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History Through Fiction

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Colin Mustful

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https://www.colinmustful.com

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Genre

History, Historical Fiction

Member Since

November 2014

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Colin Mustful writes a unique cross-genre utilizing elements of fiction and nonfiction in order to tell compelling stories that inform and entertain. The author’s work focusses on the tragic and complicated history surrounding the largely unknown and misunderstood event of the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862. Using a variety of sources, author Colin Mustful objectively considers this important part of Minnesota history through multiple perspectives and necessary historical context. The result is an educational narrative that includes fictional drama and a thought-provoking story.

In addition to his novels, the author has written several essays that delve into the subjugation and genocide of the Native American as well as the reasoning and justi Colin Mustful writes a unique cross-genre utilizing elements of fiction and nonfiction in order to tell compelling stories that inform and entertain. The author’s work focusses on the tragic and complicated history surrounding the largely unknown and misunderstood event of the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862. Using a variety of sources, author Colin Mustful objectively considers this important part of Minnesota history through multiple perspectives and necessary historical context. The result is an educational narrative that includes fictional drama and a thought-provoking story.

In addition to his novels, the author has written several essays that delve into the subjugation and genocide of the Native American as well as the reasoning and justifications for such actions by those who have sought to expel, erase, and destroy western indigenous cultures. One such work includes the author’s Master’s Thesis entitled, The Generation of 1837: Attitudes, Policies, and Actions Toward Indian Populations of Argentina. This particular work analyzes the extinguishment of Pampas Indians throughout the nineteenth century as influenced and justified through the words and works of a group of political and intellectual elite known as the Generation of 1837. Regarding the Dakota Indians of Minnesota, the author has completed several works such as an essay entitled,Unwarranted Expulsion: The Removal of the Winnebago Indians. This work discusses the exile of the Winnebago Indians from the state of Minnesota as a result of the Dakota War despite their very limited involvement in the conflict. The author has also completed a work titled, A Welcome Tragedy: Factors that Led to the U.S.-Dakota Conflict of 1862 in which the author concludes that the U.S.-Dakota War was the foreseeable result of years of misconduct, fraud and exploitation which was fostered by a corrupt Indian system.

Colin Mustful resides in Roseville, Minnesota and has a Master of Arts in History from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Currently, he is studying for a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Augsburg University. In addition to writing, Colin is an avid soccer player and a frequent marathoner.
Colin Mustful resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a Master of Arts in History from Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to writing, Colin is an avid soccer player and a frequent marathoner. ...more

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Colin Mustful’s books

Average rating: 4.02 · 191 ratings · 62 reviews · 19 distinct works • Similar authors

	Reclaiming Mni Sota: An Alternate History of the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862 by Colin Mustful (Goodreads Author), Michael Loso (Contributor) 4.17 avg rating — 115 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Resisting Removal: The Sandy Lake Tragedy of 1850 by Colin Mustful (Goodreads Author), John Haymond (Editor) 3.67 avg rating — 27 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fate of the Dakota: A Novel and Resource on the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862 4.27 avg rating — 15 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Grace At Spirit Lake 3.14 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ceding Contempt: Minnesota’s Most Significant Historical Event really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 10 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Authorial Intrusion and the Civil War Narrative: How to Write History Through Fiction it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Battle of Point Pleasant: A Critical Event at the Onset of a Revolution 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Confronting Minnesota's Past: A Resource to Test Your Understanding on the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862 by Colin Mustful (Goodreads Author), Sean Beggin (Introduction) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Thy Eternal Summer it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2013 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fate of the Dakota: A Novel and Resource On the U. S. - Dakota War of 1862 really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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The Benefits of Writing Sprints: How Short, Focused Sessions Help Writers Make Progress

Short sessions cannot finish a novel by themselves, but they can change the way you return to it.

For a long time, I thought writing success depended on finding the right kind of solitude. Get up early. Guard the time. Put your head down. Repeat that often enough, and eventually you have a book.

That approach worked for me. I wrote five novels that way.

But lately I’ve learned something else: som

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The Winter Folk

by Jen Julian (Goodreads Author)

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Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Businesses to the Top of the Mountain

by Steve Preda (Goodreads Author)

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Colin Mustful wrote a new blog post The Benefits of Writing Sprints: How Short, Focused Sessions Help Writers Make Progress Short sessions cannot finish a novel by themselves, but they can change the way you return to it. For a long time, I thought writing success depended Read more of this blog post »
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Colin Mustful rated a book really liked it The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This is a fun read and a perfect dual timeline. The story moves along quickly and it's filled with drama, mystery, good character development, and just the right amount of tension. The only real drawback, for me, was that it lacked any significant hi ...more
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Colin Mustful rated a book it was amazing Dear Writer, You Need to Quit (QuitBooks for Writers, #1) by Becca Syme (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
If you're a writer, you should read this book. This is a quick read filled with wonderful bits of wisdom, advice, and reminders that appeals not just to writers, but to humans. It takes only a few hours to get through but provides a lifetime of wisdo ...more
Aug 08, 2026 05:40AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Dear Writer, You Need to Quit by Becca Syme. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Dear Writer, You Need to Quit by Becca Syme <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
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