For the Love of Books Podcast

Author KM McIntyre pens Broke Down

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:29:01 -0400

Emma Weavers is driven, hard-working, and hard-headed.

Hudson O'Brien has been burned before and swears to never let it happen again.

Sponsored by award-winning authors Kiril Kristoff, Jennifer Montiel, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

But when Emma's SUV breaks down outside of Little Branch Creek, she finds herself drawn to Hudson as she has never been drawn to a man before. Hudson finds himself breaking his own rules and letting his guard down.

Will it be goodbye when Emma leaves Little Branch Creek for good? Or will they fight for the future that is right in front of them?

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Broke Down.

See you at the Third Coast Authors & Books Festival in Grand Haven on March 21. McIntyre and host author Emma Palova will be in the Tri-Cities Historical Museum located at 200 Washington Ave in Grand Haven.

Author Jennifer Montiel pens Twin Flames Under the Moon

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:58:48 -0400

Twin Flames Under the Moon is an adult romance novel centered on Selene and Adan, two souls connected from childhood whose lives are shaped by duty, service, and responsibility.

Sponsored by authors Kiril Kristoff, Jennifer Montiel, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

As they pursue careers in law enforcement and the military, their bond is tested by time, distance, and the choices they make. The story explores love restrained by duty and the emotional cost of choosing service over personal desire.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed-copy of Twin Flames Under the Moon.

Award-winning author Kiril Kristoff pens Crossing Borders of Times

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 08:39:24 -0400

AUTHOR KIRIL KRISTOFF RELEASES “CROSSING BORDERS & GENERATIONS”

A powerful work of historical fiction blending true-life events, immigrant resilience, and spiritual

legacy, Kristoff’s latest novel has already earned multiple literary honors.

Sponsored by authors Kiril Kristoff, Jennifer Montiel, Moravian Sons Distillery & Doc Chavent

My third book's sequel “Crossing Borders of Times”: “One Man's Journey to Search For His Ukrainian, Greek &Bulgarian Roots won”Finding Your Roots”: One Man’s Journey to Discover His Ukrainian, Greek, and Bulgarian Heritage is a sweeping multi-generational saga that blends memoir, history, and fiction

to tell the story of a Bulgarian-American family wrestling with identity, ideology, and belonging across a century of upheaval.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Crossing Borders of Times.

Author Frank Demith pens Defending The Eagle

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 10:37:10 -0500

Award-winning author Frank Demith talks about his unique method of writing his second book historical fiction Defending The Eagle.

Defending The Eagle is a tense, gripping, and emotionally complex portrayal of war—not just as a battlefield of weapons and tactics, but as a crucible for identity, loyalty, and survival.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

Set against the scorched backdrop of an Iraqi desert warzone, the novel immerses the reader in a world where every decision carries the weight of life and death, and where the line between enemy and ally is constantly shifting.

Listen in for the podcast book giveaway by Frank Demith.

Dr. Barbara Sinor pens Wisdom from Your Soul

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 13:40:39 -0500

"Find Pease, Embrace Change, and Let Your Soul Lead The Way!"

Dr. Barbara Sinor

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery, author Terri Martin, and Doc Chavent.

Wisdom from Your Soul offers gentle guidance for navigating life's challenges with clarity and grace. Through inspiring reflections on forgiveness, love, resilience, and inner peace, Sinor's new book encourages readers to release the past, embrace the present, and open to the wisdom within.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Wisdom from Your Soul.

Author Terri Martin pens Straw Horse

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 17:46:42 -0500

"Writing has always been a persistent calling throughout my life."

-Author Terri Martin-

Straw Horse is a witty and suspenseful romantic mystery set in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where life for Kathryn "Kat" Wilde is anything but tranquil. Though only in her mid-twenties, Kat finds herself juggling the many demands of a struggling horse operation, Wildwood Stables, while navigating a perplexing romance with her "sort-of" boyfriend, DNR officer, Nikko Olsen.

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Straw Horse and Gift Horse.

Author Jean Davis pens I9 science fiction

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 17:33:40 -0500

Burning season on the exile world of Anduvea means the space station at the edge of the empire is full of rich, drunk tourists and their idiotic antics. When Senior Security Officer Rita Stabinov spots a thief wanted dead or alive by Empaetor Iradio VIII himself, she envisions a hefty reward or maybe a promotion anywhere else.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Modern History Press and Doc Chavent

A deathbed promise to keep the goods out of the Empaetor’s hands puts Rita in possession of a stolen treasure with a value far greater than she’s ever dreamed. The heavy-handed ruler will do everything in his power to get it back, and his agent is already on the way.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of I9.

Author Kathryn DenHouter pens Beyond Betrayal

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:38:03 -0500

Beyond Betrayal is set in Baltimore, Maryland at the turn of the century. Abigail and Bill are married and starting a family. Peter, their first born, dies at three months of age.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, author Terri Martin and Doc Chavent.

Peter's death is an inciting catalyst for Abigail's mental illness. She taps, counts, and counts and taps feverishly. Her husband Bill and her mother-in-law pursue a way to help Abigail regain her stability. The nascent theories of William James and Sigmund Freud are on the horizon.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Beyond Betrayal.

Third Coast Author & Book Festival set for March 21

Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:46:35 -0500

Happy New Year everyone.

Created from a passion for literacy by Mike O'Brien, owner of the Book Cellar in Grand Haven, the Third Coast Author & Book Festival is one of the fastest growing book festivals in Michigan.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, authors Diana Magnuson, Terri Martin and Doc Chavent.

The Third Coast Author & Book Festival in Grand Haven, Michigan is a large annual literary event held in the city’s vibrant downtown. It features 200+ well-known local, national, and international authors offering free signings, panels, and meet-and-greets. Readers can explore books across all genres while enjoying Grand Haven’s shops, food, and lakeshore atmosphere. The festival celebrates reading, writing, and community in one of Michigan’s most scenic towns.

Author Todd Otis pens Sparks of the Revolution

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:53:12 -0500

I had heard from an early age that we were related to James Otis the Patriot and had the impression he was important in Boston before the American Revolution. I was always curious in the back of my mind about what happened to him; why was he famous then but forgotten in the centuries that followed?

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery, authors Terri Martin, Diana Magnuson and Doc Chavent.

As I began to research James Otis and then the patriots he influenced, such as Samuel Adams and John Hancock, I came to see he was an extremely powerful force in resistance to the British. As a brilliant lawyer, Otis argued against the use of warrants called the Writs of Assistance which allowed British custom officials to barge into homes or businesses willy nilly looking for smuggled good. Young John Adams was in the courtroom that fateful day and later wrote that Otis’ argument of that case was when “the child Independence was born.” So, you could say that John Adams convinced me to write this book.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Sparks of the Revolution

Author and illustrator Diana Magnuson pens Garden Sleeping, Garden Growing

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 13:34:44 -0500

Explore the visible and hidden world of Noriko’s garden from her garden’s point of view, in and around all year long. After the deep snow of winter, her soil is prepared for planting.

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery, authors Terri Martin, Diana Magnuson and Doc Chavent.

Green leaves sprout as plants ripen to fruits and vegetables. Hungry forest animals prowl and pad-pad in to eat them. Insects and birds also aggravate garden, but others are important assistants to her growth. Exuberant and lyrical

Garden’s story explores nature’s wonders that support our lives.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Garden Sleeping, Garden Growing.

Author Raymond Luczak pens Ironhood

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:16:04 -0500

“Deaf and rejected, Luczak longs for visibility among those who erase him: class bullies, teachers, and even his mother, who goes to the grave unable to accept her gay son. I found myself rereading Ironhood, wanting to savor his writing.”

— Beverly Matherne, author of Potions d’amour, thés, incantations / Love Potions, Teas, Incantations

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery, author Terri Martin and Doc Chavent

In Ironhood, the acclaimed poet Raymond Luczak recalls the neighbors and shopkeepers he once knew while growing up in Ironwood, Michigan during the 1970s and 1980s. They included a scruffy man who smoked cheap cigars while tending to his fragrant backyard garden, a cat-eyed woman who stood watch over a sea of typewriters, a bald jeweler whose dexterous fingers repaired a watch's minuscule innards, and tired cashiers in red smocks who dreamed at the western edge of town.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Ironhood.

Author Suzanne Sunshower pens Still Wild poems from Bear Shack

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:29:32 -0500

"Are You Okay

being the only one?

My favorite downstate teller asks,

holding photos of the lonely U.P. camper

and noting my nervousness."

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent

At the age of sixty, Suzanne Sunshower moved into an ancient hunt camp trailer that no one had attempted to live in year-around before, which she named Bear Shack, in a remote area of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This poetic collection is her story of adventure and adjustment.

Listen for a chance to win a signed copy of Still Wild.

Author Andrew Allen Smith pens Yet Another Slice of Fear

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:44:31 -0400

Happy Halloween

Yet Another Slice of Fear, book no. 3 in the horror series

by Andrew Allen Smith

Fear never truly fades, it evolves.

Sponsored by author LeAnn Kelley, Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent

In Yet Another Slice of Fear, Michigan author Andrew Allen Smith returns with a chilling

new collection of psychological and supernatural tales that twist reality, morality, and the

fragile human mind. Each story cuts deep into the quiet moments before terror takes hold,

where a whisper in the dark becomes a scream, and comfort turns to dread.

From haunted memories to the horrors born of obsession, Smith explores the places we

dare not look, and the truths we wish we could forget. With precise prose and unnerving

insight, he reminds us that fear is not always found in monsters, but in the reflection staring

back at us.

Turn the page... if you dare.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Yet Another Slice of Fear

Author A.J. Parks pens The Blade of Destruction, Champ's Amazing Day

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 14:48:48 -0400

The Blade of Destruction takes place two years after the Creator's Temple. It sets Marty Evans on a course of discovery, learning the mysteries of the Goddess Zin, the sword he is cursed with, and his family's dark past.

Champ's Amazing Day is a children's book inspired by Parks' Dog Champ, whom he lost in June. It is a happy tale of Champ going to the store and the park. All Proceeds go to AKC Health Foundation for Canine Cancer Research.

Author LeAnn Kelley pens The Tales of Iryvalya: Horizons

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 12:47:25 -0400

Immerse yourself in a world of magic, destiny, and adventure. Discover the rich landscapes, complex characters, and captivating lore of Iryvalya. Perfect for fans of epic fantasy, this series will enchant and thrill you from the first page to the last.

Sponsored by author LeAnn Kelley, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

The Tales of Iryvalya: Horizons - Nyrieve now carries the most dangerous weapon in Iryvalya—the truth—and she is determined to awaken the realms from centuries of lies. As traditions break and ancient loyalties fracture, dragons long thought extinct return to reveal their true allegiance. With friendships reignited, betrayals uncovered, and enemies closing in, Nyrieve must confront the growing weight of prophecy. The fate of Iryvalya balances between unity and ruin, and only the Bringer of Peace can tip the scales.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Tales of Iryvalya: Bloodlines.

Artist Entrepreneur Anna Donahue shares insights about Art in the Park Saugatuck

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:27:36 -0400

Saugatuck Art in the Park Sept. 13, 2025, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sponsored by author LeAnne Kelley, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Since 2016, Anna Donahue dedicated her time to sharing her business secrets to success with fellow artists. Over these last few years, Anna helped over 1,000 artists move from hobbyists to career artists who can make a living on their work. Her creation and continued work at Art in the Park Saugatuck continues to inspire new artists and change lives.

Forty-two vendors will be at Art in the Park in Saugatuck including authors Emma Palova and Jean Davis.

For a full list go to https://emmapalova.com

Author Christopher Tallon pens Switchers

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 15:18:08 -0400

Happy Labor Day weekend,

Switchers is a time-travel, coming-of-age thriller praised for its fast pacing and compelling characters.

Sponsored by author Robert Kamarowski, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

It’s about a group of suburban teens in 1996 who get pulled into a time travel war against their adult selves, who time-travel by body swapping with their teen counterparts. They’re all trying to get back to the safety of 1996 before the time travel window closes permanently.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Switchers.

Author Robert Kamarowski pens Equatorial Rthythms

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:07:18 -0400

Steel meets saltwater. On the deck of the Coast Guard cutter Owasso, duty is a constant, and the sea is a relentless master. For Rat, a young deckhand, this voyage to Rio isn't just a job—it's a crucible.

Sponsored by author Robert Kamarowski, Moravian Sons Distillery https://moraviansonsdistillery.com and Doc Chavent

Amidst the grind of shipboard life, a brotherhood is forged. From the seasoned veterans to the green cadets, each man grapples with his own demons, tested by the unforgiving rhythm of the ocean. The Owasso is a world unto itself, where sweat and steel define the day, and the bonds of shared hardship run deep.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Equatorial Rhythms.

Author Craig Matthews pens Charity's Fire

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:53:32 -0400

For the two couples on the boat it felt like a vacation. It looked like a vacation. Heck, it even smelled like a vacation- but it was an elaborate trap.

Sponsored by author Lauren Persons, Moravian Sons Distillery https://moraviansonsdistillery.com and Doc Chavent.

To tip the scales in an ancient war, the plan demanded that at least one of the humans be sacrificed. If successful, this operation would reach through time, alter children, and alienate grandchildren-forever. They were betting everything to change the unrealized destiny of this family- by destroying their hope.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Charity's Fire.

Author Rich Nelson pens Searching for Jake

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:03:19 -0400

Searching for Jake - Rich Nelson's new book, and his first novel - tells the story of a closeted young athlete coming of age in a small Midwestern town of the 1970s.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent and author Lauren Persons.

Jake is a star hockey player in high school and college, fully immersed in a sport that is the epitome of masculinity. But the relentless voices in his head conflict with his perception of being all male, his emerging feelings of same-sex attraction drawing him into a journey to find and embrace his authentic self.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Searching for Jake.

Author Kathleen Heideman pens The Caving Grounds

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 13:06:35 -0400

The Caving Grounds excavates the rubble of Negaunee, a small town in Upper Michigan hollowed by a century of mining.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent and Author Lauren Perssons

The extraction of hematite caused underground collapses and sinkholes; undermined neighborhoods were deemed unstable; homes, churches and even cemeteries were moved, and dangerous areas fenced. Thankfully, a guide will emerge: Rusty.

"The 'pick and hammer' was historically used in cartography to indicate the location of a mine. It emerges from my love of maps, which I reference in several of the poems, and the sheer abundance of those mine symbols on old UP Michigan maps: hundreds of historic mines in the Marquette Iron Range alone," Heideman said about the symbol on the cover.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Caving Grounds.

Author Ann Berman pens Louis Graveraet Kaufman

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 15:08:49 -0400

Only a true journalist like Ann Berman could make the connection between an Adirondack chair and an obscure half Jewish, part Indigenous entrepreneur from Marquette in Michigan's Upper Peninsula who has been dead for close to 100 years.

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Louis Graveraet Kaufman: The Fabulous Michigan Gatsby Who Conquered Wall Street, Took Over General Motors and Built the Tallest Building in the World is the story of the half Jewish, part Indigenous man from Marquette (1870-1942) who built and ran one of the largest banks in the country, changed the destiny of GM, financed the Empire State Building and built a grand apartment building at 625 Park Avenue. He was also the builder of some of Marquette’s most elegant architecture, including Granot Loma, a 26,000 square foot Adirondack style log and stone lodge on Lake Superior where he entertained celebrities at Gatsby-esque parties and plugged UP agriculture at his ‘gentleman’s farm.’ Wildly social and upwardly mobile, he and his family lived Jazz Age lives full of race horses, debutante parties and private rail cars…until a wrong turn brought the whole thing tumbling down and he retreated, defeated, to his beloved Marquette.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Louis Graveraet Kaufman.

Czech & Slovak Festival in Detroit on July 19 &20

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 18:14:52 -0400

150 years of Detroit Sokol on July 19 & 20 Czech- American award-winning author Emma Palova will be signing her book Greenwich Meridian Memoir during the festival this weekend.

Stop by to celebrate with us the Sokol anniversary during the 46th Annual Czech & Slovak Festival.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery https://moraviansonsdistillery, Modern History Press, Doc Chavent and author Lisa Romence.

The festivities will be held at the Sokol Cultural Center located at 23600 W. Warren Ave in Dearborn Heights.

The cover charge is $5 per adult. Saturday from 1:30 pm 9 pm, Sunday 12:30 pm to 7:30 pm.

Live entertainment will feature music, bands, dancing inside or out in the Outdoor Social Pavilion.

Authentic cuisine, ethnic souvenirs including my book Greenwich Meridian Memoir , imported beer and spirits and pastry booth.

For more info contact James Mack at 1- 586-924-9233.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16e4oqFQZU/?

Author Lisa Romence pens A Teacher's Gift

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:48:39 -0400

A Teacher’s Gift is a book of inspirational stories and reflections garnered from over three decades of classroom experience.

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent and authors Lisa Romence and Brian Talarczyk.

Each page provides insights into the complexities and challenges of a teacher’s typical day. This book is a timeless resource that teachers can reach for whenever they need encouragement and inspiration. The entries will refresh and recharge the reader, and remind them of the

significant role they play in the lives of their students.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of A Teacher's Gift.

Author Lauren Persons pens Deer Diary, What Happened to Chester?

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:04:43 -0400

Happy Independence Day, let freedom ring.

Children's author Lauren Persons is a firm believer in William Shakespeare's “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.”

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery https://moraviansonsdistillery and author Brian Talarczyk.

Lauren’s rich and varied roles as actor, director, playwright, newspaper columnist, teacher, poet, wife, mother and grandmother have contributed to her latest role—children’s author of Lost But Found, The Real Story: Chappie’s Tale, What Happened to Chester, The Perfect Gift and Deer Diary.

Listen in for a chance to win signed copies of Deer Diary and What Happened to Chester?

Authors Alley at LAF features 23 Michigan Authors

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 11:23:47 -0400

In a powerful display of camaraderie, Michigan Authors have become a staple of the Lakeshore Art Festival coming to downtown Muskegon this weekend June 28 &29 on Clay Street.

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery https://moraviansonsdistillery.com and authors Brian Talarczyk and Jennifer Raines.

Stop by this weekend to support more than 20 authors who write in all genres from children's books to memoirs and mysteries.

Author Jon Stott pens Wild Blueberry Summer

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:33:02 -0400

In sixty short prose poems, Jon Stott, celebrates the timeless rhythms and unexpected events that mark the passage of the late spring and summer months beside a woodland lake in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

Sponsored by Modern History Press, Moravian Sons Distillery https://moraviansonsdistillery.com, authors Brian Talarczyk ,Jennifer Raines and Caroline Topperman.

Beginning with his anticipation of departing from the “City of the Pavements Grey” (Albuquerque, New Mexico) and the excitement of arriving at “The Little Cabin in the Big Woods” after spending many months so far away, he then chronicles such simple events as the sighting of the tiny flowers of May, the first appearance of a loon chick riding on its parent’s back, the joyful noise of Fourth of July celebrations, the spotting of the first red maple leaves,

and the melancholy hours of packing up and closing the cabin for the season. The theme of wildblueberries runs through the book.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Wild Blueberry Summer.

Author Brian Talarczyk pens I Am Not Bipolar: A Memoir

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 10:59:29 -0400

Happy Father's Day from the For the Love of Books Podcast with host author Emma Palova

In this candid memoir, author Brian Talarczyk delves into his harrowing journey with bipolar disorder—a legacy he unknowingly inherited until his father’s sudden death in 2001.

Sponsored by authors Brian Talarczyk, Jennifer Raines, Caroline Topperman and Lowell-based business Moravian Sons Distillery.

With vulnerability and humor, Talarczyk recounts the soaring highs and crushing lows of his experience, from manic episodes and terrifying psychosis that led to his stay at the Yale New Haven Psychiatric Facility, to the profound depression that nearly claimed his life. I Am Not Bipolar is a raw and compelling account of a man’s battle with mental illness, the lessons learned, and his resolve to break the silence surrounding mental health.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of I Am Not Bipolar: A Memoir

Australian author Jennifer Raines pens A Just Man Choosing Family Book 4

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 11:28:19 -0400

No matter where you run, the past will find you…

Kelly needs to enhance her resume. Why else would she accept a placement in Tullamore facing her phobia about country towns? Years ago, a rookie cop humiliated her during an illegal strip search.

Sponsored by authors Jennifer Raines, Caroline Topperman and Moravian Sons Distillery.

Problem is, that former cop is now the deputy principal of her new high school and her boss. Sharing a house, a commute, and now an investigation to unravel a series of disasters that look like sabotage, Kelly takes the previously unthinkable step from enemies to allies to lovers.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of A Just Man Choosing Family Book 4.

Author Caroline Topperman pens memoir Your Roots Cast a Shadow

Fri, 23 May 2025 11:03:36 -0400

Caroline Topperman's own move to Poland is a central part of Your Roots Cast a Shadow memoir as she grapples with her "Polish roots" while being a "Canadian by nature".

Sponsored by author Caroline Topperman, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

She experiences cultural differences, language barriers, and a growing awareness of the political climate in modern-day Poland, particularly the rise of nationalism and racism.

Her journey to understand her family's past is intertwined with her present-day observations of Polish society, including its attitudes towards history, religion, and social acceptance.

The book ultimately questions how personal history intersects with global events to shape identity and the challenges of balancing one's origins with new surroundings.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Your Roots Cast a Shadow.

UP Author Sue Harrison pens Rescuing Crash, the Good Dog

Fri, 09 May 2025 11:18:53 -0400

Britta, an eleven-year-old girl, has lived in soul-deep sorrow since her mother left their family. When Britta's father forgets her birthday, he decides to give her a dog as a late birthday gift. (Britta wants a cell phone.) They adopt Crash, an Australian shepherd from the local animal shelter in Sault Ste. Marie, a small city in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and their adventures begin.

"A powerful tale of finding friendship in the most unexpected places. "

Nikki Mitchell, author of the Magic Shoebox Adventures

Rescuing Crash, the Good Dog is a story about broken hearts--not only Britta's and her father's hearts but also a dog's broken heart--and it is a story about the bonds between daughters and fathers and good dogs and also not-always-so-good cats.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Rescuing Crash, the Good Dog.

Author Ryder Jones pens Westville

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 10:29:23 -0400

WATCH THE RIVER. STAY OUT OF THE WOODS. AND WHATEVER YOU DO—DON’T FOLLOW THE LIGHTS.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed book by Ryder Jones.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Westville was never the kind of town where people went missing—

until the night thirteen-year-old Millie Thompson vanished without a trace.

Hometown cop Casey Benson is no stranger to regret. When Millie disappears, his quiet routine shatters. What begins as a missing persons case quickly spirals into something far more disturbing—

corporate cover-ups, shadowy government agents, and a secret buried deep beneath Westville’s streets.

Meanwhile, Millie’s best friend, Olivia Fischer, refuses to stay sidelined. She was the last to see Millie—and she knows something else is out there.

AI and Authors in 2025

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 07:42:47 -0400

Hello everyone,

Welcome to the special For the Love of Books Podcast episode featuring indie and small press authors with host author Emma Palova.

I would like to thank our sponsors Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Today, we will be chatting about AI and its impact on authors and vice versa as we navigate this evolving landscape with rising anxiety and opportunity.

Leading our discussion is Dr. C. Daniel Miller, known as The Copyright Detective—a copyright consultant and co-owner of Integrated Writer Services, LLC. He’s also the author of the award-winning Copyright Clearance for Creatives, now being updated to include a vital new section on AI in its second edition.

Dr. Miller speaks and conducts workshops on copyright-related topics. His presentations include “Copyright Basics” and “Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” for authors, independent publishers, and other creative professionals.

Joining us on the author panel are authors:

🖊️ Jean Davis – speculative fiction author of the Narvan Series.

🖊️ Andrew Allen Smith – action-thriller author and blogger behind 29000sunsets

🖊️ Ingar Rudholm – YA fantasy author of the Traveling Circus series

Author Emily Johnson pens Parents- The Prophets of the Home

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 12:04:40 -0400

Happy Easterl

Emily’s newest book, Parents—The Prophets of the Home, invites mothers and fathers to step into their God-given roles as culture-shapers and spiritual leaders in the home.

Sponsored by @Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

She aims to help families trade fear-based control for heart connection and raise children who know God’s voice and walk confidently in their Kingdom assignment. Emily lives with her family in the mountains of Mammoth Lakes, California, where she’s building a legacy of peace, presence, and purpose.

True crime author Rod Sadler pens Depraved Obsession

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:09:08 -0400

"You can't say the last evil person in this world was Hitler."

Those were the words of Circuit Court Judge Timothy Kenny when he spoke of Ronald Lloyd Bailey, a Michigan serial killer serving a life sentence without parole.

During a sunny Labor Day weekend in 1985, thirteen-year-old Shawn Moore was kidnapped while riding his bike near his home in Brighton, Michigan. Still on edge from a series of unsolved murders dubbed the Oakland County Child Killings in the mid-seventies, a task force of up to seventy-five investigators worked day and night to find Shawn. In an almost unheard-of series of events, local, state, and federal law enforcement combined their resources and efforts to track down the killer. They knew the kidnapper could be anywhere, and there was an urgency to find Shawn Moore alive.

Depraved Obsession: The Gripping True Story of Law Enforcement’s Hunt for a Sadistic Serial Killer launches on May 6.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent, and author Carla Stockton.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Depraved Obsession.

Author Teri M. Brown pens Daughters of Green Mountain Gap

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 17:23:40 -0400

"Healing and being healed are some of the most human of all activities, and Brown encourages us to dive deeply into their rivers."

Scott's Book Review

In her new book Daughters of Green Mountain Gap, author Teri M. Brown dives deeply into the healing rivers of the main characters Granny Maggie, her daughter Carrie Ann, and granddaughter Josie May.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent, and author Carla Stockton.

Maggie McCoury, a generational healer woman, relies on family traditions, folklore, and beliefs gleaned from a local Cherokee tribe.

Her daughter, Carrie Ann, believes her university training holds the answers. As they clash over the use of roots, herbs, and a dash of mountain magic versus the medicine available in the town’s apothecary, Josie Mae doesn’t know whom to follow. But what happens when neither family traditions nor science can save the ones you love most?

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Daughters of Green Mountain Gap.

Author Mikel Classen pens Piracy on the Great Lakes

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 17:41:09 -0400

"Loaded with rare period photos and engravings of the infamous pirates who wreaked havoc in Great Lakes waters and shore communities, Classen's inviting narrative is fast-paced and filled with legends of treasures and daring exploits."

-Sue Harrison, international best-selling historical novelist

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent and author Carla Stockton

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Piracy on the Great Lakes.

Author Carla Stockton pens Too Much of Nothing, a memoir

Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:00:23 -0500

In Too Much of Nothing, Carla Stockton, a first-generation American baby boomer, shares her life story through a series of vignettes. The memoir begins with her mother's escape from Europe before World War II and culminates in Stockton's own journey to break free from a stifling marriage.

With a blend of humor and heart, Stockton reflects on the challenges and triumphs of living in the shadow of history. Her story is a meditation on the resilience required to navigate the complexities of identity and womanhood in a changing world.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Too Much of Nothing.

Sponsored by author Carla Stockton, Doc Chavent, and Moravian Sons Distillery.

Poet Kathy Johnson pens anthology Roots in Water

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 20:16:13 -0500

In her poetry anthology "Roots in Water", Kathy Johnson captured the simple moments in life that matter the most: the love and passion for what we do.

"The only thing you take with you at the end of your life is your love, not your bank notes, not your honors, not your book," she said in the For the Love of Books Podcast episode hosted by author Emma Palova.

As a Chaplain for the local hospice in the Copper Country of the Upper Peninsula, Johnson has met her final inspiration. "The saddest people are those who have given up on various things in life.

I've come away from death more alive to human beings, the world, and self-worth."

A stanza from Kathy Johnson's poem "Ceremony" shows the poet's passion for life.

As the seasons turn

One to the next, so we travel

From East to West.

We rise and flow with the years.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Listen to the podcast episode for a chance to win a signed copy of "Roots in Water."

Holidays at The Old Theater in Lowell, Michigan

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:38:19 -0500

Happy Holidays

Heywood Banks performs at The Old Theater on Friday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 14. Get your tickets now. Go to www.theoldtheater.com

Listen in to win a free ticket to Dixon's Violin on Dec. 29 at TOT. The fundraiser to replace the marquee runs through Jan. 11. Stop at TOT to get your ornament.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery, Doc Chavent, Lowell authors Glad Fletcher and Kathryn DenHouter.

Built in 1928, The Old Theater in downtown Lowell is a magical place where all wishes and dreams come true thanks to its owners Lisa and David Reed. Lisa's wish to have a white Christmas came true on Wednesday. Young artists' dreams of performing on stage in front of a live audience come true here at TOT, and dancers can dance the night away on Fridays. Listen to this enchanting episode to win a free ticket to Dixon's Violin on Dec. 29.

Holidays with Lowell authors Glad Fletcher and Kathryn Den Houter

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 13:10:35 -0500

Lowell authors Glad Fletcher and Katherine Den Houter joined forces for a special holiday book signing event at the Coffee House at Cascade Christian Church on Dec. 14 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Holiday episode sponsored by authors Kathryn Den Houter, Glad Fletcher, Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Fletcher's or Den Houter's books.

NaNoWriMo 2024 reimagined

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:18:39 -0500

Happy Thanksgiving. Make words happen because books make great gifts.

Some policy changes in the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) non-profit organization caused a mass exodus of writers and authors into different stratospheres.

TrackBear tracks your writing progress and multiple goals.

For 19-year NaNoWriMo veteran author Jean Davis switching tracks from NaNoWriMo to TNT was simple. She uses TrackBear to organize multiple writing projects. In case you're wondering what TNT stands for, it is That November Thing.

"I am not as behind the organization as I used to be," she said. "November is still my writing month."

The new variations of NaNoWriMo carry on the same basic principle of getting people together to write. TrackBear allows you to work on separate goals

together.

Author Larry Jorgensen pens Shipwrecked and Rescued

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 18:01:13 -0500

Happy Thanksgiving. Books make great gifts.

Author Larry Jorgensen tells the true-life adventure of the 1926 City of Bangor shipwreck rescue off the Keweenaw Peninsula in Upper Michigan.

A fierce November storm tossed the ship with a crew of 23 and 240 new Chrysler automobiles onto a Lake Superior reef. For the first time, Shipwrecked and Cars and Crew tell the near-tragic story of lost and desperate shipmates floundering for two days in the deep snow and near-zero temperatures. Jorgensen's detailed research and collection of historical photos chronicles what happened, introduces the key players, and finally reveals the fate of those collectors' prizes in the century since.

Listen in to win a signed copy of Shipwrecked and Rescued. Contact Emma via the website emmapalova.com with the name of the city that deceived Captain Mackin's logistics in this story.

Sponsored by @Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

Author poet Martin Achatz pens A Bigfoot Bestiary and other Wonders

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:38:17 -0500

Happy Thanksgiving. Books make great gifts.

A Bigfoot Bestiary and Other Wonders is a collection of poems that explores the mysteries of the human condition--from pain and loss to joy and friendship--all the big, hairy things that fill our lives with wonder and, sometimes, heartbreak.

The poems in the book chase the mythical figure of Bigfoot through mountain and forest, trying to capture the greatest mystery of all--love.

Listen for a chance to win a signed copy of A Bigfoot Bestiary and Other Wonders.

Sponsored by @Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Author Joan H. Young pens How to Hike the North Country Trail

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 07:48:35 -0500

The first 100 pages of How to Hike the North Country Trail: not quite a Guide explain why the North Country Trail is unique among National Scenic Trails and why its political history causes the checkerboard of allowed uses found along its length.

One cannot just camp anywhere along the trail. This requires much

more planning for a long hike than some hikers expect. The rest of

the book is the first-ever attempt to list all the legal places to camp or find

lodging along the 4800 miles of the NCT. As the title says, it's "not quite a

guide." This trail is still too long and too fluid to publish the level of

detail that a true guide would contain. However, the book in conjunction with

the free interactive map at northcountrytrail.org, is a great aid in creating a

plan for a long hike.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of How to Hike the North Country Trail.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

Author Craig A. Brockman pens Dead Silence

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 17:59:35 -0400

Happy Halloween! It is windy outside, and we lost power but got it back just in time for the podcast. So enjoy.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Craig A. Brockman, author of the award-winning Dead of November, has published the third book Dead Silence in his trilogy.

Ron Jarvin’s quiet, solitary life is about to be turned upside down. A young woman claims to be his daughter and the former priest is torn by trepidation as he prepares for their reunion. But as he makes his way to meet her, he is suddenly thrust into a dark and deadly world beyond his wildest nightmares.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Dead Silence.

Author Allison Spooner pens The Lost Girl and The Things We Cannot Change

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 17:14:01 -0400

Allison Spooner is the author of the Amazon Bestseller and #1 New Release, The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story. She's also published two collections of genre-crossing flash fiction, Flash in the Dark: A Collection of Flash Fiction and The Problem with Humans: And Other Stories, and has contributed to several horror and science fiction anthologies. Her newest novel is the fictionalized true story, "The Things We Cannot Change: A Story about the Ghosts Created by Addiction."

Her stories have been called, "unique works of art," and "brilliant, disturbing, and thought-provoking," and The Lost Girl was the winner of the 2024 PenCraft Seasonal Book Award Winter Competition.

Listen to win a signed copy.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Yooper Ale Trails presents Michigan's Upper Peninsula breweries and brewpubs

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:51:00 -0400

Mikel B. Classen and Jon C. Stott, award-winning authors of travel books, provide expert guidance for beer aficionados and tourists to visit the 29 unique craft breweries and brewpubs of Michigan's Upper Peninsula in Yooper Ale Trails.

The tours to breweries are organized geographically from the east UP to the west side into eight picturesque ale trails. Each brewery or brewpub has its own story. Classen and Stott have captured the essence of the beer scene in the UP since the mid-1990s. Classen suggests planning six months for an ale trail trip.

"The book itself is a little bit of a roadbook too, you get a good breakdown of beers we found there," Classen said.

Listen to the episode to win a signed hardcover copy of Yooper Ale Trails.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Peg Herring pens novel Fake

Wed, 23 Oct 2024 08:18:47 -0400

Author Peg Herring Peg Herring is a former educator who lives in northern Lower Michigan. Her Tudor mysteries starring Princess/Queen Elizabeth garnered nice reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, New York Journal of Books, and Library Journal. The first book of her paranormal series, The Dead Detective Agency, received a Best Mystery of the Year Award from EPIC. In 2014 Peg stole her grandmother’s name and started writing cozy mysteries. Since then, Peg has written women's fiction and suspense while Maggie Pill writes cozies.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent. Kip Morgan is a fake with worries...and they're multiplying. Kip Morgan is a con artist who urgently needs to elude the authorities. He sees an ad from a firm seeking a private investigator in a new town with a new name. Kip applies, figuring he knows as much about crime as most detectives, though from a different vantage point. Kip gets the job at Waite Investigations because his new bosses, Jocelyn and Maureen Waite, have figured out that clients look for youngish male P.I.s, not two sixty-plus women too easily dismissed as "little old ladies." Though he has plans to acquire a chunk of their fortune, Kip finds there's a lot more to the Waites than he’d imagined. As he tries to adjust to fussy Mo and quiet Jo, a houseful of secrets soon gets out of hand, and Kip the Conman has a lot more to worry about than being exposed as a FAKE. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of FAKE.

U.P. author Nancy Besonen pens Off The Hook 1 & 2

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 10:56:08 -0400

Nancy Besonen's "Off The Hook," published in 2023, is a collection of humor columns she successfully slipped by her editor over a 30-year reporting career for L'Anse Sentinel.

However, there were still a few very silly things left unsaid. Shamelessly borrowing from her original recipe, she unleashed her second and final installment, "Off The Hook Too!," in 2024, rounding out what she likes to call "The Compleat Works of Nancy Besonen." (take that, William Shakespeare!)

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Moravian Sons Distillery

Author Sarah Geddes pens Henry the Sneezing Dragon

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 13:03:07 -0400

Life as a dragon should be amazing. You can soar across the sky and breathe fire. However, when you are a young, clumsy dragon who sneezes fire at all the worst moments, it makes life a little challenging. Desperate to make friends and finally feel accepted, Henry takes off across the savanna, but trouble seems to follow him at every turn. Summary for To the Moon: A Jacob and Trevor Adventure
Jacob and Trevor are brothers and the best of friends. They have avid imaginations and love to play make-believe. Their favorite thing is playing on their saucer swing and pretending to fly to the moon. One day when Jacob loses a tooth, the tooth fairy comes - but she has run out of money and decides to leave fairy dust instead. The boys use the fairy dust to go on an adventure of a lifetime! Bio: Sarah Geddes is a 6th grade Language Arts teacher. She has taught middle school in a virtual setting since 2007 and loves to help students explore the world and their imagination through books. She has two boys (ages 5 and 7) who love to cuddle up and read. Watching their eyes light up when turning the page of a book has inspired her to put her own stories down on paper. Listen in to win a signed copy of Henry the Sneezing Dragon. Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent. Emma Blogs, LLC. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024.

correction to Being Restored giveaway

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 15:55:14 -0400

The first listener who emails Phyllis Ewing with subject line book podcast giveaway will get a signed copy of Being Restored. The correct email address is phylje12@gmail.com

gr_Interview_with_Phyllis_20240807_141940

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 13:02:22 -0400

Author Phyllis Ewing pens novella Being Restored about her passion for restoring AG and MAC dolls. The correct email address for the podcast giveaway of Being Restored by Phyllis Ewing is phylje12@gmail.com

Author Summer Porter pens A Mouse Tail on Mackinac Island II

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 07:28:02 -0400

This delightful "Squeak-quel" to A Mouse Tail on Mackinac Island illustrated by Maggie Chambers takes the mouse family on a vacation to the one and only historic Grand Hotel. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of the book.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

Authors Emma Palova and Ingar Rudholm invite you to the 49th Lake Odessa Art in the Park

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 19:26:57 -0400

Being a part of the Michigan Authors group on Facebook, we take pride in attending the Michigan Arts and Crafts shows around the state. Meet authors Emma and Ingar at the 49th Lake Odessa Art in the Park on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Emma will be in booth #122, and Ingar will be in the children's area.

Listen to what to expect at these shows, which are unique to each community. No two shows are the same. Marketing guru Ingar advises newbie and Indie authors with tips from shows and friends.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

The Bluestocking Bookshop offers used books

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 13:00:01 -0400

Aimee Chipman opened The Bluestocking Bookshop located in Holland in September of 2019 after being a known avid reader all her life.

"I've always been a nerd for books and authors," Aimee said.

She is passionate about education through reading and keeping books accessible to all, regardless of age, income, or education level.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

Author Jean Davis pens One Shot at the Sphinx

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 09:55:33 -0400

Let the games begin...

This novella will draw you into the magic of the Narvan series.

The enemy of her enemy might be just the tool Anastassia Kazan needs to remove the Jalvian invaders from the Verian space station she calls home. Working out a treaty between the Jalvians and the Verian people was the highlight of Anastassia Kazan’s military career.

Just when station life seems to be settling into a tolerable accord, a spy from the Jalvian’s enemy shows up to take advantage of her hard work and threatens the precarious peace with his very presence. It’s only fair, as a spy for the Verian army, that she uses him in return.

Listen in for a chance to win The Shot at the Sphinx.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent.

Author Stefanie Gilmour pens Fear the Wolf

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 13:56:43 -0400

It's going to get GROWLY in author Stefanie Gilmour's first book in the Alex Steward series.

From the moment she shifted into a werewolf, Alex was terrified. First, of the man who attacked her—then of the creature within her.

Alex wants to build a life in Hopewell, but she struggles to keep her savage passenger caged. If her inner wolf breaks free again, people could die, and she’ll be the one hunted.

For help, she relies on her best friend Emma, a wizard and the only person she trusts with her secret. But Emma has her own secret: Mitch. He’s twisting her into someone unrecognizable…and he may be harming other vulnerable supernatural citizens.

To save Emma, Alex must make alliances with wizards and werewolves alike, face the Committee, unravel deadly conspiracies, and confront her own worst fear—herself.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Fear the Wolf.

Sponsored by Moravian Sons Distillery and Doc Chavent

Author Wade Walker pens Bite of the Wolf

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 08:18:08 -0400

Author Wade Walker’s first book is a mix of horror and espionage inspired by James Bond, and secret agents. The main character secret agent Val West finds himself bitten by a werewolf, and he must unravel the deadly secrets of the werewolf that bit him. Will he stop this mysterious monster’s diabolical plans in time and find a cure? Will the building romance between agent Val West and archaeologist Tanya Nimble live or die?

“It’s kind of like WikiLeaks when the files were decrypted,” Walker said in a recent podcast interview on For the Love of Books Podcast show with host author Emma Palova.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Moravian Sons Distillery.

Listen for a chance to win a signed copy of Bite of the Wolf.

Author Jessica Hartsfield pens debut book The Kingdom of Orion

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 10:53:28 -0400

In part one of The Sisters Three saga, Esme Halle thought she had finally found peace. Creating a life in Avalon on the continent of Mar, she had worked hard to distance herself from her sordid past in the neighboring Kingdom of Orion. So hard in fact that she could barely recall any memories of her previous life, and she preferred it this way. Now all of the secrets she had kept hidden so deeply even from herself, may be the only key to saving everything she holds dear. The sisters three, Esme's name for her mother and aunts, have brought the kingdom of Orion to its knees, information has grown scarce, and her dreams show her the past is the key to all.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Kingdom of Orion.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Moravian Sons Distillery

Modern History Press publishes U.P. Reader Volume #8

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 17:09:33 -0400

“It's the perfect gift for Father's Day. Don’t give your father, The World’s Greatest Dad mug, or a barbecue apron. He doesn’t care. He needs something else to feed his brain,” Victor Volkman, senior editor at Modern History Press said in the newest episode of For the Love of Books Podcast on Thursday.

Give him U.P Reader Volume #8 instead. The hefty publication with a beautiful cover photo of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore between Munising and Grand Marais is filled with fiction and non-fiction stories, essays, poetry, memoirs, humor, and history.

It’s 181 pages long with historical archive photos and includes six stories from the winners of the annual Dandelion Cottage contest from all of the UP’s participating schools.

“It feels very solid and very significant,” said Volkman. “This is the biggest it’s going to get, ever. We’ve expanded it with the first, second, and third-place winners of the contest. Kids like to write long.”

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of U.P. Reader Volume #8

Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Author J.D. Austin pens debut novel The Last Huck

Fri, 31 May 2024 16:03:54 -0400

In his debut novel The Last Huck, author J. D. Austin tells the stories of cousins Jakob, Niklas, and Peter Kinnunen who have inherited a family farm in Michigan’s U.P. The cousins spent their childhood playing together on the berry farm on Keweenaw Peninsula, and now they’re older facing major challenges in their lives.

Jakob goes to prison, while Niklas goes bankrupt in the recession of 2008.

When Uncle Jussi dies young, the crux of the story evolves around the major issue they face; Are they going to sell the land out of necessity?

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Last Huck.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Author Tyler Tichelaar pens time travel fiction Odin's Eye

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 12:01:49 -0400

In Odin's Eye: A Marquette Time Travel Novel “John” has a problem. He doesn’t know his real name. He doesn’t know where he’s from. He’s not even sure if he’s in the right time.

"He wants to wear a t-shirt and shorts," Tichelaar said in a recent podcast interview. "But they didn't wear that in the 1900s."

When John is found unconscious at the Huron Mountain Club and brought back to Marquette, Michigan to recuperate, everyone assures him it’s the year 1900, but somehow John’s memories of automobiles, televisions, and other modern devices seem to suggest he doesn’t belong in this time. Soon several people are trying to help John regain his memory from his teenage friend Hugh Allen to Marquette’s most prominent businessman, Peter White. But despite how many times John walks around Marquette, and no matter how many people he talks to, he can’t seem to remember anything and no one recognizes him. Then Hugh suggests John accompany him and his friend Howard Longyear on a canoe trip to the Huron Mountain Club. That way John can visit the place where he was found unconscious and see if it triggers his memory. Desperate for answers, John agrees to return there, but he is hardly prepared for what will happen next.

Listen in to win a signed copy of Odin's Eye.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines

Author Melinda Falgoust pens Church Da Surfin' Staffy

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 14:13:28 -0400

In her children's book Church Da Surfin' Staffy, author Melinda Falgoust tells the story of a real-life therapy dog Chuch, whom she met while visiting her favorite island Maui.

"I saw a dog surfing on a surfboard with a young child," she said in the podcast interview. "I followed the owner and asked if I could tell Church's story."

Once there was a tiny pup who needed a good home-born on Maui island where the ocean waters foam. When a lonely puppy named Church finds his "fur-ever" home on a surfboard with a man named James, life is pretty maika'i. But when the local surf pup earns his official service animal rating and works to help other people overcome their fears-it gets even better.

Listen in to win a signed copy of Church Da Surfin' Staffy, along with an adorable plush.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines

Author Tim Doppel pens The Wind That Did Not Blow

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 15:20:50 -0400

Happy Easter from For the Love of Books Podcast with host author Emma Palova. In The Wind That Did Not Blow, author Tim Doppel transports readers to a time and place of great turmoil and faith and will be captivated by the lives of three characters as they face unexpected revelations and come together in the name of love. Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines sponsor the new Apple Podcast subscriber episode. Listen in to win a signed copy of The Wind That Did Not Blow. Copyright (c) 2024. Emma Palova. All rights reserved.

Author Jennifer Raines pens romance Masquerade

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:48:37 -0500

Happy International Women's Day from all of us at the For the Love of Books Podcast show hosted by author Emma Palova, and sponsored by Doc Chavent and Australian author Jennifer Raines. On this great holiday dedicated to women around the globe, the show is proud to present two great romance authors Jennifer Raines and Karin Beery.

In Masquerade, the main character Kate uses a disguise to prevent an old boyfriend from finding her. Liam was conned by his ex-lover who was working for the opposition. A masquerade, a road trip, a steamy attraction, and Liam and Kate discover the steps they took to protect their hearts might break them.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and author Jennifer Raines

Author Karin Beery pens rom-com Finally Forever

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 15:36:42 -0500

Beery penned her fifth book Finally Forever about how winning the dance competition could land Caroline her dream job but at the cost of her heart.

So, relax and listen in for a chance to win signed copies of books from these romance authors.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and author Jennifer Raines

Author Mikel B. Classen pens action adventure The Alexandria Code

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:36:59 -0500

Classen's first novel started with a one-word prompt: Crystal. Find out how a short story writer takes a one-word prompt to a 256-page action-adventure fantasy novel Indiana Jones style.

The main character Isabella Carter is an archaeologist who is on the brink of discovery about how some ancient artifacts could change the future destiny of mankind. Unfortunately, there are evil forces led by the mysterious billionaire Lazarus Fane who are hellbent on suppressing and destroying the knowledge of the ancients.

Can Dr. Carter, her grad students, and reluctant adventurer Aiden McKenzie recover and decipher the Alexandria Code before the massive manhunt closes in? Join her on a trek that leads from Sault Ste. Marie to South America.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed hard copy of The Alexandria Code.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Lowell author Cynthia Beach pens The Surface of Water

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 10:52:17 -0500

Cynthia Beach is a longtime professor of Creative Writing and author of Creative Juices for Writers and the novel The Surface of Water. Her articles, short stories, and contributions appear in newspapers, journals, and books like Hope in the Mourning, which is Zondervan's grief bible.

Her novel tackles the complex theme of the celebrity status of megachurch pastor Matthew Goodman who is challenged by a 25-year-old new hire Trish Card in ways that awaken him.

Author Jessica K. Foster pens Andy and the Extroverts

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 11:47:57 -0500

When an introvert winds up at a summer leadership camp, it's a comedy of errors and a romance she'll never forget. Seventeen-year-old bookish Andy has no friends.

When her over-involved mother dares to ship her off to summer leadership camp, she's thrust into an introvert's nightmare.

Everyone is a Communicator with a capital C, icebreaker activities are scheduled into every waking moment, and horror of all horrors: there's no coffee. Even the girls who take her under their wing are the self-assured people Andy could never dream of becoming.

Then she meets Lucas—hot, attentive, and everything Andy reads about in her books. Though the girls in her cottage try to warn her about him, she's swept into the first romance of her life. But when she discovers her friends may be right, she'll have to find her inner confidence to save her summer and become the leader she was always meant to be.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Andy and the Extroverts

Sponsored by Doc Chavent

Author Marie LaPres pens Beyond the Fort

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 21:59:03 -0500

In Marie LaPres' young adult fiction Beyond the Fort, the main character Christine Belanger has always loved learning about the past. Still, she may get more history than she bargained for when she finds herself at Colonial Michilimackinac in the year 1775. In the past, Christine meets fellow time travelers, Henri and Jacques, French fur traders, and British soldiers.

She quickly learns that the tensions are high between the French and British, and Henri and Christine uncover the plot of a British Leftenant who plans to eradicate all French settlers in the Mackinac Straits area. It's up to Christine and Henri to save the settlers, and possibly change the course of history. Can Christine and Henri outwit Lewis and save the fort? Will Christine be able to survive Colonial America without all of the amenities she is used to…especially her cell phone?

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Beyond the Fort.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent.

Author H. William Ruback pens Scribe: The Apprentice

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 21:08:02 -0500

In an age where magic and the wizards that wielded that power, have faded into disputed myth. The Darkness and the evil it shrouds is an all too real presence.

Young Gareth has spent his life training, dreaming of following in his father's footsteps as the greatest warrior to have served the Crescent Lands.

Knowing the true horror of battle, his father has other plans for his son. He has used the last vestige of his political favor, to secure an apprenticeship for his son in the venerable Guild of Scribes.

The Order of Scribes has recorded every event since the dawn of history. They are present at every political or academic gathering. They walk the battlefields for every conflict. They are held in awe and feared at length: for no man truly wants history to speak ill of them. And in that way, their presence has altered the exact events they were sent to chronicle.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Scribe: The Apprentice

Author Jennifer DiVita pens Not Your Shoe Size

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 21:37:35 -0500

DiVita's debut novel tells the story of two opposite characters Julia and Colette who age from 10 to 100. “It’s a coming-of-age story told through vignettes,” DiVita said. “As women, we don’t have to play by the standards of an ageist society. Cosmetics is a multi-billion dollar industry.” Listen in to win a signed copy of Not Your Shoe Size.

Author Pamela Withrow pens memoir Madam Warden

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:11:16 -0500

Pam Withrow was an Indiana farm girl transplanted to Michigan. After a teen marriage and a stint on welfare, she graduated from college and began work with the Michigan Department of Corrections. Within seven years she was named the first woman to head a prison for men in Michigan. She then worked at the Michigan Reformatory in Ionia for 15 years. Madam Warden takes the reader with Pam as she moves through progressively responsible positions in the Michigan Department of Corrections, introducing you to the people who lived and worked in the institutions she managed. Evidence-based programs and the story of one prisoner who benefitted from cognitive restructuring are featured. Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Madam Warden. Sponsored by Doc Chavent

Author Kenneth Harmon pens In the Realm of Ash & Sorrow

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:27:51 -0500

When bombardier Micah Lund dies on a mission over Hiroshima, his spirit remains trapped in the land of his enemies. Dazed, he follows Kiyomi Oshiro, a war widow struggling to care for her young daughter, Ai.

Food is scarce, work at the factory is brutal, and her in-laws treat her like a servant. Watching Kiyomi and Ai together, Micah reconsiders his intolerance for the people he’d called the enemy. As his concern for the mother and daughter grows, so does his guilt for his part in their suffering. Micah finds a new reality when Kiyomi and Ai dream—one which allows him to interact with them. While his feelings for Kiyomi deepen, imminent destruction looms. Hiroshima is about to be bombed, and Micah must warn Kiyomi and her daughter.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of In the Realm of Ash & Sorrow.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent

Holiday Author Talk & Moravian Sons Liquor Tasting

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:46:25 -0500

Get into the holiday spirit this Saturday at The Book Nook & Java Shop in cozy Montague with four authors and four spirits.

The special holiday event organized by Written in the Mitten starts with author founder Ingar Rudholm talking about book descriptions, followed by Rudholm on memoirs and short stories, authors H. William Ruback and Marie Lapres.

Moravian Sons Distillery based in Lowell will offer free samples of 100 percent Michigan-made liquors and cocktails, available for purchase at the bar of The Book Nook.

Come and enjoy the spirit of the season on Dec. 16 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 8744 Ferry Street in downtown Montague.

Author Cassie Veselovsky creates sing-along Bingo Books

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:17:35 -0500

Making reading time a bit more musical with Bingo Books.

Author librarian Cassie Veselovsky makes reading time a bit more musical in her sing-along books for the five-year-olds and under crowd, and their grown-ups.

"I've taken my old rhymes and converted them into books," she said in the podcast interview.

A librarian of 40 years, Veselovsky also loves pairing books with readers to see the joy in kids' eyes when they say, "I loved the book."

In her sing-along books, Veselovsky matches up the rhymes with online purchased illustrations.

"Rhyming books are not easy," she said, "so they don't sound silly."

She would like to disperse a common misconception about her Bingo Books that they are like a bingo game.

"They're not a game," she said. "They're sing-along books with five-letter words."

Veselovsky will be at Winter Whimsy in Hartford on Dec. 8.

She has attended Reading Rocks in Rockford, hosted by the Rockford branch of the KDL system.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of 'Tis the Season."

Happy Holidays.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and author Ed Bentley.

NaNoWriMo special panel advises to keep on writing

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 14:35:27 -0400

Are you up to the 50k-word marathon challenge that starts on Nov.1 aka NaNoWriMo?

The NaNoWriMo special panelists suggest just keep on writing without any interruptions even if you hit the proverbial wall. Make November your writing month.

"This is my writing month," author Jean Davis said.

Davis will be participating in the 18th year of the challenge.

That sentence resonated with all the panelists because as Jane Smiley said,

"Every first draft is perfect because all the first draft has to do is exist. It's perfect in its existence. The only way it could be imperfect would be to NOT exist."

Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't punish yourself, and have fun. Enjoy the camaraderie.

"I try to keep the momentum going," author John Winkelman said.

The panelists are authors- Vera West, Emma Palova, Jean Davis, John Winkelman, Andrew Smith, and Ed Bentley.

Listen in for a chance to win some free E books, and mainly to win the challenge.

Sound editing and effects by Douglas Kelly of Evolve Solutions, LLC.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, Emma Palova, Ed Bentley, John Winkelman, and Andrew Smith.

Author Ed Bentley pens What a Way to Go! Death in Oshkosh in the 1880s

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 09:22:06 -0400

Author Ed Bentley's hobby as a researcher in genealogy led him to research early American artists and journalism in the 1880's. The writing enabled him to literally visualize the incredible loss of life as if it were happening in front of Ed at that moment.

"My intention in assembling these life-ending stories is to share the fascination with, and the appreciation for, journalism in the 1880s. Such a relief it is that our own future is hidden from us."

-Ed Bentley-

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Ed's book What a Way to Go! Death in the 1880s.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and authors Ed Bentley and Hilton Everett Moore.

UP author Hilton Everett Moore pens North of Nelson Vol. II

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 13:59:43 -0400

In his second book of short stories North of Nelson Vol. II, UP author Hilton Everett Moore explores themes that most authors will not touch; Moore exposes stories of incest, lust, love, and hate all set in the rugged terrain of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The five stories include "The Cell Tower," "The Ditch Dog," "Ode to a Lone Wolf," "A Beast Called Fate," and "Lust and Lightning."

Author Sue Harrison has written the following review: North of Nelson should be read slowly, savoring the quirky characters, the poetry of the words, and the odd fierce stories. Hilton Everett Moore is far more than a regional writer. His words and stories place him in high literary circles indeed.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of North of Nelson Vol. II.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and authors Hilton Everett Moore and Ed Bentley.

Author Janice Afman pens memoir SariSari

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:05:39 -0400

Jan Afman spent 10 years in Taiwan and six years in the Philippines during a difficult time in her life. She managed to write about it in her memoir SariSari many years later after processing her experience.

"It was hard to pry myself out of my comfort zone," she said. "I had to get over a culture shock."

However, she encourages people not to avoid difficult experiences since they are opportunities to grow.

"I learned to look for good things each day," she said. "I learned about growing from not being a happy camper to contentment."

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of SariSari.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, authors Hilton Everett Moore and Ed Bentley.

Grim Paradise: The Cold Case Search for the Mackinac Island Killer

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 13:15:53 -0400

In his fourth true crime book Grim Paradise: The Cold Case Search for the Mackinac Island Killer author Rod Sadler offers an in-depth account of the brutal murder of Frances Lacey on Michigan's Mackinac Island in 1960.

So, why would anyone commit a murder in this paradise on earth?

"Well, it depends on who you ask," Sadler said during the podcast interview.

The city officials think it was somebody who lived on the island; the island folks think it was an insurance job and others think it could have been a young serial killer who moved on in his "criminal career."

Sadler went through a 2,000-page police report and interviewed the islanders who remembered the atmosphere; however, nobody mentioned what happened with the evidence items taken off the victim's body.

Will new DNA technology help identify the Person of Interest in the Mackinac Island cold case?

Embark on a journey with Sadler for a detailed look into the murder of Frances Lacey.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Grim Paradise: The Cold Case Search for the Mackinac Island Killer.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, authors Hilton Everett Moore and Ed Bentley.

Author Rich Nelson pens This Tender Man - My Father’s Story

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 15:16:22 -0400

In his memoir, This Tender Man-My Father's Story Nelson explores the journey of an ordinary man caught up in the extraordinary circumstances of war. "My father nearly died of malaria in the jungles of WWII New Guinea" is the opening line of the book.

Woodrow F. Nelson served in the U.S. Army's 1462nd Engineer Maintenance Company in the tropical Pacific during WWII, coming home damaged by war but committed to leaving the war behind and going back to work, starting a family, and serving his community.

However, like many veterans, he never shared any of the war stories with his son. Author Rich Nelson embarked on a journey to find out about his father's experience.

The book also delves into Muskegon's colorful historical and cultural tapestry.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of This Tender Man-My Father's Story.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, and UP author Hilton Everett Moore

Author Michael Farrell pens When Perfection Isn’t Perfect

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:56:16 -0400

Find one good thing a day..........

Farrell's inspirational memoir touches all who feel they are broken, alone, have no hope in their future, and those who seek a true purpose for their life.

The story starts with Farrell's crippling childhood anxieties to a desire to end the author's life after believing there was no future or purpose for his life.

"If you look for bad things you will find them," Farrell said.

Then after a divine encounter, Farrell turned the corner and sought one good thing a day. His sports participation and an eventual perfect national collegiate football record stand today as a testament to the amazing blessings God provides in life.

"This memoir was a way to thank my family, friends, and teammates who've helped me," he said.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Farrell's new book.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, and UP author Hilton Everett Moore.

Poetess Preethi Saravanakumar pens ”A Mirage of Golden Glitter”

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 06:19:23 -0400

In "A Mirage of Golden Glitter," author Preethi Saravanakumar paints a breathtaking tapestry of reflections.

This book is more than just a collection of poems; it's a voyage that resonates deeply, guiding readers to introspect, celebrate their authenticity, and cherish the shimmering threads of wisdom that weave the fabric of their lives.

A captivating symphony of emotions, wisdom, and self-discovery.

Even if the poems have difficult themes, they always have a good light-hearted ending, according to Preethi.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of A Mirage of Golden Glitter.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger. Together we've been bringing you stories for 150 years.

Author Jan Leland pens debut novel ”After the Before-Times”

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 19:19:23 -0400

In her debut novel After the Before-Times, author Jan Leland portrays the story of seven people, who end up together at an inn on a lake in Michigan during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They find friendship, hardship, and ultimately resilience together.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of After the Before-Times.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

Come to the 50th Island Art Fair in Grand Ledge

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 15:20:38 -0400

Bring Joy and Love to the Island Fair. There will be no sad faces.

Be a part of history, as this epic fair, run by volunteers only, celebrates 50 fantastic years on the island on July 29, 2023. What better way to make up for the missing Covid year and to enhance this year's celebration than to add 50 new vendors for a total of more than 180 vendors?

"They put a little light into this dark time," said event producer Stephene Lapp.

Twenty Michigan Authors will be located both on the island and at the ballfield. Don't miss out on this opportunity to get a signed book by a live author. And food trucks are back.

Find out more about the island's fascinating history in this action-packed episode with Lapp of Ledge Craft Lane.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

Author hiker Joan Young completes 4,800-mile NCT trail

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:41:14 -0400

Joan Young is a long-distance hiker and prolific author, blogger, and avid photographer. She has conquered the North Country Trail (NCT) twice which is an unprecedented feat. She finished hiking the NCT on June 18, 2023, at Timber Creek after 18 months and 18 days on the trail averaging 13.2 miles per day.

Here is an excerpt from Joan's adventures on the trail.

The heat was brutal. But I was walking along the Garrison Diversion canal at the time and I kept pouring water over my head. On the hottest day, I did 18 miles, but I had to do a shorter day the next day because I was so worn out. Then I started getting up and hiking at the crack of dawn so I was pretty much done before the temp hit 100 around 2 in the afternoon.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger, edited by Douglas Kelly of Evolve Solutions

Author S. W. Raine pens The Elemental’s Guardian

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 19:28:20 -0400

Canadian-born author S. W. Raine has written The Elemental's Guardian, which is the first book in The Elementals Trilogy, during NaNoWriMo.

Everything changed the day he ran into her with his jet thousands of feet in the sky.

Freelance pilot Ferenc Janos's life is turned upside down when Olivia Gillies, a woman who can control air and travel through lightning, tells him he's the guardian of the air elemental. Around the same time as her sudden arrival, masked figures have been appearing around the city with the ability to summon and control strange creatures. Their target? The homeless girl who happened to steal his wallet.

Listen in for the details of the book giveaway.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

Fantasy author pens romance novel Assassinating the Godslayer

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 08:19:33 -0400

A polygamous author, Jacob Bullen has delved into the romance genre from a fantasy point of view in his newest release Assassinating the Godslayer.

After her plan to assassinate Harker the Dragon Slayer fails, Audra must grow close to him, intimate even, to find his truest weakness. Can she ignore her growing feelings for the man whose saddened gaze mirrors her own? Will she succumb to the embers of passion, or will they both burn in the flames of vengeance?

He is most passionate about his family and often leaves secret references to his wife and daughter in his work. Bullen is currently penning several novels in different genres while working to finish his established series.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of Assassinating the Godslayer.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

Michigan Authors at Lakeshore Art Festival Part 2

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 17:05:19 -0400

Lakeshore Art Festival Part 2

Come join us this weekend in downtown Muskegon for the Lakeshore Art Festival (LAF) on June 24 & June 25.

Listen to part 2 of the special episode about Michigan Authors at LAF. More than 20 authors will be participating in this unique event.

Lakeshore Art Festival Intro Part 1

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 16:55:17 -0400

Lakeshore Art Festival comes to Muskegon Part 1

This is part I of the special episode about the Lakeshore Art Festival (LAF) in Muskegon on June 24 &25 with authors Emma Palova and Jean Davis. For complete info about participating authors go to part 2. Come to Author's Alley on Clay St. & 4th this weekend to meet your next favorite read.

Author Chloe Holiday pens Fly Boy

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 16:07:34 -0400

Author Chloe Holiday's Fly Boy is the second book in the All-American Boy series.

"The book had to have a boy in the title, but all the good ones, like Lover Boy, had been taken," Holiday said. "I am a pilot so I wanted to bring a little bit of sky to people."

There's conflict in the air...

Tricia Carlisle returns to Texas to settle her beloved grandmother’s estate, only to find that foreclosure looms. Her hopes for an easy solution—selling the family’s crop duster—are dashed when Travis Walker, her high school sweetheart-turned-enemy, claims he had a handshake deal with Nana to buy the plane.

Listen in to the episode for a chance to win a signed copy of one of Holiday's books.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, and author Larry Maley

Evolve Solutions principal Douglas Kelly offers voice acting for audio books, comedy improv

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 12:02:50 -0400

Douglas Kelly of Lowell has been a partner at Evolve Solutions since 2002 when the company was founded. Evolve Solutions is an experienced web design and development firm, specializing in website design, marketing strategy, eCommerce application installation, and Internet business development.

Currently the principal at Evolve Solutions, he directs web development and consults on everything from social marketing to user interface design. Evolve Solutions has created and collaborated on hundreds of internet and intranet projects for small firms to multi-billion dollar corporations.

Kelly also offers voice acting for audiobooks, as well as tips on marketing strategy for authors.

"I would recommend Clubhouse to authors to talk about their books," Kelly said.

Kelly has acted in a series of old-time radio dramas bound for YouTube. He has recently been featured in a documentary slated for streaming media. Douglas has done a series of comedy improv events hosted on a social media application called Clubhouse.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, and author Larry Maley

Shining new U.P. Reader Volume 7 released

Fri, 26 May 2023 14:04:52 -0400

Just in time for the unofficial opening of summer, U.P. Reader hit the stands with its shining new volume 7 graced by the beautiful cover of a mining shaft at Painesdale on the Keweenaw constructed in 1902.

The hefty annual publication takes you on a road trip across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from the Mackinac Bridge to Menominee with nonfiction and fiction pieces by UP authors who embody the life of a Yooper.

“Yoopers are born, not made,” said publisher Victor Volkman. “That’s why I can never be a Yooper.”

The 60 short works in the issue span the entire Upper Peninsula and include imaginative fiction from young winners of the Dandelion Cottage contest.

The cover is by author Mikel Classen.

Listen in for a chance to win a copy of U.P. Reader, Vol. 7

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger

Author Hilton Everett Moore pens North of Nelson short stories collection

Fri, 26 May 2023 09:02:58 -0400

In his North of Nelson anthology of short stories, author Hilton Everett Moore skillfully captures the heart of Michigan's Upper Peninsula with its unique characters.

"The very area is a character," he said. "The land expresses itself. It makes my stories work."

Moore lives in a cabin in a remote area of Baraga County and transforms the ruggedness of the U.P. in his magnificent six short stories which have a common thread.

"Each short story has a moment in time," he said.

The protagonists, the Martins, are featured in each story as they accompany each individual character.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of North of Nelson.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger.

Author Wendy Thomson pens The Man from Burnt Island

Thu, 27 Apr 2023 18:06:04 -0400

In her historical fiction novel The Man from Burnt Island, author Wendy Thomson weaves the family story into the tapestry of Detroit's rich history during the Great Depression, Prohibition, World War II, and the booming automotive industry starting in the 1950s and beyond.

It was a tough life for the Scottish Sharp family at the turn of the twentieth century. Coal miners, they were exempt from the World War I draft. Frank, the fourth of five sons, was the only one that went off to war. Luckily, he survived the trenches, only to return to poor job prospects and poorer wages. When most of the family sailed across the Atlantic in search of a better life, Frank stayed behind for a while... for a little too long, it so happened.

What Frank sacrifices to achieve material and career success takes its toll on his family and personal life. After all is said and done, this is the saga of a determined and ambitious man who was hell-bent on leaving his poverty-stricken past behind.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of The Man from Burnt Island.

All April episodes sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger, author Jen Rinaldi

AuthorJen Rinaldi pens One Day Closer to Death

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 10:26:51 -0400

In her debut book, author Jen Rinaldi tells the story of a cancer survivor Alex, who almost dies on the operating table. While she lingers between heaven and earth, she hears a voice that beckons her to stay, only to lose that voice when she is brought back, feeling as though she is missing more than her breast.

After Alex recovers, she takes a vacation while delivering the artwork for her boss. It is then that she hears a mysterious voice connected to the SUV that she has rented. Alex and 'Bec' as the voice asks her to call him, set out on a cross-country adventure that involves a jewel heist and an evil stalker who will attempt to kill Alex for the artwork she carries. Will Bec save Alex from the evil that is pursuing her?

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of One Day Closer to Death.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent, The Lowell Ledger and author Jen Rinaldi

Author Mandy Jo Rindhage pens A StormyTravel Thru Time

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 08:30:32 -0400

Drawing on her knowledge of family ancestry combined with historical fiction, author Mandy Jo Rindhage creates a time travel novel inspired by real-life characters, great grandfather Heinrich and great uncle Gustav.

"A Stormy Travel Thru Time has multiple time hops each is when a storm crops up," Mandy Jo said. "They're trying to get to Saginaw, Michigan."

Rindhage is a multi-genre author who has no trouble switching gears between a fitness book, fantasy, and historical fiction.

The real challenge in the book was aging all the characters appropriately, according to Rindhage when they crossed paths on different occasions.

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of A Stormy Travel Thru Time.

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger