MANISTEE — Wannabe authors everywhere dream of realizing the publication of their first-born book. The aspiration was fulfilled by four cousins in 2024, while a fifth relative published his sixth title.
While making it to print simultaneously, their stories are diverse, yet rooted in familiar settings, from Beaver Island, Manistee, Empire and Lansing, to Detroit and mid-Michigan farmlands.
“It was fascinating,” said Frankfort’s Chris Thelen. “We didn’t know all of us were working on these books. It was fun to learn.”
From a crime thriller, memoir, military romance and children’s picture book, the titles reflect the cousins’ life work and personalities.
After retiring in 2019 from a career in advertising and public relations, Chris Thelen took advantage of COVID-19 downtime to write his crime novel “Island of Deception.” The story embraces his love of the Great Lakes and the Mitten’s islands and wilderness.
With his debut title under his belt, Chris plans to release a sequel this year.
Retired Catholic priest Fred Thelen of Weidman saw his memoir hit book shops. “Terrorized: A Memoir of Trauma, Healing and Coming Home” relates his experience of growing up in mid-Michigan, his five-year mission in the Peruvian Andes in a time of growing terrorism and dealing with the traumatic aftermath.
Fred found his literary voice after retiring in 2019 as pastor of Cristo Rey Church in Lansing.
“Some years before that I had an urge to do some creative writing and thought I had a story to tell,” he said.
Since completing the title, Fred’s been infected with the writing bug and is currently trying his hand at poetry.
Cousin Matt VanAcker served 30 years as director of tours and education at the Michigan State Capitol. He curates Save the Flags, a project to conserve 240 battle flags carried by Michigan soldiers in the Civil War to World War I.
VanAcker’s title, “Lansing and the Civil War,” incorporates letters and personal diaries to tell the stories of citizen-soldiers, their families, and the city they left behind.
“In the course of my research, I read more and more about the men who fought and died under the colors,” he said. “I was concerned nothing would be printed about them.”
The historian said that although he was nervous about writing a book, the thought of this information not being preserved was greater than his personal fear.
First-time mother and daughter authors Marie and Julie Showers released their children’s book “Toby Finds a Home” in August. Marie taught in Michigan public schools for 32 years. Showers serves as communication director for a nonprofit social service organization in Portland, Oregon. Their story encourages children and their communities to embody a spirit of kindness and service.
The family of newly minted authors turned to cousin-in-law veteran author John Wemlinger for publishing advice.
“I wasn’t surprised that they were writing books,” he said. “They all have keen intellect and an openness to creativity.”
The Onekama writer is a retired U.S. Army colonel. Inspired by Tom Clancy books, he released his first book in 2016 after taking a deep dive into the art and business of book publishing. His sixth book, “The Road to Empire,” is the latest title which defines his military-romance style. The semi-autobiographical book provides insight into the experience of service members and their families serving during the Global War on Terrorism.
John’s book “The Cut” is set in Manistee. It is a Library of Michigan 2022 Michigan Notable Book. He is now writing his seventh book.
How one family became a band of writers is no mystery to the cousins. Chris said they grew up with creative mothers. Matt’s mom set an example by reading everything she could get her hands on despite only having an eighth-grade education. Fred thinks they were born to tell their stories. “
The thread of creativity is in our common genes,” he said. “It cried out for expression.”
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