UP Notable Book Club: Who Am I?
2024-08-08 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Detroit) | 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.

Book Club - Ellie and the Midwest Goodbye with Nikki Mitchell
2025-02-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us for UP Notable Book Club with host Evelyn Gathu and guest Nikki Mitchell as we discuss Ellie and the Midwest Goodbye

Book Club - Lumberjack: Inside an Era in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan – 70th Anniversary Edition
2025-03-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us for U.P. Notable Book Club where we discuss Lumberjack: Inside an Era in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan – 70th Anniversary Edition with granddaughter and editor Ann McGlotthlin Weller of this edition!

Book Club - Animals Out-There W-I-L-D: A Bestiary in English and ASL Gloss with Raymond Luczak
2025-04-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us for UP Notable Book Club with host Evelyn Gathu and guest Raymond Luczak as we talk about Animals Out-There W-I-L-D: A Bestiary in English and ASL Gloss

The Bards of Northern Michigan: Live Poetry Reading Event
2025-04-22 18:00 - 20:00 | Charlevoix Public Library, 220 West Clinton St, Charlevoix, MI, 49720, United States
The Bards of Northern Michigan: Live Poetry Reading Event at the Charlevoix Public Library
The readings will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at Community Room A+B
Join us at the library for a celebration of spoken word. Our keynote and emcee is Diego Báez. Some of our talented regional poets will also read from their published works. We will have light refreshments to enjoy. Poets will be available after the event to chat, sell, and sign books. No registration required.
Are you a published Northern Michigan poet that is interested in reading at the event? Please email a poem to reference@charlevoixlibrary.org by February 28th. A few poets will be selected to participate.
For more details, check the official event information page
Charlevoix Public Library
220 West Clinton St
Charlevoix, MI 49720
(231) 547-2651

Book Club - Michigan Indian Boarding School Survivors Speak Out with Sharon Brunner
2025-05-08 08:00 - 17:00 | Zoom
Join us for UP Notable Book Club with host Evelyn Gathu and guest Sharon Brunner as we discuss Michigan Indian Boarding School Survivors Speak Out

Friday Night Live - UPPAA Pre-Conference Networking, Social Mixer, and Open Mic Night
2025-05-16 06:00 - 21:00 | The Crib, 401 N. 3rd St., Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Join us for the much-lauded UPPAA Pre-Conference experience from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Crib, a cozy and comfortable coffeehouse with lots of seating located at 401 N. 3rd St. just steps from the Peter White Public Library. Members can pre-register for this event for $12/person or $15 in cash (only) at the door. You may bring a guest as well, but they will also have to pay to attend.
Downstairs: Appetizers, Drinks, and Networking
Light appetizers will be served, and a cash bar will be available. The cover charge helps defray the costs of appetizers and rental of The Crib. Appetizers will include Mini-Pasties from Irontown Pasties in Negaunee as well as other standard offerings such dip, meat & cheeses, veggies, and crackers all catered by the Northwoods Test Kitchen of Marquette.
In the downstairs, a wide variety of coffee, tea, and other non-alcoholic drinks will be available as well as a wide variety of local and imported beers and ciders. White wines will also be available. The downstairs area will be for casual networking—meeting new friends and old! The downstairs is handicapped accessible.
Upstairs: An Open Mic Night
The Open Mic night will be running on the 2nd floor starting at 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
Jodi Perras will be taking down names at the door, so please check in with her to participate.
Open mics allow poets and storytellers—both seasoned and emerging—to share their work in a
safe and welcoming space. Bring something you’ve already published or something you’re still
working on. We’ll provide a podium, lapel mic, and a friendly audience. You’ll provide your best
Yooper creativity.
All performance styles and genres are welcome including poetry, monologue, essay, short story, humor, singers/songwriters, and more. Please limit your piece or writing sample to 3–5 minutes (approximately 450–750
words). (We will have a timer!) Amplified sound will be provided for those who might be
hearing impaired. Note: the upstairs is not handicapped accessible

Young Writers Storytelling Workshop
2025-05-17 09:30 - 16:00 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Please visit our sister website https://storytellingworkshop.org for complete details!

UPPAA Spring Conference
2025-05-17 09:30 - 16:30 | Peter White Public Library, 217 N Front St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Mark your calendars for the 2025 UPPAA Spring Conference and simultaneous Young Writers Storytelling Workshop at the Peter White Public Library in downtown Marquette, Michigan. If you’ve never been to our Spring Conference, you’re in for a treat of not only smart, experienced, and helpful speakers but a one-of-a-kind fellowship and networking with your fellow yooper writers!
We have some dynamite speakers lined up:

Michael Carrier, author of more than 18 crime/thriller novels with U.P. connections will be our keynote speaker
How to Do Submissions for Poetry Anthologies with Michael Peach
How to Research Your True Crime Nonfiction with Rod Sadler
Addressing the Needs of Native Americans in Literature with Sharon Brunner
Creating Compelling Characters with Sue Harrison
21st Century Goals for Success for Writers and Readers with Sylvia Hubbard
Self-Publishing 101 with Tyler Tichelaar

Last but not least, we sure hope you can join us again for Friday Night Networking + Open Mic night. Our first ever Friday night event got rave reviews.
We’re revamping the Young Writer’s Storytelling Workshop to include a variety of afternoon breakout choices instead of the single-track we did in 2024 so it will be a completely new experience for the attendees in grades 5 to 12 from around the U.P. We’re still finalizing the speakers for this event.
Look for an announcement covering both events in detail in the Winter 2025 Newsletter to be published in late January 2025.

Afterglow - The Crow's Nest
2025-05-17 17:00 - 23:00 | The Landmark Inn, 230 North Front Street, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
Following the UPPAA Spring 2025 Conference will be an informal afterglow at The Crow’s Nest on the roof of the Landmark Inn across from the Peter White Public Library.
No registration necessary, just show up ready to party.
230 North Front Street, Marquette, MI 49855

Book Club - The Last Huck with J. D. Austin
2025-06-12 00:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us for UP Notable Book Club with host Evelyn Gathu and guest J.D. Austin as we discuss The Last Huck: A Novel

2nd Annual U.P. Writers Symposium
2025-06-21 | Hessel School House, 3206 W. Cedar Road, Hesssel, MI, 49745, United States
The Hessel School House is thrilled to announce the return of the Upper Peninsula Writers
Symposium, set to take place at the historic Hessel School House on Saturday, June 21, 2025!
This year’s event promises to be even more enriching, featuring an array of engaging breakout
sessions designed to ignite inspiration in aspiring authors and seasoned veterans alike. Whether
you’re looking to hone your craft, navigate the challenges of writing, or simply connect with fellow literary enthusiasts, this symposium is the perfect opportunity to elevate your writing journey.
While HSH is still finalizing the details, they encourage you to mark your calendars and stay
tuned for updates. Registration will open in early February, and given that last year’s event sold
out, they recommend securing your tickets as soon as they become available. Don’t miss out on
this chance to learn, network, and grow in the vibrant community of writers.
Cost: TBD
Date: June 21st
Location: Hessel School House, 3206 Cedar St, Hessel, MI 49745
To Register: Registration will open in early February. Details will be available at https://hesselschoolhouse.org/event/up-writers-symposium/

How to Hike the North Country Trail with Joan H. Young
2025-07-10 19:00 - 20:00 | MI
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 48th event features Joan H. Young, who became the first woman to hike the entire 4,400-mile North Country National Scenic Trail (NCT) in 2010. The NCT has now grown to over 4800 miles, and she hiked the whole trail again in 2023!
When: Thursday, July 10th, 2025 at 7 pm Eastern / 6 pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — 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 them from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
JOAN H. YOUNG has enjoyed the outdoors her entire life. Highlights of her outdoor adventures include Girl Scouting, which provided yearly training in camp skills, the opportunity to engage in a 10-day canoe trip, and numerous short backpacking excursions. She was selected to attend the 1965 Senior Scout Roundup in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, an international event to which 10,000 girls were invited. She rode a bicycle from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean in 1986 How to Hike the North Country Trail is a planning guide. She writes an award-winning outdoor column for the Ludington Daily News and Mason County Press. For the past 12 years, she has also written fiction, including short stories, mysteries, and mysteries for children.
Search Joan H. Young.

How to Hike the North Country Trail: not quite a Guide is intended to help hikers who desire to take a long hike on the North Country Trail (NCT) with planning. It covers the definition of National Scenic Trails and gives a history of the conditions under which the NCT was established. This history helps to explain why planning an NCT hike is more burdensome than for some other long trails. The bulk of the book is a geographical listing of legal places to camp and find lodging along the entire 4800-mile trail, including the type of campsite/lodging, amenities, fee/no fee, and manager/maintainer.
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com

Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence
2025-09-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
In a world increasingly shaped by AI-driven innovation, how do we navigate the complexities of copyright law? This presentation explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property, addressing pressing questions about authorship, ownership, and accountability. Through real-world case studies, legal insights, and ethical perspectives, we will examine the challenges and opportunities AI brings to creative industries. Join us as we discuss strategies for creators, businesses, and policymakers to adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape, fostering a fair and innovative future for all.
(Disclaimer: This description was created using an AI platform.)
For a Zoom invitation, please contact C. Daniel Miller
Dr. C. Daniel Miller is a co-founder and co-owner of Integrated Writer Services, LLC, which provides copyright consulting and clearance service. He formerly served as president of the Collective of Independent Publishers and Authors (CIPA), previously known as the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. Dr. Miller regularly speaks and conducts workshops on “Copyright Basics” and “Copyright in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.” These presentations are designed for authors, independent publishers, and other creative professionals.
In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Miller is working on a second edition of the award-winning Copyright Clearance for Creatives, which serves as a guide to copyright issues for the creative community. The new edition will include a section on copyright and artificial intelligence (AI).
Through his various roles, Dr. Miller contributes to the copyright literacy of individuals needed to help them ethically create and use copyrighted materials in the digital age.
https://thecopyrightdetective.com

U.P. Notable with Carol Schultz and the Story of Journey the Great Horned Owl
2025-10-09 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 51st event features Carol Schultz, the author of several beautifully illustrated children’s books about animals, both fiction and non-fiction. The Story of Journey: The Great Horned Owl follows the amazing true-life story of how a little Great Horned Owl was rescued and became a beacon of learning and conservation for a whole generation of children in Upper Michigan. Special guest Phyllis Carlson, the wildlife rehabilitator who worked with Journey for two decades, will provide additional background.
When: Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 7 pm Eastern / 6 pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — 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 them from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
CAROL L. SCHULTZ grew up in the beautiful Upper Peninsula, where she was the middle of 6 children in her family. In a neighborhood full of kids, there was always someone to spend time with outdoors. After marrying, raising children, and working outside of the home, she retired and found the time to write and paint (almost) as much as she would like to. She is a self-taught artist and author of children’s books. Her nature-inspired children’s books gave her the outlet to write and illustrate the wonderful area in which we live. The beauty of the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin, with its abundant wildlife, wooded areas, and multiple lakes and rivers, has always been an inspiration for her work. Winter is her time of year to create my artwork, with the summers spent outdoors as much as possible. It is her fondest hope that readers will enjoy her work and that it will inspire them to create their own.
“The Story of Journey, an informative picture book is great for the older end of the picture book range. It is great for kids who can listen to a little more detailed text and older elementary children who are already reading. The author did her research well and had input from an actual wildlife rehabilitator, which adds to the authority in the message. This reviewer was intrigued by the fact that baby owls roam the branches of the tree in which their nest is before they learn to fly. Relating this to a time frame—the fact that they are “branchers” in June and fly in July—helps readers understand how much longer owl parents work than some other types of birds.
The illustrations are also well researched for accuracy, adding as much to the information as the text. This reviewer especially liked the illustration of a rehabilitator’s gloved hand, and the straps used to secure a young owl while it is being held by a human. The pages about owl facts after Journey’s story were equally informative. Detailed illustrations and descriptions of an owl’s wings, talons, and hearing add much to any reader’s knowledge. Knowing hat owls can hear a mouse under the snow up to one-half mile away made this reviewer (who wears hearing aids) green with envy. We wish this author much luck and encourage schools, libraries, and parents to search for copies.”
— Deborah K. Frontiera, for UP Book Review
More information about the U.P. Notable Book list, U.P. Book Review, and UPPAA can be found on www.UPNotable.com

David Wogahn: Creating a Book Launch Timeline
2025-10-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
David Wogahn: Creating a Book Launch Timeline (Oct. 14, 7:00PM Eastern/ 6:00PM Central))Too many authors treat book marketing as an afterthought—but according to David Wogahn, it should be baked in from the start. In this session, Wogahn shares his proven Countdown to Book Launch® Timeline, designed to maximize visibility and sales during a book’s critical launch window.
With more than 400 books published through his company, AuthorImprints, Wogahn breaks down when and how to reach out to influencers, manage pre-orders through Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, and conduct comparative market research to improve positioning. Attendees will leave with a ready-to-use launch template that can be adapted to any genre or publishing goal.
Wogahn, author of six books and an early instructor for LinkedIn Learning’s self-publishing course, brings 14 years of hands-on industry experience to the table.
For an invitiation to attend this free Zoom webinar, please contact president@uppaa.org

Market Your Book without Social Media – yes, you can!
2025-11-03 19:00 - 20:00 | MI
Market Your Book without Social Media – yes, you can!
Contact president@uppaa.org for your zoom invite
If you’ve been wondering how to market your book without social media, this class is for you.
There’s a new trend brewing – authors quitting social media in favor of more creative ways to market their books and spending more time writing new books. But can you really quit social media? You bet. You just must get creative in other ways and this class will show you how. Here are some of the things we’ll cover in this class:
• Social media: Do you keep any or punt them all?
• Two things you *must* have if you’re going to stop playing in the social media sandbox
• Creative things you can do to get yourself out there and why you want to.
• Reaching influencers locally – yes, you can and it’s easier than you think!
• How to make your website your focal point (and why you need to)
• Can you still pitch influencers, bloggers and bookstagrammers even if you aren’t on social media? Yes, and I’ll show you how.
• A few great places to list yourself and your book, to get more attention!
This class is jam-packed with ideas and whether you want to abandon social media entirely, you’ve never been on social media, or just go social media-lite, you’ll benefit from the great many ideas and tips you’ll learn in this session!
Penny C. Sansevieri, is a powerhouse in the publishing industry. As the Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., she has revolutionized book marketing, shaping the careers of authors and guiding them to bestseller status. Penny’s influence is undeniable—named one of New York Metropolitan Magazine’s Top Influencers of 2019, she’s known for her cutting-edge Amazon campaigns and innovative strategies that catapult exceptional books onto bestseller lists. She is also the author of 24 books.

UP Notable Book Club with Larry Jorgensen and the History of Snowmobiles
2025-12-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
UP Notable Book Club presents a Q&A session about Make It Go In the Snow: People and Ideas in the History of Snowmobiles with Larry Jorgensen
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 53rd event features Larry Jorgensen, author of Make it Go in the Snow: People and Ideas in the History of Snowmobiles. Through the years, the challenge of powered transportation in the snow has been met with ideas from explorers, creative inventors and small companies, all with new ideas – often unique and sometimes successful. The name “snowmobile” was trademarked in 1917, but there were snow travel ideas before that date and certainly thousands more since. As a pioneer in the field, Larry brings us his unique perspective on people and their machines and some historic rides throughout the U.P. and even abroad.
When: Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 7 pm Eastern / 6 pm Central
Where: on the Zoom platform — 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 them from your local bookseller in advance to get the most out of these events.
LARRY JORGENSEN first became addicted to the sport and business of snowmobiling after buying his first sled, an Arctic Cat, in 1967. He purchased that Cat from the first Arctic Cat dealer in Green Bay, a local shoe repair shop which had a total available inventory of two machines. Jorgensen was fortunate to become a riding member of the pioneer cross-country snowmobile group, the Peninsula Pathfinders of Upper Michigan. He participated in the club’s first three long-distance rides, including the 1970 trip across the giant Mackinac Bridge which connects lower Michigan to the Upper Peninsula. Although he owned the Arctic Cat, he had been convinced to ride an Eskimo snowmobileand it may have been the only time an Eskimo sled crossed the Big Mac.
“I will blend in this review of Make It Go In the Snow ideas and effects that I have come across in my general reading on surrealism among the modern French poets in order to capture the skill and overall effects in Jorgensen because I think his work is a fine addition to the detail and to the mood of talking about the culture of the UP. He does not tell his history in a systematic way with footnotes and large bibliography like an academic. Instead, he uses many old photographs and rather rambles through his story in a leisurely way like a Parisian flâneur or gentleman expert on the feature of being a Yooper man of the North. It reminds me of my own immersion when my wife and I began our discovery of the region; and even though it was usually summer
I was fascinated with the exploration of the Antarctic, of “Going South” across rough seas from New Zealand with the sad and heroic Captain Scott and his brave men and dogs. A news reporter for a TV station in Green Bay, Jorgensen first became addicted to the sport and business of snowmobiling when he bought his first sled, an Arctic Cat in 1967. Pictured at right is Admiral Byrd’s ill-fated Snow Cruiser trekking across the USA toward it’s launch from the east coast.” — Mack Hassler, UP 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 over 180 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.
# # #

UP Notable Books List 2026 Announced
2026-01-02 13:00 | MI
Tune in to UPPAA.org as we announce the UP Notable Books List on January 2, 2026

J.D. Austin at North Wind Books - Hancock
2026-01-10 12:00 - 14:00 | North Wind Books, 437 Quincy Street, Hancock, 49930, United States
J.D. Austin of the 2024 U.P. Notable Book The Last Huck and a new story collection What You Find in the Woods will be appearing at North Wind Books on the former Finlandia campus from 12 – 2:00pm on Saturday January 10, 2026.
437 Quincy St, Hancock, MI 49930 * https://shop.finlandiafoundation.org/pages/location-hours
(906) 487-7217 * shop@finlandiafoundation.org

UPPAA Online Seminar Series – Ask the Book Coach: Q & A Session with Julie Covert
2026-01-15 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
As an extension of UPPAA’s Online Seminar Series, we are featuring an additional session “Ask the Book Coach: Q & A Session with Julie Covert” coming to Zoom on January 15, 2026 at 7:00PM Eastern / 6:00PM Central time.

Attendance is free of charge and preregistration is not required for UPPAA members to participate. Others are welcome to participate if they contact Julie at the email address below.
Ask the Book Coach: A Q & A Session
What’s a book coach do?
Great question! A book coach can help you form and test your book ideas, create a solid structure, help you get through tough spots, and guide you to getting published.

Do you have a book in the works, but are stuck and have questions about how to proceed?
Have a great idea, but can’t seem to make the structure work?
Not sure where to begin or how to end?
Whose help do I need – an editor, beta reader, or book coach?

During this Q & A session, Julie Covert, book coach and editor at H J Words, will answer your questions about how you can benefit from working with a book coach. We’ll discuss these topics and more to get you excited and motivated to achieve your dream of turning your ideas from your notebooks into a publishable manuscript.
Questions can also be submitted in advance by email or phone shown below
Contact Julie at words@hjwords.com or at 906-430-5854.

Telling the Hard Stuff: A Confessional Poetry Workshop with Ellen Lord
2026-01-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Hessel School House, 3206 W. Cedar Road, Hesssel, MI, 49745, United States
Telling the Hard Stuff: A Confessional Poetry Workshop with Ellen Lord
When: Saturday, January 17, 2026, 1:00 -3:00 PM
Where: at the Hessel School House 3206 W Cedar Street, Hessel, MI, United States, Michigan 49745
Confessional poetry asks us to speak the truths we often keep hidden. In this two‑hour workshop, we’ll explore how vulnerability becomes art, how the “hard stuff” transforms into language that resonates, and how craft supports courage. Together, we’ll create a safe, supportive space to write the poems that demand to be written. This class includes an autographed copy of Ellen Lord’s latest book VIGIL.
Whether you write poems on the page or songs for the stage, this workshop welcomes artists who turn lived experience into works of written art. Poets and songwriters alike will find tools for shaping raw emotion into work that connects and endures.
Class Fee: $40.00. Includes a signed copy of Ellen Lord’s latest book VIGIL.
To Register: Call 906-484-1333 or register online at HesselSchoolHouse.org
Facebook event page
ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Ellen Lord began writing as a kid, first stirred to poetry by Edgar Allen Poe’s raven and various morbid nursery rhymes. She is inspired by forays in nature, along with feasts and foibles of the human condition. She was raised in the wilds of the Upper Peninsula and often returns to her ancestral home. She is a behavioral health therapist, specializing in addiction and trauma.
NOTE: Scholarship discounts are available. Call 906-484-1333 for details if finances are impeding you from attending this workshop. A limited number of discount tickets are available for teens and low-income participants.

Frederick Stonehouse – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
2026-02-12 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
Join us on zoom for Frederick Stonehouse – The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
To get Zoom invitations for each event, please contact egathu@crystalfallslibrary.org or by phone (906) 875-3344

UP History Book Club - Bloodstoppers & Bearwalkers: Folk Traditions of the Upper Peninsula by Richard Dorson
2026-02-18 18:30 - 19:30 | Marquette Regional History Center, 145 W. Spring St, Marquette, MI, 49855, United States
February 18 – Bloodstoppers & Bearwalkers: Folk Traditions of the Upper Peninsula by Richard Dorson
All meetings are on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. We meet in person at the Marquette Regional History Center (145 W. Spring St., Marquette) and online via Zoom (link available the day of the meeting at www.marquettehistory.org/uphbc). You can also join our mailing list on that webpage to get periodic reminders. All book club titles will be available for purchase at the museum gift store in the new year, and museum members receive 10% off.

Julie Buchholtz to feature "Mama's Song" at Hessel School House
2026-02-28 | Hessel School House, 3206 W. Cedar Road, Hesssel, MI, 49745, United States
Julie Buchholtz to feature “Mama’s Song” at Hessel School House for a book reading and signing event at Hessel School House on February 28, 2026 (time to be announced later)
See https://hesselschoolhouse.org/ for details

Writing North - Winter Book Fest
2026-02-28 08:00 - 2026-03-01 17:00 | MI
From tipster Sara Maurer:
An amazing literary event is coming soon to Manistique. Meagan Francis, author of The Last Parenting Book You’ll Ever Read and owner of Paper Mill Books in Manistique, is planning the first Writing North Book Fest! It will take place Saturday, Feb. 28 – Sunday, March 1 in Manistique with free community events as well as author panels and an exciting literary salon event.
Participating authors will include

Ellen Airgood
Steve Amick
T. Marie Bertineau
Mikel Classen
Karen Dionne (The Marsh King’s Daughter, The Wicked Sister)
Carol Dunbar
Megan Francis
Ann-Marie Ooman

Here is a quick description of the festival:
In the heart of winter, when the Upper Peninsula is at its quietest and most beautiful, Writing North Winter Book Fest – the first literary festival of its kind in Manistique, just off of Highway 2 in the heart of the U.P. – will gather together readers and authors for a celebration of stories and storytellers shaped by northern places, with authors who hail from the northern Great Lakes region and/or craft their work around landscapes like ours. The event will lean into the season’s beauty and coziness by offering warm spaces, close conversations, and fresh inspiration in an intimate, welcoming festival that’s rooted in place. Tickets, itinerary, and details at writingnorth.com.

You can also follow writingnorthup on Instagram for updates.
