Blog Posts by Susan Egner
Inspirations, thoughts by Minnesota author and flight attendant
In researching the Laurel people, I found that they made burial masks for their deceased. Legend has it that the masks helped them find their spiritual self. Seems like the dark ages? Not true; consider that Abe Lincoln, Stalin, Dillinger, and even a beheaded queen had burial masks. Eek, was the head still attached? And you can, too. People today can make burial asks of their faces, or whole bodies, way before death. Kind of like Roy Rodgers’ Trigger, except you, won’t have to stuff it.
In writing my most recent book, I went down a number of rabbit holes in my research. My story takes place in northern Minnesota, by Lake Superior and Superior National Forest. In looking for myths and legends related to the indigenous people of the area, I discovered the Laurel People, who preceded all others.
After I had completed the book, I read an article on the Internet about a group of Colorado-based scientists who traveled to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (basically the same area) and discovered cooking vessels, that when carbon-dated, date back to the Laurel People. How exciting is that!
“Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.”
Everything I see or hear makes me ask, why? What do I think about that? How do I relate?
I relate by writing a story that answers the question for me. The story always tells itself.