MARQUETTE — The annual literary anthology U.P. Reader marks a major milestone in 2026 with the release of its 10th anniversary edition, a commemorative volume celebrating the people, landscapes, traditions and enduring literary spirit of the Upper Peninsula — with special attention to the cultural crossroads of Mackinac Island.

Published by Modern History Press and edited by Mikel B. Classen and Deborah K. Frontiera, U.P. Reader – Volume 10: Bringing Upper Michigan Literature to the World continues the anthology’s tradition of showcasing the voices of the Upper Peninsula through fiction, poetry, memoir, history, humor and regional storytelling. Since its founding in 2017, the annual collection has become an essential literary showcase for Yooper culture and northern Michigan life.

This landmark anniversary edition draws readers across the Upper Peninsula “from the Keweenaw to the Soo and from Menominee to Ironwood,” while evoking the enduring allure of Mackinac Island — the historic meeting place of cultures, travelers, storytellers, and traditions that has long symbolized the romance and mystery of the Great Lakes region. The volume’s richly illustrated pages capture the same spirit visitors experience when horse-drawn carriages roll beneath island maples, and freighters pass through the Straits connecting Lakes Michigan and Huron.

“The Upper Peninsula has always inspired storytellers,” said editor Mikel B. Classen (Sault Ste. Marie). “And few places embody that spirit more powerfully than Mackinac Island, where history, memory, and imagination meet. This 10th anniversary edition celebrates not only the voices of the U.P., but also the places that continue to shape those voices generation after generation.

Tyler Tichelaar, one of Marquette’s most prolific authors and former president of UPPAA, adds, “A collection of short stories, poetry, and essays will allow readers to enjoy a hodge-podge of U.P. literature from many different voices and will offer numerous visions and definitions of what it means to live here. The U.P. can be many different things to many different people, and this collection will help make it clear.”

The anthology features more than 70 works from writers across the region, including established and emerging authors whose stories explore everything from family histories and wilderness adventures to contemporary Yooper humor and speculative fiction. The edition also includes award-winning entries from the Dandelion Cottage Short Story Contest, recognizing outstanding young writers from schools throughout the Upper Peninsula.

The Dandelion Cottage Short Story Contest, chaired by author Larry Buege of Marquette, helps nurture the next generation of storytellers whose voices will carry the traditions, imagination, and cultural heritage of the Upper Peninsula into the future. U.P. educators can contact UPPAA for a complimentary reading copy and a special discount for classroom purchases.

Royalties from the U.P. Reader will be used to support operating costs of the UPPAA and its many events to educate its members about writing and to support educational projects like the U.P. Notable Books Club as well as the Young Writers Storytelling Workshop and UPPAA Spring conference at the Peter White Library in Marquette on May 15, 2026, but the main focus remains to get U.P. literature into the hands of readers.  For more info, including submission guidelines, please visit www.UPReader.org.

Established in 1998 to support authors and publishers who live in or write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UPPAA is a Michigan nonprofit 501(c)6 association with more than 120 members, many of whose books are featured on the organization’s website at www.uppaa.org. UPPAA welcomes membership and participation from anyone with a UP connection who is interested in writing.