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From hot dish to Thor

By Kari VanDerVeen
November 28, 2007

What do cozy lakeside cabins, the Minnesota State Fair, unpredictable weather, hot dish and the Norwegian god Thor have in common?

They're the subjects of books that will be featured during a number of author-signing events to be held at the St. Olaf Bookstore as part of the Christmas Festival celebration.

Author and photographer Doug Ohman will sign copies of his new book, Cabins of Minnesota, from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29. The book features more than 120 color photographs of Minnesota's treasured getaways.

Bestselling authors Kathryn Strand Koutsky and Linda Koutsky will sign copies of their new book, Minnesota State Fair: An Illustrated History, from 6-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30. Filled with facts about the fair and more than 1,200 photographs from the Great Minnesota Get-Together, this book also features dozens of concessionaire and blue-ribbon recipes.

If that doesn't fill you up, authors Janet Martin and David Cook will be at the bookstore at the same time signing copies of their new book, Lemonade for the Lawnboy: The Executives' Wives' Cookbook Committee. Martin is the author of such books as Growing Up Lutheran: What Does This Mean? and Lutheran Church Basement Women.

If you're more interested in preparing for the cold than baking something warm, WCCO radio personality Mike Lynch will sign copies of his new book, Mike Lynch's Minnesota Weatherwatch: A Complete Guide for Weather-Obsessed Minnesotans, from 6-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1. Illustrated with more than 100 color photographs, this book provides Minnesotans with the diverse tools needed to forecast the weather in the North Star State.

Acclaimed Scandinavian author Lisa Lunge-Larson will sign her new book, The Adventures of Thor the Thunder God, from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. Thor stories have been around since the days of the Vikings, and this book, filled with high drama and written with humor and skill, makes the ancient stories accessible and fun.

Retired Minneapolis Star Tribune Taste section editor Ann Burckhardt will sign her book, Hot Dish Heaven: Classic Casseroles from Midwest Kitchens, from 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. The book brings back the comfy casseroles of the '50s and '60s with modern updates for busy families, swingin' singles and 21st century potluckers.

The bookstore will be open special hours during the Christmas Festival. It will be open from 8 a.m. to 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29 through Saturday, Dec. 1.

Contact Kari VanDerVeen at 507-786-3970 or vanderve@stolaf.edu.