Great Lakes Author & Adventurer, Loreen Niewenhuis, Tours mid Ohio in October with New Book

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Oct. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- Loreen Niewenhuis had a mid-life crisis that evolved into a mid-life adventure, causing her to walk all the way around Lake Michigan in 2009. Then, she wrote the best-selling book, A 1000-MILE WALK ON THE BEACH, released in 2011.
In 2012, she undertook another 1000-mile hike -- this time touching all five Great Lakes -- and her new book, A 1000-MILE GREAT LAKES WALK (also published by Crickhollow Books of Milwaukee) was released first to select indie bookstores in April, then nationwide in June. The book was recently awarded the Great Lakes Great Reads designation by the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association.

In this new book, Niewenhuis takes readers along on her hike along the shoreline of all five Great Lakes. This book explores the geology, hydrology, and natural history of the largest system of fresh water lakes in the world. It also illuminates the threats to this massive ecosystem: invasive species, pollution, destruction of wetlands, and the gradual warming of the lakes. She raises important questions about preserving our wild places and protecting the fragile ecosystems on which we all depend. "With sensitivity and humor, Loreen's writings give a gentle message to the reader to care for the great natural resource we have here," says Pam Haferman, owner of Black River Books in South Haven, Michigan.

Niewenhuis will tour southwest Ohio with A 1000-MILE GREAT LAKES WALK in October. On Saturday, October 19, she'll be at Blue Jacket Books in Xenia [https://www.facebook.com/Bluejacketbooks] from 2-4pm. She'll give a lecture and a reading at the store. Refreshments will be served. On Monday, October 21, she'll talk about her 1000-Mile Great Lakes Walk at Blanchester Public Library at 7pm. Then, on Tuesday, October 22, she'll talk at Books 'N' More [http://www.booksnmore.org/] in downtown Wilmington at 2pm.

Using words, photos, and videos from her hike, Niewenhuis will take listeners along the shores of all five Great Lakes and many of the waterways connecting them. Niewenhuis speaks with the authority of an expert as she has a M.S. degree in the biological sciences. She raises important questions about preserving our wild places and protecting the fragile ecosystems on which we all depend.

Niewenhuis has a full book tour this year. Her schedule is on her website: LakeTrek.com. She will give readings and do signings of her book, and will also lecture at libraries, museums, schools, and other venues with photos and videos and maps from her adventure. "In my lecture, I explore how these vast inland seas were formed, the fascinating geology of the area, and the hydrology -- how the Great Lakes work as a connected system to move water to the North Atlantic Ocean," Niewenhuis said. "These lakes contain 84% of the fresh surface water in North America. Over 30 million people get their drinking water from them. They are vital to life in the region."

Niewenhuis has been constantly drawn to the shores of the Great Lakes and was the perfect person to undertake these adventures and to write about the journey with a clear, authoritative -- and often humorous -- voice.

"Loreen Niewenhuis is a wonder, for her vision, accomplishment, and ability to engage and entertain her audience. We are all challenged by her citing an adventurous goal and achieving it," says Barbara Siepker, owner of The Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor, Michigan.

About the author:
Loreen Niewenhuis has a bachelors of science from Calvin College, a masters of science from Wayne State University and a masters of fine arts from Spalding University. She currently lives in Battle Creek, Michigan. She is the author of A 1000-Mile Great Lakes Walk (the account of her hike touching all five Great Lakes) winner of the Great Lakes Great Reads award, A 1000-Mile Walk on the Beach (the account of her hike around Lake Michigan) winner of "Best Non-Fiction Beach Read" in 2012, the novellaATLANTA, and many literary short stories. She was a finalist for the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction in 2009 for her collection of short stories titled Scar Tissue.

Niewenhuis gives lectures about the Great Lakes and readings from her work. To contact her for interviews, appearances or to book her for a speaking engagement, e-mail her at LakeTrek@gmail.com

Please learn more about Niewenhuis, her writing, and her adventures at her website http://LakeTrek.com

And she continues to blog about her Great Lakes adventures at http://LakeTrek.blogspot.com