BRETT: WELCOME TO ALMANAC .

I'M BRETT SCOTT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR FROM AL JUDGE, A SINGER, THREE SONGWRITERS, AND AN AUTHORM THE NORTHLAND.

THAT'S COMING UP.

BUT FIRST, THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIN WILL HOST A VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETING ON TUESDAY, MAY 27T 12:15 P.M. TO PROVIDE AN UE ON THE TWIN PORTS INTERCHAE PROJECT.

YOU CAN JOIN THE MEETING AD FIND DETAILS AT DOT.STATE.. MNDOT STAFF WILL BE GIVINGA SHORT PRESENTATION AND ANSG QUESTIONS.

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATNSE AVAILABLE.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO FOLLOW UPDATES, FOLLOW T NORTHEAST ON FACEBOOK.

MAY IS STROKE AWARENESS MO, AND MINNESOTA MOM ANGIE HAR IS URGING OTHERS TO KNOW TE WARNING SIGNS.

AT JUST 39, SHE SUFFERED A STROKE WHILE OUT RUNNING ERRANDS.

THANKS TO QUICK ACTION ANDA STROKE-READY HOSPITAL, HERE WAS SAVED.

STROKE IS A LEADING CAUSE F DEATH IN MINNESOTA, AND EVY SECOND COUNTS.

REMEMBER “BE FAST” -- BALA, EYES, FACE, ARMS, SPEECH, .

DON'T WAIT, CALL 911.

LEARN MORE AND FIND DESIGND STROKE HOSPITALS AT HEALTH.MN.GOV.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND OFTENS OFF BOATING SEASON IN MINN, AND THE DNR IS REMINDING EVERYONE TO STAY SAFE ON TE WATER.

WITH LAKES GETTING BUSIER, CONSERVATION OFFICERS ARE ENCOURAGING LIFE JACKET USD SAFE BOATING PRACTICES.

BOATING FATALITIES HAVE BEN HISTORICALLY LOW THE PAST O SEASONS, AND OFFICIALS WANO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

NEW BOATING SAFETY EDUCATIN REQUIREMENTS ARE ALSO IN P. FOR TIPS AND MORE INFO, VIT MNDNR.GOV/BOATINGSAFETY.

NEXT, WE'LL SEND YOU OVER O DENNY ANDERSON.

DENNY?

DENNY: THANK YOU, BRETT.

I'M DENNIS ANDERSON, AND TS DENNY'S DESK.

AS SPRING IS TURNING TO SU, THE FORESTS OF NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA REMIND US HOW FRE THE BALANCE OF NATURE CAN .

RECENT FIRES IN OUR REGIONE BURNED WIDELY AND MADE NATL NEWS.

FIRES LIKE JENKINS CREEK AD CAMP HOUSE HAVE FORCED EVACUATIONS, STRAINED EMERY CREWS, A FILLED OUR SKIES H SMOKE.

WILDFIRE IS PART OF NATURET THE SIZE, SPEED, AND FREQUY THAT WE EXPERIENCE FIRES AA PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER.

HOTTER DAYS, DRIER SPRINGSD LONGER BURN SEASONS ARE RESHAPING THE LANDSCAPE WE.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN.

IT'S A CULTURAL AND ECONOMC ONE.

MINNESOTA'S NATURAL BEAUTYT JUST SCENERY.

IT'S THE LIFEBLOOD OF OUR TOURISM AND RECREATION ECO.

FROM HIKING AND CAMPINTO CN LIFE AND CANOE TRIPS, OUR IDENTITYND MANY PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOODS ARE DEPENDENT E WOODS AND WATERS OF THIS S. THAT'S WHY WILDFIRE RESPONS MORE THAN A ONE SEASON STO.

IT'S ABOUT SMART FOREST MANAGEMENT, CLIMATE-AWARE POLICY, AND COORDINATED EMERGENCY PLANNING.

BUT IT'S ALSO ABOUT COMMUN- NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBOR, LANDOWNERS WORKING WITH AGENCIES, AND EVERYDAY MINNESOTANS RESPECTING FIRS AND LAND STEWARDSHIP.

BECAUSE WHEN WE COME TOGETR WITH FORESIGHT AND RPECT, E PROTECT MORE THAN TREES --E PROTECT THE PLACES WE GATH, THE MEMORIES WE MAKE, AND E FUTURE WE PASS ON.

THIS HAS BEEN DENNY'S DESK.

NOW BACK TO YOU, BRETT.

BRETT: THANK YOU, DENNY.

ON THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF “MAKING IT UP NORTH,” FOLK SINGER CHARLIE MAGUIRE IS N TOUR THROUGH THE ARROWHEAD LIBRARY SYSTEMS, PERFORMINS NEW SONGS AND STORIES OF COMMERCIAL SAILING ON THE T LAKES.

TAKE A LISTEN.

♪ ♪ >> THE TITLE OF THE LIBRARY PROGRAMS I AM DOING FOR THA LIBRARY SYSTEM, THE WHOLE S OF THE PROGRAM IS TO SHOW W SAILORS LIVE ON WORK NOW, ORDINARY WORKING PEOPLE.

GOING TO BARDA LENA MEANS O NOT GO TO A COUNTRY ON A S, IT IS MORE OF A STATE OF M. IT MEANS DOING A JOB YOU CT GET OUT OF AND THAT KIND OS UP SAILING, WHAT IT CAN BE, CERTAIN DAYS.

♪ NOT TO CHINA NOT TO SPAIN NOT TO AMERICA NOR THE ARGENTINE IT IS NOT AN EARTHLY PLACE IT IS NOT ANOTHER LOVERS FE IT IS ENDLESS DAYS IN BARDALINA ♪ ♪ BRETT: CHARLIE'S TOUR CONTS THROUGH NEXT WEDNESDAY.

THIS WEEK, OUR TEAM MET WIH JUDGE JILL EICHENWALD TO DS HER ROLL IN LOCAL GOVERNMEN THIS SEGMENT OF OUR CIVICS ENGAGEMENT SERIES.

TAKE A LOOK.

>> I AM A DISTRICT COURT JE FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

COMMONLY WE THINK ABOUT A E AS A REFEREE, SOMEBODY WHOS DECIDING DISPUTES IN SOME FASHION OR CERTAINLY DURINA TRIAL WHEN THERE ARE OBJECS IN THAT TYPE OF THING, YOUE DECIDING WHAT SHOULD AND SD NOT BE ALLOWED.

COURT HAS A LOT OF RULES SU ARE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE ARE PLAYING WITHIN E RULES WHEN THEY ARE DOING R LEGAL CASES.

YOU WERE MAKING A LOT OF DECISIONS.

I OFTEN FEEL LIKE I AM A P. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I AMA COACH.

I AM TALKING TO THE PARTIE, PARTICULARLY IN FAMILY LAWS PARTICULARLY IN FAMILY LAWI FEEL LIKE I AM A PARENTING COACH, TELLING PARENTS WHOE STRUGGLING WITH THINGS THER KIDS ARE DOING, IT IS REALY MULTIFACETED AND CHANGES AT DEPENDING ON WHAT KIND OF E YOU ARE HEARING AND WHO WAS APPEARING IN FRONT OF YOU.

IN SOUTHERN ST. LOUIS COUN, THE ENTIRE SIXTH DISTRICT,E ALL HANDLE EVERYTHING.

I HAVE SPECIALIST SCIENCE.

I PRESIDE OVER THE TRUANCYT SO ALL THE TRUANCY CASES CN FRONT OF ME.

I VE THE DULUTH RECOVERY COURT, FOLKS INVOLVED IN TE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM BEE OF ISSUES, I PRESIDE OVER T COURT.

I HANDLE FOLKS WHO ARE MENY ILL AND UNABLE TO PARTICIPN THEIR OWN DEFENSE, COMPETEY CASES, I MANAGE THOSE WEATR PEOPLE ARE BEING RESTORED O COMPETENCY ONCE THEY HAVE N FOUND INCOMPETENT.

BUT WE ALL PRETTY MUCH HANE EVERYTHING.

THERE IS A PRETTY SIGNIFICT LEARNING CURVE FOR THE AREF LAWS.

BUT WE HAVE OUR COLLEAGUESE ALSO HAVE SUPPORT STAFF.

I HAVE A LAW CLERK WHO CANP ME LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT AS OF THE LAW.

I HAVE LAWYERS WHO HELP ME LEARN.

LAWYERS THESE DAYS ARE OFTN SPECIALISTS.

SO TO SOME EXTENT, THEY HAN OBLIGATION TO NOT LEAD US Y AS FAR AS THE LAW THOSE SOE RELY ON THEM SOMETIMES TO E US AS TO WHERE WE SHOULD BE DOING OUR OWN RESEARCH ABOT THINGS.

EVERY SINGLE CASE THAT COMN FRONT OF YOU SHOULD BE COMN FRONT OF YOU IN A NEUTRAL E WHEN YOU START WITH THAT.

EACH SIDE HAS AN OBLIGATIOR RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE YOUE INFORMATION THAT YOU WOULDD TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT U NEED TO MAKE.

THERE IS A SET OF LAWS THAT GUIDE WHAT YOU DO.

AS A JUDGE, YOU HAVE TO GON WITH AN OPEN MIND, LISTEN O EVERYBODY, RECOGZE THAT THE ARE USUALLY MULTIPLE SIDESO ANY GIVEN STORY OR SITUATI.

YOU DO YOUR BEST TO MAKE YR DECISION BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT IS PROVIDO YOU AND YOU TRY VERY HARD O LET OUTSIDE FORCES INFLUENE YOU.

I THINK THE MOST CHALLENGIG PART OF BEING A JUDGE IS AF THE THINGS THAT YOU CANNOT.

PEOPLE COME TO YOU FOR ANS.

PEOPLE COME TO YOU FOR SOLUTIONS.

SOMETIMES THERE IS NO GOOD ANSWER.

SOMETIMES THERE IS NO SOLU.

CYCLES OF GENERATIONAL TRAA AND GENERATIONS COMING IN D ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THOSE S AND KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DG IN THE VERY SHORT TIME YOUE FOLKS CANNOT POSSIBLY HELPR FIX OR UNDO ALL THE OTHER S THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THEIR WORLD.

THAT IS PARTICULARLY FRUSTG IN JUVENILE COURT, FOR EXA, BECAUSE THERE IS JUST NOT H PLACE TO BE CHILD FOCUSED N THEIR OWN WORLD.

THE MOST REWARDING THING IN PEOPLE DO MAKE THAT CHANGED PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO IMPLEMEE SOLUTIONS YOU HAVE GIVEN T. THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THEY CN CHANGE, THAT THEY ARE WORTE CHANGE, AND THEN THEY CHAND JUST AMAZING THINGS HAPPENR THEM.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY THE MOST REWARDING THING I DO.

WHEN WE ARE PREPARING FOR A CASE, THE NUMBER ONE THINGT WE NEED TO REMEMBER AND RECOGNIZE IS THAT REALLY AE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE DEALINGH IN ANY CASE IS WHATEVER HAN FILED WITH US.

SO THE FIRST THING IS ALWAO REVIEW THE FILE AND LOOK AT EVERYTHING PARTIES HAVE SUBMITTED TO YOU FOR YOU TE A DECISION ON.

WE ARE STUCK WITH WHAT PEOE TELL US.

ANSOMETIMES THEY DO NOT TEL US THE THINGS WE WANT TO K. SOMETIMES WE HAVE OPPORTUNS TO ASK THEM, DEPENDING ON E TYPE OF CASE, BUT SOMETIMEE DON'T.

SO THAT CAN BE A CHALLENGIG COMPONENT OF IT, WHEN WE KW THINGS THAT ARE NOT PART OE CASE FILE, AND WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO CONSIDER THOSE THINGS.

I WAS INSPIRED TO A CAREERN LAW IN NINTH GRADE WHEN WE STUDIED THE GOVERNMENT SYSM AND STUDIED THE JUDICIAL BH AND WE HAD MOCK TRIALS IN R GOVERNMENT CLASS.

THAT WAS WHEN I DECIDED THI WAS INTERESTED IN BECOMINGA LAWYER.

I DID NOT KNOW WHAT AREA OW I WANTED TO PRACTICE.

I WAS VERY INTERESTED IN CULTURES AND INTERNATIONAL THINGS.

THEN I DISCOVERED THAT IF U WERE GOING TO LITIGATE IN E INTERNATIONAL WORLD, YOU WD HAVE TO BE A BUSINESS LAWYD I WAS NOT REALLY INTERESTEN DOING TT.

I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A PUBLIC SERVICE DRIVE.

I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVEN THROUGH COLLEGE IN VOLUNTER EFFORTS AND I REALLY FELT T THAT WAS THE PLACE COME UPE I WENT INTO LAW SCHOOL AND BECAME INVOLVED A LITTLE BN VARIOUS PUBLIC SERVICE LAWT WAS WHAT I WAS INTERESTED N DOING.

SO THAT IS WHAT DROVE ME TO APPLY TO BE A JUDGE, TO BE INVOLVED IN THOSE INITIATIS AND TO PROVIDE A PERSPECTIE WITHIN OUR COURTHOUSE.

WE HAVE THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT FOR A REASON.

THEY ARE A SYSTEM OF CHECKD BALANCES.

WE ARE PART OF THAT.

WE CAN'T HAVE A FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURED SYSTEM OF GOVERT WITHOUT THOSE THREE BRANCHD EFFECTIVE CHECKS AND BALANS AMONG THOSE BRANCHES WORKIG TOGETHER.

IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A CAREN LAW, IF YOU ARE THINKING AT GOING TO LAW SCHOOL TO HAVA CAREER IN LAW, MY ADVICE WD BE TO READ A LOT.

READ A LOT, READ A LOT, REA LOT.

AND THINK A LOT.

DO NOT TAKE EVERYTHING YOUE AT FACE VALUE.

LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT L MAKE YOU EVENTUALLY A SUCCL LAWYER.

AND WOULD MAKE YOU A SUCCEL JUDGE.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY A LAWYED YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOA JUDGE, WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST YOU DO IS GO OUT INTO YOUR COMMUNITY AND WORK WITHIN R COMMUNITY AND GET AS BROADA PERSPECTIVE OF WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS AS POSSIBL.

WE REALLY SERVE THE PUBLICE SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO COME N FRONT OF US.

BRETT: NEXT UP THIS EVENIN, WE'RE SENDING YOU TO CANALK ON THIS WEEK'S VENTURE NORO HEAR ALL ABOUT THE RECENT CONSTRUCTION TAKING PLACE N THERE.

>> MY NAME IS MONICA ANDERI AM A PROJECT ENGINEER FOR E DULUTH RESIDENT OFFICE IN E ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS.

WHEN YOU VISIT CANAL PARK S SUMMER WE WILL SEE A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT UNDER.

WE WILL BE IMPROVING A REHD OUR SHORELINE IN FRONT OF E VISITORS CENTER AND MUSEUMO INCLUDE A WALKWAY AND SOME UPLAND IMPROVEMENTS WILL BA RECONFIGURATION OF THE EXIG GROUNDS, INCLUDING WIDENINE SIDEWALKS, ADDING LIGHTING, IMPROVING DRAINAGE AND LANDSCAPING AND OVERALL PROTECTING THE SHORELINE AE NORTH PIER STRUCTURE WHILEO BEING INTENTIONAL ABOUT THE LAYOUT OF THE SITE FOR ALLE LOCALS AND VISITORS THAT CO DULUTH.

THE NEW DESIGN WILL BE MORE RESILIT AND UPHOLD SOME OFT HIGHER FORCES AND WAVES THE ARE SEEING DURING THE HIGHE LEVEL CYCLES THE LAKE NATUY GOES THROUGH.

THE PROJECT WE ARE ABOUT TO BEGIN WILL BE A FOLLOW-UP E TO THE RECENT CITY OF DULUH IMPROVEMENTS THAT FINISHEDN 2021.

YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF CONTY BETWEEN THE DESIGN AND THEE WILL BE SUBTLE DIFFERENCESW THE SURFACE TO MAKE SURE WT THE REQUIREMENTS OF A LOT R TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING N WE NEED TO ENSURE WE ARE UPHOLDING TO THE SNDARDS TE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS WAS AND THE TAXPAYER AND FEDERL SERVICE.

VISITORS TO CANAL PARK CAN EXPECT A MORE SEAMLESS TRANSITION FOR WHEN YOU WAO WALK AND RECREATE FROM THEP CANAL ENTRIES AND CONNECT O THE EXISTING CITY OF DULUTH PROPERTY.

A CONTINUOUS WALKWAY AND AO IMPROVEMENTS UPLAND TO THE GROUNDS IN FRONT OF THE MU.

THERE WILL BE WIDER SIDEWA, SMOOTHER WALKING SURFACES, ADDITIONAL PARK BENCHES.

WE ALSO ARE CONTINUING THE LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS.

SOME OF THE NEW LAYOUT OF E UPLAND GROUNDS WILL INCLUDA REDESIGN OR CONFIGURATION E EXISTING ARTIFACT DISPLAY .

ALL THE LOVED ARTIFACTS THE CURRENTLY OUT SUCH AS THE PROPELLERS AND ANCHORS WILE RELOCATED TO NEW LOCATIONS WITHIN THE FACILITY.

DURING CONSTRUCTION, VISITS CAN EXPECT SOME INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC.

MAINLY, A SIGNIFICANT TRUCG EFFORT.

YOU WILL SEE A LOCAL FLAGG.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO WAIT AN ADDITIONAL 30 SECONDS, A CE OF MINUTES TO GET AROUND TD OF THE CUL-DE-SAC IF YOU AE LOOKING FOR PARKING WHILE GETTING TO A LOCAL HOTEL OR RESTAURANT.

WHEN YOU ARE WALKING NEAR E CONSTRUCTION AREA, YOU WILL NOTICE A CONSTRUCTION FENCT UP AND IN IT, THE HEAVY EQUIPMENT COMPLETING THE W. ACCESS TO THE NORTH PIER AD VISITORS CENTER ENTRANCE WL REMAIN OPEN AT ALL TIMES DG CONSTRUCTION.

THERE WILL BE SOME LOCALIZD RECONFIGURATION OF THAT BUT OVERALL, YOU WILL BE ABLE T FROM THE STREET AND ROAD TE VISITORS CENTER ENTRANCE AD ALSO TO THE NORTH PIER APPD CONSTRUCTION DURATION FOR E PROJECT SHOULD BE MADE THRH NOVEMBER, 2025 PRIMARILY AD THEN WE WILL TAKE A BREAK R THE WINTER.

THE WORK WAS COORDINATED CY WITH OUR PARTNERS AT THE SE AND FEDAL LEVELS TO MAKE SE WE ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.

PART OF THE COORDINATION WO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WR QUALITY IS NOT OVERLY IMPAD AND THAT THE FISH CONSIDERS ARE TAKEN INTO PLACE.

IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOS DURING CONSTRUCTION THAT TE WORK TOOK PLACE WHILE ALSO ALLOWING LARGE LOCAL EVENTO EXIST AROUND THE CONSTRUCT.

CONTRACTORS ARE ONLY ALLOWO WORK ON THE SITE FROM 7:00.

THROUGH 6:00 P.M. AND ONLY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY.

THEY ALSO ARE TO TA SCHEDUD HOLIDAY BREAKS FOR GRANDMAS MARATHON AND FOURTH OF JUL.

OUR VISITOR CENTER AND GROS ARE ENJOYED BY LOCALS AND TOURISTS.

WE SEE OVER 1.5 ONE MILLION PEOPLE TO THE VISITORS CENR GROUND IN THE AVERAGE YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE LARGE S THAT GO ON SUCH AS GRANDMAS MARATHON AND THEN THE VISIR CENTER ITSELF SEES ABOUT 50 PEOPLE A YEAR.

WE ARE EXCITED FOR WORK TON .

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE COORDINATION OF THE PUBLICD THE CONSTRUCTION STAFF SO E PROJECT IS SUCCESSFUL AND E ABLE TO REOPEN THIS AREA AN AS POSSIBLE.

THE INTENT OF THE PROJECT O PROTECT THE DULUTH ENTRY AD SUPPORT THE SHIPPING INDUSY FOR YEARS TO COME.

AND PLACE EMPHASIS ON NOT Y OUR MISSION TO SUPPORT THE NAVIGATION INDUSTRY, BUT AO THAT PART OF THIS FACILITYS THE VISITORS CENTER AND PAF THAT IS INVITING THE PUBLIO ENJOY THAT SPACE.

BRETT: TONIGHT, WE ARE EXCD TO SHARE A SEGMENT FROM OUW SHOW, NO FILTER, WHICH IS A CONVERSATIONAL INTERVIEW SS EXPLORING THE RICH TAPESTRF NORTHERN LIFE THROUGH INFOL CONVERSATIONS WITH DIVERSE, INTRIGUING PEOPLE FROM THE REGION.

EACH EPISODE BRINGS A FRESH VOICE TO THE SCREEN, FOCUSN THE UNIQUE PERSPECTIVES, PERSONAL JOURNEYS, AND LIFE EXPERIENCES SHAPING THE NON COMMUNITY.

WEILL SHARE A SHORT SAMPLEF OUR CONVERSATION HERE ON "ALMANAC NORTH," BUT WE INE YOU TO EXPLORE FULL EPISODF NO FILTER ON THE PBS NORTH YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

FULL EPISODES WILL BE AVAIE THERE TOMORROW.

>> WELCOME TO THE COLDEST N IN THE NATION, INTERNATIONL FALLS.

♪ >> OUR NEXT GUESTS IS AN ACCLAIMED AUTHOR, STORYTEL, AND WRITING MENTOR WHO HAS TRAVELED THE WORLD, SEARCHG FOR INSPIRATION FOR HER BO.

I AM TRULY HONORED TO WELCE MARY CASANOVA TO NO FILTER.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINS ON NO FILTER.

>> KRISTIN, IT IS AN HONOR, THANK YOU.

>> I AM SO EXCITED TO GET O YOUR BACKGROUND AND ALL THE AMAZING WORK YOU DO.

I WANT TO START AT THE BEGINNING.

YOU GREW UP WITH A LOT OF SIBLINGS.

HOW MANY?

>> NINE SIBLINGS.

10 CHILDREN TOTAL.

DOWN IN THE TWIN CITIES.

FORTUNELY, MY DAD HAD A GOD JOB.

MY MOM WAS A DEDICATED STAY-AT-HOME MOM, PRETTY MH HER ONLY OPTION WITH THAT Y KIDS.

IT WAS A PRETTY IDYLLIC KIF CHILDHOOD, BECAUSE MY PARES WERE FROM THE NORTH AND HAD MOVED TO THE TWIN CITIES AD THEY REALLY VALUED MORE THN MAYBE BEING ABLE TO SHOP AT DAYTON'S, THEY WANTED TO ME SURE WE HAD ACCESS TO THE .

THEY WERE ABLE TO GET ON LE WITH A RAMBLING HOME WITH X BEDROOMS AND SOMEHOW WE AL.

THEY WOULD KEEP US OUTSIDET AND I THINK THE LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS STARTED THROUGH MY PARENTS AND THEY WOULD ALST US UP NORTH TO CABINS.

WHEN I WOULD GO TO A CABINY ELY AND ANOTHER BY CROOK, E CABINS, THE CABIN EXPERIENE WHERE YOU COULD JUST LEAVEE CITY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WR LOONS, WHICH I DID NOT HEAN THE TWIN CITIES, AND SMELLE PINEY FRESH NORTHWOODS AIR, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT WAS SO ENCHANTING, THAT IS WHY I I UP NORTH.

IT CALLED TO ME.

>> TALK ABOUT THE FIRST TIU REALIZED WRITING WAS A PAS.

OR THAT YOU ENJOYED IT.

>> I DID NOT KNOW THAT I LO WRITING OR HAD ANY ABILITYT UNTIL I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

PROBABLY 16, 17, MY SOPHOME YEAR.

I WAS IN A TWIN CITIES SCHL THAT ALLOWED MORE IN-DEPTH CLASSES LIKE POLITICAL SILE AND -- POLITICAL SCIENCE AD RUSSIAN HISTORY AND PRE-COE PREP CLASS.

IT IS WHEN I STARTED LEARNG HOW TO WRITE ESSAYS AND DEL WITH IDEAS THAT I FELL IN E WITH WRITING.

IRONICALLY, NOT FICTION.

I DID NOT REALLY HAVE A GRT FICTION TEACHER AT THAT TI.

>> DO YOU THINK THE FACT TT YOU WERE IN A VERY BUSY HOUSEHOLD, WAS WRITING AN E FOR YOU, MAYBE EVEN IF YOUD NOT REALIZE IT?

>> I THINK WHAT I REALIZEDN I DISCOVERED I LOVED WRITIS THAT I HONESTLY DID NOT REE I DID NOT FEEL LIKE I HAD A VOICE UNTIL I DISCOVERED IT THROUGH WRITING.

OH, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEN LOOKING FOR, SUDDENLY I HAA WAY TO COMMUNICATE MORE DEY IN A WORLD OF IDEAS AND I N COMMUNICATE THAT WITH A TER OR A PARENT OR A FRIEND.

THAT WAS REALLY WHAT GOT MO EXCITED ABOUT WRITING, TAKG IDEAS FROM MY BRAIN, MY IMAGINATION, AND PUTTING IN PAPER IN A WAY WE CAN MAKEL CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER PEO.

SOMEHOW, I STARTED DREAMINF BECOMING AN AUTHOR BECAUSES THINKING, AUTHORS MUST WORH WORDS AND PARAGRAPHS AND SENTENCES AND IDEAS.

I DID NOT COME FROM A LITEY HOUSEHOLDS -- HOUSEHOLD.

THERE WAS A LOT OF READER'S DIGEST AND TRIPS TO THE LI.

I CAME ABOUT WRITING THROUE LOVE OF WRITING MORE THAN T BEING SUCH A GREAT READER.

I STRUGGLED WITH READING.

I REALIZE NOW PART OF IT WI THINK I WOULD BE AN ADHD AT AND AS A KID I THINK IT AFD MY LEARNING AND MAYBE CATCP AS A READER BECAUSE I WAS FALLING BEHIND WHEN I WAS N FOURTH, FIFTH GRADE.

>> I THINK MOST PEOPLE WOUD ASSUME IF YOU ARE A GOOD W, OF COURSE YOU ARE A GOOD R. SO THAT IS GOOD FOR PEOPLEO KNOW THAT SUCH AN ESTABLISD AUTHOR IS LIGHT, ACTUALLY,S NOT ALWAYS A GREAT READER.

IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CANNOT STILL BE A GREAT WRITER.

>> IT JUST MAY BE YOU LONGO OVERCOME SOME CHALLENGES.

ONE OF THE THINGS I DRAW OS BECAUSE I HAD BOOKS THAT ID DIFFICULTY FINISHING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I REALLY TO WRITE THINGS THAT WILL A READER'S INTEREST BECAUSE W WHAT IT FELT LIKE WHEN I CD NOT FINISH A BOOK.

I FELT LIKE I WAS A FAILUR.

I FELT LIKE I WAS A FAILURI FEEL LIKE IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO HOLD ANY READER'S INTEREST, EVEN IFS A READER LIKE I WAS.

THAT BRINGS MAYBE ANOTHER F A SLANT TO EVERYTHING I WR.

BRETT: THAT'S IT FOR THIS S SHOW.

I'M BRETT SCOTT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.