An award winning author, a museum exhibit designer, an underwater explorer, and an inductee in the Women Diver's Hall of Fame, Valerie (V.O.) van Heest has written six books and dozens of articles since her professional writing career began in 2008 with her first book, "Icebound, the Adventures of young George Sheldon and the SS Michigan." As the founder and director of The Michigan Shipwreck Research Association, the work of the organization has often inspired her writing. Valerie van Heest has conducted archaeological expeditions on some of the Great Lakes most significant shipwrecks over the past 25 years. She is a recipient of multiple awards from the Historical Society of Michigan for the collection, preservation and promotion of stateAn award winning author, a museum exhibit designer, an underwater explorer, and an inductee in the Women Diver's Hall of Fame, Valerie (V.O.) van Heest has written six books and dozens of articles since her professional writing career began in 2008 with her first book, "Icebound, the Adventures of young George Sheldon and the SS Michigan." As the founder and director of The Michigan Shipwreck Research Association, the work of the organization has often inspired her writing. Valerie van Heest has conducted archaeological expeditions on some of the Great Lakes most significant shipwrecks over the past 25 years. She is a recipient of multiple awards from the Historical Society of Michigan for the collection, preservation and promotion of state and local history through her interpretation, writing, filmmaking and exhibit work. Her work has been featured in numerous books and articles as well. Valerie is a regular presenter at museums, libraries, and film festivals, sharing the dramatic stories of ships gone missing on the Great Lakes and has appeared on television news networks, including CNN and Aljazeera America as well as on the Discovery and Travel Channels. ...more