Albert Lea native and author, Joan Claire Graham will be at the Austin Public Library at 7 p.m. Monday. Graham, a retired high school journalism teacher from Maryland, is promoting her book "Minnesota Memories 2," a sequel to "Minnesota Memories".

"The ideas for these books came when I was teaching. Another Minnesotan, Owatonna native Kathy A. Megyeri, was teaching in the same school. On days when things got crazy we would talk in the hall and laugh and tell stories about when we were growing up; that's where the ideas for doing this type of book came from," Graham said.

Graham published the books herself is her own self-promoter. Last year she traveled 10,000 miles around Minnesota speaking at bookstores, doing newspaper interviews and talking on local radio stations, at times at 1 a.m.

"When I turned age 50, it hit me that this is what is called middle age. It is actually two thirds of one's life. Doors start to close on people at this age as people think you are too old. I thought, 'Wow, if I don't get out there and make this book available it will be lost.' I am out finding people that are interested in reading Minnesota stories," Graham said.

Graham travels in a compact car with posters in her back windows that read, "Extraordinary Stories for Ordinary Folks." She gets honks and waves all the time.

"We often read about notorious and glamorous people and we fixate on the details of their lives. Ordinary people have a story to tell. I want people to send me their stories. I will help them with the writing. There is a universality to these stories," Graham said.

Graham knows she won't sell 100,000 copies of Minnesota Memories; she would like to sell 2,500. Currently, Graham is working on Minnesota Memories 3.

Minnesota Memories 1 and 2 are available at The Little Professor Bookstore. Graham will have books for sale at the library and will be signing them Monday.

If you would like your story included in the third volume send it to Minnesota Memories, 11505 Monongahela Drive, Rockville, MD. 20852. For more info call 301-770-1259.

Sheila Donnelly can be reached at 434-2233 or by e-mail at newsroom@austindailyherald.com