31 December 2023
WADENA Julie Jo Larson can take readers to far-flung destinations in Minnesota with her words.
The Brainerd-based author appeared last month at the Wadena City Library and has written two travel guidebooks: “100 Things to Do in Minnesota Before You Die” and “100 Things to Do in the Minnesota Northwoods Before You Die.” She recently signed copies at a Brainerd-area winery.
“This year, I’ve done over 30 events,” Larson said at the Tuesday, Dec. 19, book signing. “And an event is either like at a bookstore where I’m signing or here. … Sales have been really steady.”
The licensed social worker is the assistant director of a program that works with first-generation and low-income students at Central Lakes College, which has campuses in Staples and Brainerd. But her Wadena City Library appearance was part of the library’s grand opening.
“My author business is what I do most weekends and nights,” Larson said of balancing both her CLC job and work as a storyteller. “Although the two overlap a little bit sometimes. … I’ve done a lot of bigger festivals like the Hackensack Book Festival. I was down in Maine.”
Her book “100 Things to Do in Minnesota Before You Die” helps readers navigate from Grand Portage on the state’s northern border to Winona in the south “while enticing you to try new outdoor activities, eat unusual foods and sip flavorful beverages,” according to her publicist.
“Today, the Dennis Drummond Wine Co. is having their annual lutefisk and Swedish meatballs supper with lefse, so people buy the tickets ahead of time. And we were asked if we wanted to set up our little booth,” she said of the winery that is mentioned in both her tourism guidebooks.
Larson defines the “Northwoods” in her first book as covering areas from St. Cloud up to the Canadian border while her second book that was published discusses things south of St. Cloud.
“I started writing down all the places people were telling me about because when you say you’re going to write a book, everybody wants to contribute to it … and most of the places I’ve been to myself,” said Larson, a 59-year-old wife and mother of three.
“Visit the Minnesota Music Hall of Fame, order popcorn from a 120-year-old popcorn wagon and walk across the Mississippi headwaters at Itasca State Park. … Visit an underground state park or look to the sky to watch the Northern Lights,” according to a press release about her books.
Larson said. “I wanted the books to be a bucket list for everyone. … I do research in person. I do it online. I do it by talking to people. I call businesses. Some of the trips were things that I’ve done with my children and my husband or with my girlfriends.”
Almost 2,500 copies of “100 Things to Do in the Minnesota Northwoods Before You Die” have been sold and more than 1,000 copies of “100 Things to Do in Minnesota Before You Die” have been purchased by those interested in her works, according to Larson.
“For me, though, events are more than selling books,” Larson said at the winery book signing. “I have the opportunity to share my love of Minnesota with other people and learn about new places to visit from them. I am also able to support our local small businesses.”
Larson credits her creative writing courses in college for her love of writing and becoming an author.
“I speak with groups, libraries, book clubs and organizations about my books, writing in general, and exploring Minnesota. People can learn more on my website. www.juliejolarson.com,” Larson said.
There is no shortage of activities in her books to keep readers of all ages busy 365 days a year “and experience four seasons of great adventures where the journey is as meaningful as the destination,” according to Reedy Press, her publishing house out of St. Louis, Missouri.
“Unless I take a vacation, my daytime hours are devoted to my students in the program and the college I work with,” she said of her job with CLC and research for her guidebooks. “Sometimes I’ll take a day off and be in the Twin Cities or I’ll be Ortonville, Baudette or something like that.”
Larson’s guidebooks are billed as “celebrations of the people, places and experiences that make Minnesota special … with a plethora of things to do every season both indoors and out.”
She encourages people to email her at [email protected] with Wadena-area “things” she should visit for consideration in future editions of her guidebooks for example she said she loves Oma’s Bakery and Restaurant, a German family-owned bistro, in Wadena.
“Due to the large geographical areas my books cover, I have many communities to explore in 2024,” Larson said of the new year.
From ‘100 Things to Do in Minnesota Before You Die’ Food lovers and aeronautical lovers flock to Wings Airport Caf just outside of Brainerd. Guests have a full view of a runway just feet from their table. (I recommend the wild rice pancakes or giant caramel roll for starters.) For pizza lovers, Larson included chicken wild rice pizza from Poor Gary’s Pizza in Moose Lake, Grandma’s Special from Log Cabin Pizza in Browerville and taco pizza from Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream located in New Ulm and Crookston. Minnesota’s second-oldest brewery is also one of the state’s most well-preserved historic treasures. August Schell Brewing Co. began brewing beer in 1860. Since then, visitors have enjoyed tours of the inside facilities and outside gardens, a German-themed gift shop and beer. Stoney Brook Farms LLC created the world’s largest corn maze in 2022. Created in the shape of classical Halloween villains, the maze is spread out over 110 acres. With games, food trucks and plenty of pumpkins, Stoney Brook Farms is a big adventure! Mankato is one of the “artiest” cities in Minnesota. Their walking sculpture tour includes dozens of sculptures which are changed every spring. Wear comfy shoes, this tour gives viewers a great workout.
FRANK LEE is the features writer for the Wadena Pioneer Journal. He may be reached at 218-631-6470 or at [email protected].
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