Lilly's blog 

April 17, 2023

On Saturday, April 15 (the date of the Titanic sinking), I had the pleasure of giving a presentation at Karpeles Library and Museum in Rock Island about Swedes on the Titanic.  The museum showed a small but interesting exhibit about the passenger liner that foundered on its maiden voyage in 1912. Visitors could get a ticket to "board" that showed the name of an actual passenger. Then they could also find out if they had survived or not. At 5.30, I spoke about both survivors and victims and how two Swedish families had to decide what to do when they found out that  the husband and father had to stay behind and go down with the ship, according to the marital rule of the time, "Women and Children First." Unfortunately,  there weren't lifeboats for everyone and if there had been enough, there wasn't time to launch them before the Titanic sank. The liner Carpathia arrived several hours later and picked up about 700 survivors shivering from the cold in the lifeboats, rowing toward the distant lights of a ship. Carpathia's Captain Rostron was born in London to Swedish parents. If he hadn't decided to come to change his course and come to the rescue, no one had been saved. The images below show the sign outside Karpeles, me in my Titanic outfit, and my four Titanic books. See more about these books on my blog, http://lillysetterdahl.blogspot.com and amazon.com, and my Facebook page.

Titanic presentation and book signing: East Moline Public Library, May 8, from 2 pm. to 4:00 p.m., 745 16th Avenue, East Moline, IL, 61244. 

July 30, 2023

Current work in progress: Pioneer Women, which I hope will become a trilogy. 

After reading a draft of Volume I, one evaluator wrote: Pioneer Women by Lilly Setterdahl is an epic journey that recounts the struggles for survival from the pre-civil war era of utopianism to the years after when men and women fought the ravages of nature to maintain their foothold on the midwestern prairie. The story spans generations and bridges the hardscrabble past to the coming of age in more modern times. Hardships abound but so does the resilience of the pioneer spirit of those who came looking for a new life. Hard work becomes second nature for these immigrants on their way to becoming Americans. (Mary Davidsaver).

November 1, 2023

I'm at the end of Volume III, so Pioneer Women is already a trilogy on my computer.  It still needs to be proofed and edited.  

Christmas Walk Book Signing at the Gift Box, 301 W. State Street, Geneva, IL 60134

One day only. December 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Come and browse the store, watch a demonstration of Rosemaling, and look at my books on display. I'll be glad to dedicate one to you or as a very affordable Christmas gift to someone else. Choose between fiction and nonfiction, Swedish-American history, the Titanic, drama, romance, or historicals, usually in a Scandinavian or Swedish-American setting. See my latest books on this site and a list of previous ones. Be entertained and learn something at the same time. I will be glad to chat with you in Swedish or English. Welcome!  http://www.amazon.com/Lilly-Setterdahl/e/B001K8FWDG/.sv

January 2, 2024  I'm happy to report that my book, Elisabeth and the Nobleman, has been selected as the book-club-book for February, 2024, by the Swedish American Museum. Here's the link: 

https://swedishamericanmuseum.org/events/

It's an online event on February 24 so it should be easy to join wherever you live. Registration is not open yet. Topic: Book Club "Elisabeth and the Nobleman"
Time: Feb 24, 2024 02:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Here's  the link:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82168655630?pwd=SWxYNVRxYVovaVVQMFRGUUU1VHA2Zz09

THE PIONEER WOMAN features Kristina, a Swedish-American woman, who is expelled from a utopian colony. Shunned and shamed, her options are few. To be released by amazon.com on July 12, 2024. Will be available at the Gift Box, 310 W. State Street, Geneva, IL 

There was a nice article about my upcoming book in Henderson County Quill on June 26th, 2024.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iM-5LFdVUSOQXjFSNpQEVKze_WBT4_MI/view?usp=sharing

July 2014

THE PIONEER WOMAN is live online. 

Sep. 27, 2024

The Pioneer Woman E-Book is live online. 

https://www.amazon.com/Pioneer-Woman-Lilly-Setterdahl/dp/B0D8P8GVD9/

Sep. 28, 2024 Announcement

"My Writing Journey"

 Published in the Geneva Township Center October newsletter:

"On Monday, October 14 at 11:00am Center member and accomplished author, Lilly Setterdahl, will share her writing journey. A native of Sweden, Lilly has authored 30 fiction and nonfiction books including a series of four (should be three) novels about the Titanic and more than 20 nonfiction selections related to Swedish immigration to America. Her 30th book The Pioneer Woman, was published this summer. Such an inspiration; don't miss this special member presentation! Bring your questions... A light lunch will be served to attendees after Lilly's talk. Call the Center at 630-232-3602 if you'd like to reserve a spot."  

Author Fest

I will be at the Geneva Public Library, 227 S. Seventh St. Geneva, IL 60134 on Saturday, November 16, 1:30 - 3:00pm for Author Fest featuring 16 local authors. Authors get five minutes each to speak. I will highlight my latest book, The Pioneer Woman, published in 2024. There will be an opportunity to buy books. Start your Christmas shopping at the library! 

Christmas Walk

Book Signing

The Gift Box

310 W. State Street

Geneva, IL

Saturday, Dec 7, 11-3.00

Author Lilly Setterdahl

Fiction and nonfiction