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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 · 182 ratings · 61 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 — 108 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) 3.69 avg rating — 26 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 4.11 avg rating — 9 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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From History to Story: How Research Becomes Historical Fiction

Historical fiction writers are often told to do their research. That advice is right—but incomplete.

Research matters. It gives us context, credibility, and depth. But research alone does not create story. A novelist can gather books, archival documents, dates, names, and quotations and still end up with a draft that feels more like a lecture than a living narrative.

That is the challenge at the hea

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Leonardo da Vinci

by Walter Isaacson (Goodreads Author)

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Apr 22, 2026 03:17AM

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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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Oct 27, 2025 06:49AM

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Colin Mustful rated a book it was amazing Child of These Tears by Molly McNett	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
It takes a little time to find your footing, but once the narrative clicks into place, the story becomes deeply absorbing—a moving exploration of loss and survival. Set amid a convergence of competing forces—English, French, Native, and religious—the ...more
May 04, 2026 11:28AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Child of These Tears by Molly McNett. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Child of These Tears by Molly McNett <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Colin Mustful rated a book it was amazing Circus of the Vanishing Elephant by Tim Schooley (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
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Colin Mustful rated a book it was amazing Exalted Objects by Jane D. Cairns	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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Colin Mustful is currently reading Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson (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
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Colin Mustful and 1 other person liked Raven Journeay's review of Jungle of Ashes:
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Colin Mustful rated a book it was amazing Jungle of Ashes by Brynn Barineau (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
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Colin Mustful and 4 other people liked AthenaReads1989's review of Jungle of Ashes: "Let me just start by saying the narrator, Carolyn Hewitt, did a fantastic job with multiple voices let alone multiple genders and multiple nationalities. This story kept me interested the entire time, the FMC, while naive, is one that you want to suc" Read more of this review »
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Colin Mustful and 1 other person liked Heather's review of Jungle of Ashes: "4.5⭐️ I went into this book knowing just a hint of the tale of Fordlandia and a bit of first hand knowledge living in the Amazon. The humanization of this part of history was so immersive I was able to visualize and lose myself in the narrative. I'm s" Read more of this review »
Feb 27, 2026 07:49PM · see review