Fall Is Here: Books, Events, and Local News in Minnesota

Fall is officially here in Minnesota, and that means cooler weather, pumpkin spice, and a great excuse to pick up a new book. Keeley Norton, a well-known book influencer from the Twin Cities area, is sharing her most anticipated reads of the season. On top of that, there are exciting events happening around the city this weekend and some big local news stories to know about.

Norton runs a popular Instagram account called @moonlight_bookclub, which she started in 2020. She became famous for taking creative photos that arrange books into seasonal shapes. Since a 2022 article featured her, her number of followers has grown five times over — she now has more than 100,000 people following her online. Her day job is at Minnesota's department of education.

Norton sat down for a chat at Honour Coffee & Raw Juice in Minneapolis to talk about books, technology, and her favorite local bookstores. She had strong opinions about artificial intelligence, or A.I., being used to write books. She said that creative people will always want to make real art, and that A.I. should stay a tool — not replace human creativity. 'Things that are people work — like reading, sharing stories, creating art — should remain people work,' she said.

When it comes to fall reading, Norton is excited about two books in particular. The first is 'The Pirate Queen' by Ariel Lawhon, a story she is eager to read because she grew up loving pirates. She says fall is a great time for character-driven stories, where readers can slow down and really get into a book. The second is 'Killing the Boogeyman' by Richard Chizmar, the third book in a series that reads like true crime. Norton said the first book in the series was so convincing that she had to stop and search online to find out if the story was real.

Norton also shared her favorite independent bookstores in the Twin Cities. She loves the new Acorn Bookshop in St. Anthony Park, Moon Palace Books for its welcoming feel, Tropes & Trifles for romance readers, and Once Upon a Crime for mystery fans. She also gave a shout-out to Rolling Chapters, a mobile bookstore that is opening a physical store this fall.

There is also a lot happening around the Twin Cities this weekend. On Saturday, the Talking Volumes author series kicks off at The O'Shaughnessy with author Marlon James, who teaches English and creative writing at Macalester College. A New York Times book critic described James as being near the front of the line for a future Nobel Prize. His latest novel is called 'The Disappearers.'

Also on Saturday, the 25th annual Selby Ave JazzFest brings hours of live music, and on Sunday there is a master class taught by musician Stokley Williams. The festival starts with a brass parade and includes a 'Flash Mob Band' that anyone with an instrument can join. It is a free and fun way to enjoy live music in the community.

On Sunday, Open Streets Cedarfest will take over the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. People are invited to enjoy the area by walking, biking, or even riding a camel. The event is meant to bring the community together and make use of the neighborhood's streets in a fun, new way.

There is also important local news this week. Data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension shows that violent crime in Minnesota dropped in 2025 to levels not seen since before the pandemic. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced she will not run for president in 2028 or 2032 if she becomes governor of Minnesota. MPR News also published an interview with a man from St. Paul who is being held at the Guantánamo Bay military prison even though he has no criminal record.

In sports, the Minnesota Vikings are kicking off a new football season on Sunday. They will face the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium at 3:25 p.m. Sports writers at The Athletic say the Vikings' chances depend on their run game and defense performing well all season. If those pieces come together, they could compete to win the NFC North division.