Twelve Branches: Stories from St. Paul
Stories by Nora Murphy, Joanna Rawson, Julia Klatt Singer, and Diego Vázquez, Jr.
Introduction by Marvin Anderson
Afterword and Program Guide by Stewart J. Wilson

A "once-in-a-lifetime book."-St. Paul Pioneer Press

What happens when a city gets together, not to read a book, but to write one? Twelve Branches: Stories from St.Paul began as an innovative, artistic project meant to bring together city residents from all ages and backgrounds to collaborate on writing a book. Over many months, four accomplished writers visited twelve St. Paul branch libraries to meet with citizens and community groups who shared captivating stories from their lives and their neighborhoods. Each of the twelve fictional chapters, grown from the moving stories told at the libraries and combined with historical research, is as diverse in style and content as the communities from which they sprang-from war to friendship and fire to fertility, these stories are tied together by the city itself.

This beautifully realized book also includes an afterword describing the nationally unique project and offering inspiration to those who may be interested in bringing a similar project to their community.