Award-Winning Author Visits Muskego Public Library

The Friends of the welcomed Kathleen Ernst, a best-selling novelist Tuesday evening, and a former colleague of Friends' president Sandi Snyder. Her books, and their friendship, are set at Old World Wisconsin, a few miles down the road in Eagle. She was at the library to talk about her novels, and her most recent release, An Old World Murder.

Ernst was born in Baltimore and took her degree in environmental education at the University of West Virginia. She came to Wisconsin in 1982 to serve as curator of education and later of collections, too, at Old World Wisconsin.

“I visited many historic sites as a child, and my mom always bought books about them before our trips,” Ernst said. She had planned to pursue a career somewhere along the east coast, but “we happened on Old World and I fell in love. Colonial history went out the window.”

No longer working at the site, she said “I missed it.” Setting the story there gave her an excuse to visit often.

She has written many American Girl novels for young adults before taking the leap into adult mystery fiction.

The heroine of Old World Murder is Chloe Ingrid Ellefson, a young curator new to the living museum. Although the characters in the book are imaginary, most of the locales exist. “All the buildings are real ones, except for one crucial to the story.” Surrounding town and places are, too, including the Nite Cap Inn and its famous fish fry.

“I only mention real places if I love them,” she said.

Inventing a grown-up mystery required more than geographical and historical research. One area new to the author was that of police procedure; this necessitated discussions and ride-alongs with officers.

Another challenge was learning Norwegian history and folk art. The story centers around a carved and painted ale bowl, a piece traditionally used at weddings and funerals. “I learned rosemaling”, the elaborate style of decorative painting, “and I love it!”

The second Chloe Ellefson book was due out in September, but to the audience’s apparent delight it had arrived early, and was available after the presentation. The Heirloom Murders is set in the Swiss village of New Glarus, as well as Old World. This one involves the Eagle Diamond, “Swiss green cheese, and a nearly extinct heirloom flower.”

The third book will take place in Door County, at the Rock Island lighthouse.

The Library’s next guest, Jacquelyn Mitchard, will appear on August 24 at 7pm. Her first book, The Deep End of the Ocean, was the first Oprah Book Club selection, and se will be promoting its sequel, No Time to Say Goodbye, which is also due out in September.