REPUBLIC - The Republic Area Historical Society will host a free U.P. Book Tour event at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Republic Township Hall. Featured writers will include Marty Achatz and Cameron Witbeck, both poets from the Northern Michigan University English Department; Jennifer Burd, whose poetry is accompanied musically by Lazlo Slomovits; nonfiction writer Karl Bohnak; poet and writer Linda Nemec Foster; and Escanaba poet John Gubbins.
Moderator will be Ishpeming native, Jane Piirto, pictured above. Piirto's poetry is highly acclaimed and widely published. She currently teaches at Ashland University in Ohio. A book sale and signing opportunity will follow the presentation/panel discussion.
Book tour project director Ron Riekki is an author, poet and playwright, originally from Ishpeming. He has adapted the book "Dandelion Cottage" into a play which will be performed later this summer by Lake Superior Theatre in Marquette. The 2012 U.P. Book Tour is the subject of an upcoming documentary film under Riekki's direction, along with the technical skills of Helen Cho Anthos.
For listings of Book Tour events and authors, visit www.upbooktour.org or call 906-226-4318.