Featured Writers
Mélina Mangal
Mélina Mangal’s work has been published by Milkweed Editions, Coffee House Press, W.W. Norton, and Carolina Wren Press. She is the author of five biographies for youth, including The Vast Wonder of the World: Biologist Ernest Everett Just, winner of the Carter G. Woodson Award. Her latest book, Jayden’s Impossible…
Erin Soderberg Downing
Erin Soderberg Downing has published more than 75 books for kids, tweens, and young adults, including Controlled Burn (a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection) and Just Keep Walking, a story inspired by a 100-mile hike she took with her son on Minnesota’s Superior Hiking Trail. She has also written…
Thomas Maltman
Thomas Maltman’s essays, poetry, and fiction have been published in many literary journals. He has an MFA from Minnesota State University, Mankato. His first novel, The Night Birds, won an Alex Award, a Spur Award, and the Friends of American Writers Literary Award. In 2009 the American Library Association chose…
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Derek Francis
Derek Francis is a lifelong Twin Cities resident and educator with more than 15 years of experience. He began as a high school counselor, supporting graduation success for historically marginalized students. He later served as Manager of Counseling and Executive Director of Equity and School Climate for Minneapolis Public Schools, leading district-wide initiatives including expanding…
James Cihlar
James Cihlar is the author of The Shadowgraph, Rancho Nostalgia, and Undoing. His poetry chapbooks are A Conversation with My Imaginary Daughter, What My Family Used, and Metaphysical Bailout. His writing has appeared in The American Poetry Review, The Threepenny Review, Lambda Literary Review, The Gay and Lesbian Review, Nimrod, Painted Bride Quarterly, and Smartish…
Lindsay Stuart Hill
Lindsay Stuart Hill is a poet, educator, and freelance writer. Her first full-length poetry collection, World of Dew, won the Brittingham Prize in Poetry and was a finalist for the National Poetry Series. Her poems explore loss, impermanence, Buddhism, and travel. Raised in New Hampshire, she earned her MFA from the University of Virginia, where…
Jennifer Gasperini
Jennifer Kimball Gasperini is a current Sun Country Airlines flight attendant and freelance writer. A South Minneapolis resident, Gasperini brings both continuity and fresh perspective to her recently published book, Minnesota’s Phoenix. Gasperini has long been captivated by the adventurous spirit of Minnesotans, having worked with many explorers to develop educational programming. Through her collaboration…
Renee Gilmore
Renee Gilmore is the author of Wayfinding: A Memoir. She is a neurodivergent multi-genre writer, essayist, and poet, and she fearlessly explores the illusion of happiness. Through her writing and lived experience, Gilmore proves that resilience can be practiced both by accident and intention. She holds degrees from the University of New Mexico and Hamline…
Linda Knebel Pruden
Linda Knebel Pruden is an author and national speaker residing in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She received her master’s degree in speech/language pathology from Purdue University and went on to write five books for teachers. In 1987, she was the first speech/language pathologist to be named among Texas’s teachers of the year. Pruden’s writing has also…
Obasesam Okoi
Dr. Obasesam Okoi is Associate Professor of Justice and Peace Studies, co-editor of the African Security Journal, and founding director of the Artificial Intelligence and Society Innovation Lab (ASIL). His research explores how global adversity, including war, terrorism, climate change, and technological disruption, reshapes everyday life, particularly for displaced populations living under chronic insecurity. He…
Jeff Olson
Jeff Olson has served as a youth hockey coach, high school hockey assistant coach, small college hockey assistant coach, and a hockey referee. He is the author and coauthor of Masters of Hockey Scoring Magic. Linemates, Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell-Pohl To The Hockey Hall of Fame; Wisconsin’s Top 10 NHL Greats; The Torch is…
The Minnesota Writers Directory is a project of The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library as the Minnesota Center for the Book. The Library of Congress designated The Friends as Minnesota’s Center in 2012, and in that role The Friends promotes reading, literacy, and libraries throughout Minnesota. Learn more >>
How To Get Listed on the Directory
Thanks for your interest! If you live in Minnesota and you meet the Directory Eligibility Criteria, you can apply to be listed. (Before applying, read the Eligibility Criteria.) We will contact you after we’ve reviewed your application.
All applicants:
- You must live and work in Minnesota. If you live in Minnesota for part of the year, outline your availability in your application.
- You must provide an email address for your profile. (This will not be listed on the website, but it will be used to create a unique contact form linked to your email address.)
- Your county will be listed in the directory. (Street addresses will not be listed.)
- You must meet the Eligibility Criteria. Before applying, read the Eligibility Criteria to see if you are eligible for listing. You will be accepted at the discretion of the Minnesota Center for the Book.