Celebrating Linden Hills Writers and Authors
LHiNC Board Members Mikaela Casey and Andy Rhode put together a special feature to celebrate National Reading Month and local writers and authors.
Local Author Spotlight!
Doug Wilhide, Poet Laureate of Linden Hills, eloquently captured the vibrant community of writers in our neighborhood:
Linden Hills has more than its share of writers. Some are old, some are new, many are very good; some have local recognition, some have national reputations... It’s one of the defining characteristics of the neighborhood. Whether you’re walking around the block or around the lake you just never know — that person coming toward you could be a writer... even a poet.
Marissa Bader
Author of The Only Me, Stella's Brave Voice, Petunia the Perfectionist
Autumn Carolynn
Author of Traveling in Wonder: A Travel Photographer’s Tales of Wanderlust
Catherine Duncan
Author of Everyday Awakening
Rhonda Fleming Hayes
Author of Pollinator Friendly Gardening!
Rebecca Knill
Author of Radio Head Gal (How Technology Has Changed What It's Like to be Deaf)
John Rosengren
Author of The Greatest Summer in Baseball History, A Clean Heart and more
Curtis Sittenfeld
Author of Show Don't Tell, Romantic Comedy, Rodham and more
Jared Callahan
Author of Hoot's Hideout and 24 Ways to Pray
Mikaela Casey
Author of Lenny the Loon: A Tour of the Twin Cities & An Adventure on Lake Minnetonka
Maren Ellingboe King
Author of Fresh Midwest
Peter Georgas
Author of Dark Blues, The Empty Canoe, The Fifth Slug, and more
Kristin Nelsen
Author of Worldwide Crush and The Scott Fenwick Diaries (coming July 2025)
Paul Rousseau
Author of Friendly Fire: A Fractured Memoir
Sheila Wilensky
Freelance writer/editor. Read Death in an Outhouse here.
Meet Doug Willhide, Poet Laureate of Linden Hills
Did you know Linden Hills has a Poet Laureate? Since 2007, Doug Wilhide has served as the Poet Laureate of our neighborhood. Doug's publishing company, Trolley Car Press, has published two collections of local poetry. Between the Lakes: The Poets of Linden Hills features work from eleven poets who live (or lived) in Linden Hills. SEASONS: Poems from the Southwest Journal Poetry Project includes over 100 poems from more than 40 local poets… along with illustrations by a local artist known as WACSO.
When the pandemic began, Doug started writing short essays and sending them to a list of friends as a way to help maintain community when we all were isolated. He called them "Nutshells." The first 210 were published as a book: Nutshells: Diversions in a Time of Pandemic. It was funded by readers and nominated for a Minnesota Book Award. Doug has kept writing nustshells — the latest was #527.
Though supplies are limited, copies of the books mentioned above still are available. To request a copy, contact wilhide@skypoint.com.
Do you like books? And wine? Then this blog is just for you!
Linden Hills resident Jennifer Simonson writes a free, monthly blog called Bookworm Wine + Words. The project involves pairing books and wine, just how you might pair food and wine. Each monthly post includes a book review, a wine tasting note, and a short explanation about why the two pair so well together.
Linden Hills Writers Group
Looking for an opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors and stimulate your inner creative? Abbi Palsma recently started the Linden Hills Writers Group – a place for connection and creativity through writing. In their first sessions this winter, the participants have communicated how valuable it has been for them to have the opportunity to write without the pressure to perform or publish.
Spring 2025 opportunities include a One Day Intensive on 3/22/25 at Hub 44 and a Weekly Cohort on Wednesdays, starting at 4/2/25, at Linden Hills' beloved Comma, a bookshop.
Coming Soon: A New Neighborhood Library in Honor of a Young Reader
This spring, the Solum family will be putting up a new children’s neighborhood library at 40th & Vincent in honor of their late son, who passed away in July 2024 after a battle with pediatric cancer. He loved visiting the little libraries, though finding children’s books wasn’t always easy. To celebrate his love of stories, the Solums are building a kids-only neighborhood library with books and small treasures, following the “take a book/toy, leave a book/toy” concept. They’ve also created a Superhero & Princess Garden in their yard, which they update monthly, to bring joy to passersby.
The Solums welcome community support—whether through book and toy donations or spreading the word.
National Reading Month at Linden Hills Library
Whether you're a lifelong reader, an aspiring writer, or a caregiver looking to engage your little ones, there's something at the Linden Hills Library for everyone.
March Highlights
This March, our library is all about the joy of reading. Visit our Display Case, participate in our Kids Scavenger Hunt, or solve puzzles at our puzzle table—all themed around reading. Plus, don’t miss out on our "Bookish Bingo" game card, available for both adults and kids. Join in the fun and explore new ways to enjoy reading at your library!
For the Adults
Join the Linden Hills Book Club! Gather with fellow book lovers on the third Thursday of each month from 7-8 PM for a hybrid book club meeting. You can join us in person at the library or tune in online to dive into engaging book discussions. This March, we're excited to explore The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus.
Dial-A-Story for Adults: Too busy to sit down with a book? Enjoy a story anytime, anywhere by dialing 612-543-8851. Listen to a tale read by Hennepin County Library staff, with new stories featured weekly.
Writing Support at Hennepin County Library: Are you an aspiring writer? Our library offers numerous opportunities for writing support to help you on your writing journey. Connect with us to learn more about these resources and start writing today!
For the Kids
Storytime Sessions: Engage your little ones with our variety of storytime activities. We offer sessions that involve talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing together:
Baby Storytime: Mondays at 10 or 11 AM. Designed specifically for children from birth to 24 months and their caregivers.
Family Storytime: Wednesdays at 10 or 11 AM. Open to children of all ages and their caregivers.
Support our AMAZING neighborhood bookstores! 📚
Linden Hills is home to TWO amazing bookstores – Wild Rumpus and Comma, a bookshop!
