Reading: John Koblas September 9, 2005

John Koblas, noted western author and Minnesota history expert, will give a reading from his works on Friday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. at River City Books, 306 Division Street South in downtown Northfield. A book signing will follow. The event is free and open to the public.

The evening will feature Koblas reading from his new book, ?Minnesota Grit: The Men Who Defeated the James-Younger Gang.? The book centers on the stories of 21 ordinary citizens who became involved in the pursuit of the gang after the 1876 Northfield bank robbery, including Madelia's ?Magnificent Seven,? responsible for capturing the three Younger brothers at Hanska Slough. Koblas also will sign copies of ?The Return of Jesse James,? the second in his series of children?s novels about Doc and Tweed, two young boys who solve mysteries and learn a lot of history in the process.

Joining Koblas will be Lonesome Ron from The Riverboat Cowboys, specializing in cowboy ballads and cowboy yodeling. He will sing some of his songs including ?My Cannon River Valley Home.? The Riverboat Cowboys have produced a new CD, titled ?Outlaw Ballads & Fiddle Music,? which features music from the Jesse James DVD, ?The Ninth Man.?

Koblas is one of the prolific writers in the outlaw genre and is the foremost authority on the James-Younger Gang's exploits in Minnesota. Koblas is an honorary life member of the James-Younger Gang in Northfield. In 2001, the Gang also awarded him the Charlie Pitts Award?an honor given on occasion to individuals who have assisted them with research and historical accuracy. He is a member of the national James-Younger Gang and the National Outlaw and Lawman Association (N.O.L.A.).

Koblas has appeared throughout the country giving speeches to outlaw/lawmen groups, civic clubs and library associations. He is the author of more than 500 short stories, articles, and poems published worldwide. A nationally syndicated columnist, he regularly writes feature stories for the Daytona Beach News-Journal. He has been a featured guest on national television shows including Good Morning America and CBS Sunday Morning.

Koblas also has written ?Robbers of the Rails: The Sontag Brothers of Minnesota? about John and George Sontag, two brothers born in Mankato during the 1860s who later became train robbers in Southern California. Also included in his works are two books about a Confederate colonel, ?J. J. Dickison: Swamp Fox of the Confederacy? and ?Swamp Fox and the Columbine.?

River City Books is a general interest bookstore in downtown Northfield. Home to a large selection of Carleton and St. Olaf clothing and gifts, the bookstore carries a wide variety of quality literature, such as McSweeney?s Publishing titles. River City Books sponsors numerous events throughout the year for the Northfield community, bringing in celebrated authors for book signings and discussions.

For more information and disability accommodations, call River City Books in Northfield at (507) 646-7754.