On August 21, 2021, I was able to interview a small group of local Michigan authors who participated in signings and selling their books at the Arts & Drafts art fair, held at Ross Park, in Norton Shores.

I met author Jean Davis, from Holland, who shared a book signing tent with Lon Hieftje of Muskegon. Davis’ specialty genres are sci-fi and fantasy, while Lon loves to write space-oriented sci-fi and thrillers. Writing for around 30 years, Davis has spent 15 of those years seriously looking toward publication. Her collection of work is geared toward adults 14 and up, and she has produced stand-alone books and a sci-fi series. She has written several short stories as well. Lon showcased his books for younger kids, including stories about the illusive Bigfoot, like “Kim and Big Hairy”.

Lon told me that one of his most popular books is “Pirates on Lake Michigan,” a history of pirates scouring our very own Great Lake. Davis’ most popular book, “Destiny Pills and Space Wizards,” is a collection of short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies over the years, “an eclectic mix of everything I do,” she said.

Around the other side of the fairgrounds, Deana Compton shared a book signing tent with J.  Scott Payne, an author from Allendale. Compton’s favorite genres are fantasy, and dystopian sci-fi with a twist of fantasy. “I grew up reading fantasy so that’s a genre I like to write,” she said. At 81, J. Scott Payne is a 40-year veteran of the writing craft. He wants his historical fiction to show common soldiers who went to war because they had to. He said the infantry suffers to rescue suffering people. 

Of the series Compton has written, “Freecurrent” is her favorite, and her fans’ favorite, she told me. The trilogy follows a young lady whose pursuit of her grandmother leads her to a world where magic is real and dragons rule the sky. “My dragons can communicate telepathically, and they’re spicy little devils,” Compton explained. Her newest book, “Defiance,” is the second in her “Human Nature” series. She’s also written and illustrated several children’s books. 

Payne’s first book, “A Corporal No More,” was based on his great-grandfather’s experiences in the Civil War: a lumberjack who joined the Union army as a common soldier thinking he’d escape the dangers of his trade, but was terribly mistaken. He’s written four other military-themed historical fiction books. Payne explained that it takes about 1 year to write a novel, then publish it through Amazon.

When I spoke with Wendy Sura Thomson, she shared that she had a tent to showcase several authors. As both an author and the owner of publishing company, Quitt and Quinn, Publishers, Thomson presented books by her Michigan authors Carol Sorkin Hunter and Lisa Crystal, as well as her own work. She also showcased the book, “Postcards from the Future,” which she wrote with Donald Levin and Andrew C. Lark, her local Michigan co-authors.

I was excited to see members of the local author community who have published so much work be able to participate in Arts & Drafts. Authors are a valuable part of our local creative community, and it was wonderful to meet a few of them.

By Kate Holtrop: Published in the Fruitport Area News, 2021, October Issue, page