I recently received one of those "forwards" which can sometimes beannoying. But today (5 October, 2009), it was different. A friend sentme a forward about a woman, Irena Sendler, a true WWII heroine. Someonealso mentioned her name while I was book signing at Höstfest.  Read about her heroism (http://www.snopes.com/politics/war/sendler.asp) after you read about the lady who stopped by to buy another book (below).

Ithought it rather coincidental that someone should come by with anotherstory; It is not unlike many of the stories people tell me about theirfamilies' wartime past. This weekend atthe Nordic festival (80,000+attendance), an elderly woman stopped by the bookstore where I wassigning books. She waited patiently for another elderly couple to leavebefore she approached the table. She looked familiar...short,stooped...older.... I see and talk to so manypeople and though she had a very strong accent, I didn't remember herstopping the previous year.

She had purchased My Enemy's Childlast year and now wanted to look at the new novel, she said. As I handed itto her, she mentioned she'd enjoyed the earlier book, then opened thecover and stepped aside to let another couple come forward. I noticedas I chatted with them about their son, who is in Afghanistan, that shewas reading the prologue. After a bit she came forward and asked me tosign her book before taking to the cashier. I did, while the othercouple waited. She mention to them that she wished them luck with theirson's duty and as I handed her back the book, she hesitated and thensaid:

I'm am a Polish Jew. In 1939 my family was living in whatis now part of Northern Germany. When the Russians and Nazis still hada non-aggression pact and were consuming Poland from the easter andwestern fronts, the Russians beat the Nazis to our little town. Theywere some sort of forward infantry group without any discipline, norwere there officers accompanying them. The men of our village,including my father, were all shot immediately. That was so they couldsafely begin raping all the women, including my mother and me.

Iwas thirteen, and I began counting as they took their turns. Aftersixty-two there were only two men remaining, standing in line besideme. When sixty three was taking his turn, I suddenly heard a shot, veryclose to my head, so that it made my ears ring. The man slumped on mespilling brains and bleeding. I quickly pushed him off and then watchedas two Russian officers dragged the remaining soldier over to a treeand hanged him right there, as an example for the soldiers.

Shenodded to me and then the astounded couple before hobbling away withher book. Now, I don't even remember her name when I signed, but I'llnever forget her story.

I was also told this weekend, though Ihaven't verified it, that the currently mandatory Holocaust StudiesPrograms in the English (UK) schools is being considered for removal asit has been found offensive to some in the immigrant community.According to some current immigrant's beliefs, the Holocaust never happened.

Ihave made a habit of writing my State Schools Superintendent, at least twice a year asking that mandatory Holocaust Studies beadded to the state curriculum. Minnesota has it their's and severalother states, too: http://www.holocausttaskforce.org/educa ... eport.html.

Like the often secret retention of infant DNA by some state's social service programs, perhaps we must also urge our legislators to consider this question seriously.

It is nearly eleven hours drive to Minot for us and half a ton of books.  Couple that with four eleven hour days and it still adds up to a very good time.

    There was nearly non-stop signing, unpacking books, stacking and talking to folks in the lulls in between.  I received a couple of free coffees as I was their best customer by far.

    Having great authors around me to snatch a quick word with made the time in between pass quickly.  On the last day of the festival, Saturday, Lauraine Snelling brought in a couple of young musicians.  She asked me if I would jamb with them, but there just wasn't time, though I did manage an occasional tune in between visitors.

    As usual, returning customers stopped to purchase the newest book (Stolen Genes-Stolen Children) or to discuss their feelings and appreciation for the other novels, My Enemy's Child and the Vallkulla Books.

    One woman in particular related a confession of her unfortunate childhood in Poland, during WW-II.  Read it about elsewhere in the blog and on the Smultron Publications Readers Forum (http://www.smultron-pub.com/Forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=203).

Here are some photos of friends and participants at Höstfest.  I hope you enjoy them.

This even was much closer to home for us, being in St. Paul MN.  Small bookstore owners and employees attend to meet publishers and authors.  We learned a good deal about these type of bookstore and their owners.

What a beautiful day for another outdoor Spelmansstämma in Scandia's old Nordic farmstead.
One of the reasons I thoroughly enjoy this event is that I get to perform AND talk to new and old acquaintances over the book table.


While I was playing fiddle with the ASI Spelmanslag, Cousin Ray was minding the table (blue tent-yellow sign).

We were so busy that Lynne and I didn't get our customary dance.  Well, there's always next year.
Scandia's Gammelgården Museum is truly a worthy institution and well worth supporting.  They bring so many opportunities to visitors and members, like the upcoming "Traditions in the Trunk" a Swedish Folk Dress, Quilts and Art Exhibit, Style Show and Luncheon.

I notice my old friend Margaretha Hedblom, former director of culture for Malung Kommin (Dalarna) will be on the program.  The event starts Friday, October 2.

I've never seen so many pies in one place as at this event.  The coffee, however, would cause any self-respecting Scandinavian to make a wry face (I know I did).


Here's a photo of some of the youngsters who were working hard to cut pies for serving.

And here's a photo of a couple of uncrowned queens of pie day.  They weren't sitting together for the photo but we did some magic to save space.  The lady on the left just resigned from being a really high roller...perhaps we should say upper crust, at Pie Day.  I guess you know why I never write comedy (Kip P., where are you when I need you?).

Book Signing/Selling...yes!  Very good and lots of stories from the many Scandinavians in this part of Minnesota.

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Four manuscript copies are out with the editors, with a meeting scheduled in a week to go over the criticisms.  Early indications are it's the best novel yet, which surprised me.

We're struggling for a title at this point and have temporarily tagged it "Stolen Genes-Stolen Children."
We've completed the cover design, acquiring photos and finishing the layout.  Looks pretty nice, too.  You'll see a preview within a week or two.

We received permission from the US Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C., to use a couple of their photos inside the novel.  We may also use some for the United Nations' photo archives, depending upon space limitations.

We expect to turn in a polished manuscript to the printers in mid-August, beating our deadline of books for sale at Hostfest, by over a month.  This novel took about eight months to write, including four edits (so far).

We're already being told about prospective attendees at the Minot ND event.  Should be a bigger deal than ever.  I look forward to seeing all of you there, some for the first time.

I read about a new CD that was recorded at Dalhalla, in Dalarna Sweden.  It's titled "Vallmusik i Dalhalla" and is basically the music of the Nordic fäbod...kulning (singing) and cow/goat horn communication/music.  Classified as "herding music" it was the cell phones of the previous centuries when communicating to other women (Vallkulla, Saeter Jente, Fäbod Stinta...whatever your particular Swedish/Norwegian dialect termed them.  There is a Finnish equivallent, but I've forgotten the name.  There are many artists represented on the nearly forth CD track.  Learn more at: http://sites.google.com/site/vallmusik.

I contacted the producer and with help, first from Björn Ståbi and then from a Swedish cousin, we managed to bring over a number of the CDs which we'll sell at the book signings; perfect compliment to the "Vallkulla" series.  The sounds remind me of my mother older sisters, calling the cows.

I'm playing catch-up with the rapidity of the occurring events.
I wish to reiterate belated thanks to everyone for their kind words about the novels.  I'm doing my job when I'm giving you pleasure.
Stockholm (Wisconsin) Arts Festival was a first and we met so many nice folks, many who drove down from the Twin Cities and inland.  Thank you for sharing your family stories and experiences, not to mention the many budding writers I met, too.

I've never been without at least two novels in the works,simultaneously and today is no exception.

With the recent completion (I hope) of the second novel about the WW-II years,I've had another cooking in the wings most of the winter.  This is an idea I had some years ago.

If I were a Monarch in England, Scandinavia...any European country, actually,wouldn't I be concerned about why all my subjects were fleeing their homeland(where I live) for that new land across the Atlantic?

Imagine the concern of the then (benevolent?) king of Sweden and Norway whenhis subjects begin to flee for Nord Amerika.  He sends one of his sons, incognito,as an immigrant to learn the truth about his new land which holds so muchpromise, perhaps so much, from the richness of the land and the beauty of an Indian maiden, whom even a prince will have second thoughts about going home.

Lets hope I can pull off this change-of-pace story to make it believable and entertaining.

With the recent visit of the black bear to our Smultron Office, I've been getting in the mood for the wild west portion of the novel.

Danish Days was my first ever endeavor.  Those Danes really know how to have fun; the rest of us Nordics could take some lessons.  Of course, I know many folks who stopped, either from my fiddling or Nordic dance endeavors.  It was a day in between the rain, but very rewarding.  I met some new friends, too.

Svenskarnas Dag in M'Haha Park (Minneapolis) couldn't have been a more perfect day.  For the first time at this event, "Vallkulla" sales outstripped the sales of "My Enemy's Child."  Many old friends and readers stopped to make very nice comments and good luck to all of you who were brave enough to purchase all those four-book sets of  "Vallkulla."