Events

 

Although we are primarily a used bookstore, we carry new books by locally connected authors with whom we have held events, as you can see below. We also carry some carefully selected new books that are about Southwestern Michigan or are of special interest.

Great Lakes Expert Pre-Releases 2nd Book!

 

Loreen Niewenhuis came back to Black River Books. She has been in our store several times to sign her first Lake Trek book, "A 1000-Mile Walk On the Beach." Loreen finished her second beach hiking adventure last fall. I (Pam) was privileged to read the manuscript for "1000-Mile Great Lakes Walk," and Loreen has hit another home run! The map of the miles she hiked is just below. Loreen arranged to have her book available as a pre-release to several independent book stores, of which we were one, prior to the June 1 release. Loreen was at Black River Books on Saturday April 27 to meet and greet customers and sign her books. We have signed copies available. If you were unable to make it on the 27th, Loreen will be back at Black River Books on Saturday, June 1 from 1:00 - 3:00 Check out Detroit Free Press article on Loreen .

 

          This is the route for Loreen's second 1000-mile hike. She shares some wonderful photos on her blog http://laketrek.bolgspot.com/ .

Singing Man Comes to Black River Books

 

Singing Man, Michael Toahty will be at Black River Books on Saturday, May 25, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm to sign his book, Seven Sacred Directions: A Native-American Message of Transformation. Singing Man's mother was a full-blodded Southern Arapaho, and his father was half Pawnee and half Kiowa. "His wisdom and message combine ancient Native American teachings and philosophy with a modern-day understanding of personal struggle, transformation and ultimate awakening.".

Jack Dempsey Visits Black River Books

 

"Ink Trails," by Jack and Dave Dempsey, "...takes you on an amazing ride on the back roads and highways of Michigan's literary history, visiting eighteen authors where they lived and worked. Jack Lessenberry is quoted saying "Ink Trails" is a "literary adventure" and "...a book that belongs on every Michigander's shelf. Jack Dempsey also wrote "Michigan and the Civil War." He dropped in last summer, (see below,) and signed our copies of that book. He'll be signing both books on Saturday, June 8 from 2:00 - 4:00pm.

Wendy Halperin's Newest Book is Here!

 

 

"For there to be peace in the world... there must be peace in our hearts." New book by Wendy Anderson Halperin, South Haven's own, is now available at Black River Books.

 

Wendy's New Site  

Wendy quotes Gandhi, "If we are to teach real peace in this world, if we are to wage a real war against war, we shall have to start with the children." Wendi states her book, "Peace" as designed to be an effort in that direction. It includes her wonderful art work as well as that of children.

 

Wendy will be signing her books with us on June 15 from 1:00 - 3:00.

 

Last summer Black River Books hosted a second signing event for Chris Byron and Thomas Wilson, Grand Rapids historians, and their wonderful book, "Vintage Views Along the West Michigan Pike".  Their beautiful book depicts the adventure and romance of motoring on Michigan’s most prominent early highway.  Vintage post cards, photographs, maps and ephemera illustrate this journey as you time-travel through the beautiful West Michigan landscape and quaint towns, to hotels and cabins, tourist camps and state parks, and other stops along the road.  Vintage Views won a Michigan Notable Book Award.  The book and Vintage View Posters, taken from the book’s illustrations, are available.

 

Bonnie Jo Campbell, National Book Award Finalist for her book of short stories, "American Salvage" and author of the acclaimed, "Once Upon a  River", pays a quick visit to Black River Books last summer. (See picture at top of page.)  She was vacationing with her husband in the area to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.  We are trying to find a time for Bonnie to come for a signing, hopefully next Women's Only Weekend this November. 

 

Local personality, Judith Pearson, speaker and author of "Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America’s Greatest Female Spy", writes of how she met the challenges of breast cancer in her new book, "It’s Just Hair".  In it, Judy shares lessons for meeting all kinds of life’s difficult challenges.  She was at Black River Books in July where she greeted old friends and met new ones. Copies of both books are available.

 

Judith Pearson has a love for history and great respect for courageous women. "The Wolves at the Door" is a history of one very courageous woman. Judith is another! Movie rights have been purchased for the book, "Wolves at the Door.".

 

Check out this Wonderful Children’s Book by David Zeff, "The Adventures of Peanuts, Popcorn, Chestnuts, and Tootles".  David was at Black River books for a signing in June.  David and his wife own Carriage House Bed & Breakfast and are South Haven’s own.  This book shares the stories that David created as he told them to his children.  Those children, when grown, encouraged David to record the stories in a children’s book, and he did.  Way to go, David!  We have signed copies at Black River Books.

 

David Liscow, local physician, and author of "Symie’s Story: Early Memories of an Old Jew From South Haven, Michigan", was at Black River Books in July. Dr. Liscow’s book, tells of the beginnings of the Jewish resort era in South Haven; how one family worked together, raising or growing what they served guests, using an ice house to keep perishables cold and using a horse-drawn wagon to carry geese to Benton Harbor to be slaughtered by the rabbi, all in order to create a comfortable stay for vacationing Jewish families, primarily from Chicago. We have more copies available. 

 

South Haven’s Own Wendy Anderson Halperin & John Mooy were at Black River Books in July to greet customers, share some stories and sign their books.  We always carry their books, and they are always kind enough to sign them.  John is a frequent visitor at Black River Books where he stops in for a cup of coffee and some conversation and stories, to share either with us or with our other guests.

 

Early in June, Jane Knuth, Portage, Michigan author, had her third signing at Black River Books, this time for her new book, "Thrift Store Graces: Finding God’s Gifts in the Midst of the Mess".  "Thrift Store Saints", continues to be a favorite.  We have copies of both books.

What Others Are Saying About Us

 

A visit to our store by a retired librarian on a mission, resulted in a fabulous article on her blog. This story on ReddEverywhere by M. Redd really summarizes who we are.