Rachael Hanel

My memoir, WE'LL BE THE LAST ONES TO LET YOU DOWN, was published in 2013 by the University of Minnesota Press. It was a finalist in the memoir/creative nonfiction category for the 2014 Minnesota Book Award. The memoir recounts my experiences growing up as a gravedigger's daughter in southern Minnesota. My dad's job ensured that I was familiar with death, but when Dad died unexpectedly when I was 15 years old, I had to learn how to navigate this new landscape of grief. I still live in southern Minnesota, where I work as an associate professor of Mass Media at Minnesota State University, Mankato. I also have written several nonfiction books for children. My educational background is in history and journalism, so these books fall right within my interests. To me, the most fascinating era in history is whichever one I'm currently researching. I was originally going to minor in history as an undergraduate, but I couldn't decide on what six classes to take, so I declared it a major so I could take more classes!