But it’s also an intensely personal story. Hertzel wants to write about people; she might suffer a little from wanderlust, even given her 18-year tenure at her first full-time job. She seems to have an eye for the story in all of us. Hertzel had the fortunate timing to come into journalism when there was money; to see the good times and the old ways and to grow into the new ways, but to also witness the constriction of that industry, and yet, to survive it. It seems that no matter where that leads, this is one journalist that is going to be resilient enough to come out on the other side.
We who are lucky enough to benefit from her work at the Star Tribune in Minneapolis feel that we know her already, but we get to know her even better from this tale of her career and life and how she came to be where she is, including her position as Books Editor for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Call it coming-of-age, call it confessions of an ink-stained wretch; whatever you call it, you will root for her. And wait to see what she does next.
Check out this Q&A with Laurie Hertzel for her advice on writing, thoughts on nature and what Mayme Sevander said to her when last they met.
University of MN Press, hardcover, 24p
ISBN 978-0-8166-6558-7, $22.95
Article comments