UPPAA

Maryka Biaggio at the U.P. Notable Book Club
2022-03-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | Zoom
Join us at the U.P. Notable Book Club on zoom for an evening with Maryka Biaggio as she talks about her book Eden Waits: A Novel Based on the True Story of Michigan’s Utopian Community, Hiawatha Colony
HOW TO JOIN: Please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by email: egathu@uproc.lib.mi.us, or by phone (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.

Mikel Classen at the U.P. Notable Book Club
2022-04-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us at the U.P. Notable Book Club on zoom for an evening with Mikel B. Classen as he talks about his award winning book Points North: Discover Hidden Campgrounds, Natural Wonders, and Waterways of the Upper Peninsula
HOW TO JOIN: Please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by email: egathu@uproc.lib.mi.us, or by phone (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.

Mary Doria Russel at the U.P. Notable Book Club
2022-05-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us at the U.P. Notable Book Club on zoom for an evening with Mary Doria Russel as she talks about her book The Women of the Copper Country
HOW TO JOIN: Please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by email: egathu@uproc.lib.mi.us, or by phone (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.

UPPAA Spring Conference
2022-06-04 09:30 - 17:00
Peter White Public Library
The UPPAA Spring Conference is always free to active UPPAA members.
Contact Brandy Thomas, UPPAA recording secretary <uppaa.membership@gmail.com> to confirm that your UPPAA membership has been renewed for 2022.

UPPAA Fall Picnic
2022-09-10 12:00 - 15:00 | Presque Isle Park, Peter White Drive, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Join us at beautiful Presque Isle Park in Marquette for an afternoon of socializing and networking with members of the Upper Peninsula Publishers & Authors Association.
Must be an active member to attend. Send your RSVP to Brandy Thomas, UPPAA recording secretary <uppaa.membership@gmail.com>

U.P. Notable Book Club - Great Lakes Monsters and Mysteries
2022-10-13 19:00 - 20:00
UP Notable Book Club presents a Q&A session with Brad Blair & Tim Ellis, authors of the award-winning 👽 “Great Lakes Monsters and Mysteries”
Dear Victor Volkman

UP Notable Book Club: the Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 22nd event is with Brad Blair & Tim Ellis whose Great Lakes Monsters and Mysteries continues their exploration of the bizarre and otherworldly in their latest book. The events are open to all U.P. residents free of charge. Read the complete review at U.P. Book Review.
When: Thursday, October 13th, 2022 at 7pm Eastern / 6pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
TIM ELLIS is a veteran paranormal investigator, who has traveled the country looking for the strange and weird, and in 1999 started the Upper Peninsula Paranormal Research Society with Brad Blair and Steve LaPlaunt. He is the co-host of Creaking Door Paranormal Radio, former host of TAPS Family Radio, co-founder of the Michigan Paranormal Convention, and co-author of the Paranormal hit books, Yoopernatural Haunts and Great Lakes Monsters and Mysteries. He has been featured in documentaries and numerous publications, including USA Today, The Detroit Free Press, and Lake Superior Magazine.

BRAD BLAIR is the co-host of Creaking Door Paranormal Radio, veteran paranormal researcher and author. In 1999 he founded the Upper Peninsula Paranormal Research Society with Tim Ellis and Steve LaPlaunt. Brad has investigated claims of paranormal activity across the US and other Countries, including England, and Cuba. He has contributed to numerous books and documentaries on the paranormal, has appeared in various publications, and is co-founder of the Michigan Paranormal Convention.
“In their latest book, Ellis and Blair expand their area of interest, stretching their paranormal research across the entire great lakes region, and enveloping more than just ghosts and cryptids. (A cryptid, for those who don’t know, is a creature for which there is no physical or scientific evidence, but still has people who believe it exists. The most popular of these being the Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot.)
“They take an approach with this book that makes it stand out from others I’ve read in the same genre, by mixing the historical research they’ve done with seemingly unbelievable tales. I’ve lived my whole life here and never heard some of the stories, which I really appreciated. I like being able to learn a little bit about the actual history of the area while I’m trying to scare myself silly.
“Did you know that there was a UFO sighting in the Upper Peninsula in 1953? It is known in those circles as the Kinross Incident and was widely reported at the time. Near Kinross Air Force Base in the Eastern U.P. something was seen in the sky and a fighter jet was scrambled to go find it. The pilot and plane were never seen nor heard from again. There are numerous sightings of ghost ships and haunted locations discussed in the book, but each one is introduced with historical research in regards to what was claimed to have been seen.”
Read the complete review by Brad Gischia at U.P. Book Review.
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com

About the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA)
Established in 1998 to support authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UPPAA is a Michigan nonprofit association with more than 100 members, many of whose books are featured on the organization’s website at www.uppaa.org. UPPAA welcomes membership and participation from anyone with a UP connection who is interested in writing.
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Q&A session with Karen Dionne author of the international bestseller The Wicked Sister
2022-11-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
UP Notable Book Club presents a Q&A session with Karen Dionne author of the international bestseller The Wicked Sister
UP Notable Book Club: the Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 23rd event is with Karen Dionne whose latest book The Wicked Sister is a psychological thriller and murder mystery that takes place in remote areas of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. These events are open to all U.P. residents free of charge.
When: Thursday, November 10th, 2022 at 7pm Eastern / 6pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
KAREN DIONNE’s award-winning novels set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula wilderness have been translated into dozens of languages and landed on bestseller lists around the world. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly calls The Wicked Sister “A devastating, magic realism–dusted psychological thriller… Dionne paints a haunting portrait of a family hurtling toward the tragic destiny they can foresee but are powerless to stop,” selecting it as one of the best books of the year. She comes by her knowledge of the U.P. wilderness by dint of her having built and lived in a cabin off-the-grid near St. Ignace for three years with her husband and infant daughter.
Karen has been active in the writing community for over twenty years. She co-founded the online writers community Backspace, organized the Backspace Writers Conferences in New York and the Salt Cay, Bahamas Writers Retreat, and served on the board of directors of the International Thriller Writers.
Her previous book, The Marsh King’s Daughter, was named a 2018 Michigan Notable Book, took home the Barry and the Crimson Scribe Awards for Best Novel, The Marsh King’s Daughter will soon be released as a movie starring Daisey Ridley (“The Force Awakens”) and Ben Mendelsohn.
“Karen Dionne is back with a dark, atmospheric and chilling tale set in the deep woods of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Beautifully written, The Wicked Sister moves seamlessly between past and present, unraveling the truth behind a family tragedy. From her insightful depiction of both the grace and bitter cruelty of humanity, to her command of the plot and pacing, Dionne’s brilliance shines through on every single page. Prepare to be blown away!”–Wendy Walker, bestselling author of The Night Before
“Fresh, truly original, and utterly unpredictable, Karen Dionne is at the top of her game with the gorgeously told The Wicked Sister. I devoured this book in one sitting! It’s hard to balance complex and heartrending familial relationships with pulse-pounding suspense, but somehow this book does exactly that. Propulsive and terrifying to the very shocking end!”–Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year
Karen Dionne does a masterful job of creating a mystery with plenty of twists…This is a must-read for mystery fans, or anyone with an interest in UP Michigan.”–Faribault Daily News ”
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com
About the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA)
Established in 1998 to support authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UPPAA is a Michigan nonprofit association with more than 100 members, many of whose books are featured on the organization’s website at www.uppaa.org. UPPAA welcomes membership and participation from anyone with a UP connection who is interested in writing.

Submission deadline for UP Reader #7
2022-11-15
About the U.P. Reader
The U.P. Reader is an annual publication that represents the cross-section of writers that are the membership of the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association. This annual anthology will be used as a vehicle to showcase and promote the writers of the Upper Peninsula. Each issue is released in paperback, hardcover, and eBook editions at the Spring membership meeting. Copies of the U.P. Reader will be made available to booksellers, UPPAA members, libraries, and news services. The U.P. Reader has received more media coverage this year since the inclusion of the Dandelion Cottage Award, We hope the U.P. Reader will be a great place for you to showcase original short works too!
Please read and follow the complete submission guidelines to contribute your story, poem or essay

U.P. Authors Holiday sale in L'Anse
2022-12-03 13:00 - 15:00 | L’Anse School Pubic Library, 201 N. Fourth Street, L'Anse, MI, 49946, United States
The L’Anse Public Library, 201 N. Fourth Street, will be hosting an author event on Saturday, December 3rd from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Several U.P. authors will be attending offering their books for sale and giving visitors a chance to chat with them. This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served and in keeping with the spirit of the season, guests are encouraged to wear their favorite “ugly” Christmas sweater.
Contact Terri Martin for information at terri4045@gmail.com or call the library at 906-524-6213

Meet Carole Hare author of The Legend of Kitch-iti-kipi, an Ojibwe story
2022-12-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
UP Notable Book Club: the Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 24th event is with Carol Hare whose first book The Legend of Kitch-iti-kipi presents an Ojibwe legend with a family connection. These events are open to all U.P. residents free of charge.
When: Thursday, December 8th, 2022 at 7pm Eastern / 6pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
CAROLE HARE graduated from high school in Manistique, Michigan and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in business education from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. She taught school for three years in Monrovia, Liberia, West Africa. She later received her master’s degree in counseling from Northern Michigan University. Carole worked as a counselor for twenty-seven years, twenty-three of those as a school counselor and teacher in Marquette Area Public Schools. After retiring, she moved back to Manistique to live near her elder father. She currently is employed as a child and family counselor at the Manistique Tribal Center and spends much of her free time researching and learning more about her Native American ancestors. She has two successful adult sons, two amazing daughters-in-law, and five adorable grandchildren who reside in Seattle, Washington, and St. Petersburg, Florida.
“The Legend of Kitch-iti-kipi, by Carole Lynn Hare, is a retelling of the eponymous myth as passed down through generations of Sault Ste. Marie Chippewa (Ojibwe) Indian band. The author, whose Native American name is Miskwa Anang Kwe, has an intimate connection to this legend. Although packaged in a slim 24-page chapbook format, The Legend of Kitch-iti-kipi tells a gripping story and includes several illustrations by Manistique-area artist Ryan Gilroy.
Kitch-iti-kipi is a natural, spring-fed lake about 12 miles north of Manistique, which is on the north shore of Lake Michigan. It also goes by names like “The Big Spring” or “Mirror of Heaven.” Two hundred feet across, the 40-foot deep Kitch-iti-kipi is Michigan’s largest freshwater spring; over 10,000 gallons a minute gush from fissures in the underlying limestone. The flow continues throughout the year at a constant 45 degree Fahrenheit.
This book is a great introduction to tribal lore for anyone interested in the history of the Ojibwe people in the Upper Peninsula. In particular, I would recommend the booklet for classroom use in any unit on Native American history and culture. It is my hope that this reinvigorated edition of the legend will find a new generation of young people called forth to learn more about the culture, whether or not it is their own heritage.” — Read the complete review at the U.P. Book Review.
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com
About the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA)
Established in 1998 to support authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UPPAA is a Michigan nonprofit association with more than 100 members, many of whose books are featured on the organization’s website at www.uppaa.org. UPPAA welcomes membership and participation from anyone with a UP connection who is interested in writing.

Amy Klco at Bayliss Library - Sault Ste Marie
2022-12-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Bayliss Public Librarry, 541 Library Drive, Sault Sainte Marie, MI, 49783, United States
Amy Klco is a teacher, writer, speaker, and owner of Enchantment Press. She will be reading stories from her latest book, a collection of speculative short stories, all focused on how we could make the future of the world a better place to be
December 8th
Bayliss Public Library
541 Library Drive
Sault Ste Marie, MI

Meet Sharon Kennedy — The SideRoad Kids: Tales from Chippewa County
2023-01-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
UP Notable Book Club: the Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 25th event is with Sharon M. Kennedy whose book The SideRoad Kids:Tales of Chippewa County presents stories of grade-school kids growing up in the rural U.P. of the 1950s. These events are open to all U.P. residents free of charge.
When: Thursday, January 12th, 2023 at 7pm Eastern / 6pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.

Meet Terri Martin, author of The Home Wind, for a live Q&A
2023-02-09 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us on Thursday, February 9th for a very special presentation by Terri Martin, author of “The Home Wind”

U.P. Reader #8 Submissions open
2023-06-01 08:00 - 17:00
Submissions for U.P. Reader #8 will be allowed between June 1st 2022 and Nov 15th 2023
Submission Guidelines

U.P. Notable Book Club - North of Nelson with Hilton Everett Moore
2023-06-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
UP Notable Book Club presents a Q&A session with Hilton Everett Moore about “North of Nelson: Stories of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – Volume 1”
UP Notable Book Club: the Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 28th event is with Hilton Everett Moore’s debut short story collection North of Nelson: Stories of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula – Volume 1. Follow the ups and downs of residents over a span of 150 years in a fictional small community somewhere in Baraga County in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Some have compared the series from Silver Mountain Press to a Michener saga, albeit on a smaller scale. You can enjoy the book in paperback, hardcover, eBook, and audiobook editions.
When: June 8th, 2023 at 7 pm Eastern / 6 pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone at (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
HILTON EVERETT MOORE is a published short story author who lives and writes at his remote cabin in the near wilderness of Baraga County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He has held many positions in his life including: a stint as a kennel man for a Humane Society, a factory worker, later as a certified pipe welder in the oil fields of West Texas, and also as an assistant manager of a lumber company. Ironically in a chapter he would like to forget, a gut-wrenching failed attempt at owning a restaurant. After a midlife crisis he went back to college and received a Master’s Degree in Social Work. Upon graduation, he was employed in the Michigan prison system as a Clinical Social Worker. Presently he enjoys writing in his cabin in the wilderness. He likes to fish with worms..
The short stories, such as “A Shotgun Wedding”, in North of Nelson are relatable to anyone. In this chapter, a woman felt forced to get married because of pregnancy and then found out she was not happy with the result. Many people have struggled when it came to pets and they were presented with problems that were not easily solved which was described in the chapter called “A Dog Named Bunny.” And the situation described in “The Irascible Pedagogue” is equally relatable. If only the protagonist had asked her to dance with him instead of getting cold feet, things would have turned out so much differently. That story reminded me of the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding with Julia Roberts. Julia’s character did a whole host of things to win back her friend and take him from the person he was going to marry.
I recommend this book because of the stories filled with touching moments about real-life situations and how the characters struggled to overcome their life challenges. Sometimes a problem took on a whole new life of its own without any solution. Moore provided the reader with the ramifications of many of the hardships the characters in his stories faced. I wanted to find out what was going to happen to the well-developed characters, individuals who resembled people I have met throughout my life. Moore brought to life the pain Nimkii experienced as a Native American woman and the pain of loneliness for a boy while he dealt with polio. I highly recommend North of Nelson, Vol. 1 if you want to learn more about life during The Depression, about life at the Baraga orphanage, and other experiences from the past concerning the characters from Moore’s book who lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. — read the full review by Sharon Brunner, U.P. Book Review
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com

About the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA)
Established in 1998 to support authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UPPAA is a Michigan nonprofit association with more than 100 members, many of whose books are featured on the organization’s website at www.uppaa.org. UPPAA welcomes membership and participation from anyone with a UP connection who is interested in writing. # # #

UPPAA Spring Conference
2023-06-10 09:30 - 17:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Schedule to be announced.
Always free-of-charge for current UPPAA Members!

U.P. Notable Book Club - "Dissecting Anatomy of a Murder" with Eugene Milihizer
2023-08-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
UP Notable Book Club presents a Q&A session with Eugene Milihizer about “Dissecting Anatomy of a Murder”
UP Notable Book Club: the Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 29th event is with Eugene R. Milihizer and his in-depth analysis of fact and fiction behind both the novel and movie Anatomy of a Murder. As a distinguished professor of law, Milihizer has unique insights to provide to the literary, legal, and cinematic dimensions of the story. The movie was famously filmed in both Ishpeming and Marquette, Michigan in an era when nearly all Hollywood productions were done on studio lots and sets. Milihizer captures rare recollections of this time in history in his book Dissecting Anatomy of a Murder, from Ave Maria Law Press. He was warmly received at Northern Michigan University during his book tour last year. Milihizer writes:
“I saw the film Anatomy of a Murder while in high school, and soon thereafter read the novel on which it was based. Anatomy was a major influence in my decision to attend to law school and my career as a lawyer. My latest writing project is a courtroom thriller entitled Searching for Lilly, which is an homage to the authenticity of John Voelker’s novel, and his capacity and willingness to confront the larger moral and ethical issues that often arise during a contested murder trial. Publication of my novel is expected by July 2023.”
When: August 10th, 2023 at 7 pm Eastern / 6 pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone at (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
DEAN EMERITUS EUGENE R. MILIHIZER participated in hundreds of appeals, tried scores of criminal cases, and served in multiple leadership positions as an Army Judge Advocate. For three years, he held a teaching appointment at the Judge Advocate General’s School at the University of Virginia. In 2001, he joined the Ave Maria faculty and his course of offerings have included Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law, National Security Law and Military Law. Dean Emeritus Milhizer has been an invited presenter at law schools across the country and his legal scholarship has been published in many prestigious law journals. In May 2006, he was appointed Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and in April 2009, he was appointed Acting Dean of the Law School. In January 2010, he was appointed the Law School’s second President and Dean, and he served in that position until his return to full-time teaching in the summer of 2014. During the summer of 2009, under his leadership, the Law School successfully accomplished the unprecedented feat of relocating from Michigan to Florida.
“The all-encompassing structure of Milhizer’s Dissecting Anatomy of a Murder makes it unique and a must-read for the Anatomy completist. Specifically, the book divides into three sections: the early life and career of lawyer John D. Voelker (pen name Robert Traver), a detailed comparison of the real-life case, the real-life story of how Lt. Coleman A. Peterson shot and killed tavern owner Maurice Chenoweth point-blank in Big Bay vs. the screenplay depictions of case materials, and lastly an intense legal analysis of the pivotal issues including the insanity defense, jury nullification, and the underutilization of voir dire (eliminating unqualified jurors).
Sprinkled throughout the copiously footnoted book are wonderful reminisces from John Voelker about his career both as a struggling lawyer and then as 16 years as prosecuting attorney for Marquette County. Voelker’s love for the rugged beauty and wilderness of the U.P. comes through his disdain for how the newly constructed Big Mac bridge would open up the U.P. to just about anybody and how carefully he hid his favorite trout fishing hole. Some of these reflections come to us through excerpts of his three prior unsuccessful novels and his extensive personal diaries which give us a rare look at the man behind the mirror. In one of life’s cruel ironies, Voelker was finally selected as a Michigan Supreme Court justice just weeks after Anatomy of a Murder became a New York Times Bestseller. This would have also solved his financial woes but at the cost of forsaking his beloved U.P.” — read the full review by Victor R. Volkman, U.P. Book Review
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com
About the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association (UPPAA)
Established in 1998 to support authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UPPAA is a Michigan nonprofit association with more than 100 members, many of whose books are featured on the organization’s website at www.uppaa.org. UPPAA welcomes membership and participation from anyone with a UP connection who is interested in writing.
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Fall Picnic 2023
2023-09-09 12:00 - 15:00 | Presque Isle Park, Peter White Drive, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Join us for the last hurrah of warm weather at Presque Isle Park just north of Marquette, Michigan.

U.P. Notable Book Club – Superior Voyage with Marty Achatz, Milton J. Bates, Lisa Fosmo, and Beverly Matherne
2023-10-12 19:00 - 20:00
UP Notable Book Club: The Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 31st event is with three of the members of the Marquette Poets Circle: Marty Achatz, Milton J. Bates, Lisa Fosmo, and Beverly Matherne as they talk about Superior Voyage, the group’s second anthology.The circle was formed in 2012 by Matt Maki, Claudia Drosen, and Janeen Pergrin Rastall to celebrate poetry and guide each member in finding his or her inner poet. In a true spirit of community, the circle has held workshops, Open Mic nights, and readings for more than a decade. Superior Voyage includes the work of no less than forty-two poets with each contributor fielding two to six entries.
When: October 12th, 2023 at 7 pm Eastern / 6 pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone at (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
(Left to Right: Marty Achatz, Milton J. Bates, Lisa Fosmo, and Beverly Matherne)
MARTY ACHATZ lives in Ishpeming, Michigan, with his wife and children. He has taught for NMU’s English Department since 1998. He holds a Master’s Degree in Fiction and an MFA in Poetry. His work has appeared in many journals, anthologies, the book-length collection The Mysteries of the Rosary, and two spoken word albums, Slow Dancing with Bigfoot and Christmas with Bigfoot. Marty served two consecutive terms as U.P. Poet Laureate and is currently President of the U.P. Poet Laureate Foundation. Marty is also the Adult Programming Coordinator for Peter White Public Library.
MILTON J. BATES is the author of books about the poet Wallace Stevens, the Vietnam War and the Bark River watershed in Wisconsin. His poetry includes the collection Stand Still in the Light (2019) and two chapbooks, Always on Fire (2016) and As They Were (2018). He lives with his wife, Puck, in Marquette, Michigan.
LISA FOSMO is an Upper Peninsula Michigan poet, from Escanaba. She has been published in various regional journals and anthologies of note. She currently serves as a judge for the National Poetry contests of the NSFPS, and is the newly elected Vice President of the U.P. Poet Laureate Foundation. She is the author of a full-length book of poetry Mercy is a Bright Darkness,, Golden Dragonfly Press (2023).
BEVERLY MATHERNE, 2023 and 2024 U.P. Poet Laureate, is professor emerita of English at Northern Michigan University and the author of seven bilingual books of poetry; her latest, Love Potions, Teas, Incantations. Beverly served in NMU’s Department of English as director of the Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing, director of the department’s visiting writing series, and poetry editor of Passages North literary magazine. Widely published, she has received seven first-place prizes, including the Hackney Literary Award for Poetry, and four Pushcart nominations. Widely traveled, she has done over 360 readings across the U.S., Canada, and France―and in Wales, Belgium, Germany, and Spain.
“…you might ask yourself, ‘But what is U.P. poetry?’. You wouldn’t be wrong to expect many of the typical themes to revolve around the majesty of Mother Superior, the fleeting glories of springtime, and the striking characteristics of the abundant wildlife of the region. You’ll also find traditional poetry topics including the celebration of love, laments of loss, and meditations on the universal human conditions. However, anything and everything is fair game for poetry including dinosaurs, Bigfoot, Marilyn Monroe, and current events like the war in Ukraine, and the continuing scars from covid-19. Sprinkled amongst the poems are also a number of short story vignettes which I found haunting and evocative like musical tone poems.
“In my opinion, poetry is most effective when it can provoke a reaction with a minim of words. Superior Voyage succeeds very well in that metric and should be imbibed slowly, like a fine draught of whisky. Whether your tastes lean toward celebration of the natural world, a humorous or ironic look at human foibles, or a deeper glimpse into a land that has formed its people as hard as the people have tried to form the land, there’s an enjoyable read for you in this Superior Voyage.” — Victor R. Volkman, Marquette Monthly.
You may also wish to read Tyler R. Tichelaar’s complete review at U.P. Book Review
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com

Authors Fair at Escanaba Public Library
2023-10-14 13:00 - 14:45
There is still time for authors to sign up for Local Author Fair event at the Escanaba Public Library, Saturday, October 14 at 1:00 – 2:45 p.m. Please review the following paperwork

Author Fair Guidelines / Application
Call for Authors to participate

U.P. Reader #8 - Submission Deadline
2023-11-15
November 15th 2023 is the last date you can submit your stories for U.P. Reader!

2024 U.P. Notable Books Award
2024-01-04 08:00 - 17:00
U.P. Notable Books Award
Only 10 books are going to make the final cut for the 2024 U.P. Notable Books Award!

UPPAA Spring Conference 2024
2024-05-18 09:30 - 16:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Join us at the Peter White Public Library for the 2024 UPPAA Spring Conference on May 18th 2024.

Spring Conference 2024 Schedule
Register now for Spring Conference 2024

U.P. Writers Symposium
2024-06-22 10:00 - 15:30 | Hessel School House, 3206 W. Cedar Road, Hesssel, MI, 49745, United States
HESSEL — Hessel School House — Avery Arts and Nature Learning Center will host an Upper Peninsula Writer’s Symposium on Saturday, June 22.
The full-day symposium offers a series of educational workshops that will ignite creativity and enhance writing skills. The event is hosted in partnership with the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association and is made possible from the support from Arts Midwest, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Upper Peninsula Writer’s Symposium is designed to provide a platform for writers of all skill levels to learn, grow and connect with fellow wordsmiths. Whether a budding novelist, a seasoned poet or simply someone who loves the written word, this event is catered to all creative needs.
One of the highlights of the symposium will be the keynote address by New York bestselling author Angeline Boulley.
Boulley is an enrolled member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, known for her captivating storytelling and profound cultural insights. “Firekeeper’s Daughter” was her debut novel. Her second book, “Warrior Girl Unearthed,” was released in summer 2023.
Boulley will share her journey as a writer and offer valuable advice to inspire and motivate attendees on their own writing paths.
In addition to the enriching workshops and an engaging keynote address, participants will also be provided with a delicious catered lunch, fostering networking opportunities and the chance to connect with fellow writers.
Registration is slated to open in March. Registration details and further information can be found at www.hesselschoolhouse.org

UP Notable Book Club: "Murder in Mackinac"
2024-07-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us the UP Notable Book Club to discuss a classic UP book, “Murder in Mackinac” by Ronald J. Lewis.
Description: Roy Nelson is a college professor who usually leads a peaceful and uncomplicated life, but becomes entangled in an ominous global plot that could alter the future of the world.
The plot is fictional, but based on actual historical mysteries that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
UP Notable Book Club: The Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List.
Where: on the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone at (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.

UP Notable Book Club: Who Am I?
2024-08-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us for a conversation with Julie Buchholtz, author of “Who Am I?”
“Who am I?” a young girl asks her mom as she snuggles close. “You are the fire that burns and the eagle that soars. You are the oak tree and the wild rose,” says momma. Written from an Indigenous perspective, Who Am I? tells the story of how we are all connected to our ancestors, our past and future, and the Earth–and how it is everyone’s duty to fend off darkness, connect to the past, offer safety and shelter, and color the world with beauty. An Own Voices, Own Stories Grand Prize winner.
UP Notable Book Club: The Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List.
Where: On the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone at (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.

UPPAA 2024 Fall Picnic
2024-09-07 12:00 - 15:00 | Presque Isle Park, Peter White Drive, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Join us for the annual UPPAA Fall Picnic at Ice Cream Store Pavilion — Presque Isle Park outside of Marquette on Saturday, September 7, from noon to 3 p.m.
More details to come…

UP Notable Book Club: The Great Seney Fire
2024-09-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
UP Notable Book Club presents a Q&A session with Greg Lusk about “The Great Seney Fire: A History of the Walsh Ditch Fire of 1976.“

Author and retired fire safety professional Greg Lusk was the Assistant Fire Boss for the many months of the 1976 Seney Fire. According to The Mining Journal: “All told, the fire spread over 72,500 acres during a period of record drought, requiring an interagency firefighting force of more than 1,200 firefighters from twenty-nine states to achieve containment. It burned until the winter snow extinguished it.”
GREGORY M. LUSK, a native Yooper, spent the long, dry summer of 1976 helping to suppress the largest, most costly forest fire that had burned in Michigan since 1908. In early August, he left his job in Marquette as a fire management specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to work as the assistant Fire Boss for the State. His experiences several years earlier in Vietnam as a platoon leader were as valuable as his degree in forestry from Michigan Tech and his extensive training in forest fire behavior. The leaves had fallen and the early winter snow was starting to arrive by the time he returned home to Marquette.
Long after he retired as the Upper Peninsula State fire supervisor in 1997, he dug out his news clippings, maps, and notes and began writing the history of the Great Seney fire. He was partly motivated by the aphorism that “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” with hopes that this account will help others remember this essential piece of Michigan history.
UP Notable Book Club: The Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List.
Where: On the Zoom platform — please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone at (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.

UP Notable Book Club: A Nostalgic Lens
2024-10-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us for a Q&A and discussion with Peter Murdock, author of A Nostalgic Lens.
A Nostalgic Lens is Wurdock’s sixth book. It is a black-and-white photo study complimented with short, poignant essays detailing his life in the Eastern Upper Peninsula since leaving Metro Detroit. His photos and short narratives illustrate how life in the UP with his beloved Greyhounds has been anything but mundane.
In the book he describes places he knows well but are not found in a travel brochure. These observations are beautifully and carefully woven with very few words leading readers to arrive at the universal conclusions about what makes life in the slow lane worth living.
UP Notable Book Club: The Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List.
Where: On the Zoom platform. To obtain the link, please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance by egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone at (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.

UP Notable Books: Sue Harrison & "The Midwife's Touch"
2024-11-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Zoom
UP Notable Book Club: The Crystal Falls Community District Library in partnership with the U.P. Publishers & Authors Association (UPPAA) has scheduled author events with winners of the UP Notable Book List. The 41st event is with EUP author Sue Harrison whose novels have sold more than two million copies and have been published in more than twenty-five countries and in thirteen languages. They have achieved bestseller status in the United States, Germany, Scandinavia, Spain, and Japan. Her first novel, Mother Earth Father Sky, was a “Publishers Weekly” national bestseller, an Amazon number one bestseller, and was selected as an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults.
Zoom Link: Please contact Evelyn Gathu in advance at egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org, or by phone at (906) 875-3344. We recommend you borrow a copy of these books from your local library or purchase from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
