Events » “How My Ancestors Became a Novel” by Larry Sommers
“How My Ancestors Became a Novel” by Larry Sommers
October 21st, 2025
Trinity Lutheran Church 1904 Winnebago Street Madison, WI 53704
Lucy Ghastin at leghastin@gmail.com or call 608-225-1412.
Additional Information:
Idun’s October meeting returns to our regular Third Thursday evening schedule.
The always-delicious potluck starts at 6:30pm, followed at about 7:15 by a fascinating presentation featuring our own member.
Larry F. Sommers; a storyteller, blogger and author.
Larry will share his journey to understand his long-neglected Norwegian ancestors - a struggle that gave birth to an epic work of fiction, The Price
of Passage: From Norway to America, From Slavery to Freedom.
At the age of 70 and retired, Larry reinvented himself as a literary lion. His first major project, after publishing a few short stories, was “an assault on The Great American Novel.” Inspired by his own Norwegian immigrant ancestors and by America’s struggle against the evil of slavery,
he crafted a unique, three-stranded story conveying historical truth by means of fiction.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said of this novel, “and also one of the most satisfying.”
From the initial concept to publication, the novel took six years of the author’s life. Along the way he learned some things about his Norsk
ancestors, about authorship, and about himself. Larry will share these insights with a Q & A session afterwards.
The always-delicious potluck starts at 6:30pm, followed at about 7:15 by a fascinating presentation featuring our own member.
Larry F. Sommers; a storyteller, blogger and author.
Larry will share his journey to understand his long-neglected Norwegian ancestors - a struggle that gave birth to an epic work of fiction, The Price
of Passage: From Norway to America, From Slavery to Freedom.
At the age of 70 and retired, Larry reinvented himself as a literary lion. His first major project, after publishing a few short stories, was “an assault on The Great American Novel.” Inspired by his own Norwegian immigrant ancestors and by America’s struggle against the evil of slavery,
he crafted a unique, three-stranded story conveying historical truth by means of fiction.
“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done,” he said of this novel, “and also one of the most satisfying.”
From the initial concept to publication, the novel took six years of the author’s life. Along the way he learned some things about his Norsk
ancestors, about authorship, and about himself. Larry will share these insights with a Q & A session afterwards.
