Dan Jorgensen

A native of Minnesota, Dan Jorgensen grew up on a South Dakota farm, attending a one-room country school and was the first member of his family to attend college. After earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from South Dakota State University, he studied creative writing and film at Colorado State University where he wrote his first book Killer Blizzard.

He has won awards for both his creative writing and newspaper feature writing and for his work in educational public relations.

In addition to writing many hundreds of news and sports articles and feature stories, both as a journalist and in public relations, he also is the author of 10 books, including the award-winning mystery/adventures "And The Wind Whispered", "Killer Blizzard", and "Rainbow Rock", all set in the Black Hills of South Dakota and their surrounding area. HIs new mystery-thriller "Devil's Thumb" -- just out in 2025 in both text and e-book versions -- is set at Mount Rushmore at the beginning of the mountain's carving in 1925.

Dan also has written 3 songs and a one-act play, has contributed to 2 anthologies, and writes the blog “A Writer’s Moment.” He is a frequent presenter on the topics “Storytelling―From Journalism to Creative Writing” and “The Writing Life.”

Among the professional organizations with which he has been affiliated are Rotary International: The Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE); The National Association of Science Writers; Kappa Tau Alpha (the national journalism honorary); Sigma Delta Chi; Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW); Historical Writers of America; and The Historical Novel Society.

Dan and his wife Susan live in Milliken, Colorado.