date: February 17, 2026

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Season 2  of our podcast begins now!

Bestselling Backlist

So Cold! by John Coy, illustrations by Chris Park	True North Cabin Cookbook (vol. 1) by Stephanie Hansen	Her Honor by Lori Sturdevant