Book Lovers Night features Minnesota author Jeanne Cooney

Minnesota native Jeanne Cooney will be the featured author at Book Lover's Night at 7 p.m. April 8 in room 204, Gorecki Center, College of Saint Benedict.

Cooney was raised in the Red River Valley region of northwestern Minnesota, which is also where her first novel, "Hot Dish Heaven: A Murder-Mystery Novel with Recipes," is set. Cooney will be reading an excerpt during the event.

The novel is the first of a series and includes recipes for hot dish, bars and Jell-O salads paired with a mysterious storyline.

The second book, "A Second Helping of Murder and Recipes: a Hot Dish Heaven Mystery," is set to be released later this year.

Cooney holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Minnesota, where she studied public affairs and writing. She spent 28 years working in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis as the director of community relations, until she retired in 2013 to pursue her writing career.

An informal book chat and a free book swap begins at 6:30 p.m., and a local community reader will give book recommendations at 6:45 p.m. Cooney will be available for book signings after his reading. The event is free and open to the public.

The CSB/SJU Bookstore will offer recommended books for sale at 20 percent off during the event.  For more information, contact [email protected] or call 320-363-2119.