Green Bay author pens a series of novels set on Mackinac Island | Lit Wisconsin
Lit Wisconsin is a sporadic series of stories in which we highlight the work of writers of Wisconsin or those with ties to the state.
Today we feature Michele Olson of Green Bay, the author of a series of novels about and set on Mackinac Island, Michigan. The newest book in the series is "Being Wendy (In a world afraid to grow up)."
Meet the author, Michele Olson
Olson, 66, has been writing "since I got my first job as a writer for live TV at WISN (Milwaukee) when I was 17 years old in 1974," Olson said in an email interview. "From there I went into writing for TV, radio and, through the years, all mediums of advertising and content for 45 years."
That experience helped her begin writing novels at age 60.
"I do think all those years of corporate, media and nonprofit writing were the perfect education for the leap to fiction," she said.
There can be an idea that fiction writers should start at a younger age, but she said that shouldn't matter.
"You're never too old write," Olson said. "I encourage writers of any age to do it."
Olson publishes her novels through Lake Girl Publishing, lakegirlpublishing.com, which she said she and her husband started to "showcase all my creative endeavors."
Those include not only writing, but art, speaking and professional voicework.
"I was a radio DJ back in the day of spinning records and have done voice work ever since," Olson said. "I know in the future I will write some stories that involve those golden days of radio."
Learn about the Mackinac Island book series
Olson and her husband have been visiting Mackinac Island for decades, and the Island Bookstore was always a stop.
"I stood in the aisle looking at books set on Mackinac Island, years before before I ever knew I would have my books there at some point," she said. "When you are there, you want to take that feeling of being on the island home with you."
When she decided to write her first novel, she knew it would be set at the Grand Hotel and other locations on Mackinac Island, she said. The first book, "Being Ethel (in a world that loves Lucy)," takes place in 1979, when the movie "Somewhere in Time" starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was being filmed on the island.
"My characters become extras in the movie," Olson said, "and it plays into the story."
Other books in the series include: "Being Dorothy (in a world longing for home)," set in 1980; "Being Alice (In a world lost in the looking glass)" set in 1981; and "Being Wendy (In a world afraid to grow up)" set in 1982. The books can be read in order or as standalones.
They fall into the suspense/mystery genre, but Olson said also include "a touch of romance," a clean storyline, quirky characters and faith questions.
"I set out to write what made me laugh, smile, feel, think, and what I enjoy, like Old Hollywood, TV, the 1970s. Those all show up in my novels," Olson said.
Where can you buy the books?
Olson said physical copies of the books are available at Island Bookstore, Main Street Centre, Mackinac Island, and can be ordered off its website, islandbookstore.com.
People can also visit lakegirlpublishing.com/books to order copies. Paperbacks cost $12.99. Ebooks are available on Amazon for $4.99 or free for Kindle Unlimited members.
Contact Keith Uhlig at 715-845-0651 or kuhlig@gannett.com. Follow him at @UhligK on Twitter and Instagram or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay author pens Mackinac Island mystery novels: Lit Wisconsin
