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!

Chicago!

Chicago!

My book tour took me to the Windy City this October for a week of events. 
The Newberry Library hosted my first presentation...

Newberry Library

Newberry Library

Ruggles Hall at the Newberry

Then I spoke at all 4 REI stores in the 

Chicago area.

Northbrook REI

Lincoln Park REI

Audience at the Northbrook REI

Schaumburg REI

Thanks to everyone who came out to hear about the islands of the Great Lakes!

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 REI stores in Chicago -- go to http://LakeTrek.com

Tales from the BOOK TOUR...part 7

Here's a short video from my book tour travels in the Metro Detroit area.

I hope to see you along the way!

Interview on WXYZ-TV today!

A big thanks to Anu Prakash at WXYZ for the lovely interview this morning!

Tales from the BOOK TOUR...part 5

I have been going to a variety of venues on my book tour. Bookstores are the obvious first stop for an author with a new book, and I've been to many great indie bookstores so far (and have many more scheduled through the next few months).

A 1000-Mile Walk on the Beach has taken me to less traditional book tour stops.

I've been to senior centers, retirement communities, the Inland Seas Education Association, Kingman Museum, Cottage and Lakefront Living Show, several libraries, and a fundraiser for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Whew!

Coming up, the book will take me to REI Stores in several states to
lecture about my adventure and my favorite gear from my hike. I'll also share my secrets for keeping my feet happy for 1,000 miles.

(Okay, my feet were pretty UNhappy for the first 400 miles or so until I learned these tricks.)

Here's a bit of video from the tour this month. A big thanks to Sunset Retirement's Waterford Campus for hosting a reading/signing and for choosing me to be their featured speaker at a dinner that evening. Also in this clip, The Nature Connection Store of Kalamazoo had me sign books during the city's monthly Art Hop. Then I did a reading and signing at Saturn Booksellers in Gaylord, Michigan. I had a fantastic time!







Breaking news:

A 1000-Mile Walk on the Beach was just named a finalist in the
Science/Nature/Environment category of the
2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!