New for 2025: Snowshoe Kate and the Hospital Built for Pennies

Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb (or "Dr. Kate," as she was known to her patients) was a doctor in rural northern Wisconsin during the early 1900s, a time when very few women practiced medicine. Because the nearest hospital was over two hours away and the snowy roads were often impassable, Dr. Kate frequently traveled many miles by snowmobile or snowplow in order to reach her patients, which lead to her nickname, the "Angel on Snowshoes."

In her years as a doctor, she delivered an astonishing 4,000 babies, and those same children later played a key role in the "Million Penny Parade," a massive grassroots fundraiser inspired by Dr. Kate's lifelong efforts to build a hospital in her community. Dr. Kate's dreams of being able to better serve her community finally came to fruition in 1954 when Lakeland Memorial Hospital opened — with Dr. Kate serving as chief of staff.

From Newbery Honor–winning author Margi Preus and illustrator Jaime Zollars, this picture book biography celebrates a woman who defied gender expectations and dedicated her life to helping the farthest reaches of her community.

Jaime Zollars is the illustrator of the middle-grade novel Wicked Nix and the artist behind the iconic covers of the Greenglass House series. She is also the author-illustrator of the picture book The Truth About Dragons. Her art has been recognized by American Illustration, Communication Arts, the Society of Illustrators, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, among others. She lives in Southern California.

Release date: October 28, 2025

Oct 5: Deep Valley Book Festival

Saturday, October 5 // 1:30-3:00 pm

The Tips of the Trade - Author Panel

The Deep Valley Book Festival welcomes back four past keynote authors for a special author panel including: 

• Allen Eskens

• Lorna Landvik

• Jacqueline West

• And, Margi!

Here's your chance to have your literary questions answered by these bestselling Minnesota authors. This discussion will uncover each author's personal route to publication as well as tips of the trades in various areas of literary perspectives ranging from humor and suspense to children's literature.

Come curious because questions for the panel participants will also be taken from the audience!

NOTE: The panelists will be available to autograph their books at the Content Bookstore table 30 minutes before the panel begins and following the panel. 

About the Festival

The Deep Valley Book Festival gets its name from the setting of the beloved Betsy-Tacy children’s books written by Mankato-born author Maud Hart Lovelace.

The festival features dozens of authors, illustrators, publishers, literary organizations, and hundreds of books!

​Visit with a favorite author or meet a new one, have your book signed, or listen to authors talk about their works. The festival features programs, workshops, speakers, or panel discussions, book giveaways, and more.​​​

Join Margi at Northwoods Writing Camp!

For Teen girls in 7th-11th Grade

This five day summer retreat is perfect for young writers! Inspired by our guest authors and each other, campers walk away with a renewed energy and courage to follow their dreams.

We all know there are limitations to what can be offered in a classroom. The magic of bringing girls to an island to "escape" distractions and realize their potential is marvelous. For them to write not for an assignment, not for a teacher, but for themselves and each other can be life changing. They find their voice.

This summer three sessions of camp are offered, all of which will take place on Atsokan Island at Rainy Lake. Each session is limited to 14 total campers. Most campers are 7th-11th graaders from rural Northern Minnesota, but students from all across the state are invited to apply.

Learn more and APPLY NOW at writingcamp.org >

MCTE Spring Conference: Changing Landscapes

Keynote speaker on Thursday, May 2

The Minnesota Council of Teachers of English (MCTE) is the Minnesota-based professional organization for teachers of English and language arts at the elementary, middle, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Margi is honored to be a keynote speaker at this year’s spring conference, “Changing Landscapes” held in Duluth, Minnesota.

The landscape of the English/Language Arts classroom is in the midst of change.  Teachers are navigating classrooms where students are relying on artificial intelligence to write papers.  Pressure is coming from outside sources regarding what can and cannot be taught.  Commitment to teaching diverse literature is met with resistance. All the while, we face urgent calls from within our profession to change the landscape for the better—to diversify the texts and perspectives we engage, to change entrenched patterns of access, to work toward anti-racist pedagogy, and to support students’ whole selves.

With this year’s conference, we come together to navigate and make change as a community of committed educators. As we take stock of one school year and set priorities for the next, we make time and space to connect, share, listen, reexamine, and grow.

Learn more and register today >

"Spies, Sleuths, Samurai and Scoundrels" at Grace A. Dow Memorial Library

Saturday, April 20 at 2:00 pm

Grace A. Dow Memorial Library, Midland, MI

Margi Preus, author of the Battle Book HEART OF A SAMURAI, will present "Spies, Sleuths, Samurai and Scoundrels" on Saturday, April 20, at 2:00 pm in the Auditorium. Copies of her books will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation!

In addition to our Battle Book, Margi is the author of VILLAGE OF SCOUNDRELS, SHADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN, and WINDSWEPT. She has also written several picture books, including LILY ON THE WAY (about a sailboat trying to get out of the harbor into Lake Superior to greet the incoming tall ships) and STORM'S COMING.

Learn more >