Pat Bluth - Shares her story on hope and healing

Pat Bluth is a wife, bereaved parent, licensed family therapist, grief facilitator, author and speaker.  Following the death of her 17-year old daughter, Tammy, by a drunk driver Pat co-founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving in her County.  Pat is a trained victim advocate.   Pat’s passion has been spending her time educating and changing attitudes about drinking and driving.  As a certified Toastmaster, Pat has spoken to thousands sharing her story of hope and healing.  Pat speaks from her heart and has brought hope to many who thought life was hopeless after a tragedy.  

Her Book, From Pain to Peace – A Journey from Rage to Forgiveness is Pat’s compelling story tracing her journey from rage to forgiveness and healing.  Discover how love and forgiveness can conquer and win over bitterness and rage.  Our deepest hurts can be healed with God’s help.

Welcome Bernadette Johnson

I am excited to participate in the Northwood's Art and Book Festival for the first time this August.  I have created a unique line of hand-crafted sterling silver and gold jewelry inspired by the beauty in natural stones. My journey of creating jewelry started in elementary school with stringing beads and has evolved into smithing gold and silver settings for the beautiful and unique stones and fossils that I love to collect. I work in my home studio, with the support of my family, to create unique one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art.

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Crazy Leaf Photography is on their way back to our Festival!

Crazy Leaf Photography is a small nature photography business in Chaska, Minnesota and the artwork of Benjamin and Carolyn Pogatsnik. We specialize in unique nature photos from around our beautiful state. Yes, all of them; all from Minnesota. Photographing “L’Étoile du Nord” or “the star of the north” is, and will forever be, a grand adventure. 

We handle the entire process and creation of our products ourselves. We print all our own images, we cut our own matboard, we also frame many of our images and use photographic canvas stretched over stretcher bars to create gallery wrapped prints that literally pop off of the wall. 

My wife and I spend the summers traveling around the state sharing our photos at art fairs. We spend our nights, weekends, and vacation time hiking, canoeing, camping, and enjoying the great outdoors. The rest of our time is spent at our "real jobs".  My wife and I are both teachers and love educating youngsters as much as photography. I think that’s the reason we love participating in art fairs so much, we get to meet all sorts of people who share our love of the outdoors and photography and get to teach them about our work, our techniques, and about the places we’ve seen and the things we have experienced. My favorite thing is when we have young photographers who spend hours in the tent pouring through every image soaking up inspiration. What they don’t realize is that they inspire us to keep working, to improve our craft, and to get out there and make more great photos. 

Welcome back Colin Mustful!

Colin Mustful is an author and historian whose unique storytelling style combines history through fiction. His most recent book, Resisting Removal, tells the untold story of the Sandy Lake Tragedy of 1850. This is Colin's second time as a part of the Northwoods Art and Book Festival. He enjoys the festival because it is a great chance to meet readers and talk with them about Minnesota's interesting and complicated history.

Meet the Little Brothers and Sisters of the Abbey

Alpacas

Although these two cuties won’t be at our Festival…luxurious products will be available for you to purchase

Did you know?  Alpaca is seven times warmer than wool; it is softer than cashmere and is hypoallergenic.                                  

One of the world’s most luxurious fibers, it is prized for its unique silky feel.  These rare and amazing animals lived in extremely high elevations, with cold climate and under harsh conditions where other domestic animals could not survive.  They developed a coat with microscopic air pockets that yields a high insulation value for light weight but extremely warm garments.

This cashmere -like fleece has long been known as the “Gold of the Andes”.  For thousands of years in the Peruvian highlands, this fleece was reserved for Incan Royalty only.

The Abbey now offers this wonder fiber to you.

Our award-winning yarns come in 22 natural colors together with many authentically dyed shades for knitters, spinners and weavers around the world.

Our on line store has scarves, gloves, hats, socks and a variety of alpaca clothing perfect for the cold Minnesota winters.

Let the Little Brothers and Sisters of The Abbey wrap you in warmth and luxury this winter.

The Abbey now has 12 alpaca and 5 cria (babies) are expected this summer.

Mark your calendars for the Northwoods 24th Annual Art & Book Festival

Mark your calendar August 10 from 9-3 to be in Hackensack, MN for the Northwoods 24 Annual Art & Book Festival. This year we have some tremendous talent lining Lake Street, in the Community Building and the United Congregational Church over 55 artists and 35 authors, live entertainment will fill the air with music.

Authors presenting ‘Murder She Writes Again and Again’ 11:00 am.m in the UCC presented by the Sisters in Crime Twin City Chapter. Make and Take Lake Art in the Children’s Art Tent will bring out the creativity in your children. Stroll the Festival with a glass of wine or a cup of beer, or take a break from shopping and grab a bite to eat from one of the food trucks or a slice of pie from the ‘Church Pie Ladies’ with a cup of coffee all while taking in the entertainment of "Wayne and the Boys". Keep Saturday, August 10 open - there will be something for everyone!

Josh Duffee and his Big Band was a sold out event!

Wow! What an exceptional two evenings we had in Hackensack! Josh Duffee and Linnea Saddler were outstanding, and the Orchestra never fails us. We were treated to acapella and solo’s by Linnea’s talented children-simply fabulous! Thank you Josh and his Big Band, Linnea and her children for sharing your incredible talent with us. Check back for more pictures in our Past Festivals and History tab.

Meet Josh Duffee's vocalist Linnea Saddler

Linnea Saddler - A native of the Quad Cities area, Linnea has been involved in vocal music for most of her life. She “brought down the house” with her solo, “These Are My Children” in the Moline High School production of “Fame.” She’s currently music director at her church, sings professionally part-time, and teaches vocal strategy, technique and performance. Linnea gains strength from music and her faith, and shares those passions with her 3 children.

Josh Duffee in Concert with his Big Band Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13

Josh Duffee - Based in Davenport, Iowa, Josh has been living his dream of being a professional musician and band leader for the past 20 years. He is a featured artist at jazz festivals and concerts world-wide, but his love for the Hackensack area brings him back each year. He's an accomplished jazz historian and is considered by the families of musical greats like Louis Bellson, Bix Beiderbecke, and Jean Goldkette to be a personal friend. Josh will also entertain you Friday and Saturday evenings by relaying stories about the famous First Ladies of Song and their music. www.northwoodsartscouncil.org

Do not miss this show! Josh Duffee and his Big Band return to Hackensack July 12 and 13

Josh Duffee and his Big band return to Hackensack with an energetic two night festival. “The First Ladies of Song” - the iconic female vocalists of the Big Band Era, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Peggy Lee and Anita O’Day just to name a few will be portrayed by guest vocalist Linnea Saddler. This is a show that will be different each night singing between 20 - 25 vocals between the two nights. Not to be missed is the fan favorite - The drum performances by band leader Josh Duffee who will be performing on one of the drum sets owned by famed drummer Louie Bellson, who played with the likes of Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey and Duke Ellington. Tickets on sale now. www.northwoodsartscouncil.org

Josh Duffee and his Big Band Return!

For the fifth summer, Josh Duffee and his big band return to Hackensack for a two day music festival July 12th and 13th at 7:30pm at the Hackensack Community Building. This year the spotlight shines on “The First Ladies of Song”, the female vocalists of the Big Band Era, who include Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Peggy Lee and Anita O'Day. Each night the shows will feature different music. Guest vocalist for both performances will be Linnea Saddler, Duffee's classmate at Moline High School, Moline, IL.  Another music festival highlight will be drum performances by Josh Duffee, band leader and professional percussionist. He will perform on one of the drum sets owned by famed Louie Bellson.

“First Ladies of Song” tickets are now available at Southside Fuel Plus, Swanson's Bait and Gas in Hackensack, the Flea Market at Sacred Heart Church on July 10th, and on the NAC website www.northwoodsartscouncil.org.  Tickets sell quickly so you are encouraged to get your tickets early. 

Josh Duffee and His Big Band Tickets On Sale Now

Congratulations to our 23rd Annual Art & Book Festival Winners!

Thank you to all the attendees to our 23rd Annual Art & Book Festival. All the artists and authors were thrilled with our attendance. We worked very hard behind the scenes this year to bring you a bigger and better Festival. 

LEFT TO RIGHT DON HOUSEMAN 'STUFF ON PAPER', JIM KNUTSON - KOLODZNE, BECKY SEEMAN, BOB SEEMAN, AND LYNNE FISHER - NOT SHOWN, HEIDI TRETBAR

Congratulations Winners!

Spirit of the North

1st Place - Jim Knutson - Kolodzne - American Indian Center

2nd Place - Don Houseman - Stuff on Paper

Most Creative

1st Place - Lynn Fisher - KaJo Inscriptions

2nd Place - Heidi Tretbar - Heidi's Renewed Rubbish

Best of Show

Becky and Bob Seeman - Artwoods Creative Jewelry and Wood

Honk-honk! The MN Art Truck is rolling into Hackensack for Saturday's Festival!

THEY’RE LIKE FOOD TRUCKS—ONLY BETTER!

You’re hungry. Hungry for something different. Hungry for something that will feed you for the distance.

When the Minnesota Art Truck pulls up to Northwoods Art & Book Festival, you will have a whole new adventure to savor. Yes, they are food trucks. For your soul.

It will be stocked with a delicious assortment of art from Midwest artists, the Minnesota Art Truck delivers loads of something for everyone. Not only will they satisfy your cravings, Matt Swenson ower of the MN Art Truck also poured over student entries from Northland Community School in Remer and WHA High School in Walker. Matt will be announcing the winners of our student art contest @ 2:30 in front of Baxter (Minnesota Art Truck). Be sure to be there to support our awesome student artists and view all of the amazing entries. Congratulations to all the winners.

You can also fuel up on Facebook and Instagram by following @MNArtTruck.

Meet Jerry Holl

We are so excited for Saturday! Fabulous artists and authors will be here!

Meet Anthony Swann

Anthony Swann has been many things.  A chef on a travel train, owner, and operator of a jazz-infused coffee shop, an art enthusiast, an avid world traveler, a friend to many and a lover of life. Through it all, he's written poetry.  His love of poetry and literature was inspired by a high school English teacher and has been constant and strong ever since.  His first full book of original poetry, Paint with Words.

Paint with Words, a book of poetry features twenty hand-picked poems by him from a vast repertoire of poetry written during his lifetime. According to his mentor and teacher, Dr. Carol Ann Russell, “I believe it is an indivisible love—of words, song, art, and jazz-which makes Anthony Swann unique as a poet.” She continues,  “The reality is that Anthony Swann is a rebel outside and inside of time. His wonderings across America have not just been highways, but ley lines and his ear is a human ear, his heart our beating heart.” Anthony has written poetry most of his life and is very adept at reading it. He was born in 1942 and grew up in Crosslake, Minnesota. After attending college, he lived in Minneapolis where he co-founded a jazz coffeehouse called the Broken Drum. He now lives in Bemidji, Minnesota, where he is active in the arts community and has served on the boards of several arts organizations.

Meet Rosemary Vaughn

Born and raised on the Canadian prairies, Rosemary Vaughn immigrated with her family to the northern plains of the United States in the mid-1970s. A former professor of Teacher Education, Rosemary has drawn on her experiences in education and having lived on the islands in her debut award-winning novel Love on the Misty Isles. Currently spending summers among the pines of Minnesota and winters in palm-studded Florida, Rosemary has adopted the title of Pine to Palm Writer. Visit Rosemary at her website: www.rosemaryvaughn.com.

Love on the Misty Isles

The rugged, pristine beauty of the former Queen Charlotte Islands off the northwest coast of Canada forms the back drop for Love on the Misty Isles, a novel in three parts. The twists and turns of the plot revolve around three intertwining love stories that cross generations, cultures, and borders. The characters form a family of sorts in this remote community. Officially named Haida Gwaii, the islands are home to the proud and talented Haida First Nation for whom the environment is very important. “Love,” therefore, in the title refers to more than just romantic love. It is love of culture, the environment, and the familial love of friends. It is a story of love, life, death, loyalty, betrayal, and forgiveness.

Rosemary participated in the 2017 Northwoods Art and Book Festival, which she found very well organized and the attendants very helpful. She also enjoyed the interaction with other authors and being at an event where  the visitors were truly interested in books and talking about them.  

Meet Jason Willis

Jason Lee Willis is an author who teaches high school English, indigenous studies, creative writing, and mythology, but every morning during the school year, he wakes up at five a.m. to write a thousand words. Jason grew up in South Dakota and currently lives in Minnesota, where he lives the life of a hobbit by gardening, writing, walking around barefoot, wearing vests, fishing, and going on adventures with his wife Julie.

The Fire Handler

1897: In the pine forests of central Minnesota lives the surviving family of the Wijigan Clan, a branch of the Chippewa Indian nation that has survived a cross-continent exodus to arrive at their destination--Lake Manitou. Yet at the turn of the 19th Century, the United States government is trying to remove the Chippewa from prime logging lands through extortion and mandated boarding schools. Lily Asibikaashi, who lives a simple life with her mother and younger brother, has already rejected her culture and wants to become a public school teacher. But when her brother is forcibly taken to a distant boarding school, Lily becomes the last link between the mysterious past and unfulfilled prophecy. Despite her misgivings, Lily is trained as a Wabeno, a Fire Handler, and is given secrets others are willing to murder to discover. If her family is to survive, Lily will have to choose between past and future, duty and dream, faith and family. 1988: Stories of a horned serpent that lives below the lake are still told around campfires, but for Levi MacPherson, his nightmares warn him some of the old legends might be true. To learn about his past, he seeks out his great-grandmother Lily, who seems to be clinging to life just to share her stories. Lily teaches him about the Seven Fires Prophecies, the magic of the Dream Catcher, and his darkest family secrets. She also reveals that her power as a Fire Handler accidentally woke the evil Manitou, and to fully defeat it, Levi must also be trained as she once was by her grandfather. Will Levi destroy the centuries-old prophecy, or will he fulfill it?
 

Meet Gene Stark

Bringing the Word of Life to the 1870s Minnesota Wilderness Historical fiction author tracks the exciting life of an 1870s circuit riding missionary. 

CASTLE ROCK, COLORADO, June 27, 2018 – Dropped from a stagecoach into the harsh, yet beautiful wilderness of western Minnesota in 1874, Pastor August Hertwig faces isolation, severe weather, and extreme physical hardship. Yet God leads him to the love of his life in the strong, determined Elizabeth and together they forge and amazing ministry. "During the 1870s western Minnesota was on the edge of a changing civilization. An aura of excitement and danger prevailed as immigrants flooded into the area," said author Gene Stark. (CrossLink Publishing, 2018, $16.95, available at http://www.flyovercountryscribe.com.) (CrossLink Publishing, 2018, $16.95, available at http://flyovercountryscribe.com.) "I had never wondered before if I would see another summer. Yet on that day the question crossed my mind." The frontier town of Alexandria, Minnesota in 1874, attracted immigrants longing for land and freedom. Yet the newcomers to this wild, beautiful, and dangerous landscape needed the stability, love, and peace found in the Word of Life. Pastor August Hertwig, called to this ministry and dropped from a stagecoach into a stunning yet hostile place, faced isolation, severe weather, and plagues of locusts as he struggled to bring the permanence of Church and Faith to settlers striving to carve out a life in this new land. God led him to the love of his life in the strong, determined Elizabeth and together, in faith, they forged a powerful ministry based on the eternal Word and manifested in vibrant Christian congregations. Pastor Hertwig tells his own story of immigration which takes him from his childhood Germany to the very "ends of the earth." Traveling on foot and by horse, his ministry covered several counties where he started sixteen congregations, many of which still exist today. "God in a God-Forsaken Land" is a journey of faith and adventure in 1870s pioneer Minnesota. Historical fiction author tracks the exciting life of an 1870s circuit riding missionary. Historical fiction author tracks the exciting life of an 1870s circuit riding missionary.