Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson, author of Three Cups of Tea, which sold over 3.6 million copies in
41 languages, and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for three years
after its debut in 2006, was nominated in 2009 and 2010 for the Nobel Peace Prize by
a bi-partisan committee of US legislators.

In nomination, Congresswoman Mary Bono said, "I learned more from Greg Mortenson about the root cause of terrorism than I did during all our briefings on Capitol Hill. He is a true hero, who explemplifies the true ideals of the American spirit."

Mortenson was recovering from a climbing injury in Pakistan in 1993, and was struck by the eagerness of the Pakistani children to learn. He vowed to build the children of that village a school. Mortenson raised funds, and returned to build the school. He has since built or supported over 131 schools in central Asia, and has founded the Central Asia Institute.

His journey has not been without struggle; he has twice received fatwehs from local mullahs, and
has been kidnapped by the Taliban. But despite extensive school bombings in Afghanistan and
Pakistan, none of the schools Mortenson built have been damaged. He credits the strong ownership
the community feels toward the schools.

The Library will host Greg Mortenson as part of the Authors in the Fall Series on Tuesday,
September 28th at 7:00 p.m. at the Alpena High School Auditorium. Tickets are $10 each and are
available for purchase June 1st. For more details or to purchase tickets please contact the Library
at (989)356-6188.

Mardi Link

Mardi Link is the author of two true crime books based in northern Michigan, Isadora's Secret and When Evil Came to Good Hart. "Mardi is a former police reporter, a former editor of both Small Press and ForeWord Magazines, a co-founder of Michigan Writers, and recipient of the 2007 Goddess Award from Antioch Writers Workshop. She lives in Traverse City." Brilliant Books

Isadora's Secret, a 2010 Michigan Notable Book, is "an astonishing story of a nun who was murdered
in Isadore nearly 100 years ago. Years after the nun's disappearance, her bones were found, but only when local law enforcement found out about this murder as gossip spread through the town was anything done to find out who killed the nun, Sister Janina. A compelling story and a well-researched and carefully written account of the events that affected Isadore and its Catholic Polish population so greatly."

When Evil Came to Good Hart, dubbed one of the most factual accounts of homicide written, recounts a 40 year old tale of murder, mayhem and mystery. "The murder mystery that has confounded and fascinated people for



over forty years has been given a whole new life. When Evil Came to Good Hart
is a well-researched and well-written piece of nonfiction that holds the reader in its spell, just as it has the many writers, reporters, and law officers who have puzzled over it. My highest praise for Mardi Link's book is to say that it reads like a good novel, a real page-turner." Judith Guest

The Library will host Mardi Link as part of the Authors in the Fall Series on
Sunday, October 10th at 2:00 p.m. in the Judith A. Stillion Conference Room.
Admission is free.

Marion Walker

Marion Walker is an Indiana resident who was just sixteen when Japanese aircraft
carriers bombed the US naval fleet stations at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.  In Franks's words, "The world as we knew it changed overnight." He was eager to serve his country, graduating from high school at seventeen and joining the US Marine Corps.  His experiences in the battle of Iwo Jima are detailed in his book Preparing for the Rain on Iwo Jima Isle.  Walker participated in the flag raising at Iwo Jima, part of the iconic image captured by Joe Rosenthal.   "After reading of his experiences during this deeply troubling time in history, Frank and his surviving comrades only ask that the people of America remember the sacrifices that have been made for their freedom and that their fallen comrades be rememberd." He shares his story on Saturday, October 16 at 2 p.m. in the Judith A. Stillion Conference Room. Admission is free.

Peg Herring

Onaway resident Peg Herring has written romance novels, mysteries, and is a
published playwright. Peg is a writer who once taught high school English. After graduating from the University of Michigan, she worked in education, teaching English, history, and communications. In 2002 she left teaching to pursue full-time writing.

She will speak about her latest release, Her Highness’s First Murder.
"Herring introduces a promising new mystery series featuring an engaging—if unlikely—trio of detectives. When two headless corpses turn up on the streets of London dressed in the outlawed garb of Roman Catholic nuns, it initially doesn’t cause much of a stir; after all, both of the unfortunate victims were prostitutes. However, when a nobleman’s daughter and then a member of young Princess Elizabeth’s royal household are murdered in the same fashion, the crime hits a little too close to home for an aging and debilitated Henry VIII. Fearing that it might be a twisted message aimed directly at him, the king commissions Welsh Guardsman Hugh Bellows to
investigate the murders." Booklist

Peg will also speak about the craft of writing and about her other works, MacBeth’s Niece and
Go Home and Die.  She appears at the Library on Sunday, October 24 at 2 p.m in the
Judith A. Stillion Conference Room. Admisssion is free.

Jeffery Schatzer

Jeffery L. Schatzer is a national award-winning author of picture books and historical
fiction chapter books for young people. His fanciful writing style and quirky characters make reading a joyful experience. His work also conveys important life themes . . . from the importance of teamwork to dealing with bullying issues.

The Runaway Garden is the 2010 Michigan Reads! winner. Mr. Schatzer will be here on October 27th at 7:00 p.m. as part of our Author's in the Fall Series.