Going Coastal

by Phil Fitzpatrick (Contributor), Evan Sasman (Contributor), Marie Zhuikov (Contributor)

Lake Superior—its people and places—feature in this anthology of short stories by nine writers from Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The power of stories lures an aging man on a road trip back home, north on Highway 61. Through her painting of a river, an Ojibway woman teaches a historian about himself and her culture’s connections to the land and water. A woman confronts a suicidal man on Stoney Point, led by the mystical power of water to magnify her psychic abilities. Another woman finds meaning in the intricate curves and fiery bands of an agate. A shoreline boulder offers its magical views on human life. A ship captain from long ago faces a coldwater death in Whitefish Bay. Life comes full circle in the currents of the lake for a young man from Two Harbors. A ghostly fur trapper haunts Madeline Island. A family’s powerful saga unfolds on the shores of Lake Superior.

This book won an honorable mention from the Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards, 2018.

144 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2017

Reviews

[Marie Zhuikov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just need to disclaim that I am one of the authors featured in this book. I am so proud to be included among all the other talented authors, all of whom live around Lake Superior. The stories in this book are ones that won a writing contest held by Lake Superior Writers, and the book recently won an honorable mention in the Northeastern Minnesota Book Awards, organized by the University of MN Duluth Library. It makes a great summer read - short, but full of diverse stories centered around Lake Superior.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A find summer collection of short fiction. Read a longer review at: www.cloquetriverpress.com.
Peace.
Mark

[Rhonda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The true treasure of this book, is the Lake Superior setting, all of the short stories share the Lake Superior setting and it is such fun to read stories that take place in a familiar and beloved location, I love Lake Superior. My favorite tales in the book are "On My Head" by Theresa Allison Price and the historic tale The Lake Effect by Maxwell Reagan. Small thin book, very quick read.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting collection of short stories, all somehow related to life on the North Shore of Lake Superior… as one would expect, some are more captivating than others.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going Costal is a collection of short stories by various writers from Minnesota that explore the cultures of Northern Minnesota and Indigenous communities along Lake Superior. This was an impulse buy from a store in Grand Marais. I really enjoyed the stories and how the authors weaved nature and mysticism with places that I'm very familiar with.

An enjoyable read if you're familiar with those areas in Minnesota. A great showcase for local writers.