Featured Writers
Kim Todd
Kim Todd writes about history and science. She focused on forgotten stories—uncovering events and people that, while overlooked, continue to shape our world. She is the author of four books of literary nonfiction: Sensational: The Hidden History of America’s “Girl Stunt Reporters”; Sparrow; Chrysalis, Maria Sibylla Merian and the Secrets…
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Brian Malloy
Brian Malloy’s novels have been a Book Sense pick, a New York Times New and Notable title, an Oprah selection for best LGBT books of 2021, an Apple Books best new release selection, a 2021 Publishers Marketplace buzz book, and a Booklist editors’ choice. Other honors include the Minnesota Book…
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Molly Beth Griffin
Molly Beth Griffin is the author of several picture books including Ten Beautiful Things, Rhoda’s Rock Hunt, and The Big Leaf Leap, as well as the award-winning young adult novel Silhouette of a Sparrow. Griffin was the recipient of the 2014 McKnight Artist Fellowship in Children’s Literature along with two…
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Naomi Hughes
Naomi Hughes writes quirky young adult sci-fi and fantasy, usually featuring monsters and mental health representation. Her novels include Refraction, which was described by Kirkus Reviews as “a wild, fast-paced ride full of unexpected turns,” and “Afterimage,” which School Library Journal said “deserves a prominent place on sci-fi shelves.” Hughes is a longtime Midwesterner but…
Hampton Smith
Hampton Smith is an independent researcher and writer with a specialty in mid-19th century America and Minnesota History. He was a reference librarian for the Minnesota Historical Society from 1983 to 2015.
Ranae Lenor Hanson
In her writing, Ranae Lenor Hanson weaves a path through the landscapes and communities of Minnesota that have informed her life and vision. In northern Minnesota, she learned an earth-based ethic like that of the Ojibwe people on whose land she grew up. After earning a Ph.D. in cross-cultural education, she taught writing and global…
Amy Sullivan
Amy C. Sullivan, Ph.D., teaches women’s history, children’s history, and the history of medicine, especially where the intersection of race, class, and gender influence these histories. She uses oral history, narrative writing, digital projects, and a robust public history mindset in her scholarship. In her writing, she strives to connect narrators’ experiences in order to…
Tom Combs
Tom Combs’ 25 years as an Emergency Medicine physician provided the foundation for his unforgettable characters and riveting plots. His emotional engagement arises from having helped those facing illness, trauma, and tragedy. Combs is a Minneapolis native and a University of Minnesota Medical School graduate. He did his internship at HCMC and three years EM…
Danny Spewak
Danny Spewak is a journalist, writer, and author with a decade of experience in local broadcast television, including stations in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Buffalo, NY, and mid-Missouri. His first book, From the Gridiron to the Battlefield: Minnesota’s March to a College Football Title and into World War II, is a finalist for the 2022 Minnesota Book…
James Densley
Dr. James Densley is Professor of Criminal Justice at Metro State University and co-founder of The Violence Project Research Center, best known for its work on gun violence prevention. Densley has received global media attention for his work on gangs, criminal networks, violence, and policing. He is the author or co-author of seven books, including…
Said Shaiye
Said Shaiye is an autistic Somali writer and photographer. His debut book, Are You Borg Now?, was named a 2022 Minnesota Book Award Finalist in Memoir & Creative Nonfiction. He teaches Creative Writing through Unrestricted Interest, an autistic-focused organization. He has contributed essays to the anthologies Muslim American Writers at Home and We Are Meant…
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 currently live in Minnesota and have your work published in book form, you can apply to be listed. Simply fill out our online application, and we’ll contact you after we’ve reviewed it.
Criteria for all applicants
- You must live and work in Minnesota. If you live in Minnesota for part of the year, please outline your availability in your application. You will be accepted at the discretion of the Minnesota Center for the Book.
- You must be willing to 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.)
- You must be willing to have your location in Minnesota (county only) listed in the directory.