National Indie Bookstore Day!

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. 

To learn more about her work, or to engage her as a speaker, go to 

http://www.laketrek.com/great-lakes-speaker/

I took a long training hike today. I'm getting ready to hike Isle Royale next month, leading a team of hikers on a Moosewatch Expedition.

After that hike, I headed into Traverse City

To celebrate National Indie Bookstore Day,

I stopped in at one of my favorite indies, Brilliant Books. I poked around a bit and bought a new novel by Miriam Toews.

They had me sign a few copies of my own books on their shelves (always a pleasure!).

Stop in at your favorite indie today, and support them all year long.

And if you think there's nothing wrong with buying books from Amazon, click on link below to read why:

Amazon is Evil 

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.

National Indie Bookstore Day

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/

Show your support for your local indie bookstore this Saturday (and throughout the year)!

Indie bookstores are vital to our communities and to keeping literature alive. 

 An essay I wrote on this topic can be found HERE.

This Saturday I will be at Brilliant Books to my sign books for you -- or recommend another great read -- to show my support for the great indie bookstores that have shown such great support for my Great Lakes Adventure Trilogy.

#indiebound

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!

A Look Back...

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

Three years ago today, I completed my
1000-MILE GREAT LAKES WALK

 in Niagara Falls, Ontario, along the Niagara River Recreational Trail. 

Hiking amidst the fall leaves

I hiked with a fantastic group of people who came to the falls to join me for the final miles of my adventure.

We had lovely weather the first day, hiking among the bright colors of fall.  Our break the first day was at a winery along the way. We stopped for wine and cheese. 

That's classy hiking!

My Mom and her friends, Niki and Peggy

Jan and Marlene

My sister (Leslie), Me, and my cousin (Milene)

Niagara River merging with Lake Ontario

Hikers Day 2

Overlooking the Niagara River

The Falls

Hikers celebrate the end of the hike

How time flies! 
Since the finale of this adventure, 
I have completed my third Great Lakes Adventure.

My books are available wherever books are sold, 
but I encourage you to make the choice 
to support your local indie bookstore.

My Great Lakes Trilogy

Big Rapids ~~ Big Gifts!

I recently had an event at Great Lakes Book & Supply in Big Rapids, Michigan.

Friends (Jan & Diann) from Three Rivers took a road trip to Big Rapids to see me!

You may remember that master woodcarver Bette Hartig lives in this city. She carved a wondrous walking staff for me and presented it to me at my last event at the bookstore.

This time, she presented me with a custom walking stick chronicling my 

GREAT LAKES ISLAND ADVENTURE.

Bette Hartig & me with the two walking sticks

Head of walking stick

Top of stick with custom grip

The covers of all three books adorn the stick along with the tracks of many Great Lakes animals and birds

Now I have a pair of custom sticks...more ART for my home

New Indie in the City!

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

There is a new indie in town...

and it's in  
Detroit's 
 Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood 

on Grand River. 

Pages Bookshop in Detroit's Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood 

A very "bookish" table runner

It's lovely to see a new bookstore in the city of Detroit! Owner Susan Murphy has a passion for reading, books, and connecting this community with books and authors. 

Owner Susan Murphy holds a copy of my new book

The shelves of Pages Bookshop

I will have an event here on 
Thursday, July 16 @7pm

For a complete list of my author events, go HERE.

Leland, Michigan

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 recently took me to Leland, Michigan where I spoke at the library...

The Library in Leland

...and then signed books at the lovely bookstore in town, Leelanau Books. 

The bookstore always has fresh flowers for their authors!

Thanks to everyone who came out to hear me speak and to get their book at the lovely indie bookstore. Leelanau Books has signed copies in stock, so hurry to get yours!

Tales from the Up North Book Tour

My book tour took me to Traverse City 

and Gaylord, Michigan this week.

Touring Traverse City's Opera House with my sister, Leslie

 I always love to return to Traverse City, and Brilliant Books had a lovely display of my three books in the window.

Window at Brilliant Books!

Peter Makin (owner of Brilliant Books) introduces me

I gave a reading and Q&A at Brilliant Books, then signed books.

Signing books at Brilliant Books

 The next day I was off to Gaylord, Michigan to sign books at Saturn Booksellers.

Set up for the "meet-and-greet" at Saturn Booksellers

The girl scouts were also at Saturn selling their addictive cookies!

[Yes, I bought many boxes of thin mints!]