Author’s Corner at Norsk Høstfest is a special gathering place for book lovers and literary enthusiasts, where regional artists converge to showcase their creations and engage with their audience. Here, visitors have the opportunity to meet their favorite authors, discover new writers and their works, and delve into the captivating world of storytelling. Authors share their knowledge, experiences, and inspiration through book signings, presentations, and Q&A sessions, fostering a deep connection between creator and audience. Whether you are a fan of Scandinavian literature, history, or culture, or simply enjoy reading and exploring new ideas, the Author’s Corner at Norsk Høstfest invites all to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of human experience through the written word.
2024 Featured Authors
William “Jack” Jackson is an American author of ten books and a television documentary. He is best known for his Dakota Mysteries and Oddities series which explores unusual events which occurred in North Dakota. He wrote his first book, North Country Jack and his Almanac, and produced a radio show aired in three states, while living in a log cabin just south of Shevlin, Minnesota. Jackson and his wife, Arlyce Forthun-Jackson, published a bi-weekly newspaper, The Valley Star, from 1993 to 2000 in Velva, North Dakota. In 1999, he published Dakota Mysteries and Oddities, the first in his Mysteries and Oddities series. The series explores mysterious and odd occurrences in the Dakota. During the 2000s he operated the traveling Dakota Mysteries & Oddities Museum, appearing at events across North Dakota including the 125th anniversary celebrations of North Dakota towns. Jackson published his tenth book, Dakota Mysteries & Oddities 2022 edition, in late 2021.
William Jackson was born in Murphysboro, Illinois. Jackson studied at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin. In the early 1970s, Jackson purchased land and built three log cabins in northern Minnesota as part of the Back-to-the-Land movement. Jackson currently lives in Dickinson, North Dakota.
Learn more about the author here.
Throughout his career, Rory has had the knack for bringing stories to life. Born in South Dakota, he is known as an amateur historian in the Black Hills; a tour bus guide, a handyman, an outdoor enthusiast, and an old-car guy. However, as a tour guide, he might be best known for his storytelling. Rory has refined his stories through the years while performing as Santa for organizations and elementary schools.
He has written six children’s books including the Barefoot Monster book, three Aify and Elfie books, and The Treasure of Amidon book. All are available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other booksellers.
Learn more about the author here.
Olaf Minge is a co-author of The Viking Battalion: Norwegian American Ski Troopers in World War II. His grandfather served as a medic with this unit during the war which helped writer, Kyle Ward, add to Olaf’s expertise to the book. This book tells the story of the 99th Infantry Battalion through an anthology of rarely, if ever, previously seen memoirs, journals, letters, and newspaper articles written by or about the Viking soldiers. To learn More click here.
Cooney’s books are set in the Red River Valley of northwestern Minnesota, home to an array of colorful, Scandinavian-Lutheran farmers. Along with an old-fashioned, make-believe, who-done-it, each story includes Midwest references, time-honored hot dish, Jell-O, and bar recipes, as well as a few Ole and Lena jokes. And while the books may be read as a series, they can stand on their own too. Learn More about Jeanne Cooney here.
Candace Simar likes to imagine how things might have been. Her historical fiction combines her love of history with her Scandinavian heritage. Candace’s books are set in western Minnesota and Dakota Territory in the 19th Century. Her Abercrombie Trail Series won a Spur Award. It delves into the history of Fort Abercrombie during the U.S. Dakota War of 1862. Simar’s interest in Fort Abercrombie stems from her Norwegian great grandfather. He drove the stagecoach in the 1860s. Her latest book, Sister Lumberjack, continues the story thirty years later. One of Sister Lumberjack’s main characters is a young lumberjack based on Simar’s Danish grandfather. He worked on a Bonanza Farms in the Red River Valley and in a logging camp in Minnesota during the winters. Simar received awards from the Western Writers of America, the Will Rogers Gold Medallion, Laura Awards for Short Fiction, and was a finalist for a Willa Literary Award in Historical Fiction. Learn more about her work at www. candacesimar.com
Frank F. Weber is a forensic psychologist specializing in homicide, sexual assault and domestic abuse cases. He uses his unique understanding of how predators think, knowledge of victim trauma and expert testimony in writing his true crime thrillers. He has been interviewed on investigative shows on Oxygen and profiled cold case homicides. His Award Winning books include “Murder Book” (2017) “The I-94 Murders” (2018) “Last Call” (2019) “Lying Close” (2020) “Burning Bridges” (2021), “Black and Blue” (2022), “The Haunted House of Hillman” (2023), Scandal of Vandals (2024) and The Sun (2025). Frank was the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Award from the MN Psychological Association and a past recipient of the President’s Award from the MM Correctional Association for his forensic work. Learn more about Frank F. Weber here.
