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Colin Mustful

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Website

https://www.colinmustful.com

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Genre

History, Historical Fiction

Member Since

November 2014

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Colin Mustful writes a unique cross-genre utilizing elements of fiction and nonfiction in order to tell compelling stories that inform and entertain. The author’s work focusses on the tragic and complicated history surrounding the largely unknown and misunderstood event of the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862. Using a variety of sources, author Colin Mustful objectively considers this important part of Minnesota history through multiple perspectives and necessary historical context. The result is an educational narrative that includes fictional drama and a thought-provoking story.

In addition to his novels, the author has written several essays that delve into the subjugation and genocide of the Native American as well as the reasoning and justi Colin Mustful writes a unique cross-genre utilizing elements of fiction and nonfiction in order to tell compelling stories that inform and entertain. The author’s work focusses on the tragic and complicated history surrounding the largely unknown and misunderstood event of the U.S. – Dakota War of 1862. Using a variety of sources, author Colin Mustful objectively considers this important part of Minnesota history through multiple perspectives and necessary historical context. The result is an educational narrative that includes fictional drama and a thought-provoking story.

In addition to his novels, the author has written several essays that delve into the subjugation and genocide of the Native American as well as the reasoning and justifications for such actions by those who have sought to expel, erase, and destroy western indigenous cultures. One such work includes the author’s Master’s Thesis entitled, The Generation of 1837: Attitudes, Policies, and Actions Toward Indian Populations of Argentina. This particular work analyzes the extinguishment of Pampas Indians throughout the nineteenth century as influenced and justified through the words and works of a group of political and intellectual elite known as the Generation of 1837. Regarding the Dakota Indians of Minnesota, the author has completed several works such as an essay entitled,Unwarranted Expulsion: The Removal of the Winnebago Indians. This work discusses the exile of the Winnebago Indians from the state of Minnesota as a result of the Dakota War despite their very limited involvement in the conflict. The author has also completed a work titled, A Welcome Tragedy: Factors that Led to the U.S.-Dakota Conflict of 1862 in which the author concludes that the U.S.-Dakota War was the foreseeable result of years of misconduct, fraud and exploitation which was fostered by a corrupt Indian system.

Colin Mustful resides in Roseville, Minnesota and has a Master of Arts in History from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Currently, he is studying for a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Augsburg University. In addition to writing, Colin is an avid soccer player and a frequent marathoner.
Colin Mustful resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota and has a Master of Arts in History from Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to writing, Colin is an avid soccer player and a frequent marathoner. ...more

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Colin Mustful’s books

Average rating: 4.01 · 177 ratings · 61 reviews · 19 distinct works • Similar authors

	Reclaiming Mni Sota: An Alternate History of the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862 by Colin Mustful (Goodreads Author), Michael Loso (Contributor) 4.17 avg rating — 103 ratings — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Resisting Removal: The Sandy Lake Tragedy of 1850 by Colin Mustful (Goodreads Author), John Haymond (Editor) 3.69 avg rating — 26 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fate of the Dakota: A Novel and Resource on the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862 4.27 avg rating — 15 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Grace At Spirit Lake 3.14 avg rating — 14 ratings — published 2014 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Ceding Contempt: Minnesota’s Most Significant Historical Event 4.11 avg rating — 9 ratings — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Authorial Intrusion and the Civil War Narrative: How to Write History Through Fiction it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Battle of Point Pleasant: A Critical Event at the Onset of a Revolution 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Confronting Minnesota's Past: A Resource to Test Your Understanding on the U.S. - Dakota War of 1862 by Colin Mustful (Goodreads Author), Sean Beggin (Introduction) liked it 3.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Thy Eternal Summer it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2013 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fate of the Dakota: A Novel and Resource On the U. S. - Dakota War of 1862 really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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From Facts to Lives: Learning to Let Characters Lead

When I started writing historical fiction, I believed my main job was to get the history right. I spent my time in archives and county histories, lining up events, comparing accounts, and double‑checking dates. If I could build a solid timeline—who was where, when—then surely the story would follow.

I still care deeply about that work. The facts matter. They shape the boundaries of the world I’m wr

Colin is Currently Reading

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Child of These Tears

by Molly McNett

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Pinnacle: Five Principles that Take Your Businesses to the Top of the Mountain

by Steve Preda (Goodreads Author)

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Colin Mustful wrote a new blog post From Facts to Lives: Learning to Let Characters Lead When I started writing historical fiction, I believed my main job was to get the history right. I spent my time in archives and county histories, lini Read more of this blog post »
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Colin Mustful is currently reading Child of These Tears by Molly McNett	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Colin Mustful and 1 other person liked Raven Journeay's review of Jungle of Ashes:
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Colin Mustful rated a book it was amazing Jungle of Ashes by Brynn Barineau (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Colin Mustful and 2 other people liked AthenaReads1989's review of Jungle of Ashes: "Let me just start by saying the narrator, Carolyn Hewitt, did a fantastic job with multiple voices let alone multiple genders and multiple nationalities. This story kept me interested the entire time, the FMC, while naive, is one that you want to suc" Read more of this review »
Mar 01, 2026 02:57PM · see review
Colin Mustful and 1 other person liked Heather's review of Jungle of Ashes: "4.5⭐️ I went into this book knowing just a hint of the tale of Fordlandia and a bit of first hand knowledge living in the Amazon. The humanization of this part of history was so immersive I was able to visualize and lose myself in the narrative. I'm s" Read more of this review »
Feb 27, 2026 07:49PM · see review
Colin Mustful rated a book it was amazing The Blood of Englishmen: An Anthology from History Through Fiction by Christopher Dewitt	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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Colin Mustful rated a book it was amazing The Choir by Carol M. Cram (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Feb 24, 2026 08:21AM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Choir by Carol M. Cram. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Choir by Carol M. Cram <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Colin Mustful rated a book it was amazing On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A must read! This is a poignant, necessary look at history and what we can learn from that history. It was incredibly timely in 2017, when it was published, and even more timely today. I urge all Americans to read it, learn from it, and to continue t ...more
Feb 23, 2026 05:48AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">