Nonfiction
Nonfiction writers from Minnesota.

Sue Leaf
Sue Leaf, a Minnesota native, was trained as a zoologist and taught environmental science. She writes on natural history and environmental topics from her home on the shores of Pioneer Lake. An avid hiker, paddler, cross-country skier, and bird watcher, Leaf believes that being attuned to nature is good for the soul.

Traci Mann
Traci Mann is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Minnesota. She earned her Ph.D. from Stanford University and was on the faculty at UCLA before moving to the U and founding the Health and Eating Lab in 2007. Mann is uniquely qualified to provide the truth about dieting, eating, obesity, and self-control. She…

Mary Losure
From the titles, you might think Mary Losure’s books are fiction, but she assures you that every word of Isaac the Alchemist: Secrets of Isaac Newton, Reveal’d is not only true, but documented with primary sources. So is Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron and even The Fairy Ring, or Elsie…

Elaine Tyler May
Elaine Tyler May is Regents Professor of American Studies and History at the University of Minnesota. She is past president of the Organization of American Historians and past president of the American Studies Association. In addition to her books and articles, she has written for the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Ms., Daily…

Catherine Madison
Catherine “Cathy” Madison is a veteran journalist who has served as editor-in-chief of Utne Reader, senior editor at Adweek and Creativity magazines, founding editor of American Advertising, and editor-in-chief of Format Magazine. She is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she has taught continuing education classes in editing. Madison’s award-winning…

Larry Millett
Larry Millett, a native of Minneapolis, spent much of his career as a writer, reporter, and editor for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, joining the newspaper in 1972. In 1985, he became the newspaper’s first architecture critic. He held that post until his retirement from the Pioneer Press in 2002. Millett has written numerous books…

Mark Neužil
Mark Neužil (pronounced NEW-zhul) is professor of journalism at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul and the author, co-author, or editor of eight books. He received a B.A. in journalism and political science from Iowa State University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota. Neužil is a frequent writer and…

Carolyn Porter
Carolyn Porter is a graphic designer and self-professed typography geek who designed the award-winning P22 Marcel Script font. The book Marcel’s Letters recounts Porter’s search for information on Marcel Heuzé, the man who penned the letters that were used as the basis for the font. Letters, she would come to learn, that had been mailed…

James Silas Rogers
James Silas Rogers is an editor and creative writer. His book of essays and poems about cemeteries, Northern Orchards: Places Near the Dead, was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in Memoir & Creative Nonfiction. Four of his essays have been selected as a “notable” in the annual Best American Essays volume (and as…

Laura Purdie Salas
Laura Purdie Salas has written more than 130 books for kids, including Lion of the Sky, the Can Be… series (Bank Street Best Books, IRA Teachers’ Choice), BookSpeak! (Minnesota Book Award, NCTE Notable), and Clover Kitty Goes to Kittygarten. Science and poetry are her first loves, and she enjoys mashing up different genres and styles.…