7/20/2009 3:09:00 PM Navigating Lake Minnetonka's history
‘Historic Lake Minnetonka’
Authors: Nancy Steinke and Stephanie Larsen
Cost: $29.95
Where to buy it: Area shops, including Borders and The Bookcase in Wayzata, and at www.historiclakeminnetonka.com.
By Ed Huyck
Perseverance can pay off - just ask Nancy Steinke.
The lifelong Minnetonka resident had an idea five years ago. While there are plenty of books about the history and makeup of Lake Minnetonka, there wasn't a single guide that could be used by boaters as they explored the lake.
So Steinke started to collect information, from historic records, recollections and good old fashioned digging. About midway through, realizing that the project was overwhelming her, Steinke enlisted the help of friend and professional writer Stephanie Larsen to work on the project.
The fruit of all that labor, "Historic Lake Minnetonka," is now available at area shops and from the duo's Web site. And it's already selling like hotcakes.
"We originally thought we would only print 500," Larsen said last week. In fact, the book has moved more than 1,000 copies in about a month, and it continues to pick up steam. The two have been featured on a variety of television and radio programs and have done multiple readings and signings.
"It's been amazing. We go to do readings and its packed, with people waiting on the edge of their seats to hear us talk," Steinke said.
The book, subtitled "Navigate Lake Minnetonka and discover its rich history," was designed with the boater in mind.
It's spiral bound and just a bit bigger than a normal paperback, making it a perfect fit for a boat's glove box, Steinke said.
For paper the two decided on a heavy coated stock that will protect the book from the sun and the waves.
The book is arranged so that a boater can journey from the lower to the upper lake and follow along (while an index at the front provides easy access to any spot along the way).
Steinke's love affair with Lake Minnetonka started early. "I grew up boating on the lake with my dad," she said.
The book is intended for anyone who boats on the lake, from those who have spent a lifetime there to the neophyte. Each of the bays, communities and other points of interest - such as the numerous bridges - are detailed with historical facts and places to see. Some of the information took quite a bit of digging. "It was like a treasure hunt," Larsen said.
The book has not only connected with those living in the Lake Minnetonka area, but also people throughout the country.
Orders have come from as far a field as Texas and Hawaii. The book has also drawn attention from some of the larger chains - it's already available in the local Borders - which could help to raise its profile, Larsen said.
The quick success of the book may have caught the two off guard, but they are already making plans for future editions, including a coffee-table-style book.
