An Evening with Thomas R. Smith and Klecko

About the Books:

Medicine Year is a collection of poems devoted to the power of love, healing and nature. Just before Christmas 2019, the author, Thomas R. Smith received a prostate cancer diagnosis. The very next day, his wife, Krista, suffered a serious stroke. The series of poems, following through the year of 2020, tells the story of their eventual mutual recovery, in the midst of the pandemic, and how the beauty of the seasons in their native Wisconsin encouraged and comforted them through their journey together. Smith reflects on the year in general, as the world faced a global challenge, and their year in particular, filled with moments of personal challenge, grace and love. For anyone who has cared for a loved one during a difficult time, Medicine Year will resonate on a profound level.

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The Dead Fitzgeralds is both poetry and memoir; it's a reflection on the literary legacy of St. Paul, set against the story of a Baker and his loving friendship with the Poet Laureate of the city, the "Duchess," who became his writing mentor. Inspired by the life and work of F. Scott Fitzgerald who wrote This Side of Paradise in a Summit Avenue brownstone catty-corner from the mansion where the Baker lives, he is intent on tapping into the power of a "green light" and becoming the writer he has always wanted to be. Before the Duchess slowly faces dementia, she and the Baker become the toast of the literary scene in St. Paul.

Her guidance leads the Baker toward a deeper appreciation for Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and for his city. And after the death of the Duchess, which occurs during the pandemic, he fulfills his destiny as a writer in many ways, ultimately traveling to the Fitzgeralds' gravesite in Rockville, Maryland.

Not only does The Dead Fitzgeralds tell a story of deep friendship, loss, literature and a changing city, it also closes with an element of mysticism on the centennial anniversary of Scott and Zelda's Bad Luck Ball in St. Paul and the revelation of Klecko's exclusive Siberian System for tarot.

Does Klecko communicate with Scott Fitzgerald? You'll have to read the book to find out.

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About The Authors:

Thomas R. Smith is an internationally published poet, essayist, editor and teacher. He is the author of nine books of poems. He teaches poetry at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis.

Klecko is a 40+ year master bread baker, and a Midwest Book Award winner. He will be leading a short story series on F. Scott Fitzgerald for the St. Paul Public Library in the spring. He launched his most recent book, “The Dead Fitzgeralds,” at the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum in Montgomery, Alabama.

For more information about events at Next Chapter Booksellers, please contact

Hank Hietala--events@nextchapterbooksellers.com

A complete schedule of our upcoming events is always available at www.nextchapterbooksellers.com.

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