Kerrytown Bookfest

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures: 

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] 

A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure  [Long-listed for the Chautauqua Prize]

 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

The theme of this year's Kerrytown BookFest is "Travels with Books."

I'm honored to be a presenter this year, paired with another Great Lakes author, Maureen Dunphy.

While I was hiking, biking, and kayaking to explore many islands in the Great Lakes Basin, Maureen was on a similar journey. Her goal, she says on her website:

"I made a total of 27 trips to 136 Great Lakes Basin islands. These were all of the islands I could find, accessible by ferry or bridge, in the Basin–which includes the connecting rivers/straits as well as the five Great Lakes themselves. "

That's right, Maureen traveled to every island she could find that was accessible by ferry or bridge!

Here's her book (published by Wayne State University Press and released this year):

The book is filled with essential guidebook information about each island ("How to Get There" "What to Expect" "Paths to Adventure" "Cultural Attractions" and "Special Island Events" and more). It's also filled with colorful maps and photos.

Pages from Dunphy's book

Maureen also took the time to gather information to put under the heading "How You Can Support the Island." The museums, conservancy organizations, cultural foundations, and much more listed here are fantastic ways for the island traveler to connect in a deeper way with their favorite islands.

This book goes beyond the standard guidebook in many ways, but my favorite was the inclusion of excerpts from Maureen's personal notes from her traveling journal.

I'm looking forward to presenting our island adventures at the Kerrytown BookFest. We will show photos and videos from our journeys and share some special places to visit on the islands of the Great Lakes.

When:  Sunday, September 11, 2016

(*our presentation will be at 2:45 at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. 4th Ave.)

Where:  Kerrytown in Ann Arbor, MI

Who:  Great Lakes Authors, Maureen Dunphy & Loreen Niewenhuis

Learn more about the full schedule of events here: Kerrytown Bookfest.

National Park Centennial

Loreen Niewenhuis is an author, adventurer, and dynamic speaker. 

She has completed a trilogy of 1,000-mile adventures exploring the Great Lakes and has authored three books about these adventures: 

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] 

A 1,000-Mile Great Lakes Island Adventure  [Long-listed for the Chautauqua Prize]

 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

On August 25, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson signed the law establishing a new federal bureau, the National Parks Service (NPS). At that time there were 35 national parks and monuments. Today there are 59. The NPS is responsible for protecting and managing these national treasures.

Michigan is home to 5 of these parks.

Two are national lakeshores:

Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on Lake Superior

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan

One is a historic district on the Keweenaw Peninsula:

Map of National Historical Park on the Keweenaw

One is a battlefield near Monroe:

The site of a pivotal battle during the War of 1812

And the final one is Isle Royale, the second-largest island in the Great Lakes.

A shed moose antler on Isle Royale

This week marks the centennial of the NPS.

Happy 100th!

Enjoy and explore our National parks. 
Learn more HERE and HERE.

30-seconds Hiking Isle Royale

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 have seen so much natural beauty while exploring our Great Lakes.

Let me share just a glimpse of some of the places I've been.

Here's 30 seconds of hiking on Isle Royale as part of a Moosewatch Expedition Team. The team walks one of the many stone ridges running the length of the island.

Great Lakes Speaker

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

This Friday I traveled to South Haven, Michigan, to visit one of my favorite indie bookstores

Black River Books.

On the rise overlooking the beach at South Haven

Black River Books in South Haven

  This bookstore carries mostly used books (a thoughtfully gathered selection), along with some new books.

Co-owner Pam Haferman helps customers purchase my books

Black River Books had plenty of copies of my three books (they still have a few signed copies in stock!)

  Then, I headed to the senior center to give my Lake Michigan presentation to the group there.

Michelle Davis introduces me to the group of seniors in Van Buren County

The group gets ready for my presentation

 I have traveled to nine states speaking to groups about our amazing Great Lakes. In September I will be a featured speaker at the Kerrytown Bookfest. 

Go HERE to see all my upcoming author events.