Column will appear in The Journal

Staff report

Award-winning author, journalist, book critic and word master Dave Wood will be joining The Journal staff as a columnist, beginning July 8. Journal readers can look forward to ‘Woodworking Again’ in the Opinion pages.

Locally, his ‘Woodworking’ column appeared in the River Falls Journal for many years, covering a range of topics relatable to readers. Trying to find the perfect steak dinner that won’t break the bank; memories of holidays from the farm; and being up to his armpits in snow are just a few topics.

Journal Editor Sarah Nigbor and Publisher John McLoone are looking forward to working with Wood and bringing his columns to Journal readers.

“I grew up reading Dave Wood’s columns, and he has always been one of my role models,” Nigbor said. “I worked with him when I was editor at the River Falls Journal, a highlight there. His columns range from nostalgic to humorous and are always entertaining. I’m thrilled to be working with Dave Wood again.”

Internationally, Wood had had feature stories appear in Reader’s Digest, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post’s Style Section, Wisconsin Magazine, Nordske Tidende (in Oslo, Norway) and Wisconsin Trails Magazine.

He has also authored many books, including “Wisconsin Life Trip” (Dan Camp Press), “Telling Tales out of School” (Augsburg), “Wisconsin Prairie Diary” (Dan Camp Press), “The Pie Lady of Winthrop” (with Peg Meier, Neighbors Publishing, also featured on “Good Morning America”), “My Mother the Arsonist” (Waldman House Press), “The Anderson Years” (Augsburg), and “Dave Wood’s Christmas Book” (Kirk House Press).

Before traveling the world and putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys), Wood was born near Whitehall, Wis. and raised on a farm in Trempealeau County. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from UW-Eau Claire with an emphasis in English, journalism and history, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He also completed his Master of Arts and a Ph.D. at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, with an emphasis in English, American Literature and literary criticism. There, he was a Presidential Scholarship recipient.

Wood’s impressive career began at Bowling Green State University, where he was a teaching fellow in 1958, 1961-63 and 1967-69. He continued teaching until becoming a full-time writing coach in Minneapolis:

•English instructor, Augustana College, Rock Island, Ill.

•Assistant English professor, Illinois State University, Normal, Ill.

•Assistant English professor, UW-Stevens Point.

•Assistant English professor, Ball State University, Munci, Ind.

•Full English professor, Augsburg College, Minneapolis.

•Writer in Residence, Women’s Club, Minneapolis.

In 1980, Wood took a position as a full-time writing coach with the Minneapolis Tribune.

“In 1980, the Minneapolis Tribune hired me as a fulltime writing ‘coach’ to help reporters flesh out stories and make them more readable,” Wood said. “As such, I became the second coach in the nation, after Roy Peter Clark of the St. Petersburg Times.”

Wood’s writing career continued to flourish. He worked as a feature writer for the Minneapolis Star Tribune before taking on the role of columnist and editor of the Star Tribune’s Book Review Section. He also served as editor of the National Book Critics Circle Quarterly, was a columnist for Badger Books in Madison, and founded Dave Wood’s Editorial Services in 1998. His weekly column, “Dave Wood’s Book Report,” appeared in 30 newspapers for 22 years.

After he returned to teaching, he worked as a consultant to several newspapers and institutions, including the Seattle Times, the San Jose Mercury News, the Poynter Institute, the Fargo Forum, the Texarkana Gazette, the Sioux City Press Club, the Christian Journal Association, the Target-Dayton Hudson Corporation, the Johnson Foundation of Racine, plus others.

Wood lives with his wife, Ruth, in River Falls. He is a self-proclaimed Luddite and doesn’t have email, but loves to hear from readers. He can be reached at 715-425-9554.