Fiction author will speak at Spencer’s Tack Center on Oct. 18

Authors often have certain rituals to help get ideas flowing from the pen to page. Hudson novelist Jim Guhl has found that sitting down with his laptop, a notebook, a pen and a large cup of coffee work as his “prepping the desk” ritual. On Oct. 18 beginning at 6:30 p.m., Jim will visit Spencer’s LuCille Tack Center for the Arts to share his writing experiences and other insights.

Jim has featured the local color of the rural Midwest in both of his critically acclaimed books, “Eleven Miles to Oshkosh” and “South of Luck”. As Jim describes, “To create interesting scenes and believable characters, I was able to leverage real experiences and interesting places from my teenage years growing up in Neenah, Wisconsin.”

Using his knowledge of engineering, writing and rural living, along with extensive research gleaned from microfilm, museums and interviews, the author has succeeded at giving the coming-of-age stories a real-to-life appeal.

Guhl’s first suspense-filled novel, “Eleven Miles to Oshkosh”, focuses on a 15-year-old boy, Minnow Finwick, growing up in Neenah in the 1970s. The personal and social issues that Minnow faces are greatly compounded by the need to solve his father’s murder. “South of Luck”, set during World War II, follows a 16-year-old ruffian, Milo, who has been shipped from his Minneapolis home to his great-uncle’s farm in Polk County for the summer.

Come to the Tack Center to see and hear what inspires Jim Guhl to write his award-winning stories. There is no admission charge for this event, which is open to the public. Cash and non-perishable food donations will be accepted at the door to benefit King’s Food Pantry (Spencer). Books will be available for purchase and signing.

For more information, visit lucilletackcenter. com or call 715-659-4499.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO