'Babylon, South Dakota' Author to Headline Free Book Event in Decorah

Decorah Vikings win, City Council votes, New Referenda on the ballot — we're the one telling Decorah's story. Donate now. DECORAH — Join Tom Lin, author of "Babylon, South Dakota," and Dragonfly Books co-owner Sarah Krammen for a conversation and Q&A followed by a book signing Monday, July 13, at 7 p.m. at Pulpit Rock Brewing, 207 College Drive, Decorah. The free event is sponsored by the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation, with support from Pulpit Rock Brewing and Dragonfly Books. Everyone is invited. From the author of the Carnegie Medal in Fiction winner The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu, Lin's latest novel follows a Chinese American family whose lives are altered after a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project begins on their Dakota farm. "Lin's gossamer prose is patient and full of wonders," wrote Ed Park, author of "Same Bed Different Dreams" and "An Oral History of Atlantis." In Babylon, South Dakota, Saul Keng Hsiu and his wife, Mei Lee, build a life on a 160-acre homestead after immigrating from China, only to have their world shift when a missile silo project begins on their land. As the project expands, their daughter develops unusual abilities and the farm becomes increasingly affected by unexplained events tied to the site. Lin was born in China and immigrated to the United States at age 4. He is the author of "The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu" and teaches English and creative writing at the University of Iowa. Sarah Krammen is co-owner of Dragonfly Books and programming coordinator for the Oneota Valley Literary Foundation. For more information, visit www.dragonflybooks.com or call 563-382-4275 Be in the know, always! The free newsletter delivers local news, features, and tips directly to you—perfect for busy readers.