Classon releases uplifting novel “Loon Point”

Classon releases uplifting novel “Loon Point”
By Tim Spitzack | Editor | January 2026

Carrie Classon wears about as many “creative” hats as thrift store dresses. You’ll understand that comment if you’ve been reading her columns in this newspaper for the past six years. She has a penchant for buying frilly and sometime frivolous dresses but more so for sharing observations of life that make us reflect on the way we ourselves view humanity.

Her writing is filled with openness, tenderness and compassion, and belies the fact that she experienced several personal struggles in her recent past. Rather than wallow in defeat, she used those challenges to examine her own life and make personal changes that led to a more rewarding future. It was during this difficult period that her literary journey began and today she is eagerly awaiting the release of her debut novel, “Loon Point,” published by Lake Union and hitting the market in late January.

The novel
Classon describes “Loon Point” as an extended love letter to her faithful newspaper column readers. It is set in a northern Minnesota town and explores the relationships that develop among four people who are thrust together at a resort during a spring snowstorm and whose lives intertwine over the next few months. They are Wendall, a cantankerous 72-year-old hoarder whose identity and home are literally collapsing around him; 8-year-old Lizzie who is watching her mother’s life spiral downward in addiction; Bud, the helpful handyman; and Norry, who inherited the resort from her father. At first glance, the town of Loon Point appears to be little more than a ragtag cluster of seasonal cottages and cabins where little is going on. However, it turns out to be a place where healing happens, profound changes occur, and miracles transpire regularly.

As in her columns, Classon deftly uses compassion and humor to weave a memorable tale that examines the complexities of imperfect people and the enrichment they find when they open their hearts and lives to others.

The inspiration for the novel came from a painful experience following publication of one of her Postscript columns, in which she shared her practice of seeking out beauty around her. Classon wrote the column following a dreary day in April when she visited Central Presbyterian church in downtown St. Paul and examined the recently restored stained glass windows in the church.

“The sun broke through the clouds,” she recalled while looking at the windows, “and I thought, It’s not what we’re looking at that matters, it’s what we’re looking through.” In her column she wrote, “With eyes trained to see beauty, we see beauty everywhere.”

“The next day I got this rant on Facebook – 1,200 words – from somebody I knew who was just infuriated by this whole idea, this whole perspective, that looking for happiness essentially is an inherently ridiculous idea, and more than that it was dangerous…. I really took a blow to the gut with that. I thought, Is that me? Is that what I’m doing? It didn’t take me long to decide, no. I think we build empathy by learning to appreciate the beautiful things around us.”

The character Wendall in the novel is modeled after the person who wrote the Facebook post, and her goal in creating him was to see what, if anything, could possibly change the viewpoint of such a pessimistic person. With that direction, the story gushed forth, and she completed the 268-page novel in just 50 days.

“The core for me was a defense of optimism, and that gratitude and training oneself to look for the good in life and to appreciate the things we have really is the only way to move forward and make things better.” Incidentally, she showed a draft to her critical friend prior to publication, and he was delighted with the book.

Classon began writing fiction in 2020 during the pandemic and has since penned three novels. One is under review by her publisher, and the latest is now in the editing stage. All are set in Minnesota.

“I like writing books that capture the Minnesota voice,” she said. “I do think Minnesota does have a unique sound and rhythm and humor to it, so it’s very fun for me to explore and create characters [reflecting it].”

About the author
Classon, who was born and raised in Plymouth, Minn., was drawn to the performing arts early in life. Following high school, she pursued a degree in theater at Northwestern University in Illinois but eventually dropped out to act professionally. She later finished her degree at the University of New Hampshire, where she simultaneously worked as an actress and attended school.

After graduation, she earned her chops by performing coast-to-coast with theater companies over the next 14 years. During that time, she also worked in theater operations and became interested in the business side of the industry. With a longing to return to the Midwest, she moved to St. Croix Falls, Wis., and founded a small theater company in 1990.

“Everything I learned about business I learned there running a small theater,” she said. “I was very proud of the work we did but I will also never work that hard again. It was a huge challenge trying to keep 200 seats filled for performances in an area that is so sparsely populated.”

For deeper insight into running a business, she enrolled in the MBA program at the University of St. Thomas. After earning that degree she put acting and theater management aside and devoted herself to international business, crafting feasibility studies and business plans for projects around the globe.

While working in Lagos, Nigeria, personal tragedy struck hard. Over the course of just a few days, her husband left her, and she lost both her job and her home. Blindsided, stunned and grieving, she turned to journaling to make sense of her then unraveled life. That led to the 2019 publication of “Blue Yarn: A Memoir About Loss, Letting Go, and What Happens Next,” and to reinventing herself at middle-age and pursing her artistic dreams.

In her 50s, she received an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of New Mexico and in 2018 began writing a weekly column, “The Postscript.” The column became nationally syndicated in 2020 and today appears in more than 200 newspapers across the U.S.

Another of her “creative hats” is that of playwright. She has written a half-dozen plays and most recently parlayed material from her Postscript columns and novel into a stage show that she hopes to perform in the coming year.

“Theater was my first love, and I strongly suspect my love of writing comes directly from my experience on stage,” said Classon.

Her life has changed considerably for the better since the days that sparked her memoir. Now, she is happily remarried and, at age 63, is fulfilling her creative dreams.

“I think there is a myth that if you didn’t start some artistic endeavor when you were eight years old, then obviously you don’t have a talent and can’t do it,” she said. “I really don’t believe this is true and it discourages a lot of people.” Her advice to others is: Don’t be afraid to try new things later in life.

“Loon Point” is available in paperback, audiobook and e-book. Classon will hold a release party at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 28 at the University Club of St. Paul, 420 Summit Ave. For more information, visit carrieclasson.com.