Twin Cities author William Kent Krueger wins Edgar Award

William Kent Krueger, a Twin Cities resident, has won the Edgar Award for Best Novel for his 2013 book, "Ordinary Grace."

He got the news at a ceremony last night in New York City. Krueger is best known for his Cork O'Connor mystery series.

Krueger spoke with MPR News' Morning Edition on Friday. Below is a transcript of the conversation.

Cathy Wurzer: Were you partying all night long after getting the news?

William Kent Krueger: Well we partied pretty late, I have to admit. But then, I got up at 6 o'clock this morning and went back to work on my next project. So life goes on.

Wurzer: Oh my goodness, I tell you, you're not going to rest on your laurels are you?

Krueger: I have no intention of doing that. This is very nice, but you know, it's just another milestone and I see lots more down the road.

Wurzer: Now for folks who don't know about the Edgars, this is a pretty big award.

Krueger: It's kind of the Oscar of our business. So it carries a lot of prestige, and opens a lot of doors.

Wurzer: And for folks who have not read "Ordinary Grace," but they will after this interview, this is a coming-of-age novel you won for, set back in 1961, it's set against the backdrop of a violent death. Tell me a little bit more about it.

Krueger: Yeah it's actually set in summer of 1961 in a small town, deep in Minnesota River Valley. It's the story of a Methodist minister whose beloved child is murdered. That's the compelling mystery component. But really at heart, Cathy, it's the story of what that terrible tragedy does to this man's faith, his family, and ultimately the fabric of the town in which he lives.

Wurzer: Why do you like to set your books in Minnesota?

Krueger: God, I love Minnesota. I'm not native to Minnesota, but I've lived there now about 30 years, and the minute I set foot there, I just fell absolutely in love with the place. So I always knew that when I got serious about my writing, somehow it would always be a homage to Minnesota.

Wurzer: Was this book written in long hand at the St. Clair Broiler like the rest of your books?

Krueger: You know, I did. I wrote the first, not this one, but I wrote the first eight or nine of my novels long hand at the broiler. But this one actually was written directly to my laptop. I've joined the 21st century here.

Wurzer: But this is a little bit of a switch for you, "Ordinary Grace," in terms of the genre. Why did you decide to go in this direction? At least for "Ordinary Grace."

Krueger: Well, for those who don't know my series, all of my Cork O'Connor novels were set in the great north woods, basically the Arrowhead region, which is absolutely beautiful. But southern Minnesota has its own kind of beauty. And I grew up in small Midwestern towns, so when I thought about this story, one of the things I that wanted to do was go back and recall an important summer in my own life, the summer I was 13 years old, and recall it and evoke it in such a way that could put it on paper. And anyone, across any generation, would understand what it was like to be there at that time and at that age. The other thing I wanted to do was talk a little bit more about the spiritual journey, which is kind of an undercurrent in a number of my Cork O'Connor novels. And "Ordinary Grace," when it came to me, I knew would be the perfect vehicle for both of those ambitions.

Wurzer: But we're going to see more Cork O'Connor mysteries, right?

Krueger: Oh, yeah, yeah. I've got a new one coming out this August called Windigo Island and I'm under contract for yet another. I also have a contract for a companion novel to "Ordinary Grace," also set in southern Minnesota, post World War II. It's a novel, that's the project I'm working on now that will be called "This Tender Land." And I'm really excited about it.

Wurzer: Wow, you're a busy guy.

Krueger: You know, we all are. That's just what writers do.

Wurzer: What's the key, by the way, to writing a really good mystery?

Krueger: God. You know, if I could put that down in just a few sentences, I could make a million bucks.

Wurzer: You would.

Krueger: There are so many ways to go about the creation of a mystery. But at heart, you really have to talk about human nature. Whatever you write has to come back to what motivates people to do the things that they do.

Wurzer: And so, you have to think of those motivations as you're writing your mysteries.

Krueger: Absolutely. You know, I spent an enormous amount of time plotting my novels. But the plot interests me the least. What interests me, well in terms of the story, all those beautiful narrow developments that support plot. I'm talking character, I'm talking themes, I'm talking language, I'm talking atmosphere. And at the heart of all of that, for mystery, really is the motivation that drives all humans to do the various things good and bad that we do.

Wurzer: Well, congratulations on winning the Edgar. By the way, what does the award look like?

Krueger: It looks like the...it is a ceramic bust of Edgar Allan Poe, it's a rather interesting looking award. It will look, it will be interesting to put it on my mantle and explain to folks who visit me what exactly it's all about.

Wurzer: Little intimidating to be writing with Edgar Allan Poe looking over your shoulder.

Krueger: Well there is another award that was given out last night. It's called the Raven. Again, going back to the whole Poe thing. And it's this very odd-looking raven. I'd much rather have Poe staring at me than that raven.

Wurzer: Well, and thus you shall have that happen to you. Congratulations on the award. It's a huge honor. Thank you so much.

Krueger: It's a pleasure talking with you, Cathy. You take care.