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MNHS Press Newsletter: October 14, 2025

Jaired Johnson Oct 14, 2025 1:30:00 PM

Publisher's Note

Mike Erlandson (left) and Lori Sturdevant (right) on stage.

Lori Sturdevant launched her new book, Martin Sabo: The Making of the Modern Legislature, to a full house at the Hagfors Center at Augsburg University on September 11. Mike Erlandson, Sabo's longtime chief of staff, interviewed Lori about Sabo's impact on history and governance, including his time in Minnesota's state legislature and the US Congress. MNHS Press cosponsored the event with the Sabo Center for Democracy and Citizenship.

Minnesota has long been acknowledged as "the state that works." Martin Sabo deserves much credit for building this reputation through his career focus on governance over politics. Retired columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune and three-time winner of the Minnesota Book Award, Lori Sturdevant tells the compelling story of Sabo's development as a leader and his lifelong commitment to democracy.

“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

New Releases

On October 7 we published a new children's book by Thomas Peacock, the author of several previous books with MNHS Press, including The Forever Sky, The Good Path, The Four Hills of Life, and Ojibwe Waasa Inaabidaa. Allison Horner's beautiful artwork for The Naming of Aki has been chosen by the Society of Illustrators for its Original Art 2025 Exhibition of Children's Book Illustration, on display this fall in New York City.

The Naming of Aki

Peacock_Horner_M9781681343051

Story by Thomas Peacock
Illustrations by Allison Horner

This retelling of a traditional Ojibwe story celebrates what First Human and First Wolf see, taste, hear, smell, and touch as they wander Aki, the Earth, to be the namers of things.

The story begins: “In the time soon after the creation, Nimaamaa Aki, Mother Earth, was new and without names, so the Creator called upon First Human to walk upon Aki, the Earth, and name all things.” First Human sets off on a journey that will take him to every corner of Aki and introduce him to all creatures, plants, landforms, and emotions. It’s a meaningful and joyful trek—and one best taken with a companion. The Creator calls upon Ma’iingan, Wolf, to join First Human so they can explore together.

Accompanied by Allison Horner’s vibrant illustrations, this affecting retelling by elder and educator Thomas Peacock invites readers to appreciate our world and all its wonders, including the close kinship that humans and wolves share—from ancient times to today.

Book Launch on October 25 at 11:00 AM, at Honest Dog Books, Bayfield, WI.

Events

Twin Cities Metro

10/25/2025, 1:00 PM, Greg Gaut, The War at Home, Historic Fort Snelling, St. Paul

11/5/2025, 6:00 PM, Lori Sturdevant, Martin Sabo, Comma Bookstore, Minneapolis

Greater Minnesota

10/17/2025, 9:00 AM, Patty Wetterling, Dear Jacob: A Mother's Journey of Hope, Central Minnesota Aging with Attitude Expo, Sauk Centre

10/17/2025, 11:00 AM, David LaRochelle and Colleen Muske, How to Draw a Tree, Drury Lane, Grand Marais

10/18/2025, 11:00 AM, David LaRochelle and Colleen Muske, How to Draw a Tree, The Bookstore at Fitger's, Duluth

11/1/2025, 2:30 to 4:00 PM, Stephanie Hansen, True North Cabin Cookbook, Volume Two, Oliver H. Kelley Farm, (ticketed event), Elk River

National

10/25/2025, 10:30 AM, Frank Bures, Pushing the River, Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison, WI

10/25/2025, 11:00 AM, Thomas Peacock, The Naming of Aki, Honest Dog Books, Bayfield, WI

In the Media

Stephanie Hansen, True North Cabin Cookbook, Volume Two, "Stephanie Hansen's two-decade journey to becoming 'kind of famous,'" Minnesota Star Tribune.

Stephanie Hansen, True North Cabin Cookbook, Volume Two, "True North Cabin Cookbook features recipes for all seasons," CBS News, Minnesota.

Stephanie Hansen, True North Cabin Cookbook, Volume Two, book review, Foreword Reviews.

Stephanie Hansen, True North Cabin Cookbook, Volume Two, "Try these 2 recipes from Stephanie Hansen's new cookbook," The Sacramento Bee.

Lori Sturdevant, Martin Sabo, "Book excerpt: Martin Sabo and the virtue of good governance," Minnesota Reformer.

Lori Sturdevant, Martin Sabo, "Lori Sturdevant on her exploration on the life and impact of Martin Sabo on local and national politics," The Sheletta Show.

Patty Wetterling with Joy Baker, Dear Jacob: A Mother's Journey of Hope, "Patty Wetterling Key Note Speaker at Day At Home Event in Alexandria, MN!," Voice of Alexandria.

Molly Beth Griffin and Claudia McGehee, Rings of Heartwood: Poems on Growing, "Three 2025 Children's Poetry Books + Love Poem," Live Your Poem.

Patrick Strait, Home Club, "So Minnesota: The man with a vision to make people laugh: Louis Lee, owner of Acme Comedy Company," KSTP.

Patrick Strait, Home Club, book review, Rain Taxi (print edition).

Travis Zimmerman and Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik, How the Birds Got Their Songs, "Zimmermans win Heartland Booksellers Award," The Circle.

Travis Zimmerman and Sam Zimmerman / Zhaawanoogiizhik, How the Birds Got Their Songs, "How a bird song sings an award-winning tale," Mille Lacs Messenger.

Noteworthy

MNHS Press will staff a table at Rain Taxi's Twin Cities Book Festival on November 8, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at the Union Depot in St. Paul. Several of our authors, including Stephanie Hansen, Frank Bures, David LaRochelle, and Colleen Muske, are featured in the program. We will have giveaways available, including bookmarks, buttons, and our new catalog, as well as books for purchase. Stop by and say hello!

New in MNopedia

Pickle, Alonzo (1843–1925)

Of the 262 Minnesotans who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg as part of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment in 1863, only forty-seven survived. One of them was Alonzo Pickle, a Canadian-born teenager who’d enlisted a year earlier in Winona. Pickle received the US Medal of Honor for his action at the Battle of Deep Bottom and lived out the rest of his life as a farmer, laborer, and salesman in Minnesota.

Strutwear Knitting Company Strike, 1935–1936

The Strutwear strike was the last, least violent, and longest of three bitter labor disputes that shook Minneapolis between 1934 and 1936. It pitted the anti-union leaders of Strutwear Knitting Company (and its Citizens Alliance allies) against the United Hosiery Workers Union (and its labor allies, the Teamsters and the American Federation of Labor). When the strike ended in April 1936, Strutwear and the Citizens Alliance declared victory. A year later, however, events took a surprising turn.

Forthcoming Releases

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

Ross_M9781681343235

Drew M. Ross

Whether motivated by visionary ideals or commercial gain or political ambition, many have tried to unite Minneapolis and St. Paul into one city, and all have failed. Award-winning writer Drew M. Ross uncovers the nineteenth-century history of scheming and self-dealing, social rivalries and political grudges, and utopian idealism and personal ambition that explain how Minneapolis and St. Paul became and stayed the separate cities we know today.

Beginning with the story of Fort Snelling’s founding and Joseph Plympton’s expansion of a reserve around it, Ross follows up with the land-grabbing and moneymaking schemes of Henry Rice and Franklin Steele, explores the rivalries between local Republicans and Democrats (and their partisan newspapers), and details the battles over the locations and significance of the capitol, the state fair, and the Midway neighborhood.

Becoming the Twin Cities examines the historical underpinnings of a beloved American metropolitan region’s unique identity.

Pub Date: November 11; Book Launch on November 15, 2:00 PM, North Star Voices, Minnesota History Center, (free; registration requested), St. Paul. Drew will be in conversation with Bill Lindeke, author of St. Paul: An Urban Biography and Closing Time.