New York Times bestselling author visits Perham

Among its many festivities for Turtle Fest, Perham invited a New York Times bestselling author to speak to the community and be the grand marshal of the festival's Grand Parade. William Kent Kruger, best known for his novel, "Ordinary Grace," and his book series following Cork O'Connor, had been to Perham before, but this was the first time he was able to stop and see the community for an extended period.

" I have been a storyteller my entire life," Krueger said. "I just simply was born with a need to tell stories. I’m really at loose ends if I’m not at work on a manuscript, telling a story."

Several years ago, Krueger met Megan Wells, the owner of Perham's Willow Bookstore on West Main Street, at an event in the Twin Cities. When they talked, she told him about her book store. He said it was lovely to see her excitement.

" I told her, 'I’m going to have to do an event there one of these days,'" Krueger said. Then, prior to Turtle Fest, Wells contacted him, mentioned the festival and asked him to come to Perham. "I had already made her a promise," he continued.

So, Krueger came to Perham for Turtle Fest, where he spoke to residents and visitors alike about his books and writing in Turtle Park on Friday, June 19. Afterward, he signed fans' books.

Prior to coming, Wells also asked if he'd like to be the grand marshal of the following parade, which he accepted. This was his first time participating in a parade as grand marshal.

"It’s so important to support our independent booksellers, especially those in rural communities," Krueger said, "I just want people to know what a treasure they have with Willow in their community."

Krueger enjoyed his first extended stop in Perham. "It's a lovely community," he said. In fact, the city reminds him of the small Midwestern towns where he spent his adolescence with its couple of blocks of businesses, the houses around it and the farms. "That's really where I grew up," he continued.

Krueger likes to write stories inspired by his life and Minnesota in general. As he said in his speech at Turtle Park, he also makes sure to travel to wherever the setting of his story is during the season in which it takes place. This is because he believes he needs to experience what he's writing about.

" We think of stories as entertainment, but really stories do so much more — stories enlighten us, stories encourage us, stories inspire us, and stories give us hope," he said when asked about his love for storytelling. "So, I write with the hope that I can offer all of that to readers in addition to entertaining them."

Krueger describes his writing process as disciplined. Before he made his living as a writer, he would get up every day at around six in the morning, and, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, he'd go to a coffee shop and spend a few hours writing there.

He believes that in order to be accomplished at anything, one has to be disciplined in their approach. Now that he makes his living as a writer, he still makes sure to write in the mornings as well as in the afternoons around all other needed business that comes with being an author.

"The worst thing a person can do in his or her life is not read," Krueger said. "Reading is the window on other cultures. Reading is the window on other experiences. Reading is really the bridge that helps us reach one another, I think."

If you're interested in learning more about William Kent Krueger and his books, visit his website at williamkentkrueger.com .