Donna Searight Simons's Blog

While I was in the U.P. the other week, I gave two more book presentations: one at the De Tour Public Library and the other at Iron Mountain Public Library.  I loved the sign that the De Tour Library put out for me (shown above)!

It was such a pleasure to speak at both libraries.  The audience was attentive and curious, and I loved hearing their own stories about connections to copper mining.  I believe the 1913 labor strike in Michigan's Copper Country is a fascinating event that I enjoy talking about.  The presentation is done using Power Point and my nephew put together a short video that helps the audience immerse themselves into the 1913 time period.

Although book sales are a bit slow, I'm happy to continue book presentations as long as libraries continue inviting me!

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Donna Searight Simons

This year proved to be filled with new and exciting (and nerve-wracking) adventures for me.  After writing a historical novel titled Copper Empire (yes, it really took me over two decades to write and complete a novel), I decided it was time to publish and distribute.

I joined the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors & Association and received a wealth of advice and encouragement from its membership for which I'm very grateful.  I decided to publish using CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform which was fairly easy to do, although it took me several weeks before I could find a decent illustration for my book cover.  I had books shipped to me, loaded them in my car, and drove to the U.P. in mid-May to sell books for the first time as well as attend the UPPAA conference.  As a salesperson, I was nervous because selling is way outside of my comfort zone.  I was pleasantly surprised though, by how nice the store owners were.  A total of 40 stores bought copies of my book which blew me away.

I also worked on a PowerPoint presentation about the 1913 labor strike and Italian Hall.  My nephew Sean created a wonderful short video that accompanied my presentation perfectly.  Although I had to work through alot of nervousness, I've managed to do the presentation at Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor, the Port Huron Library, the Lyon Township Library and the Huntington Woods Library.  Through it all, I met many interesting people with U.P. tales of their own.  I also did alot of personal growth and confidence building as a result of doing the presentations.

The Thumbprint News recently published an article I wrote about the 1913 strike leading up to Italian Hall.  You can download the article to your tablet, or print out pages 1, 20 and 21: http://www.thumbprintnews.com/

As always, Copper Empire is available in many U.P. stores as well as Amazon.com.  You can also purchase a Kindle version:  http://www.amazon.com/Copper-Empire-Donna-Searight-Simons/dp/1482656698/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386257816&sr=1-1&keywords=copper+empire

Thank you all for your support during this past year.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Copper Empire Presentations
I've given two presentations about my book and how it relates to the 1913 Copper Country labor strike, leading up to the Italian Hall tragedy.  The first presentation took place in late July at Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor.  The second one was last week at the Port Huron Public Library.

After much preparation (I rehearsed the lecture once per week), I think both presentations went very well.  Not only do I bring some display items (including a copper piece and a carbide lamp), but I have a short video that depicts the Copper Country in 1913.  I'm so grateful to my talented nephew, Sean Davidson, for putting the video together as it really enhances the lecture!

I've met many audience members who talk to me before and after the presentation to let me know their own experiences with the Copper Country.  One woman answered a phone call a long time ago(maybe the 1940's) to learn that a couple of her family members were killed in a Copper Country mine.  It's those kind of real-life stories that encourage me to continue presenting.  While the Copper Country is fascinating, it's also filled with some tragedy that has destroyed lives.

Anyway, I've been asked by more libraries to give my presentation which I'm so honored to do!  I'll be presenting at these places:

Saturday, November 2nd at 2pm
Lyon Township Public Library
27005 S. Milford Road
South Lyon, Michigan

Wednesday, November 13th at 7pm
Huntington Woods Public Library
26415 Scotia Road
Huntington Woods, Michigan

I hope to see you some of you there!  Below are a couple of pics from the Port Huron presentation.  Sorry about the poor quality--I had to scan the photos and couldn't figure out how to crop them!





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My family and I just returned from a trip to the U.P.!  We had a great time and enjoyed much cooler weather (60's) and mostly sunshine.  The picture to the left has some of my family members.  I'm in the back row to the right.  We are at the Devil's Washtub in Copper Harbor.  It's a bit of a rocky hike, but was worth the climb.

On the way to the Copper Country, we stopped by Hartwick Pines and Manistique.  In Munising, I did a book signing at Falling Rock Bookstore and Cafe and was surprised that my friend and author Donna Winters had driven an hour from Fayette to keep me company at the book signing!

We continued westward and stopped at Canyon Falls in L'Anse which was beautiful.  By the time we arrived in Houghton, it was evening and we were exhausted.  We rented bicycles the next day to bike around the waterfront, then met up with Jim and Joyce Floriani for dinner at Gino's.

The next day we continued northward for another book signing at Copper World in Calumet.  Tony (the owner) and his son were gracious hosts.  Afterwards, we took a tour at Calumet Theatre, stopped by the Calumet Visitors Center as well as Italian Hall to pay our respects.  When we reached Copper Harbor, we quickly had dinner so I could prepare for my presentation at Fort Wilkins.  The presentation went fine as I had rehearsed my lecture many times over the last six months.  After the presentation, I could finally do some relaxing!  But instead of kicking back, we took time to sell more books. . .Copper Empire is now being sold in over 35 stores which I'm very grateful for.  I truly hope people enjoy the book.

Anyway, we stopped for lunch at Lac La Belle, had a peaceful visit at Bete Gris and took a tour at Delaware Mines.  And to top of it off, we had an energetic hike at the beautiful Estivant Pines, then took a smaller hike around the Copper Harbor Lighthouse.

We had a wonderful up north!  And now it's back to work for me.  :)

My family and I just returned from a trip to the U.P.!  We had a great time and enjoyed much cooler weather (60's) and mostly sunshine.  The picture to the left has some of my family members.  I'm in the back row to the right.  We are at the Devil's Washtub in Copper Harbor.  It's a bit of a rocky hike, but was worth the climb.

On the way to the Copper Country, we stopped by Hartwick Pines and Manistique.  In Munising, I did a book signing at Falling Rock Bookstore and Cafe and was surprised that my friend and author Donna Winters had driven an hour from Fayette to keep me company at the book signing!

We continued westward and stopped at Canyon Falls in L'Anse which was beautiful.  By the time we arrived in Houghton, it was evening and we were exhausted.  We rented bicycles the next day to bike around the waterfront, then met up with Jim and Joyce Floriani for dinner at Gino's.

The next day we continued northward for another book signing at Copper World in Calumet.  Tony (the owner) and his son were gracious hosts.  Afterwards, we took a tour at Calumet Theatre, stopped by the Calumet Visitors Center as well as Italian Hall to pay our respects.  When we reached Copper Harbor, we quickly had dinner so I could prepare for my presentation at Fort Wilkins.  The presentation went fine as I had rehearsed my lecture many times over the last six months.  After the presentation, I could finally do some relaxing!  But instead of kicking back, we took time to sell more books. . .Copper Empire is now being sold in over 35 stores which I'm very grateful for.  I truly hope people enjoy the book.

Anyway, we stopped for lunch at Lac La Belle, had a peaceful visit at Bete Gris and took a tour at Delaware Mines.  And to top of it off, we had an energetic hike at the beautiful Estivant Pines, then took a smaller hike around the Copper Harbor Lighthouse.

We had a wonderful up north!  And now it's back to work for me.  :)

I'm busily preparing for my upcoming trip to the U.P. at the end of July. . .I'm very excited to return to my "second home".  I can't wait to see the small towns, friendly people, slower pace, the blueness of Lake Superior, the beauty of the U.P. landscape, etc.  I'll be doing a book signing at the Falling Rock Bookstore in Munising on July 20th at noon.  I'll also sign books at Copper World in Calumet on July 22nd at 1pm, then later that evening I'll present on the 1913 labor strike at Fort Wilkins.  It'll be a vacation revolving around my book, but I hope to have a moment or two just to sit and back relax.  Hope everyone is having a great summer!

FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY!

If you're interested in winning a free copy of Copper Empire, be sure to check out the Goodreads link: 

http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/55622-copper-empire

In other news, I'm still preparing for my presentation on the 1913 Copper Country labor strike on July 22nd at 7:30pm at Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor.  I will also be signing copies of my book at the Falling Rock Bookstore & Cafe in Munising on July 20th at noon.  I hope to meet some of you there!

Hurry, hurry!  If you're interested in receiving a free copy of my book, all you need to do is read this interview and post a comment at the end of the page to be entered in a drawing: http://www.greatlakesromances.com/blog/donna-simons.html

A big thank you to my friend and author Donna Winters who wrote and posted the interview on her blog, Great Lakes Romances!

I've been keeping busy making plans to visit the U.P. in late July.  I'm giving a presentation about my book at Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor on July 22nd at 7:30pm and have been practicing the Powerpoint presentation.  I also hope to arrange some book signings around the U.P.  I'll post more soon.

Have a wonderful summer!

Hurry, hurry!  If you're interested in receiving a free copy of my book, all you need to do is read this interview and post a comment at the end of the page to be entered in a drawing: http://www.greatlakesromances.com/blog/donna-simons.html

A big thank you to my friend and author Donna Winters who wrote and posted the interview on her blog, Great Lakes Romances!

I've been keeping busy making plans to visit the U.P. in late July.  I'm giving a presentation about my book at Fort Wilkins in Copper Harbor on July 22nd at 7:30pm and have been practicing the Powerpoint presentation.  I also hope to arrange some book signings around the U.P.  I'll post more soon.

Have a wonderful summer!

RECENT U.P. TRIP AND CONFERENCE

A couple of weeks ago, I traveled to the Upper Peninsula on a two-fold mission: to attempt to sell more Copper Empire books and attend a writer's conference in Marquette.  That quest was fullfilled on both counts!

I spent the first night in St. Ignace and was grateful for the sunny, mild weather.  Half of the gift shops were still closed because tourism doesn't begin until Memorial weekend.

The next day I drove west to Munising.  I stopped by the Falling Rock Cafe Bookstore and sold several books.  I was disappointed that many of the gift shops were closed, but then decided to stop by the Hen House which is a cute gift shop.  The owner was very nice!  We discussed books and reading, and she bought two of my books.

I continued westward on M-28, then north on US-41.  Unfortunately I didn't have time to stop in communities such as L'Anse and Baraga.  I drove straight to Houghton, checked into the hotel then sold more books at Finlandia University. 

The next day was an even bigger winner as I headed to the northernmost point, Copper Harbor.  Although a little cool outside, it was a gorgeous drive.  Anyone who knows me is aware of how much I detest winter, but even I was mesmerized as I drove the Scenic Drive and passed by mounds of snow.  As long as the snow was only part of the landscape and not clogging the roads or making driving dangerous, I thought I was driving through a piece of heaven! I spoke to Barb who manages the Fort Wilkins gift shop and she was a delight to converse with.  She gave me alot of valuable information as to which neighboring stores might be interested in my book, and she was right on the money.  I also sold books at the Laughing Loon, the Country Village Stores and the Minnetonka Resort.  I quickly stopped by Copper World in Calumet to meet the owner and sign the books he was already selling for me.  I was very impressed by the variety of trinkets he sells!

Anyway, it was late by the time I reached Marquette that evening, so I checked in the hotel and called it a day.  The next morning I decided to visit a couple of stores before the conference.  In both cases the owners were out, so I put them on my list to call later.  I drove to the Marquette Public Library (which is a huge, 3 story building) and attended the conference.  I met a number of writers and was impressed with the presentations about e-books and book distribution.  I even got to meet one of my favorite authors--Donna Winters!  She writes the Great Lakes Books series and I always loved her wholesome writing style.  Donna was gracious enough to take six of my books and will be selling them at the U.P. Book Fair in Marquette on July 6th. 

Coming up soon:  Donna Winters will be featuring an interview with me soon on her blog, complete with a book giveaway contest!

Whew!  That's enough news for now!  More soon.