ST. PAUL, Minn. — Garrison Keillor has a new book out, a collection spanning his decades as storyteller, novelist and radio show host. This summer he celebrates the 40th anniversary of “A Prairie Home Companion.” But the curmudgeonly creator of Lake Wobegon, the quirky Minnesota town where — well, you know the rest — insists he didn’t want to mark either milestone.

“I’m not done, so why would you put out a ‘Keillor Reader’ if Keillor is not done writing?” he asked during an interview in his book-lined office.

“The Keillor Reader” includes monologues from “A Prairie Home Companion” as well as excerpts from his novels, newspaper columns and previously unpublished essays. Both the book and the show’s planned Fourth of July weekend anniversary celebration were done, Keillor says, against his better judgment.

“Because you don’t want to let people know how long you’ve been around. If you do, they’ll think, ‘Well, that’s long enough. Pull the plug on that guy. He’s had his chance. Let’s have the next person come up,’” Keillor said.

Keillor, who turns 72 in August, hinted a few years ago that he planned to retire in 2013, and the show had its first guest host in 2011. But while he says the show “could definitely go on” without him, Keillor already has planned the next season and has started talks about the season after that.