New anthology book highlights U.P. authors

The 2014 Michigan Notable Book Award winner made a final stop in Houghton on his U.P. book tour Thursday night.

Ron Riekki stopped by the Portage Lake District Library to talk about his new book, The Way North: Collected Upper Peninsula New Works, which is a collection of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction pieces by some of the best writers from the Upper Peninsula.

“This is brand new, never before published writing from some of the great authors from the area, including Steve Hamilton, John Smolens, and Catie Rosenmurgy.  Just a long list of really talented people,” Riekki said.

Riekki talked about the need for people to know about these writers.  He said it’s a shame they don’t get their rightful recognition.

“I put together my own book tour with intent that I wanted more Upper Peninsula writers to know each other and know who they are. Meet lower Michigan authors and set up events downstate where U.P. authors could go to some of the bigger cities,” he said.

The book is part of an anthology that is being published by the Wayne State University Press.  Riekki said the first and second editions have already sold out.

If you would like a copy, head to wsupress.wayne.edu.