The event filled the bookstore with families, teachers, grandparents and fans from the Twin Cities, Wisconsin, Apple Valley, Nicollet, Alexandria and beyond.

DiCamillo, writer of “Because of Winn-Dixie,” “The Tale of Despereaux ” “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane,” and the “Mercy Watson” series took several questions from the audience. 

“The audience participation was incredible,” said event organizer Tammy Klawitter, “This is actually the most questions we’ve ever had for any author. It was amazing.”

Dicamillo spoke about her writing process, the real-life origins of her books, and the importance of teachers and librarians.

Danie Meier of Nicollet displays her cherished childhood copy of The Tale of Despereaux alongside the new 20th-anniversary edition at Lykke Books. (Photo by Amy Zents)

“You are changing lives and saving lives, and for teachers and librarians, we do not think you enough,” she said.

Now 62, DiCamillo said she began writing seriously at age 30 after moving from Florida to Minnesota during one of the state’s worst winters.

Homesick, she wrote, “Because of Winn-Dixie,” as an escape.

“I’ve been writing two pages a day since I was thirty years old,” she said. 

She hoped the book would sell 5,000 copies. It has sold 15 million. She has published over 25 novels. To date, her children’s books have sold over 40 million copies worldwide and inspired 5 film adaptations, including, “Because of Winn-Dixie, “The Tale of Despereaux,” “Flora & Ulysses,” and others. She said saying yes to the film adaptations has helped her book sales.

Kate DiCamillo engages a sold-out crowd of 125 readers at Lykke Books in New Ulm. The event set a record for the most audience questions. (Photo by Amy  Zents)

She described writing as difficult. A novel usually takes her a year and a half to two years. She rewrites it from beginning to end six or seven times before her editor sees it and usually ends up with nine or 10 drafts total.

“Writing is rewriting,” she said.

DiCamillo told aspiring writers there is no single right way to work.

She quoted from the book “Art & Fear.”

“There is one Mozart born every century. Guess what? That’s not you.” 

DiCamillo said she writes without outlines and discovers characters as she goes. 

Her routine starts at 5 a.m. with coffee, followed by two pages in her attic studio. She shared the origins of several books. 

“Flora & Ulysses,” came from her late mother’s Electrolux vacuum cleaner and a sick squirrel on her steps. 

“Mercy Watson,” started with a vision of a pig named Mercy and a friend eating a big slice of buttered toast in Dicamillo’s brand new car.

DiCamillo thanked teachers and librarians. 

“You are changing lives and saving lives,” she said. She recalled her second-grade teacher, Mrs. Boyett, and urged educators to accept gratitude now.

Local teacher and Lykke bookseller Gwen Jacobs of Jefferson Elementary brought students and former colleagues to the author talk. 

“I’ve been teaching with her books for so long,” Jacobs said. “It’s wonderful to see so many Jefferson teachers and former teachers here. I encouraged my students to come, and two of my science students are here too. Her stories really connect with kids.”

Store owner Brie Taralson said the turnout made it the store’s biggest event to date. 

“We’re sold out.” Klawitter said. “One-hundred-twenty-five people. We had to rent extra chairs. It’s been fantastic.”

Klawitter described the hands-on activities offered, including an Edward Tulane traveling tag station where children could decorate tags to take home or leave to be hung in the store, a kindness wall with summer activity prompts on sticky notes, a decorated crown inspired by, “The Tale of Despereaux,” and a castle backdrop for photos.

Danie Meier, 31, of Nicollet, proudly showed her childhood copy of, “The Tale of Despereaux.” “This is my very first copy that I got as a child, and this is the 20th-anniversary edition” she said, holding up a newer copy. 

She said she enjoyed listening Dicamillo’s Q & A.

“It was fantastic. Even as an adult, I was very into it. She did a great job catering to the kids too. I loved that she broke outside the box. Writing isn’t the same for everyone. You don’t have to follow rigid outlines. She has such a youthful, whimsical personality,” Meier said.

Monica McGuire and her sons Dominic and Charlie came from Apple Valley.

“One of my coworkers gave me the book about Edward Tulane, and we read it,” McGuire said. “We’re going to get it signed and send it to her.” 

The boys picked Despereaux and Winn-Dixie to read in the car on the way home.

Charlie said his favorite part of the event was “the part where the squirrel became a superhero.” 

Dominic said his favorite part was hearing about the funny character names which Dicamillo explained were inspired by real people from her Southern childhood, former schoolmates named “General Payne,: and his brother, “Sergeant Payne.”

Stacie Saurer of Alexandria attended with her son Miles. 

“We drove up because she doesn’t do a lot of signings in the area,” Saurer said. “Hearing her advice as a writer was great. You actually have to sit down and do it. She related so well to the kids; nobody felt uncomfortable asking questions.”

In her concluding remarks, DiCamillo said, “Y’all are so lucky to have this bookstore.”

During the book signing, a long line waited as DiCamillo greeted each reader as they approached her table, one-on-one, taking time to share a kind word, autograph their books, and pose for photos with fans of every generation.

As families left with signed books, the event showed the lasting appeal of DiCamillo’s work. 

Weaving into her children’s books DiCamillo prefers trustworthy narratives over “happily-ever-afters.”

After explaining that she avoided the book, “Charlotte’s web,” as a child, she said that when she finally read it as an adult, she realized it’s brilliance.

“It is one of the most perfect books ever written. Not for kids, for human beings. I love it so!” She said, “Life is not perfect, but it is wonderful.”

Lykke Books continues its schedule with story times, book clubs, fairy yoga on July 15, and William Kent Krueger in October.