Upper Peninsula: Region One
Harju, Jerry
April 16, 1933 -
Place of Birth: Ishpeming, MI
Place of Principal Residence: Marquette, MI
Biography:
Jerry Harju was born to Arvid and Lydia Harju in Ishpeming, MI on April 16, 1933. Childhood in the Upper Peninsula was an experience Harju never forgot, as demonstrated in the plethora of material it created for several of his books, including Northern Reflections, Northern D’Lights, Northern Passages, and Northern Memories. Harju earned his degree in engineering mechanics in 1957 at the University of Michigan and his MS at the University of Southern California in 1985. Harju stayed in Southern California for over 30 years as manager in the aerospace industry. In 1993, Harju retired and moved to Marquette, beginning a new page of his life as writer. His first book, Northern Reflections, published in 1992, opened the door for Graham-style humor. In addition to his books, Harju writes columns for the Marquette Newspaper and runs a publishing company.
Selected Works:
- Cold Cash
- Here’s What I Think
- Northern D’Lights
- Northern Memories Awards:
- Midwest Independent Publishers Association Book Achievement Award for Cold Cash Critical Reception: For Northern Reflections: A Lighthearted Account of “Growing up North”: “...These stories will tickle your fancy…” University of Mich. Alumnus Magazine “...The book is a fast, rollicking romp into a simpler time.” The Finnish American Reporter “Northern D’Lights is delightfully written. It’s loaded with belly laughs, chuckles, and those memories that bring a smile to the head and heart.” Gene Perret, Head Comedy Writer for Bob Hope “Cold Cash is a hot read. The suspenseful tale will leave you laughing out loud. Read every hilarious word of this gem.” The Green Bay Press Gazette “Cold Cash, a saga of a bungled bank heist, offers laugh-out-loud thrills.” The Grand Rapids Press “Cold Cash is a madly funny romp of a tale. A whirlwind ride from disaster to disaster, following the dopiest pair since ‘Dumb and Dumber,’ with a pistol-toting wronged woman thrown into the mix. The laughs keep flopping along.” The Traverse City Record Eagle Relevance of Place to Author’s Work: Raised there as a child and now living there as a retiree, Harju draws on his life in Upper Michigan to create stories. His string of books gives hearty recognition, if not full out devotion, to the mitten state.
- The Time of the Shining Rocks
- An Enduring Christmas (Marquette, Michigan 1850)
- The Time of the Copper Moon
- The Barefoot Boys of Fayette
- Michigan Reading Teacher of the Year
- Marquette-Alger Reading Teacher of the Year
- Phi Delta Kappa Outstanding Educator Award
- Forsyth Township Award for preservation of local history
- Just Imagine; A Collection of 18 Stories Rich in Values with Loveable Characters (2002)
- Life’s Road; Poetry of Life, Love, Nature, and the Spirit in Pain (2002)
- Wayfarers (2003)
- Black Bear Tales and Native American Legends
- A Sense of Place: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Essays in Honor of William & Margery Vandament
- Italians in Michigan
- Cornish in Michigan
- Charles Follo Award
- Award of Merit, Historical Society of Michigan
- Distinguished Faculty Award, Northern Michigan University
- Peter White Scholar
- Helen Longyear Paul Award, Marquette County Historical Society
- Gov. Blanchard appointment to the Michigan Christopher Columbus Quincentenniary Jubilee Commission and reappointment by Gov. Engler
Henry, Ragene
Place of Birth: Upper Michigan
Place of Principal Residence: Gwinn, Michigan
Biography
Ragene Henry was born to Clarence and Genevieve Ryberg on May 17, 1947 in Escanaba, MI. She earned her BA and Ma at Northern Michigan University in 1969 and 1990, respectively. Besides teaching 5th grade at Sawyer School in Gwinn, MI, Henry writes and co-directs the Upper Peninsula Writing Projects. Her stated purpose for writing is to share her passion for the history of Upper Michigan, which is reflected in her three children’s books. Henry lives in the woods near Marquette with her husband, Bill, and has two children: Chad and Ryan.
Selected Work
Awards:
Critical Reception:
Educators praise Henry’s books as an intriguing source of history for children. She has received several awards for her teaching, as well as for her study of history.
Relevance of Place to Authors Work:
Upper Michigan is her home and source of inspiration. She is dedicated to telling its history to children, which is the focus of writing career.
Kilburn, Bonnie J.
Place of Birth Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Place of Principal Residence: Newberry, MI
Biography
Although Kilburn was born and grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, she left this much-loved area to pursue a M.A. in Communications at Michigan State University (after first receiving a B.S. at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan). All her life, she has been an ambition person filled with many diverse dreams and goals—many of which she has accomplished. She has had many careers throughout her life: teacher, real estate sales, photographer, Emergency Medical Technician, insurance agent, and entrepreneur. Kilburn has been enriched by each of these careers, which have enhanced her current dream of public speaking and writing. Using the experience of many years of working in diverse fields, Kilburn gladly pursues public speaking out of a concern to see positive messages of diversity, hope, and love being taught and spread amongst humankind. For this same reason, Kilburn writes—in hopes of creating positive and edifying entertainment for children.
Selected Works
Critical Response
Although it has been five years since Kilburn’s Just Imagine was published, the book has received little critical response. Kilburn is a self-published author, and therefore has not had the advantage of working with a publishing company in promoting her works. Despite the lack of critical acclaim received from her writing, Kilburn has received criticism on her Public Speaking. She has been noted has having strong delivery, a unique and creative style, and being very uplifting and passionate. Once can imagine that her writing, which she claims to be connected to her speaking, might invoke similar praise.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
For Kilburn, “place” has played a very significant role in her writing—it is the very place in which she lives that she draws her inspiration. When asked, she has sited the Upper Peninsula’s Two Hearted and Tahquamenon Rivers, as well as the dense, animal-filled forests, as being places that fill her with peace and act as the source of her inspiration to write.
Lamb, Suellen
Place of Birth: Detroit, MI
Place of Principal Residence: Big Manistique Lake, MI
Biography
Suellen Lamb was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where she began her higher education. She left Detroit, however, to complete her studies at Michigan State University and achieve both B.A. and M.A. degrees. Although she could have immediately continued with her studies to obtain a PhD, Lamb decided to take time off from school to raise her four children: Jill, Rick, Nicole, and Scott. Presently retired, she and her husband, Jim, reside on Big Manistique Lake in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
After writing two books that have both been sold internationally, Life’s Road and Wayfarers, Lamb has frequently traveled around the country for speaking engagements as well as poetry readings. A teacher of twenty-eight years, Lamb enjoys the opportunity to present and educate at different conventions and conferences. Although retired, she still shares a love and passion for youth, and thus has made children the target audience for her writing.
Selected Works
Critical Response
Critics have praised Lamb for the “ebullient spirit of…warmth and heartbreak alike” that can be found in her rhyming verse.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
By growing up in Detroit and retiring in the Upper Peninsula, Lamb has experienced both urban and rural settings. She claims to appreciate both environments, but chooses to reside in the less populated Upper Peninsula in her retirement. It is within this nature sanctuary that she found her inspiration to write Life’s Road and Wayfarers.
Magnaghi, Russell M.
October 12, 1943 -
Place of Birth: San Francisco, CA
Place of Principal Residence: Marquette, Michigan
Biography:
Russell Magnaghi was born to Grace and Mario Magnaghi in San Francisco, CA on October 12, 1943. Magnaghi was raised in an Italian-American community and attended the University of San Francisco, graduating with a BA in 1965. He continued his studies at St. Louis University, earning an MA and PhD in 1967 and 1970, respectively. Magnaghi has been a history professor at Northern Michigan University since 1969, but has also taught at Loyola University, the University of San Francisco, and Florissant Valley Community College. Although originally focusing on Latin-American history in his studies, Magnaghi now is an avid scholar of Northern Michigan history and has published many books and scholarly works on the subject. He lives in Marquette, MI with his wife, Diane, and his daughter Emily.
Selected Works:
Awards:
Critical Reception:
For Herbert E. Bolton and the Historiography of the Americas
...this book should be required reading for everyone working in the history of the United States, even if they do not subscribe to a greater Americas viewpoint.
- Western Historical Quarterly
Relevance of Place to the Author’s Work:
Magnaghi devotes his research and writing to the history of Northern Michigan. He is actively engaged with the Michigan community in pursuing a deeper knowledge of Michigan’s past by being involved in many locally run research projects.