Young Reader Hour & Family Focus
Join us for two hours of FREE community programming focused on families! From 11 AM - 1 PM at The Mill, you’ll get a chance to meet three different children’s authors who will engage with Writing North’s youngest readers and writers:
Dana Saugstad, author of The Twelve Days of Yooper Christmas
Mary McCune, author of Rumpelknitskin Makes Things Right
Chelsea Ekquist, author of Animal Jubliee: An Alphabet of Wild Glee
No child care is provided; caregivers must be present for kids to participate.
Children’s Authors at Writing North
A lifelong resident of the Upper Peninsula, Mary McCune grew up on the family farm, one of six children. She attended Northern Michigan University, receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree with a minor in Library Science.
She lives in Manistique, Mich., where she was an elementary teacher for 35 years. In her retirement, Mary enjoys knitting, reading, writing, and spending time with her husband, two grown children, and two springer spaniels.
Creating Rumpelknitskin Makes Things Right with her good friend and illustrator, Susan Treder, has fulfilled her dream of writing for children.
Mary McCune
Dana D. Saugstad is a former librarian and educator, now district manager for Dickinson Conservation District. Originally from Scottville, Mich., Dana resides in Quinnesec, Mich. (in the Upper Peninsula) after living in Alaska for 8 years, where she fell in love with children’s books.
She enjoys family time, nature walks, and audiobooks.
The Twelve Days of Yooper Christmas is her first children’s book.
Dana Saugstad
Chelsea Ekquist is a lifelong creative who transforms everyday moments into art. With a background in Television Directing, she built her career as a family photographer and Instructor of Digital Media. She has taught photography and video production to hundreds of students in Michigan, helping them earn Emmy nominations and top honors at state competitions. Since 2013, she has owned and operated a family photography business, capturing newborns, families, and weddings.
Now a children’s author, Chelsea homeschools her three children in the Upper Peninsula, where she continues imagining while dreaming up new stories. Her book Animal Jubliee: An Alphabet of Wildlife Glee! is available at The Mill.