It’s true, I haven’t written a book since my 2008 release “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” I made one failed attempt at a novel, and have considered writing other nonfiction titles at different times, but frankly I got busy with the radio show and young kids. I write 5,000-10,000 words a week, just not… Read More →
Glowing green mystery in the skies above Hibbing
February 15, 2015 by 3 Comments
Twilight fell upon an unusually cold day on March 28, 1950. Amid the dirty snow piles of downtown Hibbing, Minnesota, a short, thin, properly-dressed podiatrist pushing 40 and his wife, four years his junior, walked down Howard Street near the office where they would both work most of their lives. They looked up at the… Read More →
What’s left unsaid
November 23, 2014 by 1 Comment
Last Monday, we pinned ceremonial ribbons of red, green and yellow onto our oldest son’s Webelos uniform. It was a proud moment. I remembered having my Webelos ribbons pinned onto my Cub Scout uniform when I was his age. Remembering is like a hole in the dam; one hole quickly becomes many. It was a… Read More →
Why the turtle crossed the road
July 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
In “The Grapes of Wrath,” John Steinbeck dedicates an entire chapter to an old turtle crossing the road. Though the passage confuses the heck out of high school students, (pro tip) the turtle chapter pretty much summarizes the entire book through symbolism. Some years back my family and I settled in the woods of Itasca… Read More →
My micro-mining argument in The Daily Yonder
May 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I’m in the Daily Yonder today talking about the microscopic realities of the mining debate in northern Minnesota. Here’s a taste from my story “Tiny molecules, big fight over wild rice”: The reason for all these emotions over tiny molecules isn’t because of numbers, or even, for most people, science: it’s a cultural battle. Will… Read More →
Joining the Star Tribune blog team
April 28, 2014 by 4 Comments
Today, I’ll be joining the state’s largest newspaper, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, as a blogger. I’ll be posting on the Strib’s “Your Voices” blog once or twice a week with some of my greatest hits from here at MinnesotaBrown and occasional original pieces written for a statewide audience. I’ll have a standing blog page called the… Read More →
The Old Fish and the Lake
April 6, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Last month a Minnesota angler pulled a 52-pound lake trout through a 10-inch hole in the ice on Lac La Croix near Crane Lake. Because the fisherman was 100 feet over the Canadian border, he ran afoul of Ontario’s catch limits. His fish, likely a world record holder, was confiscated. Despite crushing the previous record… Read More →
WWII mystery over the skies of northern Minnesota
March 9, 2014 by 8 Comments
“I believe submarines Underneath deep blue seas Saw the flags: Japanese No one will believe me” ~ “Submarines,” by The Lumineers In 2014, history seems buried six feet under the bookshelves. Grandparents know a little more, doling out dusty recollections over the meat and potatoes of family gatherings. If there was a sculpture struck, a… Read More →
The Iron Ranger who would not hunt
November 10, 2013 by 6 Comments
In honor of the 2013 Minnesota deer hunting season opener (rifles, of course), happy hunting to all those participating. I dedicate this column to all the non-hunters struggling with day-to-day conversation this time of year. I live in northern Minnesota. I’ve lived here all my life. I don’t hunt. Yes, I eat meat. And the… Read More →
GUEST POST: Confessions of a Stay-at-Home Dad
October 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I’m busy producing the Great Northern Radio Show today, but have planned a special treat for you. Clint Edwards is a guy I’ve gotten to know through our modern world’s crazy techo-magic. He’s a fantastic creative nonfiction writer who got his MFA at Minnesota State-Mankato. Lately, he’s been blogging about being a stay-at-home dad with… Read More →
