Great news! The Island Book Store on Mackinac Island not only carries “Delivered – The Cross of Lorraine,” they have also scheduled a book signing!
I will be at the book store on Main Street, Saturday, August 3rd from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. This is such great news because my dream is to have people who know and love the island enjoy the story of Tawny and Takoda.
When entering the Mackinac Island’s harbor, visitors are immediately drawn to the historic
barns on the Arnold Dock. Iconic reminders of Mackinac’s rich past, the barns are very
much in use today. Invariably, at least one horse drawn wagon will be pulled up along side,
as merchandise is loaded or unloaded.
In the novel Discovered – The Cross of Lorraine, Takoda’s workshop is located
in a historic barn out on the old Coal Dock.
The Grand Hotel, Ft. Mackinac and the Arnold Dock are probably the most prominent
and priceless structures on the island and we’re fortunate that they are well-preserved
and cared for by their owners and protected by the City of Mackinac.
While reading “Discovered – the Cross of Lorraine” some fans have had
difficulty picturing the coal dock where Takoda has his workshop. The above photo
focuses on the Arnold Dock below Fort Mackinac. The coal dock is to the left, just out of sight.
This winter shot was taken from the Arnold Dock – looking toward the Coal Dock.
Of course it is all fiction, but this was an ideal spot for Takoda’s boat restoration
business since it is isolated, near the hardware store and wonderful boats
have actually been restored there.
In 2005, extensive restoration of the Coal Dock began. Built before 1910, possibly as early
as 1860, the Coal Dock was aptly named, since coal used by residents was unloaded there
as well as hay, firewood and barreled fish. It was owned by the Arnold Line system for more
than 100 years, but before that belonged to Captain James Bennett and was known as
Bennett’s Wharf.
It is one of the most attractive sites on the waterfront and deserves preservation so that all visitors
throughout the coming years can enjoy seeing such a beautiful remnant of Mackinac’s past.
The stern of one of the gorgeous wooden boats handcrafted at the Coal Dock barn.
Photos of the Arnold Dock will be featured in the next posting.
In Discovered – The Cross of Lorraine, the main characters are often travelling
back and forth to Mackinac Island on the Star Line ferries.
A chapter in Book Two, Witnessed – Measures of Love (to be published in late summer)
explains a little about this ferry line’s fascinating boats.
Here’s a preview of the text:
“The ferry was pretty empty since the high tourist season begins Memorial Day weekend. Tawny and Takoda had the top deck to themselves. They waved hello to the captain and sat near the bow, close to the side rails, and looked on as the practiced crew flung the lines off the dock pilings.
The captain gunned the engines and quickly swung the boat around to face their destination, Mackinac Island. After they gained speed, he turned on the hydro pump that sucks up lake water, then shoots it out at the stern in a large plume of water.
Star Line is known for those towering “rooster tails.” Children and adults are all amused by the playful effect of the towering sprays.”
If you’re lucky enough to have “Scut” crewing (as seen on bow)
you’ll have great entertainment. This energetic wonder adds excitement to
the trip from St. Ignace to Mackinac and always gets folks laughing on the way back.
When Tawny and Takoda paddled their kayaks on the north side of the island,
they passed by Arch Rock.
The dramatic limestone formation, Arch Rock, has a huge fan club.
And why not? It’s size and beauty are intriguing and so is the view of the lake, 145 feet below.
There is an ancient legend that the arch was formed by the tears of a young Indian
woman who fell in love with a native “sky person”
and was forced by her father to stand upon a large rock until she
promised never to see her true love again. Her tears slowly melted
the rock and formed an arch. Ultimately, her “sky love’ came and
took her up to the stars to live in eternal happiness.
This sturdy team of work horses from Mackinac Island Carriage Tours takes a break
in front of Arch Rock. They just pulled a wagon full
of tourists up the hill and don’t look as exhausted as the people
who biked or walked there.
Another team arrives. Their handlers say that when the horses
arrive on the island in spring, they can’t wait to get to work. They truly get bored
with relaxing all winter and want to expend that energy.
Carriages like this, with the fringe on top, line up in front of Fort Mackinac,
waiting to take tourists for a spin around the island. The drivers have
great tales to tell, but it’s the horses that people never forget.
One of the fun things to do when visiting Mackinac in springtime is to walk
Main and Market streets and observe the changes.
Storefronts, signage, awnings, and other architectural details continuously improve.
In Book Two Tawny visits her favorite bakery on Main.
She buys an apple turnover to bring to Takoda as a surprise.
But the tables turn….badly.
The reader isn’t the only one shattered. It’s hard for the author to see
bad things happen to her favorite characters.
Mackinac Postings 