2015 -- Quite the Year!

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

2015 was an amazing year.

Here are the highlights:

I began the year living in Chicago for several months where I finished the manuscript for the third book in my trilogy about our Great Lakes.

Chicago!

In May, 

A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure was released to select indie bookstores and my book tour began. In June, the book was available everywhere. I had dozens of appearances and interviews this year.

Zinta Aistars at WMUK

While touring, I had time to stop in at the lamprey research center where I got to hold a live lamprey!

Speaking at Literati Bookstore in Ann Arbor

Literati Bookstore!

Black River Books, South Haven

Brilliant Books, Traverse City

Time to visit "my lake," Lake Michigan

The "Perimeter" exhibit -- about Lake Michigan and the people connected to this Great Lake -- came to Traverse City! 

"Perimeter" by Kevin J. Miyazaki featured my portrait 

Part of "Perimeter" by Kevin J. Miyazaki 

I met up with Bette Hartig at Great Lakes Book and Supply in Big Rapids. She has carved two walking sticks for me!

Bette & Me and the walking staffs she has carved for me

I spoke at the Ann Arbor Library!

I was honored to be interviewed by Cynthia Canty on Michigan Radio

I was the featured speaker at the Annual Meeting for this conservation group

I spoke to this outdoors group in Livonia

At the interview for this Chicago radio station

 I spoke at four REI stores in Chicago

I spoke at the WOW event in South Haven

This was a fantastic year for me and I hope it was for you, too!

I will continue to give my dynamic talks about our Great Lakes. 

And next year I will add a fourth presentation about Isle Royale!

All the best to you in 2016!

Water Walkers

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

I met author Carol Trembath at my speaking engagement at the Ann Arbor Library this summer.

Carol had just finished writing a children's book called "Water Walkers." Recently, she sent me a copy to review.

It's a beautiful picture book inspired by Grandmother Josephine Mandamin, an Anishinaabe member and founder of the Mother Earth Water Walkers. She and her group began walking around the Great Lakes in 2003 and have walked thousands of miles encircling these waters and calling for their healing and protection.

There are beautiful illustrations and a wonderful story centered around a young girl, Mai, who walks with her grandmother around the lakes. Along the way, she learns much about our lakes and the people and creatures who depend on these waters. The book also has useful information for teachers in the back.

To learn more about Water Walkers, go HERE.

Many resources in the back of the book

I learned about Mandamin when I was in the middle of my first hike encircling Lake Michigan. I am inspired by her endeavors and passion for our Great Lakes. Here is a video of Mandamin talking about her Water Walks:

Radio!

My book tour took me to Chicago and Milwaukee this fall and I was interviewed on several radio programs. "Live from the Heartland" is a unique show that broadcasts from the Heartland Cafe on the north side of Chicago. 

 Hosts Thom Clark and Michael James "Live from the Heartland" on WLUW

Interview at the Heartland Cafe

Hosts and guests on last Saturday's show

Then I went to the 27th floor of the Prudential Building where I was interviewed by Susan Wiencek at WTMX/WSHE.

Susan Wiencek at WTMX-WSHE FM

In Milwaukee, I had a wonderful talk with Susan Bence at WUWM (Milwaukee's Public Radio affiliate) along the shore of Lake Michigan.

Susan gets her mobile recording gear from her Mini Cooper

We hiked the shore south of the city and could look back to see the skyline

Susan conducted the interview while I took this photo

Susan is all geared up for the walk-and-talk

The shoreline looking south

Go HERE to listen to this walking interview.

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

Indies Coast-to-Coast!

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

I love indie bookstores and visit them whenever possible. Recently, I traveled to Seattle with my friend Robin and found Island Books on 

Mercer Island.  

The indie on Mercer Island, Washington

This great indie has a wonderful literary vibe and an enviable collection of antique typewriters. 

Inside Island Books 

This Saturday I was back in Michigan in time for Small Business Saturday. Battle Creek Books invited me to sign my books.

Jim Donahue, owner of Battle Creek Books

Thanks to everyone who came out to support their local indie bookstores!

Ready to sign my books at Battle Creek Books

Book tree at Battle Creek Books!

Battle Creek Books has a few of my books (signed by me!) in stock for your holiday gifts!

Happy Holidays to everyone!

WOW Weekend

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker -- like the WOW group in South Haven did -- go to http://LakeTrek.com

I traveled to South Haven this weekend to be part of the Women's Only Weekend (WOW).

Michigan Maritime Museum

 The Michigan Maritime Museum on the edge of the Black River hosted my 

Great Lakes Island talk.

Pam Haferman (far left) of Black River Books brought my books to sell at the event. Here we are with some of the women who came to hear about the islands of the Great Lakes.

Shipwreck display at museum

  

Speaking at the Michigan Maritime Musuem

I then went to Black River Books to visit with author Bonnie Jo Campbell for a bit. She's touring with her new collection of short stories:

Mothers, Tell Your Daughters. 

Bonnie Jo Campbell signs her new book for me at Black River Books!

Black River Books has signed copies of my three books AND Bonnie's three latest books in stock. 

What great holiday gifts! 

Return Engagement

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker at your senior community go to http://LakeTrek.com

I have spoken at many senior communities while on my book tour, but the Wyndham community is special. This group read my first book and used it to keep fit! For every 20-minutes of exercise, the residents counted that as "walking" with me for one mile of my 

1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach!

Kalamazoo senior community

 They read and exercised, learning about Lake Michigan along the way. The coordinator, Barb Fish, posted a map of the lake and gave everyone a push-pin to move along the lakeshore as they accrued "miles hiked."

Residents get ready for the presentation

This month I returned to tell them about my Great Lakes ISLAND Adventure and visit with my friends at Wyndham. 

Gail introduces me to the group

A Giant Copper Beech

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and Great Lakes speaker. She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has written three books about the Great Lakes [A 1,000-Mile Walk on the Beach *a Heartland Indie Bestseller*, A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Walk *winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads Award*, and A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure]. To learn more about her work, or to book her as a speaker, go to http://LakeTrek.com

My book tour took me to Milwaukee last month. 

There I met with my editor and also revisited an old friend, this massive copper beech tree near the shores of Lake Michigan.

My editor, Phil Martin, and the beech tree

The plaque reads:

"Wisconsin's Largest European Copper Beech Tree (Fagus Sylvatica Purpurea)

The European copper beech tree was first introduced to North America in the 1700s. It is estimated that this tree was planted in the mid-1800s, which would place it on the family farm of the pioneering Estes family.

In the year 2005 the tree measured:

Trunk Circumference: 180 inches

Height: 61 ft.

Spread: 71.5 ft.

This tree is truly a giant!