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!

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

Great Lakes Book & Supply: Presentation of carved walking stick

In June I had an event at 

Great Lakes Book & Supply in Big Rapids, Michigan.

It was there that master woodcarver, 

Bette Hartig, 

presented me with a walking stick 

that she created for me.

Accepting the walking stick from Bette Hartig (right)

A map of my first adventure around Lake Michigan

This is more than a walking stick, though, it is a work of art that chronicles my adventures. 

The state flag 

My second adventure

It even has a compass embedded in the top so I never lose my way.

Compass above the Mackinac Bridge

Bette in her workshop

After the event, Bette invited me to see where she created the walking stick. She has an amazing workshop where she teaches others the art of carving wood.

Bette with her table saw

I was deeply moved by this gift and grateful that Bette shares my love of the Great Lakes.

A bit of carving advice from Bette: