German freelance writer, editor to speak Sept. 8 Thomas Jeier, one of Germany's most prolific and successful authors of historical novels and books for young readers about American history, will speak at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8, in the Grand Forks Herald Community Room. The community is invited to attend this free event. Jeier grew up in Frankfurt, Germany, and for the past 36 years, he has worked as a freelance writer and editor in a publishing house. He's won numerous awards for his literary works, which often focus on North American cultural and historical topics. He's tackled everything from the Great Alaskan Gold Rush to the life and times of Martin Luther King Jr. He's also written about American Indians and the history of country western music. Among his bestselling books are novels about a young Cheyenne woman, "Die Sehnsucht der Cheyenne;" a Lakota girl with Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, "Wo die in die Freiheit;" and a young couple living in Alabama during the time of Martin Luther King Jr., "Sie hatten einen Traum." His newest work is a nonfiction book American Indians, "Das Grosse Buch der Indianer." Jeier also was a recipient of an "International Award" from the Country Musica Association for a longrunning weekly country music show. Today, Jeier lives near Munich, Germany, but he continues to travel extensively throughout North America. Jeier's visit to Grand Forks is sponsored by the UND Department of Languages' German division.