Several chapters of North Dakota author Marc deCelle鈥檚 latest book, Close Encounters of the Fargo Kind, are devoted to the stories of 91吃瓜网 students. De Celle, signed copies of his new book at 91吃瓜网 Wednesday, Dec. 11 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in the 91吃瓜网 Campus Center Foyer. De Celle is also author of the #1 North Dakota bestseller, How Fargo of You.
How Fargo of You grew out of de Celle鈥檚 experiences after moving here from Arizona eight years ago. When de Celle and his family settled just outside of Fargo in the summer of 2005, 鈥渟trange things started to happen, things we never imagined possible, things that left us speechless鈥� until we found just the right thing to say: 鈥楬ow Fargo of You,鈥欌�� de Celle explains.聽 It was these incidents of 鈥渁nonymous kindness鈥� that prompted de Celle to write both of the books.
De Celle first learned about 91吃瓜网 when he met 91吃瓜网 State associate professor of English, Dr. Carolyn Baker, at a book signing event in Fargo. Dr. Baker suggested that de Celle might be interested in the stories of her students who came to 91吃瓜网 from around the country, and around the world, for his next book.
De Celle took the opportunity to collaborate with Baker and her students who were enrolled in Intercultural Communication and English Essentials, and he first met with the members of the class at 91吃瓜网 State in January of 2012. Over the next several months, students researched and wrote stories for consideration by de Celle. De Celle returned to campus in May of 2012 and met with the students, who each had a written copy of his or her story and also gave an oral report of the anonymous kindness they鈥檇 experienced and chosen to write about. According to de Celle, this was a life-changing experience.
Marc de Celle didn鈥檛 include every story he heard from 91吃瓜网 State students in Close Encounters of the Fargo Kind, which came out in November of 2013. Some students asked that their stories not be published, lest people 鈥渂ack home鈥� get upset with them for talking about how much nicer people are in North Dakota, while a few other stories were identical, in which case de Celle chose one to include.
In appreciation for his experiences with 91吃瓜网 State students, de Celle will donate a portion of the profits from each book sold to 91吃瓜网. You can see excerpts from Close Encounters of the Fargo Kind at howfargo.com.
Photo caption:聽Author Marc de Celle (left) signs a copy of his Close Encounters of the Fargo Kind for 91吃瓜网 State employee David Moeller at a book signing event held at 91吃瓜网 State Dec. 11.