Laurie Hertzel Named Book Editor at 'Star-Tribune'

By Claire Kirch -- Publishers Weekly, 8/14/2008 12:41:00 PM

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, which is a co-sponsor of the innovative Talking Volumes regional book club, will announce in Sunday’s newspaper that veteran journalist Laurie Hertzel has been named book editor. Hertzel, who assumed her new responsibilities on August 4, replaces Sarah T. Williams, who left the Star-Tribune in June to take a public relations job with Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota.

Hertzel, who began her journalism career with the Duluth News-Tribune and has been with the Star-Tribune since 1996, has co-authored two regional history books, They Took My Father and Boomtown Landmarks. She will not be involved with Talking Volumes, now kicking off its 10th year with Richard Russo’s Bridge of Sighs.

Hertzel assured PW that the Star-Tribune will continue its literary collaboration with The Loft literary center and Minn. Public Radio, but that senior arts editor Claude Peck will represent the newspaper in the program, while she continues her current responsibilities as projects editor, besides taking on the duties of book editor.

Hertzel also told PW that the Star-Tribune will maintain its current book review coverage, with two full pages of reviews and author interviews on Sundays, two short book reviews on Mondays, and one full-length review on Wednesdays. But Hertzel intends to focus more on local and regional titles and their authors, rather than on national bestsellers and famous writers, because, she said, “If the [St. Paul Pioneer Press] and we don’t do it, who will?”

Hertzel also intends to include more book round-ups and to pump up reader interaction, both online and in print, with a new “What are you reading?” feature. She’s launching an occasional “Five Books” column this Sunday, in which experts on a topic will select five books on that subject to write about. The first “Five Books” column will feature explorer Anne Bancroft discussing her five favorite books on exploration.

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