Regional Interest

Leelanau Books highlights many Michigan authors,both fiction and non-fiction titles, as well as a large array of local and regional interest books. Some authors of local interest include Jim Harrison, Doug Stanton, Kathleen Stocking, Jerry Dennis, Ken Scott, Deborah Wyatt Fellows, Aaron Stander, Mardi Link, Robert Underhill, and Bill Crandell, just name a few.

Some of the Michigan children's and young adult authors on the scene are Lynne Rae Perkins, Tobin Sprout, Gloria Whelan, Shari Yost Binstadt, Carl Sams, Robbyn and Gijsbert van Frankenhuyzen, Jeffery L. Schatzer, Dana Lehman, Sonja Richards, Barry Marsh, Hillary Porter, Jennifer Charron Ward, and Alan Scott Craker.

Books of interest about Michigan include Mark Jager's "Mystic Michigan" Series, Michigan flora and fauna, the Great Lakes, shipwrecks and lighthouses, Michigan's Upper Peninsula, books with photography and text that highlight the beauty of our state.

Seasonally we carry local calendars-The Leland Report Calendar from Keith and James Burnham and The Best of the Back Pages, a calendar with local photographs by Ken Scott, published by the Leelanau Enterprise.  Sales of the 2010 Leland Report Calendar are over, but we still have a few of The Best of the Back Pages.

*We carry  the Barn House Puzzles, jigsaw puzzles with over 500 pieces.  These puzzles are a product of Traverse City and picture many local and recognizable photos of our area. The Fishtown puzzle is particularly popular in our neck of the woods, but others such as Glen Lake, the Sleeping Bear Dunes and Traverse City are also available. 

*There a few northern Michigan authors to note as we enter what we know will be a great summer season:

*Local watercolor artist and author Charles Murphy has just released The Waking Hour: A Collection of Illustrated Verse.  This is a book of original, whimsical poetry which he has illustrated with wonderful watercolor paintings aside each poem.  Charles will be with us on Saturday, July 10th, 1-3:00pm to sign his book.  Please join us.

*Local author Robert Underhill has just published his latest murder mystery titled Once Dead, Long Dead.  "It all started innocently enough, just a simple hike in the National Forest. Under the circumstances, Kerry probably shouldn't have gone-but now it was too late."  Bob is also the author of several other mysteries, including Strawberry Moon, Cathead Bay, Death of the Mystery Novel, and Providence Times Three.

*Doug Stanton's Horse Soldiers is now available in paperback.  This bestselling book "is the dramatic account of a small band of special forces soldiers who secretly entered Afganistan following 9/11 and rode to war on horses against the Taliban." 

*Donald Lystra has written Season of Water and Ice, a novel with both young adult and adult appeal.  The story takes place in "1957 in rural northern Michigan" and is "the story of a pivitol few months in the life of a young teen, Danny DeWitt, who lives alone with his father following the sudden departure of his mother."  We have this book in stock, available for purchase.  The author divides his time between Ann Arbor and a farm here in northern Michigan.  Donald will be here to sign his book Wednesday, July 28th from1:00-3:00pm.

*We carry local author Aaron Stander's books, Summer People, Color Tour and his latest Deer Season.  All three are murder mysteries set in northern Michigan.

*Traverse City author Elizabeth Kane Buzzelli has written a third Emily Kincaid Mystery in May titled Dead Sleeping Shaman.  Her two previous books are titled Dead Dancing Women and Dead Floating Lovers, and the mysteries take place in northern Michigan.  All available here at Leelanau books.

*Local author Tom Van Zoeren, has written a series of books on the history of the Port Oneida area.  Images & Recollections from Port Oneida: The Thoreson Farm and It's Neighbors is his newest.  Mr. Van Zoeren's previous two books are The Frederick and Margretha Werner Farm and The Burfiend and Baker Farms.  All three volumes of local history include both color and black & white photos as well as a good deal of interesting reading, and they are in stock.

*Also recently published is local author Mardi Link's true crime book Isadore's Secret: Sin, Murder and Confession in a Northern Michigan Town, "A gripping account of the mysterious 1907 disappearance of a young nun in a northern Michigan town and the national controversy that followed when she turned up dead and buried in the basement of her own church."  This is Mardi's second true crime account, the first of which is When Evil Came to Good Hart.

*Local resident Bill Crandell's Fishtown: Stories of Historic Fishtown, Lake Michigan and the People of Leelanau County which had been out of print for a number of years has been reprinted and is again available for purchase.

*Local author and winner of the Newbery Award (for her book Criss Cross), Lynne Rae Perkins, has written a new book for children.  As Easy as Falling Off the Face of the Earth is a story about a teenage boy who "encounters one comedic calamity after another when his train strands him in the middle of nowhere and everything comes down to luck."

*We carry some local music artistry: If you enjoy easy-listening music featuring well known classic songs, old standards and more, local piano artist Rick Lahmann has a variety of choices for your listening pleasure.  Harry Goldson's Jazz Ensemble offers a great selection of CD's which will please all jazz enthusiasts.  His music has renditions from the big band era to present.

*We also have just received the latest Dunes Review-Literary Journal.  This publication is printed twice a year and contains original poetry, short fiction and essays, much of which is by regional writers.

* Exposures 2010 is now available.  This is the  22nd issue of Exposures.  This journal  is "an impressive community showcase for the talents, hard work and creativity of our youth", with submissions included from Leelanau County schools.  We have Exposures in stock, and you can pick up your copy for $5.

If you have an interest in any of these publications or wish to inquire about any other books, please call or email us.

Check our Events and News page for upcoming local author book signings and new arrivals. Email or call us with questions or requests about books or authors of local interest.