Michigan Tour Feedback

I was very pleased to see that an event in which I participated was rated the number one event of the year in that area by a local newspaper. Details can be found here.

Photos from 4/24/08, Grand Rapids

I've been having some computer troubles and so have only now gotten around to posting these photos from my appearance in Grand Rapids as part of the Great Michigan Read.

This photo is of myself and Mike Ross. Click on the image to see it full-sized.

This one is of me in action at the lectern. Click on the image to see it full-sized.

A Big Thank You to Michigan

A big "thank you" to all my new friends in Michigan. Six lectures, six cities, seven days. All were a great success. The halls were mostly packed to capacity, with lots of extra happenings.

The state library at Lansing was a spectacular venue for the kickoff. That first glimpse of the stately building blew my breath away. Dinner afterwards at the Italian restaurant where the waiter spotted me immediately from the advance publicity. He turned out to be a budding poet. There was a Polish dinner, door prizes, a packed house and a post-talk party in Hamtramck.

Grand Rapids has a splendid library too, filled with a lively lunchtime audience.

I stayed at the historic Landmark hotel in Marquette, where I tasted the local whitefish, a delicacy, at the Spanish restaurant. My hosts were the organizers who had arranged my afternoon talk at the lovely Peter White Library opposite the hotel.

Next day we meandered down the coast road to Traverse City, true Hemingway country, where I luxuriated at the Resort and Spa. One of the board members donated the accommodation. The evening at the newly renovated Traverse City Opera House was elegant and well attended. Ernest's nephew James Sanford came with his Marian and several friends from Walloon Lake. They enjoyed themselves immensely.

The crowning glory was the final night of my tour in Saginaw. Dr. Sam Shaheen and his lovely wife Patricia, were my hosts at the Ramada Inn. Patty was the grand organizer of the Hemingway evening held at the Shaheen's newly restored Temple Theatre. After my talk, I presented the essay and short story finalists their prizes on stage. In a bar scene with live music playing 1950s hits, 26 Hemingway "look-alikes" competed for the coveted title. The winner, # 18, is off to Key West in July to further his career. A reception followed while I signed my book till my hand ached. I signed an average of seventy-five books at each venue, along with cards, posters, coasters, tee shirts and whatever else was presented.

What a fine time! What great people! Michigan is certainly a reading place. And Ernest Hemingway is one of their favorite authors.

Home safely from 2008 Great Michigan Read

I made it back, safe and sound, from a busy but very satisfying tour. I had a great time: the people running the show were great, my driver / companion was a delight to be with in addition to being organized and able to get me to my destinations on time and relaxed. The audiences were attentive, the venues were excellent.

All in all, I have to say that Michigan was lovely, the people were nice and I can see why Ernest always had such affection for the place.

Article in MLive.com, 4/30/08

Here is another article from MLive.com; this one is about the end of my tour and featured a Hemingway Look-a-like competition (!)

Article in Traverse City Record-Eagle

Another nice write-up for a Great Michigan Read tour is to found here. This is the photo of me that I gave them. © Valerie Hemingway

Article in MLive.com, 4/25/08

Here is another article written during my Michigan tour.

Write-up of Lansing Talk on 4/24/08

You can find a write-up of my appearance in Lansing here.

On the Road!

I am off today on my Michigan tour. I hope to keep my blog updated as I go through my itinerary. I will have a driver / companion with me, thank God. I will try to take a few pictures as I go and post them, if I can make all the technology work!

Some day, I hope to be as adept as the Yarn Harlot. Some day.

Pre-Great Michigan Read Write-Up

On April 16th, I received a very nice write up in City pulse, which you can find here.

Six talks scheduled for The Great Michigan Read

The Great Michigan Read, sponsored by the Michigan Humanities Council, selected Ernest Hemingway's The Nick Adams Stories as their featured book for the year June 2007 to 2008. As part of this year's festivities, I have been asked to give talks in six Michigan cities this month. Here is my schedule:

Lansing 5 p.m. Wednesday April 23rd

Hamtramck 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24th

Grand Rapids, 1 p.m. Saturday April 26th

Marquette, 2 p.m. Sunday April 27th

Traverse City, 7 p.m. Monday April 28th

Saginaw, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday April 29th

Details can be found on the Internet here.

In preparation for these appearances I have given ten interviews, with three more scheduled. The advance publicity has been very gratifying, with wide exposure and much coverage devoted to the events in the local media.

I am continually amazed at the insatiable interest in Ernest Hemingway, both the man and his writings. Michigan is one state that can claim Hemingway as its own. He spent his childhood summers at Walloon Lake (then Bear Lake) and wrote some of his earliest and best short stories about his experiences. To the end of his life he maintained a great affection for Michigan.

I am looking forward to the first trip that will take me outside the Detroit area. I have just reread with great pleasure The Nick Adams Stories, and my friend and former colleague Constance Cappel's Hemingway in Michigan as an aperitif for the Great Michigan Read feast.