Author follows passion, writes two books
Shirley Klatte of Kimball and her book, “The Fateful Rising.” Contributed photo
I love to tell the story,
for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
to hear it like the rest;
And when in scenes of glory
I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story
that I have loved so long.
This song, written by Arbella K. Hankey in 1866, best describes the vision Shirley Klatte of Kimball had when she wrote her book “The Fateful Rising.” The book is a tale of a young man, John, who was sent to sea in 1820 by his father to become a merchant. The ship, Mayanne, is attacked by pirates, and John is confronted with life decisions.
“I always like to tell stories and research history,” Klatte said, “I also like reading adventure stories.” And that is how she accomplished writing her fictional stories and getting them published. This is the second book she has published. Her first one was titled “Go, Jonus, Go.” It is about a young man who worked on riverboats on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. And then in 1859 his entire family travels by wagon train to California.
Klatte’s love of telling stories evolved from her upbringing and her interest in adventure. She was born in St. Paul, and then at the age of 3, her family moved to a dairy farm near Kimball. She was the only child and never married. Her dad was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, and her mom was born in Buffalo Lake, Minn. They were working in the Twin Cities, met and were married. Her dad farmed until 1968 and then went in to the welding business and taught welding at schools.
Klatte began her education in a one-room school house, District #3 in Kingston Township. She then graduated from Kimball High School and went on to St. Cloud State College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education. She taught junior and senior high students in physical education, history, geography and general science at Plaineville, Brooten, Granite Falls, and Twin Valley for 29 years and then did substitute teaching at Kimball for nine more years. She also did coaching in basketball and track.
“My books tend to lean towards a geographical background,” she said. “I wanted the book to be readable, believable, and I wanted it to read fast.”
After retiring from teaching, Klatte continues to live on the family farm where she enjoys gardening and toying with her hobbies of music, photography and horticulture.
She is also writing two more books and is working on her family ancestry. She has completed family history dating back to the years in the 800s. The Klattes have a German background and the first two books have a nationality background.