MEET OUR TEAM

KELLY KAGER (Owner)

Who is the most influential first book or author for you?

That's like asking which one of my children, if I had any, that I liked best! And, of course, I can't remember my first book having been read to from the moment of my entrance into this world. 

Can you recall one opening line to a novel that you will never forget?

I have forgotten all opening lines to the hordes of novels I've read. The only one I can think of is Dickens' Tale of Two Cities which, as a first line, is rather ubiquitous, having passed into the language as a phrase people who have never even heard of the book can use. 

Do you have a favorite author who writes about our region? 

William Kent Krueger is one of my favorites and beloved by our customers and community. We dedicate an entire shelf to his body of work. There are so many favorite regional authors who we sell in our store, including authors and poets who produced independent zines and booklets. We are known for showcasing the region and the people who make this place so special. You can find regional authors in our store that are hard to find anywhere else. We are proud of that.

Is there one character in a novel with whom you most identify?

Again, it depends on the mood I am in or what I am currently reading that resonates with me. The whole idea of a good book is that it will allow you to identify with all kinds of people, who may or may not be very different from you and your life, and walk in their shoes, thereby increasing your ability to be compassionate

What is your favorite thing about our store? 

Everything, I love everything about our store...the books inside, the view outside, the color scheme, the whole building itself including the intimate size and the staff we have. I love it all.

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Coming Soon

KEVIN KAGER (Owner)

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GWEN DANFELT (Store Manager)

What was the most influential first book or author for you?

The Babysitters Club series by Ann M. Martin...The joy of reading and reading and reading. I was aghast when I realized I would grow up and those girls would stay 10 and 12. 

What is the one opening line to a novel that you will never forget?

"The sun has set, not long ago..." The Going to Bed Book by Sandra Boynton. My daughter and I can (and do) recite it from memory. 

Do you have a favorite author fiction or non who writes about our region?

Sarah Stonich. She captures North Woods rural life without making it into a caricature. And she's funny!

Who is the one character in a novel with whom you most identify?

Gosh that's a personal question. Violeta from Violeta by Isabel Allende 

You've now managed Drury Lane Books for seven years. What are your favorite thing about our store?

Observing Lake Superior from our window through all of  the seasons. Especially I love the early morning winter light. The Hmong tapestry behind the counter is a favorite. Also, finding the right book for the right person and listening to kids squeal about our children's nook and the children's books we select. I also love listening to couples and friends toss book recommendations across the aisles to each other.

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What is the most influential first book or author for you?

When I was in sixth grade, I'd grown blasé about reading. A teacher suggested I turn to Ray Bradbury's short stories, and entering this world of sci-fi fantasy re-energized my reading joy. 

Can you recall one opening line to a novel that you will never forget?

Alan Paton's opening of Cry the Beloved Country speaks to me of the beauty, rhythm, and wildness of Africa. "There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it. The road climbs seven miles into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa."

Do you have a favorite author—fiction or no—who writes about our region?

Sigurd Olsen's The Singing Wilderness—foundational to setting aside the Boundary Waters as Wilderness--has always fed my soul. Clearly his writing about the area places me there even when I'm not sleeping under the stars. 

Is there one character in a novel with whom you most identify?

A character I relate to? Dorothea, in George Eliot's Middlemarch, with the way she allows her deep feelings about things to sway her.

Can you share your favorite aspect of working at Drury Lane Books?

I love the books, the view, the space, but I especially love the folks that come in who want to talk books and life. 

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KIMBERLY SOENEN

What is the most influential first book or author for you?

The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Suess.

Can you recall one opening line to a novel or essay that you will never forget?

“Son, Last Sunday the host of a popular news show asked me what it meant to lose my body,” from Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Do you have a favorite author who writes about our region?

Staci Lola Drouillard. She is the Bell Hooks of our time.

Is there one character in a novel with whom you most identify?

An amalgam of many across lived minutes, hours, days, failures, successes, pain, joy, loss, relationships and years. I suppose if I had to pick one, it would be Jess in Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. 

Can you share your favorite aspect of working at Drury Lane Books?

It’s a corner pub, a diner, a library, an oasis, a community hub, a vessel, a looking-glass, a passport, a floating magical portal, a concierge desk, and a wellness clinic all in one. And, we care.

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Coming Soon

GRACE DANFELT (Children's Book Reviewer and Store Artist)