Local author to present her haunting novel at Oct. 3 salon

 

Local author Kirsten Jacobson Stasney will present her newly released historical novel, Thy Father’s Will,
in Drury Lane Books’ salon series at 5 p.m. Saturday, October 3.

Based on a true story of consuming love and controlling family relationships, Thy
Father’s Will
is set in a Norwegian Lutheran immigrant community in the Midwest at the beginning of the 20th century. Inspired by a letter written by her great-aunt, Kirsten’s novel is based on the final years of her great-grandfather Joseph Marwick’s life. “The revelations in the letter haunted me for years,” Kirsten explains, “and I had to tell the story of lives forever altered by the damaging consequences of decisions made for all the right reasons.”

A wealthy banker and community leader, second generation immigrant Joseph supports the Norwegian Lutheran Church, believes men control their destinies by the choices they make, and lives by the values of respect, resourcefulness and responsibility. Joseph’s children love, honor and obey their stoic, commanding father, trusting he will ensure their prosperity, health and happiness. When decisions he imposes on his only son Severt and favorite daughter Ida have unintended, harmful consequences, Joseph spares nothing in his attempts to save them. A widower, Joseph is alone when he faces his fallibility, and, in the end, cannot forgive himself.

Kirsten vividly recaptures the private world of the Joseph Marvick family, one privileged with wealth, travel and higher education at the turn of the century. Marked by their youthful passions and a devoted father, it is a true account of young lives transformed from happiness to tragedy and is a riveting narrative for any generation.

Kirsten and her husband Joe moved to Schroeder in 2001. She wrote ThyFather’s
Will
after moving to the area, imagining the scenes while hiking with her dogs on the trails and viewing the shore from her home on the north shore of Lake Superior. Born in Iowa, she spent her childhood in Ethiopia where her parents were Lutheran missionaries. Kirsten studied at St. Olaf College and graduated from the University of Minnesota.

Kirsten will discuss her novel, take questions and sign books at the Drury Lane salon.