Storytellers and Artists

Over the years, Mackinac Island Press has had the good fortune of working with some amazingly talented artists, writers and storytellers from around the world. Please scroll down to find our more information about your favorite Mackinac Island Press storyteller or artist or click on the links below to jump directloy to their page.

Anne Margaret Lewis

Anne Margaret Lewis has been writing children's books since the sixth grade when she 'wrote, designed and published' her first children's book.

She has always written stories based on what she visualizes and this artistic talent has fostered a cute little Elf named Emit looking for Christmas, a King of the fireflies, and the great Gitchi Gumee.

Her stories have charming characters, inspirational themes and subtle, yet important messages. Her books are for children. After a 2nd grade teacher read Lighthouse Fireflies to her class, they broke into a spontaneous applause. One boy in Ohio wrote Lewis and said he would 'vote for Has Anyone Seen Christmas? as many times as it took until it won the Buckeye Children's Book Award.'

Her unique ability to find and work directly with the illustrators has helped showcase the illustrators of her books as Wendy Popko's moniker is a "Creative Freestyling Monet" and Kathleen Chaney Fritz's work is being called 'museum quality... whimsical... and awesome.'

Her books have received national recognition, with Has Anyone Seen Christmas? not only a national bestseller, but was also an American Booksellers Associaton BookSense Selection and Gitchi Gumee won the 2006 Midwest Booksellers Association Children's Book of the Year Honor Book. She is also the author of Lighthouse Fireflies, Tears of Mother Bear, Hidden Pumpkins, Hidden Cherries and this fall is releasing, with Wendy Popko, Hidden Michigan.

Anne loves to read to children all over the country, but most of all she loves to read to, and read with, her own children; Caitlin, Matthew, Patrick and Cameron.

Buck Wilder

Buck Wilder had a humble beginning. He had just released Buck Wilder’s Small Fry Fishing Guide when a local elementary (Michigan) school asked him to give a talk to their students.

He said he would come if they gave him a hand-baked cherry pie. The best pie-maker in town made the pie and the kids saw a presentation they never forgot. Buck Wilder is about the outdoors and nature and the animals, but most importantly, Buck Wilder is about life.

The kids loved his books and soon the local store sold and continued to order and re-order. The teachers told another school about his dynamic presentation, so he went to another school, again for a pie, and then another and another. He’s now been to almost every school in Michigan developing a reputation as one of the countries best speakers for schools. He’s sold over 250,000 copies of his first books, Buck Wilder’s Small Fry Fishing Guide, Buck Wilder’s Little Skippers Boating Guide, and Buck Wilder’s Small Twig Hiking & Camping Guide.

Buck is releasing four new books this fall (2006);

Buck Wilder’s Animal Wisdom
and
Buck Wilder’s Adventures (early readers)
Book #1 Who Stole the Animal Poop?
Book #2 The Work Bees go on Strike
Book #3 The Ants Dig to China

Here are just a few of the words that have been used to describe Buck Wilder and his books…“Sensational…a cross between a Boy Scout and Harrison Ford from Raiders of the Lost Ark… unique… phenomenon… passionate… a great teacher… informational reading helps strengthen reading skills…adventures teach lessons…he reels the kids in…”

“I can’t wait to share these books and their messages with the kids all across the country,” Wilder said. “I was so busy before, I rarely left Michigan, but my kids are off to college and it’s the right time to share Buck Wilder and his lessons to as many people as I can.”

He is doing a national book tour this fall and another next spring, stopping at schools and bookstores all over the country, including being a featured speaker at the Californaia Reading Association Conference and the keynote speaker for children's bookstores at the Great Lakes Booksellers Annual meeting.

PaleoJoe

www.paleojoe.com

PaleoJoe, a paleontologist from Midland, Michigan, has been all over the country digging for dinosaurs—Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Woolly Mammoths and more. He has educated children and communities by giving over 200 school presentations to 12,000 school children, by setting-up traveling exhibits for museums. He has now written a major children’s picture book, Hidden Dinosaurs, illustrated by Jim DeWildt. He has also teamed up with gifted writer Wendy Caszatt-Allen for a new chapter book series entitled PaleoJoe’s Dinosaur Detective Club. This series is targeted for children from elementary through early junior high. The first book in the series is The Disappearance of Dinosaur Sue and the second book is Stolen Stegosaurus.

“I love to teach kids about dinosaurs and paleontology. You can see their excitement and how hungry they are to learn more,” said PaleoJoe, who in 2001 won the prestigious Katherine Palmer Award from the Paleontological Research Institute for his outreach programs to children and communities. “I am excited about these books because we get to teach kids about science and the thrill of discovery and learning. To see the look on kids’ faces when I get to share my love of dinosaurs and paleontology…well, it doesn’t get any better than that for me.”

Wendy Popko

Wendy Popko illustrated Has Anyone Seen Christmas? and The Fairy Painting, and is an accomplished mural artist. Her work is featured in the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Benson Ford, the children’s rooms at the Manoogian Mansion, one of the Former Detroit Pistons and many other well known families throughout Michigan. Wendy has also designed rugs for Stark Carpet and has had some of her paintings featured and sold in The Elizabeth Stone Gallery. Her work has also been featured at the Junior Leagues of Detroit and Birmingham, Michigan, and appropriately she had been the artist at the fairy tea parties at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham.

Wendy was born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan. She resides in the Detroit area with her husband Michael and her two cats, Pinkiss and Jack.

"Wendy's presentation at our elementary school was outstanding. Her discussion appealed to elementary students of all ages, teachers and parents. It was a fascinating presentation on how a book is published from beginning to end. I would highly recommend this assembly to elementary school students," said Principal Sally Klatt.

Charles Ferguson Barker

Charles Ferguson Barker wrote and illustrated The Day the Great Lakes Drained Away. He is a geologist and artist who studied Geology at Arizona State University and Boston University. He also attended the University of Michigan’s field geology course in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. After college, he worked on the research Vessel SEAMARK, mapping the sea floor offshore California. Charles Ferguson Barker has been working in the environmental consulting field for 20 years and teaches Geology at Wayne State University in Detroit. He is a member of the Michigan Science Teachers Association, the Michigan Earth Science Teachers Association and the Michigan Reading Association.

He and his wife Peggy live in Plymouth, Michigan with their little dog, Duncan.

"On behalf of the students and staff at Conant Elementary School, I want to take this opportunity to thank you for introducing Charles Ferguson Barker to us. His Great Lakes presentation was informative and interesting - it was a wonderful way to celebrate Michigan Week!" Carolyn Wheeler, Media Specialist

Stacey DuFord

Stacey DuFord wrote The Fairy Painting. She is a former morning radio personality and stand-up comedian. She was a contributing writer for a national comedy radio service. Her humorous article, “Nine months: A month by Month Account of My Pregnancy,” appeared in Detroit Metropolian Woman. She has worked as a freelance television reporter on the ABC-affiliate WXYZ-TV, in Detroit. She also has hosted several television specials and a cable talk show.

Stacey currently hosts the Now You’re Cooking with Farmer Jack cooking segment on WXYZ-TV and is the TV and radio spokesperson for Renewal by Andersen Windows. She lives in Beverly Hills, Michigan, with her husband and two children.

"Stacey's school visit was wonderful! I had many positive comments from parents and teachers, and the children were so excited!" Carolyn Raleigh, Librarian, South Arbor Academy

"The message I learned was to believe in yourself. I've wanted to be a writer as long as I can remember and I think she wrote a great book." Andikan Archibong, fourth grade student

Tracy Gallup

www.tracygallup.com

Tracy Gallup - Tracy has worked as an artist for twenty-six years after receiving a BFA degree from Eastern Michigan University and a MFA degree from Syracuse University.

She has designed a line of dolls which have been sold at gallery, boutiques and museum shops across the country. Ms. Gallup's book, King Cat, is clever, funny, cute and has a certain magic to it that is hard to describe but is immediately recognizable. King Cat is a favorite storytime book for bookstores, classrooms and most importantly, bedtime.

Ms. Gallup will be releasing three new books with Mackinac Island Press in the spring of 2007 and is quickly garnering national attention and comparisons to some of the classic author/illustrators of children's books.

Wendy Caszatt-Allen

Wendy Caszatt-Allen is an author, poet, playwright, and teacher. She is a graduate from the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts and Michigan State University.

She is currently finishing her PhD in Language, Literacy, and Culture at the University of Iowa.

Wendy She released The Adventures of Pachelot: The Last Voyage of the Griffon in early 2007 with Mackinac Island Press and is set to follow it up with another rollicking sea adventure, The Adventures of Pachelot: Fort Brokenheart.

Kathleen Chaney Fritz

For over 20 years Kathleen Chaney Fritz' original oils, watercolors and limited edition prints and posters have been gracing shops and galleries and both private and corporate collections throughout the country. Kathleen paints a portrait of the Midwest. She captures an essential spirit of the Great Lake States, whether it is the carriages of Mackinac Island or a scene from the National Lakeshore. Art is her lifelong journey.

A graduate of Kendall College of Art and Design, Kathleen worked for many years as a free-lance illustrator. Following the overwhelming success of her first poster-a commemorative watercolor for the prestigious Charlevoix Waterfront Art Fair in 19860-she decided to focus on her career in fine arts. Her husband, John Fritz, formed their own company to print, promote and package her work.

Kathleen and her husband John live and work at their home nestled in the woods of historic Ada, Michigan.

To see more of Kathleen Chaney Fritz' art and order prints from Tears of Mother Bear, go to www.Chaney-Fritz.com.

Jim DeWildt

Jim illustrated Hidden Pumpkins, Hidden Cherries and Hidden Dinosaurs. Jim's unique artistic talent lies in his ability to render masterfully in watercolor, oil, acrylic, ink and pencil. His work can be found across the country and overseas from private collections to prestigious corporate brochures.

An honor graduate of the Kendall College of Art and Design, he spent two years in the U.S. Army before beginning his highly successful career as an artist, illustrator and graphic designer, spanning over 30 years.

Jim and his wife, Manie live near Traverse City, Michigan and love to spend time with their four grown children.

Susan Hammon

Susan graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and has been teaching second grade in Frankfort, Michigan for the past eight years. She grew up in Northern Michigan and has always been passionate about connecting lessons inside the classroom to the beautiful natural world that surrounds her students.

Susan is excited to be able to blend her love of Northern Michigan with her writing to create stories that enrich children's lives. She lives in Frankfort with her husband, Steve and their two young sons, Evan and Luke. Authoring children's books has been a life-long dream of Susan's and she is thrilled to be co-authoring Hidden Cherries.

Mary Frey

From the real to the surreal, the illustrator of Lighthouse Fireflies has enjoyed drawing and painting, even as a child growing up in Romeo, Michigan. Mary graduated from Siena Heights University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in art and French. Her work has been sold all over the world. She has created paintings that include Amish scenes, the grandeur of the Great Lakes, and Michigan’s lovely coast. With the whimsy of nature and the beautiful scenery to inspire her, she sells her prints and originals at her studio, M. Frey Studio www.mfreystudio.com, overlooking the harbor and “Fishtown” in the charming lakeside village of Leland, Michigan.

Mary lives in the Leelanau Peninsula of Michigan with her husband Tom and her family.

Janis Campbell

Janis is usually uncovering stories for the Detroit Free Press where she writes for “Yak’s Corner,” a magazine for young readers. She has worked for the newspaper for 12 years.

Janis grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan, and graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in journalism.

For nearly 20 years Janis has been vacationing in charming Frankfort, a tiny town she calls one of the state’s “hidden treasures.” Last year, she moved to Frankfort with her husband and two children. She continues to contribute to Yak’s Corner but also keeps busy working on book projects. This is her first book for Mackinac Island Press.

Joel Schoon Tanis

The One, The Only Magnificent Me! is brilliantly illustrated by award-winning artist Joel Schoon Tanis.  A Holland, MI native and Hope College graduate, Joel is a celebrated painter who has shown his work around the United States – from Michigan to Florida to Colorado to Washington D.C.  Joel has also shown his work as far away as Kenya where he did an art show in Nairobi to raise money for the African Fund for Endangered Wildlife.  His murals can be found in many schools, children’s hospitals, and churches (including murals in both Kenya and Zambia).  His work is also in the collections of many celebrities, including Walter Cronkite. 

Joel also has the unique ability to paint live for television and have finished pieces done in 2 hours or less, while also being an engaging and entertaining guest.

In addition to his artistic pursuits, he is also the creator of Come On Over!, a children’s television program that recently won 6 regional Emmy awards, including one for Joel as host of the show.  The mission of Come On Over! is to model creativity and imagination in the lives of today’s children through interactive programming that raises their level of play, fun, and exploration.  The show has had such special guests as Jars of Clay, Fred Willard (Everyone Loves Raymond, Best in Show), Ruth Buzzi (Laugh In, Sesame Street), Luis Avalos (Electric Company), Vicki Lewis (Newsradio, Finding Nemo), and Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen Hunger Force).  For more, please visit www.comeonover.com.

Dan Haseltine

The One, The Only Magnificent Me! is the debut children’s book by Dan Haseltine, the lead singer and primary lyricist for the fantastically popular band Jars of Clay.  Jars of Clay is a multi-platinum and multi-GRAMMY winning band with 17 No.1 radio hits, numerous awards and nominations, 11 movie soundtracks to their credit, and legions of fans around the globe. 

But most importantly, Dan and the band are making a difference in the world, as they founded the Blood:Water Mission in early 2002.  The first effort of this non-profit was the “1000 Wells Project” which, to date, has brought clean water and sanitation to more than 250,000 people in urban and rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa.