Upper LP: Region Two
Pyle, Deanna (DeAnna Talcott)
July 7, 1951 -
Place of Birth: Lincoln, MI
Place of Principle Residence: Lansing, MI
Biography:
Deanna Pyle was born to Mildred and Arthur Talcott in Lincoln, NE. She graduated with a BA in Speech and Drama from the University of Nebraska in 1773. Throughout her life Pyle has worked as a teacher, sportswriter, realtor, and now as an author for Silhouette Books. In addition, she has written for Silhouette, Kensington, and New Concepts. Her work has received several awards, including the National Readers’ Choice Awards. She lives in Michigan with her husband, Robert, and her three children: James, Richard, and Afton.
Selected Works:
- Her Last Chance (2002)
- The Triplet’s Wedding Wish (1999)
- Swept Away (1996)
Awards:
- 2005 Inducted into Norris High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame
- 2002 Finalist for Booksellers Best Award
- 2002 Finalist for National Readers’ Choice Award for Best Traditional Romance
- Romantic Times Top Pick
- Nominee for Romantic Times Best Traditional Romance
- WISRWA Readers’ Choice Award for Best Traditional Romance
- National Readers’ Choice Award for Best Traditional Romance
Critical Reception:
Pyle has been recognized for her achievements as a writer, winning several awards and being inducted into the Norris High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Pyle lives in Michigan, where she works full-time as a writer.
Rosewall, Ellen
February 8, 1952—
Place of Birth: Binghamton, NY
Place of Principal Residence: Summer: Petoskey, MI Winter: De Pere, WI
Biography
Ellen Rosewall was born to John Wetherbee and Mary Lewis on February 8, 1952 in Binghamton, New York. She is the author of the book Sparkle Island: Stories of Love, Life, and Walloon Lake, a collection of essays about nostalgic life at the 100 year old cottage that has been in her family for generations. Ms. Rosewall is a Professor of Arts Management at the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay. She was a 1975 graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Music and also graduated from the University of Minnesota with an MFA. Rosewall’s professional career began as a singer, voice coach, coordinator for the vocal department at an arts center before she began a a distinguished career in arts management, where she has held many executive and consulting positions in arts and cultural organizations. She has also been an active advocate for the promotion and support of the arts at the local and state levels. Aside from her current teaching position and involvement in various commitees and organizations, Rosewall is also the founder and owner of Art for Pete’s Sake!, a booking agency for local musicians in the Wisconsin area.
Sparkle Island was what Rosewall called a “side project,” which she undertook to commemorate the 100th birthday of Ja-Ma-Ca cottage on Walloon Lake. The idyllic summer getaway (a short distance from the childhood home of Ernest Hemingway) is located in northern Michigan and was purchased by her grandfather in 1930. Rosewall lives in De Pere, Wisconsin with her husband Michael and her son Peter, but her family spends summers in Petoskey, Michigan.
Selected Works
- Sparkle Island: stories of love, life and Walloon Lake(2000)
- Voices of Michigan: An Anthology of Michigan Writers(2000)
Critical Reception
For Sparkle Island:
“Like finding a Petoskey stone in a dresser drawer, this book evokes marvelous memories of Michigan magic.”
Coggin Heeringa, of Interlochen Center for the Arts in Traverse City, Michigan
“Sparkle Island reminds me of Lake Wobegon the writing is so clean, clear, honest and from the heart.”
Jane Winston, Editor and Publisher of Voices of Michigan, an Anthology of Michigan Writers
“Sparkle Island is a touching recollection of multi-general stories that hark back to a slower paced yesteryear, when life was filled with tales and all one had to do was sit back and listen. From Ernest Hemingway Sat Here, Lost in the Lake, and A Boat is a Hole You Pour Money Into, to Gimme That Old Time Religion, Cheap Thrills, and I’ll Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a Memory Today, Ellen Rosewall’s short stories and vignettes are entertaining, occasionally insightful, often humorous, thoroughly engaging, and highly recommended.”
The Midwest Book Review
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
Rosewall described her book, Sparkle Island, as being “about Ja-Ma-Ca and our family, but it’s also about love, and life, and those very special places that help us clear our heads, open our senses and make the world come alive.” And indeed, one derives a genuine sense of the author’s deep connection to the charming cottage and her fond memories of blissful existence in the natural scenery of Walloon Lake. One passage in the book describes how the fondness for Ja-Ma-Ca was contagious to all those who came to know the place: “Most of us have been going to Ja-Ma-Ca since we were babies. Some of us have joined later by marrying into the family. We’ve all been going long enough that all it takes is to step onto the front porch and we feel our muscles relaxing, our eyes opening and our senses coming alive.”
Umscheid, Christina-Marie
January 28, 1946—
Place of Birth Weiden, West Germany
Place of Principal ResidencePetoskey, MI
Biography
Christina-Marie Umscheid was born to to Alfred and Barbara Hoffman on January 28, 1946 in Weiden, West Germany. Umscheid earned her Associate degree from Meramac Junior College in 1969 and her Associate in Liberal Arts degree from North Central Michigan College in 1984. She moved to Petoskey, MI in 1976, and worked as a nurse until recently retiring for health reasons. In addition to nursing, Umscheid writes poetry and been a guest poet at various schools in Michigan. Her poetry has been featured in publications such as In The Small Pond Magazine, Sou’wester, Passages North, Odyssey, Chicago Review, MacGuffin and e-zines such as World Poetry, Moondance:Celebrating Creative Women, Snakeskin as well as anthologies such as Voices in Michigan. Many of her poem’s sceneries, such as in Kristallnact (2004) and Alanson (2001)are set in her native Germany. Ms. Umscheid’s most poignant poetry deals primarily with emotional themes such as death and dying. She wrote poems for National Survivors Day and Cancer Survivors Day.
One of her most notable publications is From the Belly of Jonah’s Whale: A Journey with Dying. Other recent poems by Umscheid included Alanson (2001), and The Barn (published in 1999 as a part of the Voices of Michigan Anthology). Umscheid says of her own writing, “Over all, my goal with poetry has been to write poems that have power and meaning in as few words as possible. My poems do not ramble. They reflect my belief in seeking meanings beyond the first impression.” Umscheid continues to live in Petoskey, MI where she works as a full time writer.
Wargin, Kathy-Jo
Place of Birth: Tower, MN
Principal Place of Residence: Petoskey, MI
Biography
Kathy-jo Wargin was born to Richard Dale and Carol Nelson in Tower, MN on December 20, 1964. The pine forests and shining lakes of MN rooted a deep love for nature in Wargin. She earned her BA in Music Theory & Composition at the University of Minnesota in 1987 before becoming a full-time writer. Today Wargin has penned many books, one of which has been named the official state book of Michigan. Her stated purpose is to share her love for nature and storytelling, hoping children will discover the beauty of detail in a story. Besides her writing, Wargin is a guest speaker and is on the faculty of the Bear River Writers Workshop, an event sponsored by the University of Michigan. Currently Wargin lives with her husband, Ed, in Petoskey, MI and has one son, Jake.
Selected Works
- The Legend of Sleeping Bear (1998)
- The Legend of Mackinac Island (1999)
- The Legend of the Lady’s Slipper (2001)
- The Legend of the Loon (2003)
- The Edmund Fitzgerald: Song of the Bell (2003)
- The Legend of Leelanau (2003)
- The Legend of the Petoskey Stone (2004)
Awards
- Children’s Choice Award winner for The Legend of the Loon
- The Legend of Sleeping Bear chosen to be the official children’s book for the state of Michigan
- 1999 Great Lakes Booksellers Association’s Children’s Book of the Year for The Legend of Mackinac Island
Critical Response
For The Legend of Leelanau:
“Wargin’s version is a fluid retelling that even young listeners will comprehend and older readers will enjoy. Lush greens, browns, and gold colors
dominate the double-page spreads with the lovely Leelinau depicted as a child just bordering on womanhood. An author’s note explains that this
tale also accounts for the origin of the name of Leelanau County in Michigan.”
- Kirkus Reviews
For Legend of the Petoskey Stone:
“A blend of history and legend, this is a rich and unusual story that reaches far beyond its native Michigan. Handsome paintings bathed in the
yellow of the sun are vibrantly detailed and bring to life the dense forests and flowing rivers of a time long past. For those lucky enough to travel
to Michigan and find a Petoskey Stone, directions for cleaning and polishing your find are included.”
- Children’s Literature
“The story is pleasant and the artwork excellent but the value of this book as an authentic native legend is uncertain. It is simple enough to
prove the factual existence of Chief Ignatius Petosegay, and perhaps even to establish him as the namesake of the town and the fossilized
coral remnants referenced in the title. Unfortunately, since the author does not provide any sources, there is no indication that this tale
accurately represents any traditional story of the Anishinabe peoples in Michigan. While the writing flows well, especially for reading aloud, the
story seems a little too simplistic at face value.”
- School Library Journal
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
Kathy-jo Wargin enjoys writing about nature and its effect on the lives of her readers. Many of Wargin’s books take place in her current residence of Petoskey, MI.