NON-FICTION
Make it stand out
“A multifaceted gem that sparkles with both the individual story of the remarkable, formerly enslaved William Dollarson and the collective story of resistance to slavery in antebellum Michigan.”
—Chandra Manning, professor of history, Georgetown University
“This is a celebration of place, a warm family memoir, and an acute biography of the river whose name Hemingway made famous. The author’s keen observations and thorough research make this a unique book about a special corner of Michigan.”
— Dave Dempsey, environmental advocate and author of The Waters of Michigan and Great Lakes for Sale
Today, PowerPoint reigns as the superstar of presentation graphics. It’s everywhere! Yet, despite its widespread use, it’s often met with groans and eye-rolls, linking it to that infamous phrase, “Death by PowerPoint.”
Enter Oh No, Not PowerPoint! Relax, Help Is on the Way—
a vibrant manifesto bursting with fresh ideas, unconventional strategies, and cutting-edge research to transform your presentations from snooze-fests to showstoppers!
“Enter this book with the anticipation of wonder. It’s all here: water, myth, and environmental destruction met with fierce compassion and the wondrous journey of a judge’s mind as he redefines justice. This book is a treasure for those who embrace the wild earth, and those of pure heart.” —Michael Delp, co-editor emeritus, Made in Michigan Book Series, Wayne State University Press
“As a fellow long-distance cyclist, I have a small sense as to what it takes to complete such a journey. As John McShea describes in Old Bones, Young Spirit, it certainly requires will and determination. But it’s also essential to have a sense of humor and adventure, to be able to laugh when things go wrong and be open to whatever may unfold.”
—Jim Shea, author of Get Up and Ride; A Humorous True Story of Two Friends and a Cycling Adventure on the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal
photographs
Our Nest in the Universe is full of close observations of Northern Michigan in all its subtle and magnificent beauty. It’s a pure joy to spend a year with Jeff Leestma as he reacquaints himself with this intense sensory landscape through the changing of the seasons.
—Jim Daniels, award-winning author of more than forty collections of poetry and fiction and four produced screenplays
poems
“Michael Delp must be proclaimed the King of moving water. I have long been a fan of both his poetry and prose.”
—Jim Harrison
historic accounts of michigan big cat attacks
Through meticulous research, author Aaron Veselenak has uncovered a significant number of terrifying, yet fascinating historical encounters whereby humans, usually the top predators in all of Animalia, became or nearly became the prey of the largest and most fearsome of Michigan’s native cat species—Felis concolor—a creature of many different names. By bringing forth these thrilling accounts, Silent Springs the Panther is meant to appeal to lovers of both history and the natural environment.
Memories and Meditations of an Old Farmer/Cowboy
It’s hard to imagine a more pleasing journey through rural America than Profoundly Country—penned by farmer, ranch hand, cowboy, and open-hearted philosopher Dick Courteau. From the farms of Minnesota, to the rodeo rings of the mountain West, to the hardscrabble hills of Arkansas, here is a love song to America’s open spaces—and to the lively, disarming, and often brilliant people whose lives unfold there.
—Gary Ferguson, author, The Eight Master Lessons of Nature
“I have yet to find another book that so thoroughly explains how the rocks were formed, as well as tips and tricks that teach the reader how to make their own jewelry. What a treat!”
—Kymberly Kayne, photographer
illustrations & worksheets
“The Blueprint to Happy is a game-changer. It’s a compelling guide to transforming your life from the inside out, packed with wisdom and practical steps—a must-read for anyone ready to take control of their happiness journey.”
—John R. Miles, bestselling author and award-winning host of the Passion Struck podcast
Third Edition
M-22, the 116-mile state highway that wraps around Michigan’s little pinky like a glove, is often crowned our most beautiful drive. The scenery is great but what is truly remarkable is the amount of public land M-22 passes through. The highway winds through the heart of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and serves as the gateway to more than two dozen other preserves, parks, and rail-trails in Manistee, Benzie, and Leelanau counties.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND MAPS!
“The Rosas have created a wonderful volume rich in detail and rare photos, making this an important contribution to the published historical knowledge of North Manitou. It will be treasured by island campers, visitors, and story seekers — all who are curious about the mysterious point on the island map called Crescent.” —Stacie Longwell Sadowski, North Manitou historian and adventurer
Grass Left Standing is packed with a wealth of resources, case studies, and best management practices applicable to all interpreters who take people into nature with the intent of developing personal connections to our natural resources. —Kathleen Dougherty, Oakland Audubon Young Birders’ Club, naturalist and birder, Michigan Alliance for Environmental and Outdoor Education life member
“Our Forest Legacy shows us that local government can make a difference in the future. I applaud the county commissioners’ vision and commitment and am deeply grateful to Mike Meriwether for telling this story. As our county’s forester, he ensured that these public forestlands will be enjoyed by generations to come.”
—Peg Comfort, Antrim Conservation District Steward of the Year 2023
Making Rights Real for Future Generations is a meticulously crafted workbook designed for the strategic implementation of human rights at the local level.
author of the irreverent mr. mencken
“In the first half of the 20th century, Francis Bacon served as a heroic figure for people far removed from Renaissance England—and often from Renaissance studies. This admirable book goes some way toward explaining his appeal: Written in the 1950s and unpublished until now, its energy and relevance are undiminished.”
— Professor Bill Sherman, director of the Warburg Institute, London
Tom Buhr’s The Big Water is the epitome of what René Decartes meant when he said that in reading history we live with men of an earlier age as if we are traveling in foreign lands. Once I waded in, I kept wading all the way.
—Joseph Heywood, author of The Snowfly, Covered Waters: Tempests of A Nomadic Trouter, The Berkut, and the Grady Service Woods Cop mystery series
Celebrate the History
of Kansas City’s Beloved Janssen Place
If you drive past the 19 beautiful mansions built in Janssen Place in the early 1900s, you might think that time has stood still. Today these homes look remarkably the same as when each was completed more than a century ago. But, in fact, to achieve that same look has taken a lot of hard work, patience and persistence. This book celebrates that heritage and the effort to maintain the historical homes.
Copies of the book can be ordered online at www.mwchs.org.
Joe Swann — a true son of Tennessee — has discovered and put into place key pieces of the puzzle that complete the story of the enigmatic David Crockett, the famed frontiersman shrouded in folklore and legend. Thanks to incredible research and skillful writing, Swann reveals a Crockett more worthy than the mythic version. If you love American history, this book is tailor-made for you. I guarantee that you will not be disappointed.
Michael Wallis, author of David Crockett: The Lion of the West
Gordon Nagai and Nina Wolpe offer us their deeply felt story of something infinitely worth remembering: the lifesaving power of friendship and kindness. The detail of what people with Japanese ancestry went through after the attack on Pearl Harbor was both heartwarming and serious.
—Lynne Rae Perkins, children’s author and winner of the 2016 John Newbery Medal
loaded with photos
Angie’s persistent focus on patient safety and education sets her apart from the profit-driven businesses that dominate the market. She is the first person in-the-know on new discoveries in the field, always up to date on this ever-changing industry.
—Ryan Schuler, Corpsman Veteran
Book #2 in a series on Michigan in the Civil War
Beautifully written and fact filled. A great job of historical writing.
— Dr. John L. Cameron, Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
While some similar narratives focus on the individual or the Army unit, A Father’s Arms carefully balances both and provides a delightful and captivating read for the military buff and casual reader alike. Maynard’s very personal thoughts and experiences throughout the text bring another level of depth to the story.
— Rob Haldeman, founder of TankDestroyer.net
This is a wonderfully touching story, poignant in so many respects. I enjoyed it thoroughly ... so much so that I devoured it during a four-hour wait in an airport. The story beautifully expresses the symbiotic relationship between domestic and wild animals, as well as the necessity for maintaining the “wild” in wild species. Enjoy it!
—John Wemlinger, author
“We see girls and women becoming more empowered to be leaders on the field, in the boardroom, and everywhere in between. Win Like a Girl provides today’s and tomorrow’s leaders with the roadmap and inspiration to achieve greatness beyond their dreams. I hope the rest of the world understands how valuable Maureen’s work is, particularly with young women.”
— TJ Buchanan, Director of Sport Development, World Lacrosse
This book reads very much in the moment. I could feel the angst, anger, remorse, and unimaginable sadness. As a JT survivor myself, I applaud
H. J. Jones for her painstaking visualization, as well as the precise timeline of the tragedy. I totally appreciate her didactic approach and insight done in a very, very respectful way.
—Eugene Smith, Jonestown survivor, and author of Back to The World
Three incredible books
by Francis Nwankwo.
Buy The Human Automobile on Amazon.
A new book by Darlene Short, spawned by the disrupted events of COVID, shares images of hawks, butterflies, bees, and deer and showcases her intimate love of nature.
It’s said that the best camera to have is the one you have with you; the author illustrates this beautifully. This is a wonderful collection of one’s love for nature through Darlene’s camera lens.
—John Russell, photojournalist and author, My Office Today
“A very enlightening, enjoyable, well documented and researched book that brings to life the early (1860-forward) lumbering and development of a unique area of mid-Michigan. The author skillfully includes the people who pioneered, invested, and worked doggedly, and some who gave their lives as he makes the lumbering era come alive to the reader. Excellent reference for that era.”
Carol Garlo, Past President, Roscommon Area Historical Society
Using a book as his canvas, Bill Blanchard paints a word portrait of Jan, his first love, for us to see and feel. He blends perspectives from a palette of people who knew her as a daughter, sister, teacher, co-worker, mother, adventurer, dreamer, and source of inspiration, but most of all as his wife. Jan’s Journey is a love story of a life that is too short, too painful, but well-lived.
— Victor Rauch, retired journalist
I Was Once an Interesting Person is a fascinating coming-of-age story that spans the 1970s to ’90s. The vivid descriptions of the cultures of each decade, interlaced with Kate learning about what kind of mark she wants to make in the world, had me turning the pages and thoroughly caught up in the story world. Kate’s story is a mix of sad, entertaining, bittersweet, laugh-out-loud funny—and is never boring.
—Gillian Hill, editor / brand manager
The next time you get into a debate about whether Lake Superior is the world’s largest lake, grab your copy of Fact or Fake and win the argument. Filled with forty important and occasionally esoteric topics, this quick and entertaining guide will enrich your Great Lakes knowledge and make you want to know even more about these amazing freshwater wonders.
—Jane Elder, longtime Great Lakes advocate
Well-known Kansas City photographer Roy Inman helped the City of Fountains Foundation (COFF) create a special edition coffee table book in honor of its 50th anniversary. The City of Fountains: Kansas City’s Legacy of Beauty and Motion is a photography collection of some of the most beautiful, iconic fountains and sculptures in the metropolitan area.
The Collected Works of Eustace Cockrell
Eustace Cockrell’s stories are filled with memorable characters, the population of a lively era: jockeys, politicians, newspapermen, girls-about-town, mediums, and even St. Peter. They struggle against expectations, the worst instincts of their fellows, and often enough of their own inclinations, to arrive, somehow, generally a bit worse for wear, at a life in some way renewed. These stories constitute a time portal to the middle years of the Twentieth Century.
—AMANDA COCKRELL, niece of Eustace Cockrell, and author of Border Wars
A well-written, exciting family memoir telling of the dilemmas of a Latvian family during World War II trapped between the Russian army and Hitler’s Nazi Germany.... The Empty Sleeve is an unforgettable read!
—Michael L. Moore, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University
This book is intended to provide the reader with an understanding of the chemical catastrophe that occurred in Michigan in the 20th century, and to offer a cautionary tale for action in the 21st. Dr. Corbett was instrumental in exposing the extent of the PBB disaster.
“The Wild Jalopy is a brief and beautiful collection of poetry that is not only a celebration of a woman’s body of work, but also a personal record of a man’s admiration for the love of his life.”
—Juan Pineda
Take in the abundant natural beauty of Mackinac Island through rhythmic text and beautiful illustrations in M is for Mackinac: A Nature Alphabet.
“I love how this mother/daughter pair weaves their love for each other through each page as together they explore loss, pain, fear, change, commitment, aging, loneliness and love.”
—Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, author of All the Honey and Hush
“Steve Babson’s deeply engaging and powerful rescuing of the Populist movement’s real history makes it clear that Populism was a radical challenge to oligarchy and corporate greed. It was a movement that must be remembered.”
—Heather Ann Thompson, University of Michigan historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and its Legacy
Cy Corbett Chronicles
Book 1
“An intimate first-person account of a young man’s early years as a pilot during World War I, and his journey to normalcy upon completion of his military service. A poignant read, and well written, providing a rare insight into life in the nascent days of military aviation and life in the early 1900s.”
—Bob Hall, project manager, “Lest We Forget” Book of Heroes, Volume 5
From climbing coconut trees to killing snakes in his residence, Demerly keeps the reader thoroughly engrossed in his account of rural Malaysia as it made a transition from a British colony to an independent country that devoted much of its income to education.
—Glenn O’Kray, retired educator, editor, and activist
In 1871, Sarah Cole and her family left the Mauston, Wisconsin, area
after the hops market crashed and headed for western Minnesota and a new beginning. Sarah left a written account of this adventure by prairie schooner. The account, passed down through three generations, is a precious legacy.
“Growing up a coach’s kid, Burkley loves football and wants to share that with others. This book has something for fans of all ages.” SKYLAR THOMPSON, MIAMI DOLPHINS QUARTERBACK
Situated next to the Kenyan capital’s largest garbage dump, the Nairobi slum of Korogocho might seem like one of the least likely places on the planet where a youth orchestra has found itself a home. And yet, the classical strains of Mozart and Vivaldi, along with more contemporary fare, can be heard gently wafting through Korogocho on a daily basis. Since its founding in 2008, Ghetto Classics—so named by the first cohort of students—has been helping to inspire generations of local kids who learn firsthand how the arts can uplift and change lives.
More about the book here.
When the nine officers of the Clare City Police Department learned their town's only doughnut shop was closing for good, they sprang into action.
The 113-year-old bakery was an icon and needed to be protected and served!
With no idea how to make doughnuts, run a business or where to start,
the officers stepped up to save
the doughnuts and, in doing so,
revived a small town.
This is their story.
“I attended William Jewell at the same time as Larry and found him to be one of the fi nest student-athletes in school history. In addition, Larry was a great representative of the college, his fraternity and the community. He was a special leader on our basketball team and our fraternity. I cherished him as a dear friend and will always remember him in a special way.”
Bill Snyder, College Football Hall of Fame Coach, William Jewell College, class of 1962
“I think Burns would have liked those (speeches) much better than any
formal recognitions. And the bawdier,
the better.”
—Dawn Buchanan, Traverse City Public Library staff and Michigan social services case worker (retired)
This book reads like an exquisite essay, but feels like a love letter to water.
—Anne-Marie Oomen,
Author of An American Map; As Long as I Know You; and three memoirs
This is a powerful book written by a pioneer in modern correctional administration. Her journey is filled with adventure, victories, personal sacrifice, and stories of innovation.
—Melvin L. Williams, executive director, North American Association of Wardens and Superintendents, and former warden
A former track star at Bowdoin College, Maine-native Hanley Denning was struck by what she saw at the Guatemalan City dump: garbage pickers competing with vultures for the food dumped by trucks, toddlers playing amidst rats. The experience prompted her to, as Mother Teresa said, “find her own Calcutta.” Hanley called her family in New England and asked them to sell everything she owned and wire her the money. Then, she launched an educational reinforcement nonprofit called Safe Passage, or “Camino Seguro,” and helped pull thousands of children out of one of the largest urban landfills in the Americas.
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I can say with complete conviction that there isn’t a person, past or present, who knows more about Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, and the stories that took place between the two of us — and individually — than Charlie Mechem.
Jack Nicklaus
From the gut-punch opening line, “I am the mother of a dead child,” through gripping stories about her own disability and the deaths of her beloved siblings, Sharon Emery takes readers through a life’s journey of “wrestling with losses and limits.” Her memoir packs more inspiration than heartbreak, a solace to anybody coping with life or death, which is all of us.
Ron Fournier, journalist, autism advocate, author of New York Times bestseller Love That Boy
Invaded On All Sides is the first-choice source on the Battles of the River Raisin. Author Ralph Naveaux has packaged years of excellent research into a creatively written book that is easy to read and captivating.
—Scott Bentley, River Raisin National Battlefield Park superintendent
“... enlightening and entertaining. The MCWA has done a real service to Civil War scholarship in publishing these lively and forthright memoirs.”
– Dr. Gerald J. Prokopowicz, host of Civil War Talk Radio
“Joe Kirkish’s Long Exposure is a wonderful personal account of the peregrinations of an artist in academia. Joe’s narrative of his experience is important for all artists who hesitate between an artistic and an academic career. Joe showed me that making a living as an artist was possible.”
Alain Briot, artist and author of Mastering Landscape Photography and
Marketing Fine Art Photography
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From Badlands National Park to Wind Cave National Park, Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary to Custer State Park, Deeda Cordin’s photos provide endless possibilities for visual storytellers.
As a North Korean refugee, Soon-Young Yoon understood from an early age that peoples’ destinies are connected to international events. This book is a collection of her reflections as a feminist who has worked both for the United Nations and for the international women’s movement. Written through the lens of an anthropologist, these essays traverse the boundaries of being an insider and an outsider of the UN.
More about the book.
Buy the book on Amazon.
Telling a good fish story is a skill that, like good wine or cheese, gets better with age. In The Venerable Fly Tyers, Dave Jankowski presents the true antics and adventures of a group of men united by their love of fly fishing. From the fabled Au Sable River in Michigan to Montana’s Yellowstone — with some duck and deer hunting thrown in — the group hooks and hopes and humbles themselves before their wives to escape the humdrum of domestic life.
More about the book.
A con man, philanderer, and at least seven-time bigamist by relocation, David Wilson Bethel used the mobility that his job as a railroad station agent provided, as well as aliases, to dodge the consequences of his actions for years.
This true history of the author’s great-grandfather, who was born in Ohio in 1860, was meticulously researched for over two decades.
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A condensed yet comprehensive read on the maritime history of the Manitou Passage, made famous by the keepers who kept the lights and the surfmen who patrolled its beaches and braved its storm-swelled waters.”
—Kimberly Mann, historical architect, National Park Service, and board member, US Life-Saving Service Heritage Association
A collection of letters and songs written to lost loved ones for therapeutic purposes. Also includes information
on why hand-writing to a lost loved
one is so beneficial.
Includes a companion workbook.
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Even on a Cloudy Day reminds the reader that not every day needs to be sunny or warm to be beautiful. Each season possesses its own beauty and richness if we choose to embrace it. And like the changing seasons, our lives, which are filled with daily challenges, can be full of beauty and hope. But it requires us to see beyond the clouds and find the sun still shining.
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Navigating the emotions and needs of any child can be daunting, but add past trauma and the job can seem impossible. Alison highlights important aspects to consider when putting together the puzzle pieces to help young people reach their full potential. As a teacher, I particularly enjoyed passages about the worry machine and Alison’s reminder to meet children where they’re at. Another great resource for our families!
—Bridget Purkiss-Lemon, Early Elementary Teacher, New Covenant Christian School
More about the book.
“Ah, Mr. Goble you’ve done it again! A must read, a great present for every graduate. A simple, precise and graceful explanation of how each of us should live our financial lives for the betterment of our families, neighbors and our nation.”
Frank Carson, Chairman, Carson Bank, Mulvane, Kansas
Dottie Pepper’s Letters to a Future Champion: My Time with Mr. Pulver is a loving tribute to the power a mentor can have on an athlete’s career.
“This is an excellent narrative history of
the faltering fight to protect the Great
Lakes from the international water bottling industry; the rising failure of the Great Lakes Compact to prevent nonessential water diversions to communities outside the basin; and a provocative consideration of what it means to treat water as a human right.”
—Lana Pollack, former U.S. section chair, International Joint Commission
Make it stand out
Tara Rybicki is a dietitian who has practiced for nearly two decades. After struggling for years with a condition called body dysmorphic disorder, she worked hard to understand her distorted perception of her body that led to a dysfunctional relationship with food. Through this journey, she developed the Love Body Self-Care Method. It allowed her to nurture herself, inhabit her body in a new way, and see herself through fresh eyes. This practice involves learning to tap into a place of self-love that lives within all of us. It allows you to take care of yourself fully and accept yourself unapologetically.
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My Office Today is a nostalgic look-back of northern Michigan with Russell’s love for his hometown shining through each photo.
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“Northwest Michigan history buffs are fortunate that Charles Kraus became interested in the Diamond Railroad Crossing and the fascinating history of Thompsonville, destined to become a metropolis. Dedication and the wish to share and keep these stories alive means that this now small community’s contributions and life history are not lost.”
—Barbara Siepker, owner of the Leelanau Press and board vice president of the Leelanau County Historic Preservation Society
“How wonderful the world is!” begins this fascinating, soul-enriching book by Richard Fidler. While Fidler taught science for 31 years, he’s never bound by jargon or dry abstraction. He joyfully mixes science with personal anecdotes, poetry (his own) and and will “freely use the word love,” to talk about nature. In a voice reminiscent of Aldo Leopold, Out of the Corner of Your Eye entertains and informs with field-guide essays of remarkable quality. —TOM SPRINGER, author of The Star in the Sycamore and Looking for Hickories
Through this thorough documentation of the Farrant family, Mae Keller, Kay Bond, and Andrew White have provided a rich view of life in the Sleeping Bear Region—full of detail and color relating to the Farrants and their neighbors. It is an extensive chronicle and a great pleasure.
—TOM VAN ZOEREN is the author of A Port Oneida Collection and Voices from Burdickville and Surrounding Areas
Buy the book in local stores
Mild-mannered Midwestern Michigan is the land of lakeside cottages, auto industries, pasties—and murder? ... At times morbid and surprisingly colloquial, this collection serves to enlighten Michigan’s present with the truth of its past and sheds a respectful light on the memory of its victims.
— Great Lakes, Great Reads, Historical Society of Michigan
In this hugely effective debut, Tom Carr sheds keen illumination upon a regional inventory of killers, kooks, cutthroats & the aggressively unhinged. The tales are horrific and humorous by turns — grisly, goofy, poignant dispatches expertly summated by a skilled veteran reporter who’s no stranger to the back stairs habituated by a true sleuth. Story telling at its fully imagined best.— Ben Hamper, author, “Rivethead”
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Train robberies, stage-coach holdups, posses, breakouts and shoot-em-ups step out of the darker pages of Michigan’s past and spring to life in Tom Carr’s MI Bad: Robbers, Cutthroats & Thieves in Michigan’s Past & Present.
This comprehensive and always up-to-date area guide covers everything from museums to parks and beaches, hikes, paddling adventures, festivals and wineries.
Spending a day or a week? We’ve got tours, dog walks, kid fun and how to cook dinner.
Thinking of moving here? Inside UpNorth covers business, housing, schools and work opportunities.
From farms to flowers to sporting and local history, INSIDE UPNORTH has something for everyone.
An infuriating but immensely helpful primer on how America can get back on track to serve the great majority of its people. — DIANA HENRIQUES, author of the New York Times bestseller The Wizard of Lies: Bernie Madoff and the Death of Trust and A First-Class Catastrophe: The Road to Black Monday, the Worst Day in Wall Street History
The brilliant, two-time Pulitzer Prize winners have released a terrific, “that was then, this is now” update of their muckraking classic about inequality in America. And it is an absolute MUST read!—CHARLES LEWIS, Founder, the Center for Public Integrity
Reading this brilliant book on the long, slow death of the American dream will give you strength to fight for its resurrection. —TIM WEINER, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Legacy of Ashes and The Folly and the Glory
At a time when journalists are under attack from the very highest levels of government, this book is a reminder of why journalism — especially local journalism — is one of the last great guarantors of our democracy.
— GUY RAZ, host, creator of NPR’s TED Hour and How I Built This
“The Giant Killer” is one of those stranger-than-fiction tales that would never make it as a movie pitch because it’s just so unbelievable. —Military.com
Also in Audible.
“This work is an amazing guide on leadership by one of the most talented, intelligent, and courageous educational leaders I’ve ever known... What a wonderful book for both aspiring and practicing educational leaders.”
—MIKE FLANAGAN, Michigan’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2005–2015
Eustace Cockrell was a pioneer tele- vision writer who contributed to many of the early western shows, including “Have Gun Will Travel,” “Maverick” and “Gunsmoke.” He also wrote for such high-profile television programs as “Alfred Hitchcock Pres- ents,” “I Spy” and “Naked City.”
As it turns out, Cockrell was also a master of the short story prior to his Hollywood career. Over 25 years, beginning in 1932, his works appeared regularly in pulp fiction magazines such as Blue Book and Argosy as well as in “slicks” like Collier’s, Saturday Evening Post and Cosmopolitan.
Dogged by mystery and misinformation, Steve and Kathie Libert now can reveal the likely location of the elusive Huron Islands where Robert La Salle’s ship Le Griffon met her fate.
Make it stand out
“This book not only contains stunningly detailed hand drawings of creative people at work doing what they love, it’s also a testament to Carol Tompkins-Parker’s endurance, talent and determination.
Her own hands didn’t always move the way she would have wished, yet she persisted year after year to lovingly create this collection. This book is a triumph. Enjoy!”
—Doug Stanton, New York Times bestselling author of In Harm’s Way and Horse Soldiers
“No story of caregiving in this reviewer’s experience has ever been written with such an exquisite ear, nor with such
an eye for structure and for selecting the quotidian details that transform this from a memoir into a work of art.
The subject of caregiving is universal; its expression in this memoir is unique.” BookLife Prize, 2021
“Tim Mulherin ... ‘gets’ northwest lower Michigan, and his book is a rich and entertaining celebration of it.”
JERRY DENNIS, author of The Living Great Lakes
“Absolutely no one knows the wild places of northern Lower Michigan better than Mike Terrell, whose writing has enchanted and inspired thousands of readers through the years. Mike leads the way down trails and waterways that most of us would be hard-pressed to discover in the course of a lifetime. His love of the outdoors chimes with the heart of nature.”
ROBERT DOWNES, author of Biking Northern Michigan
Four Shots in Oskie tells the story of a gross miscarriage
of justice with sharp precision and compelling insight. Wingerter captures the psyche of a small Kansas town and illustrates the way the criminal justice system can veer terribly off course. Deeply reported, this is an important story about a decades-long struggle to right an appalling wrong. —KATIE MOORE, The Kansas City Star
“T.R. Shaw has the rare ability to look both success
and failure straight in the eye. Powerful and engaging, his book is an inspiring glimpse into a self-awareness and perseverance that we should all aspire to.”
Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Thom Burke
former commanding officer, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)
When Frank Lloyd Wright wrote that certain “principles behind the effects” gave his buildings “such vitality, integrity, and magic as they have,” he confronted us with a dual challenge: first, to uncover these principles, and, second, to explain how they yielded their remarkable “vitality and magic,” qualities that gave to all his works a unique and graceful aesthetic signature.
The Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation is dedicated to improving the treatment, quality of life and the long-term outlook for children and families affected by a brain or spinal cord tumor.
"The author has compiled a moving collection of compelling stories of how individuals and groups have transformed violence. It's hard to put down. The reader is exposed to many skills employed to de-escalate violence in one on one situations and on a societal level along the lines of Gandhi's vision of 'Shanti Sena,' creating a 'Peace Army.' This book is for the everyday person and those already seasoned in peace and justice work, who yearn to address the global crises of our time in a nonviolent way."
—Reverend C. Peter Dougherty, co-founder of the Meta Peace Team
Of this I am sure: Just Beyond My Comprehension portrays the infinite strength and grit of a determined mother’s journey. —Sandy Richards, author of the award-winning memoir A Far Cry...From Home
“[T]here’s a charm that goes well beyond practical animal husbandry… Even the non-donkey-devotee can see that this is, at its core, a lifework. It’s a book from someone who’s given more thought to donkeys and their training than most people give to anything at all.” —ARKANSAS LIFE MAGAZINE
“If you are ready to be in charge of creating a fulfilling life, read this fabulous book to learn how to be the CEO of your career. Put your feet up and grab a cup of coffee while you soak in Paul’s insights on the little things that make a big difference in enjoying a successful career while living your best life.”
—Rosanna Ouellette-Pesicka, Chief People Office, Antea Group USA
Simply stated, River Love is a story of resilience, healing, redemption, and—most of all—love. With humor, grace, touching narrative, and an unforeseen turn of events, River Love will draw you in, never letting go of your heart.
Through a delightful collection of photographs, Picture-Perfect Sleeping Bear showcases the beauty of Sleeping Bear Dunes country, which has enchanted people for centuries.
This book was produced by Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, a non-profit group supporting the National Lakeshore.
“Charles Eisendrath has long been considered a reporter’s reporter but with Downstream from Herehe takes us on a lyrical and altogether enchanting journey through a rich life of family, nature, farms, fish and fun. He reminds us to ignore deadlines and breathe deeply.”
—TOM BROKAW
“Written with the eye of a journalist, the prose of a novelist and the wit of a humorist,Downstream from Here takes you on a long walk down the path that leads to a life truly lived. Prepare to be inspired.”
— JEFF DANIELS
“With Craig’s first book, The Story Next Door, I could tell within the first page I was in the hands of a great storyteller. With Laughing In Leelanau, I knew within the first few words I was in for some great laughs.” —Jeff Probst, Host of the CBS television reality show, ‘Survivor’
Hobey Baker, Upon Further Review is a fantastic read. Not just a hockey story, but a real-life history lesson of an American sporting icon from years gone past.
—PIERRE MCGUIRE, NHL ON NBC
I couldn’t put it down. Tim Rappleye’s tenacious, indefatigable research style has produced hereto-fore unknown aspects of America’s greatest hockey player, Hobey Baker.
—STAN FISCHLER, HOCKEY AUTHOR/HISTORIAN
As a college hockey fanatic and a Princeton alum, I felt well versed in the Hobey story, but Tim Rappleye’s book introduced me to many more layers of the legend. —NATE EWELL, COLLEGE HOCKEY, INC.
In the “wild nearby,” we can still discover places rich in natural mysteries. Tom Springer finds them in secret urban fishing holes, motherly old trees and even the curious link between stars, trees and souls.
Winner of the Michigan Notable Book award 2021
Jack Kerkhoff was born to the news. His parents both worked at the Grand Rapids Herald, and Jack got an early start at theTraverse City Record-Eagle. Bigger papers followed: the Detroit News, New York Journal-American, and the New York Post.
How Thin the Veil is a 45-day account of Kerkhoff ’s treatment, his conversations with the nurses and doctors (some of them with their real names), his interactions with the inmates, and his trips to downtown Traverse City watering holes. There’s also romance in the form of Suzy, a pretty, lisping waif whose “bad spells” had kept her hospitalized for eight years.
Meet the man against insanity.
His laboratory? The sadly sinister wards of the 3,000-bed Traverse City State Hospital. His apparatus? Only his own eyes
and hands, plus the hands and eyes of more than one hundred nurse attendants.
And for his experiments, the patients whom staff referred to as the “cats and dogs”— the seemingly incurable psychotics resistant to all treatment and far beyond hope.
LEELANAU BY KAYAK covers the perimeter of the peninsula in 14 day trips, 16 of Leelanau’s inland lakes, and all 3 rivers.
LEELANAU BY KAYAK includes directions, maps, strategies, history and information on area rentals.
PHOTOS and MAPS on every page.
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A beautiful and poignant true story about a golden retriever rescued from his street life in Turkey that explores the concepts of love, loyalty, compassion, happiness, freedom and redemption.
Buy the book on Amazon
HUSTLE ‘TIL IT HAPPENS provides great guidance, and the right amount of motivation, to help anyone define their goals, develop the disciplines to achieve them, and recognize that they have the power within themselves to make their dreams a reality. If you’re feeling stuck, or not living the life you want to live, pick up this book and start taking action today.”
— ANGIE MORGAN, New York Times best-selling author of Spark: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Greater Success and Leading from the Front
If you want to go out like Ed Abbey—and who doesn’t— here’s the guide you need. — BILL MCKIBBEN, bestselling author, educator and environmentalist
A wonderful, uplifting little book whose relentless sense of humor is utterly appropriate. — DAVID PETERSEN, author of On the Wild Edge: In Search of a Natural Life
How the Good Times Rolled tells how we used to take joy in life before the digital age.
It reminds us that the real world of nature — and of flesh-and-blood people — offers the greatest reward of happiness. As we hurtle forward to a future we do not understand, it bids us to remember who we were and who, in our heart of hearts, we really are.
I seriously love this book. And what better time in human history to celebrate the small, ignored creatures, the ones considered alien?
— Fleda Brown, poet and essayist
Richard Fidler’s book contains a fascinating collection of descriptions of plants, animals, and natural phenomena that I’ve never seen gathered like this before.
— Daniel D. Palmer, author of Michigan Ferns and Their Allies
Guarding the Heart: A Guidebook of Contemplative Prayer Practices is designed for people who are on the faith journey and who want to experience more from their prayer life. For many on that journey there is a strong sense of being drawn by the Spirit towards a deeper way to enrich one’s contact with one’s source and to strengthen that relationship. This guidebook will provide some simple and powerful prayer practices to experiment with to continue that deeper descent into the Divine. Each of the prayer practices is designed to be a general starting point for the user to experiment with. If, after trying some of the practices, one resonates with you, I have provided an extensive list of resources where you will find many wonderful books by the experts in the world of prayer and contemplative practices.
Meetings and the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous are the foundation of recovery from addiction. A valuable aid for leaders and members of addiction recovery groups, Topic: Recovery provides sixty-three discussion-group topics.
Seeking respite from the rigors of a northern Michigan winter, Jo Anne Wilson spends time on an old restored lavender farm in the heart of Provence, southern France. Little does she know that this vacation will open the door to an opportunity to return for a year as guardian of these same vacation cottages.
When Paul and Becky, two Northwest Michigan high schoolers, met for the first time at a dance, they knew immediately that they would marry. As young marrieds, they faced hard decisions about money, morals, and faith. They also produced six amazing sons, and always a joyful home to raise them in.
But the truest test of Paul and Becky’s bond came when Becky was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. What followed in the weeks, months, and years after is a story sure to inspire — about the bravery and selflessness of a woman, the steadfast support of a man, and the knowledge that love and God’s love conquer all.
SEPARATED LITERALLY A WORLD APART, this mother and daughter were each brokenhearted from different forms of abandonment by their biological mothers. Similarly, each have (or had) to face life-threatening diseases. Joined through a series of miracles to become adoptive mother and daughter, they were each made emotionally whole again. The two now live happily together in paradise with their large, loving family.
“Over ten-plus years, Keith has invented the position of “community storyteller” for national audiences from his base in Detroit.” –Rich Homberg President & CEO, Detroit Public Television/PBS
The Good Fight goes well beyond the personal struggle of the single patient as he fights for his survival when confronted by cancer. The Good Fight puts the notion of self-advocacy in cancer therapy as being perhaps the most powerful therapy of all.
David Perlmutter, MD, Author of New York Times Bestseller, Grain Brain—The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Carbs and Sugar —Your Brain’s Silent Killers
PLANNING FOR ONE’S FINANCIAL FUTURE CAN SOMETIMES BE DIFFICULT. Raising children also has its challenges. Now imagine how hard it is for parents of special needs children to plan not only for their retirement but for the long-term care of their children. One entrepreneurial certified financial planner has dedicated the last three decades of her practice to helping families of special needs children. She has just released a book that assists them through the emotional, legal, and financial pitfalls,Beyond a Parent’s Love: Lessons Learned in Life Planning for Special Needs Children.
We all experience extraordinary highs and lows in life. Having Robert Emmet’s doctor tell him he had until Christmas to live was one of Emmet’s darkest moments. The diagnosis: an incurable disease called IPF — Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. The disease was taking over Emmet’s lungs.
I’m grateful to Bob Jones for giving all of us who revere the outdoors this intimate and inspiring window into our incredible natural world. For nature lovers, this book is not to be missed! —Thomas Nelson, Executive Director of the Leelanau Conservancy
“Back to the simple earth” — Tom Conlan comes by his love of the land naturally, generations after a beloved grandfather worked and saved to escape Detroit and move north. Conlan inherited that longing; he reveled in his boyhood of treeforts, baseball, and Sloppy Joes, even as it was unfolding. He revels in it still, with graceful language and long thoughts, with good dogs, good horses, and even better homemade wine.
— Mardi Link, author of The Drummond Girls and Bootstrapper
“... a gift to any of us who want some understanding of the inner conflict and outer chaos which mark the life of an alcoholic.” — Michael J. Haley, retired 86th District Court Judge, Traverse City, Michigan
MIDWEST BOOK AWARD-WINNER
INDEPENDENT BOOK PUBLISHER AWARD-WINNER
READERS FAVORITE BOOK AWARD-WINNER
PINNACLE BOOK ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS-WINNER
BEVERLY HILLS BOOK AWARD-WINNER
When the United States declared war on Germany on April 9, 1917, there were only 403 U.S. Army nurses on active duty. Northwestern University’s U. S. Army Base Hospital 12 was among the first major U.S. Army units sent overseas in the First World War. To staff the hospital unit, Dr. Frederic A. Besley of Northwestern University Medical School relied on professional colleagues from the school, nurses and other personnel from Cooke County and Evanston hospitals, and young enlisted men principally recruited from the Chicago area’s college campuses or from the ranks of recent graduates. The Northwestern unit departed from Chicago on May 17, 1917, and was overseas longer than any other unit of any kind. They suffered the first casualties and treated more patients in France — over 60,000 — than any other American hospital, with the possible exception of its neighboring Harvard Unit.
One part memoir and one part essay, Peace in Justice offers an insightful analysis of the American criminal justice system by someone who spent decades working in the state and federal systems. Carol Getty’s illustrative career took her from the Arizona Board of Pardons and Paroles to the highest office of the United States Parole Commission.
This book is about you and the organizations where you contribute your time and talent. It explores a simple, impactful leadership concept along with specific tactics you can use to influence your organizations, whether for-profit or not-for- profit, small or large, to become cultures of valued leadership.
“I have always contended that
you can tell a lot about a person by the way they interact with animals. For various reasons, we humans sometimes don’t interact well with other people. We may be shy, short tempered, intimidated, intimidating, loners, insecure, or have a litany of other quirks when dealing with other members of our species. But when a bundle of sweet smelling puppy fur comes and places his or her head in close proximity to our hand, we will go out of our way to scratch, rub, and inquire how the beast is doing. We have learned it takes nine lives to work your way into a cat’s heart. But we can earn their devotion, via their stomachs, with one can of Meow-Mix.”
This book is not your normal politically correct, self-help book on retirement. It is not a result of attending seminars, workshops and conferences, nor countless readings on the subject. You know about those books— you’ve read them and they are boring, mundane, cliché, and definitely not fun.
FIFTY YEARS AFTER ANGER AND FRUSTRATION OVER POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS BOILED
OVER INTO A REBELLION IN DETROIT, THERE ARE LOTS OF PEOPLE ASKING WHAT WE’VE LEARNED, HOW WE’VE CHANGED.
... There are so many ways that the factors that led to the uprising are still with us. There are so many reminders, both physical and metaphorical.
If there is good news, 50 years after the 1967 uprising, it is probably that we are all much more honest about the ways in which the problems of then still haunt us now. There’s nowhere near as much gloss or self-kidding as we used to indulge.
This book, a collection of the coverage by the Detroit Journalism Cooperative during 2016, is a testament to that.
— From the Foreword by Pulitzer Prize-winning, Detroit native Stephen Henderson
“War made Tim Keenan afraid to go into the woods. All 2,178.3 miles of the Appalachian Trail helped heal him. A brave journey into the wilderness of PTSD, with beauty and love on the other side.”
—Mardi Jo Link, author of The Drummond Girls and Bootstrapper
If you’ve ever had a great idea for a business, check out Michelle White’s candid and cautionary tale, On a Pit and a Prayer. A terrific idea is one thing, but turning it into a successful business is quite another [and] White’s story is both compelling and personal.
Rebecca Reynolds, Writer/Producer 8180 Films and Co-Creator/ Producer Hollywood & Crime
Sometimes bitter, sometimes funny, occasionally sad, this memoir should
give comfort to anyone who has ever felt diminished in the face of those more adept at drawing attention to themselves.
David Swanson, founder and CEO of Daavlin, a medical technology company located in Bryan, Ohio, writes the inside story of what it took to build a thriving, time-tested company, both the pain and the glory. It’s a journey of laughs, close calls, persistence, and, most importantly, the power of having a dream.
It is one thing for a family doctor to recommend a wide variety of plant-based foods for healthier, longer lives, and Natalie Okerson-Sparks does that convincingly in Vitamin V, drawing from a lot of powerful research. However, in this book she accomplishes something even more empowering — she inspires us with the supportive voice of someone who truly understands the realities of parenting and she supplies us with easy, delicious recipes that move us in the right direction, one meal at a time.
— Jamie Purviance, New York Times Bestselling Cookbook Author
This moving and beautifully written memoir is an inspiration to anyone facing life’s sometimes overwhelming obstacles. In Father Couturier’s case, his disability taught him compassion. “You usually grow with suffering or you become very bitter. God gave me the ability to grow through my experience.”
Adult Fiction
Make it stand out
“Full of unexpected twists, Bridgeman’s impressive novel neatly weaves a cohesive and explosive web of political intrigue and conspiracy… An enthralling crime thriller.”
-2024 BookLife Prize
Book 1 of the Sudden Quiet series
In this dystopian thriller, a plucky band of holdouts on Beaver Island wage a last stand against the collapse of civilization. Joshua Veith writes with the deft hand of a poet.
—Robert Downes, author of The Wolf and The Willow
The Burden of Sparrows will pull you in and keep you turning pages. You’ll feel a range of emotions and care deeply about the characters. If you loved Where the Crawdads Sing, this book is for you!
— Mandy Remai, Seasons of Life Therapy
book 8 of the mike4 series
J.R. Seeger is not only a very accomplished writer but, unlike other notables who must research their topic, J.R. has lived almost every adventure that he writes about. From his elite service in the US Army Airborne to his stellar career at the CIA, J.R.’s knowledge of special operations is endless. He was great at the CIA from the start. I know; we were classmates at “The Farm.” —Enrique “Ric” Prado, Chief of Operations at the CIA’s Counterterrorist Center (retired) and author of the New York Times bestseller Black Ops
The Alvord Rawn Series
A dark tale with a building sense of the eerie… the story climaxes in a mélange of art, the occult, and a clash of armies.
—Historical Novel Society
As florid as a 19-century novel, but as vigorous as a James Bond movie. Swanson creates convincing portraits of the men and their times, capturing the raw, restless spirit of the age and place. A rollicking, rip-roaring novel, big and wild as the American frontier.
—Kirkus Reviews
A young officer rises through the ranks until he must choose career or family. Wemlinger is masterful at leading you through it all.
—US Army Colonel Tom Johnson (Retired)
A MARTY AND BO THRILLER
“Gritty descriptions, simmering threats, and a wry sense of humor contribute to a countdown to disaster. Exceptionally clever and compelling.”
—D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review
This story not only traverses the history of a farm and garden, it also activates a community of other animals to tell the story of acceptance and belonging. It’s a delightful tale that follows around the incredible Fixey Fox as he brings together all the fantastical animals, fairies, and even a few gnomes at the garden. The message provides a great example of how we can work together to create a sense of home and acceptance for all in our society.
—Matthew Ross, executive director, The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns Park
a spinnerfall thriller
The miracle of this book lies in a dark, decades-old mystery at its core, a story that will rattle you and make you think twice, and at the same time, this novel will make you want to go fishing with old friends. You wouldn’t think a book could accomplish this, but The Outgoing does.
—Mike Magnuson, author of The Right Man for the Job, Lummox, and Heft on Wheels
Book 3 of the steampunk raj series
“Two young spies, Elizabeth Bankroft and Michael O’Connell, match wits, wizardry, and courage with murderers, mystics, colonialists — and each other — in pre-World War One India and the Ottoman Empire.”
JAMES STEJSKAL, author of The Snake Eater Chronicles
"[I] want to travel but never have the time. Read this ... you might not want to come back."
—Andrew Bain, author
I laughed out loud while trying to navigate the escapades of amateur supersleuths Mary Ellen and Poppy, as they found themselves smack dab in the middle of a murder investigation.
—Mary Anne Ackerman, mayor of Frankenmuth
Under the Ashes is like a good gin and tonic: clean, crisp, and with a bite.
—Steven Pruett, Executive Chairman,
Cox Media Group
A beautiful story of Michiganders’ perseverance woven into Michigan’s history.” —Kate Segal, former Michigan state representative for the 62nd District, and Democratic floor leader
Lincoln Cooper is one of those rare writers who grips the reader’s attention with gusto and doesn’t let go. —Scott Devon, author of The Second Death, The Immortal Tree, and the soon to be released The Michigan Dogman
When her best friend is found over the body of her married lover, can reclusive lawyer Ann Audrey Pickering discover the real killer?
“An adroit whodunit ... An inviting beginning to a new Atlanta-based mystery series.” —Kirkus Reviews
Civil rights activist Lucy Greene becomes embroiled in a web of mystery at the Traverse City State Hospital, where, in 1963, she serves as patient advocate for her ailing friend. In conflict with an influential doctor’s infatuation with the new “wonder drugs,” she investigates overmedicating, side effects, and the influence of the pharmaceutical industry. Lucy aims to expose corruption without losing her position as patient advocate. Lucy Greene depicts one woman’s search for justice against
a backdrop of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, presidential assassination, and the influence of big pharma.
“[A] very touching story filled with lonely characters all in search of the same two things: love of self and love of others.” —Viga Boland, Readers Favorite
“J.R. Seeger conjures up the sounds and smells of the Near East as he expertly crafts a plot that twists through the shadow and shade cast by the British Crown.”
—TOBY HARNDEN, war correspondent and author of Dead Men Risen
Make it stand out
Lives are intertwined with brothers and sisters, other family members, and friends. These separate groups are united by common interests, even when new acquaintances come into the circle.
This wonderfully told and highly recommended adventure will transport the reader in time, place, and culture to the world of the late eighteenth-early nineteenth century fur trade and Ojibwe life in the beautiful but often harsh Upper Great Lakes and Canadian Plains.
—Dr. W. Stephen McBride, Camp Nelson National Monument
“...a delicious blend of sexy romance, laugh- out-loud humor ... and page-turning suspense!” —Avril Borthiry
A family curse, a secret society, and the oldest motives for murder in the world—power and greed.
A dramatic, fast-paced and tension-filled novel sure to capture the attention of young adult readers. Teachers and parents will find the material rich in topics for home-school or class discussion.
Make it stand out
Lynn Bonetti has it all. A loving husband, a young daughter, an up-and-coming career with the New York City police force: and, she’s always played it straight. It’s either done by the book or you’re a bad cop, period.
All it takes is one second to lose everything, one event to turn her whole world inside-out.
Make it stand out
"Aldrete's novel is a relevant and well-intended cautionary tale for young readers about misunderstandings and being quick to judge. The misunderstanding that sparks the conflict is cleverly executed."
—The BookLife Prize, 2021
Abigail’s Exchange is the inspiring story of a young lady who comes of age in the late 1800s in Baltimore, Maryland. Raised to own and manage a candy shop, which is left in her hands following tragedy, she struggles with her career and her wedding vows when she finds herself locked in the stranglehold of a difficult marriage. In Abigail’s life, the reversals of fortune continually strike suddenly and unexpectedly, and at her lowest point, she watches her good intentions turn into unspeakable calamity. But, this is not the end of the story, for there is yet another reversal – a final, terrific tale of bravery, shrewdness, and unfaltering resilience. This story will resonate with women and men who are trying to navigate through real life with grace and honor.
“How many anthropologists usually die at your conferences?”
“Hull’s decades of extensive research in the Yucatán, and her descriptions of academic shenanigans are on spot.”
—JANET G. BRASHLER, Research Associate for Special Collections, Grand Valley State University and President, West Michigan Archaeological Consultants
Plagued by unanswered questions about her origins, Bree is drawn to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area and moves there. She meets Denver and a relationship develops between them. She also meets a man claiming to be her birth father. Things seem to be going great.One day, while on Lake Michigan with a storm brewing, Bree realizes, too late, that things aren’t always as they seem. She finds herself and those she loves in a battle for their lives. Survival seems to be just out of reach.
The Wolfkeeper immerses us into the harshness of northern Michigan winters, the wind howling, the waters surrounding the peninsula covered with ice beneath the swirling snow. They acquaint us with the flora and fauna from the cherry trees and morel mushrooms to wolves, lake trout and salmon.
Lewis’s prose is a formidable instrument. It can be poetic. Or darkly humorous. Or passionate in a compellingly understated way. This slim volume collects and preserves the work of this gifted writer.
More about the book
Coop Houghton thinks he has it all — his wife’s permission, willing partners and a first class ticket out of trouble … until equal opportunity blackmail takes the private, public.
Dangerous liaisons in the corporate world, indeed ... a page-turner. —Rick Bailey. author of American English, Italian Chocolate, and The Enjoy Agenda
DAREDEVIL CLEM SOHN was an airshow superman, famous throughout the United States and Europe for his 20,000-foot glides on wings of his own design.
By 1937, beautiful, graceful Margot Fonteyn was well on her way to becoming Britain’s Prima Ballerina. In her autobiog- raphy, she described receiving a bouquet of flowers and a note from Clem after one of her performances ... and just a few days before Clem perished.
From these two facts, author Dean Feldpausch creates a gravity- defying love story for all ages.
“The case is cold, the leads are dry, the cops care more about watching football and the chief suspect has disappeared.”
“Conrad North is hiding something, and he’s scared Russo has found him out.”
Murder, treachery and intrigue from Michigan mystery writer Charles Cutter. The author introduces his third in the series of Burr Lafayette thrillers — Bear Bones: Murder at Sleeping Bear Dunes.
“If you like good tales of the shadowy, often hard-edged world of counter- terrorism, read Mike4! Written by a veteran of ‘the community,’ it will teach while it entertains.”
GENERAL STANLEY MCCHRYSTAL
In this suspense-filled thriller, Seeger takes his readers on a voyage of discovery across a dangerous, clandestine world he knows so well. His own experience in special ops add unmatched granularity and reality to a fast-paced, terrific yarn.
MILT BEARDEN
“JR Seeger has written the heart and soul of person who must make hard decisions at the hardest moment, often in a world of grey, of lies, while in the search for a truth. Her struggle to maintain her humanity is drawn straight from the street, from the field, which Seeger knows better than anyone.”
DOUG STANTON
THE FIRST TWO VOLUMNS IN THE ACCLAIMED CASTOR FAMILY TRILOGY
THE VETERAN
“An ornate, gruesome, and rigorously crafted Civil War novel.”
— Kirkus Reviews
BROTHERHOOD OF IRON
“A sharp, immersive family drama played out against the ravages of war.”
— Kirkus Reviews
More about the series
A perennial bestselling northern Michigan mystery series.
Stander’s Cedar County with its haunting sand dunes, woodlands, and Lake Michigan— alternately raging and serene—shape and shade every character on the canvas.—Northern Express
A wounded vet returns home
His high-school sweetheart has never left A secret looms large between them
In a small town that doesn’t like secrets.
Wemlinger gets it. The nimbleness of our armed forces is as important today as its fire power. Operation Light Switch is a great read. Enjoyed it from cover to cover.
—Mike Kelleher, Brigadier General, US Army (Ret)
Operation Light Switch proves the importance of why we are all told today, “If you see something, say something.”
—Thomas E. Johnson, Colonel, US Army (Ret)
For over three decades, Rock Graham has carried the physical and emotional scars from a tour in Vietnam. He is a decorated war hero, but guilt from what happened one dark night in a steaming southeast Asia jungle is always lying in ambush, waiting for an unguarded moment to set his demons free. When he tries to find solitude at a cottage on Lake Michigan in the dead of winter, a chance encounter on the desolate, frozen shoreline changes his life forever.
When six-year-old Hope tells her 1st grade teacher there is no food at home and Mommy is always “asleep,” the school calls the Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline. The subsequent investigation triggers a five-year journey through the child welfare system for Hope and her older siblings Alysha and Tyrone.
Can a group of twenty-five diverse citizens, led by a visionary governor and a reluctant Native American hero, change the face of 21st century democracy?
THE HORSEMEN IS CLASSIC, ADVENTURE FICTION, FULL OF SHOOT- EM-UPS, NARROW ESCAPES AND LOADS OF GORY MONSTERS. EXCITING SUMMER READING FOR BOTH BOYS AND GIRLS.
At the center of this history-inspired mystery are the complex and secret relationships between fathers and sons. The sophistication and intricacy of these interactions—spoken and unspoken, buried and unburdened—make... Murder On Old Mission a haunting, rewarding read. —Anne Marie Oomen, author of Pulling Down the Barn
Children and Young Adult Books
“This heartwarming book is woven with interesting facts, beautiful illustrations, and delightfully silly jokes. The author’s descriptions of family time warm my soul.”
—Kristy Kurjan, Traverse City children’s book author, artist, and mom
A Lake Michigan Alphabet Book
“A whimsical way to learn the alphabet while exploring all of the wonders Lake Michigan has to offer. Beaches, Boats, and Birds: A Lake Michigan Alphabet Book takes the reader on a grand adventure that anyone who loves the Great Lakes will enjoy.” —Nikki Mitchell, author of Eleanor Mason’s Literary Adventures and N is for Nine-0-Six
When the Stewart family departs their cozy cottage for the winter, a bustling community of creatures emerges from the shadows to claim the empty space as their own. Led by the curious chipmunk Charles II and guided by the wise porcupine Mr. Petrik, the animals embark on a whimsical journey of discovery and friendship.
“This book shares life’s journey in a beautiful way that makes it easy and enjoyable for young children to follow along. I found myself connecting with each page as I reflected on my own life.”
—Michelle Sunner, Educator and Autism Consultant
Book 1 in
The Adventures of
Molly Motion
Set against the enchanting backdrop of her yoga retreat in Bali, Molly Motion introduces the joy of animal movement to readers.
“A beautiful story about how movement can help us heal and connect.”
—Jennie L. Lacy, PhD, licensed psychologist
illustrated by Maxine Davis
Dodi and Dee grew up during the hard times of the Great Depression, but they used their vivid imaginations while sky gazing, creating corn husk dolls, playing in the watermelon patch, or helping mom in the kitchen. The book evokes an era of simple pleasures and sibling love, of close family and friends, and days filled with farm chores mixed with playtime.
Peggy Perch series,
book two
Opal Otter Chooses Courage is a delightful children’s book that centers on a topic that all children have experienced in some way—bullying. The beautifully illustrated book weaves together the pain children feel being teased and excluded, the power of kindness, and the courage it takes to tell someone they hurt you.
—Patrick Landry, president, Notre Dame School of Milwaukee
“The author eloquently captures the beauty of the Keweenaw Peninsula and the magic of never-ending childhood summers that could never be long enough.”
–Robert Tervo, lifelong Yooper, outdoor enthusiast, and dad
Book 3
of The Ghost Adventures
of Orion O’Brien
“Orion and Ollie O’Brien and their friends, Sal and Sofi Martelli, expect a boring weeklong visit to their aunt’s and uncle’s blueberry farm near Baldwin, Kansas, but are surprised to find the freedom of farm life and the fear and excitement of discovering two phantoms from the Civil War era. Once again, history is seamlessly woven into the storyline. Without even realizing it, young readers will learn factual details about the history of Baker University and the importance of the Civil War Battle of Black Jack.” —Shannon Shore Howell, Direct descendant of Samuel T. Shore, Co-Captain with John Brown at the Black Jack Battle
Chaucer the bear can’t sleep without his bedtime stories. But what happens when he gets too close to humans? Find out!
Chaucer the bear loves stories even more than stinky fish, even more than blueberries! Nothing will stop him from listening to stories!
The bright, beautiful illustrations and whimsical poems are sure to inspire kids’ imaginations and tickle their funny bones! Sure to be a bedtime classic.
—Kelly Aukee, BBA, University of Michigan Ross School of Business and MED, DePaul University
As readers are transported to other lands, they will feel that they are traveling with Sisu. This book will be a treasured addition to every child’s library.
—Amy Spears, retired assistant principal
“A gripping story of life under the brutal regimes of Batista and Castro’s Cuba, told with the authenticity of one with firsthand experience of what it was like. Highly Recommended.”
Michael Bright, English Professor / Emeritus Professor at Eastern Kentucky University. Author of Cities Built to Music
More about the book
Enhanced with tender watercolor illustrations, Sheldon’s Journey tells a tale of trust, friendship, courage, and—most of all—love. Sometimes, finding one’s true home takes a special journey.
What Do You See? beautifully celebrates cultures and abilities. A perfect picture book to start or continue the conversation about diversity and inclusion while celebrating the arts through a variety of colorful quilt patterns. There is an endless opportunity for classroom discussions and art projects sparked by this simple but powerful book.
Christina Dankert, 2nd grade teacher, author of The Kindness Machine
Second Chance Christmas is the true story of that Christmas in 1971 and the lesson that unfolded over the following year. Being accepted for exactly who you are will always be a greater gift than anything found beneath a Christmas tree. And sometimes, a tangible reminder of that unconditional acceptance shows up ... just when you need it the most.
I’m very happy to see the friendship between Tor and Raven captured so beautifully in this heartwarming story. We humans can learn a lot from them about love. I hope this is the first of many books about their remarkable adventures. —Heather Lende, Alaska State Writer Laureate 2021–2023
There’s something weird about that mirror in Granny’s attic! Orion and her brother Ollie see the reflection of a girl who isn’t really there. Not only that, she looks like somebody from another time.
“Not only is it a captivating fictional tale, it provides compelling history that can help young readers understand the continuing impact of slavery in America today.”
THOMAS DICK, Professor Emeritus, Oregon State University
A present-day 10-year-old girl discovers that there’s a ghost in her neighbor’s basement, so she, her brother and her friends set out to help that ghost find his way to the spirit world. This adventure has many twists and turns that will capture your imagination.
Children of all ages enjoy the stories of adventure with an imaginary friend. This one can spark an interest in the Shawnee Indian Mission going beyond visiting three old buildings. This can become a base for a greater interest in the history of the area. John Forbes, Librarian – Shawnee Indian Mission, U.S. History Teacher
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A captivating book about recognizing our many blessings and giving thanks for them, and a great gift to usher children into the Thanksgiving Day holiday.
’Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the halls
There’s just one little problem:
Bears sleep through it all.
So, Yooper sets an alarm and
he wakes up all right.
When his parents ask why
he says, “Because Santa comes tonight!”
The world can be a pretty unsettled place, and children are bound to overhear adult conversations. All those big adult worries become their worries, too. They might wonder, what does all this change mean for them?
This is a wonderful and wise book for parents and therapists to read to children about their experience of growing up.
Marit Vogel, MD, MSBA, Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in General Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Make it stand out
“Scott Rykken captured a rare and beautiful moment that inspires our sense of wonder. Nature provides so many lessons—in this case, a tale of coexistence. The National Loon Center is honored to be among those who have marveled at the image, and we are delighted to share his storytelling.”
—Jon Mobeck, executive director, National Loon Center
How do you act when you WIN? — How do you act
when you LOSE?
Chase It, Rocket! is a wonderful book with a great message. Rocket learns a valuable lesson about choices and consequences, one that children will identify with.
Julie Monetta, Instructional Coach/Educator
You Can Do It, Rocket! is a fun window into a dog’s world. Any dog owner will identify with Rocket’s instinctive quest, and any child will be cheering for him to succeed.
—Wade Gugino, author of the Goo Guys & Gals Graphic Readers for Early Learners
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It’s spring and time once again to raise some baby loons. But can we keep them safe from the ever watchful eagles?
Book 3 of the polar bear & the dragon series
Debbie Watson endows her characters, young and old, with spunk and a can-do attitude that serves them well as new threats and events unfold to test their relationships, choices, and perspectives about the world. Watson’s strong characterization … and action-packed encounters … assure that a wide age range will find this fantasy attractive and thought-provoking.
—Diane Donovan, Midwest Book Review
Book 2 of the polar bear & the dragon series
As our young heroes hold to their promise to stand strong no matter what, it’s apparent that in any world, perseverance, loyalty, and true friendship are the hallmarks of success. Author Debbie Watson paints an amazingly vivid world of good versus evil in a tale that draws you in and holds you until the end. Highly recommended for middle-grade readers, teens, and adults too—fantasy and coming of age in equal measure!
—Vicki Shurly, Director, Peninsula Community Library
Book 1 of the polar bear & the dragon series
With stunning world building and descriptive scenery throughout, Dawn of an Alliance is a beautiful story following young Whitney’s journey of connection, self-discovery, and stepping into her own power. With fun twists and turns along the way, all relayed in Debbie Watson’s gentle voice, this is a fantastically inspirational story for middle-grade readers.
—Chelsea Walker Flagg, author of the Tinsey Clover series
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“Harry and the Hurricane ... combines some whimsical elements with real fear, and an excellent amount of local history.” —John Allen, Executive Director, Coral Gables Museum
“Read it with your kids!” —Anne-Marie Oomen, Next Generation Indie Award for Memoir and co-author of illustrated tale in poems, The Lake Michigan Mermaid
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A Christmas tree is brought into Aiden’s home with great pomp and ceremony. It lights up the darkness of winter, fills the home with a cold piney scent, glistens with ornaments and is the protector of all gifts beneath it.
Aiden’s Tree is the story of a Michigan fir — from seedling to Christmas tree to a marker on the Mackinac Ice Bridge and more.
In this fable, a poor northern Michigan fisherman catches a magic fish. When he tells his wife that he released the fish without asking for a reward, she makes it clear that what the fisherman’s wife wants, the fisherman’s wife gets.
The Sleeping Bear Wakes Up
is a sequel to the famous Native American legend. This book, with its beautiful illustrations, is sure to be a timeless favorite.
Eight-year-old Henry dreaded visiting Nana in her new home. She wasn’t fun like she used to be. But maybe, Henry thought, today would be different and the old Nana would be back.
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LESSON OF THE LARK is a moving one-sit, historical fiction, picture book for children and teens.
The Teacher Resources provided include: Vocabulary Terms, Vocabulary Test, Comprehension Study Guide, Comprehension Test,The Illustrations...A Closer Look, Essay Questions, Video Link References, and Test Keys.
Betsy Bobcat is the story of a young bobcat who loves school but because she is so well-behaved her classmates have nicknamed her “Goody-Goody.” One day she must make a difficult decision to either go along with a prank at school or make the decision to do the right thing and be kind to an elderly teacher.
Betsy learns that by sharing her feelings with her friends and family she is able to follow her conscience.
A fanciful and humorous read-aloud story for children and adults of all ages.
Harry Hunnybunny wins a prize at a lettuce pie eating contest and gets to spend a day with the Mayor of Carrotville.
POETRY
Author Teddy Jewell was in the final year of his undergraduate program in creative advertising when he found poetry to be an outlet for the increasing anxiety and uncertainties that come from finishing school and enteringthe rest of life. This collection ventures through themes of searching for identity and coming of age, being comfortable in one’s skin, negotiating fears, and exploring romantic love.
Blue Wanderings and Other Poems exemplifies change, and what it means to grow up: it's okay to be confused, it's okay to worry, and it's okay to enjoy the uncertainties of life.
From re-imagining myth, to living in Detroit’s Cass Corridor, immersing oneself in nature, the disappointments and ecstasies of desire, the journey through loss and grief, and the bonds of familial devotion, these finely observed poems wrap the reader in language that shifts from plainspoken to playful to allusive. Ms. Hochberg is a poet of moments when habitual ways of perceiving fall away to reveal the luminous reality, in all its beauty and com- plexity, which usually lies hidden behind the veil of the mundane.
A collection of Northern Michigan and
Upper Peninsula-inspired tales and short stories, poetry and beautiful photography.
Walloon Writers Review Fourth Edition captures
a balance between the enthusiastic retelling
of Up North tales and reflections and creative interpretations in poetry, highlighted by stunning and unique Northern Michigan and UP photography.
“This is a book written to add breadth and depth to the life of a young man lost to the current plague of the opiate crisis.
The book does an admirable job of accomplishing that goal, and along the way provides the reader with much, much more.”
— JOSEPH B KELLY, MA LPC CAC (retired)