by April Scheinoha
Editor
Author William Kent Krueger told his audience that he usually prays before an event, asking for people to attend. His prayer was answered Sunday, Aug. 3. The Legacy Event Center in Thief River Falls was packed with attendees wanting to hear what he had to say and to have him sign their books.
The Northwest Regional Library System hosted An Evening with William Kent Krueger, first in Roseau on Saturday and then in Thief River Falls on Sunday. The system received funding from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to host the event. Krueger also held a free writing class prior to his event in Thief River Falls.
Krueger is a New York Times bestselling author known for the Cork O’Connor series and other standalone books. The St. Paul resident said one could blame his parents for his profession. They read to him before they put him down for a nap or he went to bed. Krueger recalled his father, a high school English teacher, reading “The Happy Family” to him and his siblings – always in a way that the book wasn’t written. Sometimes the fictional family’s beach outing featured a tidal wave that swept up the family and caused them to fight for their lives. Other times, the ants became giant ants and were after more than the birthday cake featured in the book.
Krueger tried his hand at storytelling in the third grade by writing a short story titled “The Walking Dictionary,” after hearing his father complaining about people not using the dictionary. “The Walking Dictionary” featured a dictionary that didn’t think it was being used enough. His parents and teacher were impressed with his writing. “In third grade, I swear to you I knew I was destined to be a writer,” he said.
At age 18, Krueger took inspiration from author Ernest Hemingway and wanted to write the great American novel. However, it distracted him from being his own writer.
Finally, in the fall of 1987, Krueger applied for a Bush Artist Fellowship, which would allow him the opportunity to be paid and spend about a year writing. At the time, Krueger was in his late 30s. He was full of self-doubt, waiting to hear if his application were accepted. His wife, Diane, remained in his corner and encouraged him to quit his job and write full-time even if he didn’t obtain the fellowship. Shortly after turning in his notice, Krueger learned he had been accepted for the fellowship.
Krueger tried writing the great American novel. He wrote “The Demon Hunter,” which he called a failure. Afterward, for nearly two years, Krueger didn’t write. Then he had a midlife crisis and decided to write what someone would want to read. He settled on mysteries – something he didn’t even read at the time.