Another oops moment for me as I have found a mistake. Well, it really wasn’t me it was John Wojtyna.
He writes;

” Love the book! However small mistake on page 43 the question about salties.
The “salties” have the bump on the bow, not the Lakers.”

No small mistake John, it is a fairly big one.

Here’s the story…
Salties are ocean going freighters that also ply the deeper Great Lakes, Superior, Michigan and Huron. A saltie is often identified by the bump on its bow. In deep water, on long voyages, and at top speeds, the bump helps a ship go faster.

Lakers are ships that ply only the Great Lakes, all of them, and they can be identified by the flat bow. Lakers do not have to travel as fast as ocean going vessels because they don’t have as far to go.

How did I miss this? Good question, it’s just a matter of writing it down backwards. (I do know the difference) I have found that no matter how many times I re-read the proof of the book I missed a couple of things.

They will all be corrected in the second printing which is being organized right now.

Thanks John for finding the mistake and telling me. If you find one please pass it on.
Best in the New Year!

What a great day! I was at Northwoods Wholesale Outlet in Pinconning on Saturday December 10 and what a day. It started with my old buddy Johnny Burke doing a live remote on the air at WHNN 96.1FM, and ended after I had signed over one hundred books. Marty and the folks who work at Northwoods are great. A friendlier bunch you will not find anywhere. They have invited me back and we are working on a date.

This Saturday I will be at one of the coolest places in Flint, the Farmer’s Market signing my books, “The Great, Great Lakes Trivia Test” and, “The Legend of the Abominable Huckleberry”

What’s really great is I will be signing and munching on great goodies you can find at the market, like the bread and goodies at the bakery, the hundreds of kinds of Cheese at the cheese shop, the many kinds of salt. Did you know salt comes in colors and flavors?

Food, fun, great people and the holiday spirit. Stop by and say hi, and get your copy of my books. They are really the perfect gift for that bright discriminating reader in your family. Hope to see you there
There is still time to order a copy of my books for delivery before Christmas.
Have a Merry one!

Tis the season to look for fun, interesting and inexpensive gifts, and “The Great, Great Lakes Trivia Test” fills the bill at $16.95. Order right now and you’ll get your copy in time for Christmas.
My second book, The Legend of the “Abominable Huckleberry has also just been released. It’s a children’s story with a little Michigan railroad history, a bit about one of Michigan’s biggest lumber barons, who was also a Governor of Michigan, some fantasy and a lot of fun. It’s just $12.95!
I will be signing books Saturday, December 10 at Northwoods Wholesale Outlet in Pinconning, Michigan. My old friend Johnny Burke will be broadcasting live on WHNN 96.1FM out of Saginaw too.

If you can find your way to Pinconning you can’t miss it.

This is one of the most interesting stores I’ve ever been in. They have, well it seems like everything, hunting, camping supplies, more fishing poles and crossbows than you’ve ever seen and tools and holiday decorations and toys and space heaters and my book and, like I said, just about everything. All at amazing prices.

Stop in and say hi, pick up your copy, or copies of “The Great, Great Lakes Trivia Test” at a special price. Let’s see what you know about our Great Lakes State.

For those in the Flint area I will be signing both books at the Flint Farmer’s Market on Saturday December 17.

I’ve been traveling around our great state and am pleased to tell you I have found a number of great places that have put “The Great, Great Lakes Trivia Test” on their shelves.

Brilliant Books, in Sutton’s Bay, and the Cottage Book Store in Glen Arbor are both great book stores in beautiiful communities. Stop in and check them out, and pick up a copy of my book.
You will also find the book at one of the great bookstores in Michigan, Horizons Books in Traverse City. Just one more reason to visit that great community.

I visited a number of wineries in the Lelenau Peninsula and had a great ime. You will find the book in one of my favorite new wineries, Silver Leaf Winery, in Sutton’s Bay. If you like red wine try the “Purple Foot”, wonderful. I have a good feeling that if you try some of the Purple Foot, you might be compeled to buy the book.

I am preparing for a fall and winter speaking tour around the state. I have talked about the book, Michigan history, and about being on radio and television, at Libraries, Rotary , Optimist, and other service organizations, Masonic groups, library groups, senior and retiree groups and more. Please contact me if you’d like me to bring some stories to your community. One of the best groups I’ve had the opportunity to speak to was the Friends of the Tawas Library. They packed at coffee shop with 50-60 people. A fun group.

My summer is not quite done with, I will be walking Big Mac on Labor Day, and on Mackinac Island to visit the Island Book Store where they were among the first to carry the book.

The very first book store to stock the book was the Round Lake Book Store In Charlevoix…thanks to Dianne. The story of how the book got to that location is a great one and I will tell it in a future blog.
The Best of Michigan for you
Michael J.

Saturday I’m kicking off season four of the The Huckleberry Radio Hour, an old-time radio show broadcast live on 1470AM-WFNT from the historic Colwell Opera House at Genesee County Parks Crossroads Village.

Michigan’s only regularly-scheduled live radio variety show will open the season June 18 with special guest artist singer/songwriter Claudia Schmidt, along with regulars Neil Woodward, the Flint Jubilee Quartet, Gary Weisenberg and the Huckleberry Players. The show is hosted, written and produced by Michael J. Thorp.

The show is Michigan and Great Lakes centric and uses my book to tell our story. The idea for my next book, “The Legend of the Abominable Huckleberry”, came from the show, and its location; Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad. You can see the cover here on this site.

The July 16 show will feature a Flint-area favorite singer/songwriter/humorist, Dan Hall. On November 26, the show will be part of the opening of the annual month-long celebration Christmas at Crossroads Holiday Magic, and will feature the popular Irish folk band Finvara’s Wren.

The Huckleberry Radio Hour features the Huckleberry Players performing our soap opera, As the Village Turns, a village history lesson presented by the Village schoolmarm, and some of Michigan’s best musicians. The sound effects, in the tradition of old-time radio, are made by local actor and director, Jon Coggins.

Michigan’s versatile troubadour, Neil Woodward, pairs with keyboard and bass player Gary Weisenberg to form the Huckleberry Pickers, who perform at each show.

The Huckleberry Radio Hour also spotlights the remarkable four-part harmonies of the Flint Institute of Music’s Flint Jubilee Quartet, under the direction of Sylvia Pittman.

The Huckleberry Radio Hour begins with a pre-show at 6:30 p.m. when the opera house audience members learn how they can participate and make the “live” audience lively. The show starts at 7 p.m.

“When you think of the Huckleberry Radio Hour, think of those classic radio shows such as the Grand Ole Opry, the Jack Benny Program, and A Prairie Home Companion,” says Thorp. “The fun difference is that this show is all about Michigan.”

For tickets to be in the opera house audience go to www.geneseecountyparks.org.

It’s week 2 of the Shake Hands With Michigan Tour. Last week we were in Benzie County in Northwestern Michigan. This week we head to Mackinaw City.
Tune at 96.1 FM or on line at whnn.com on Thursday and Friday June 9 & 10, from 5:30-9AM as we talk to locals about their town, events, and attractions. Johnny talks about a lot of wild stuff too, you should check that out! 33

We’ll use my book to come up with some Michigan Trivia to give away a great prize each day. There are some great prizes! I have a question for each day, only one is in the book, the other is one that will go into the next book. The answer in the book is in the Who chapter…the page number is in this blog.
Stop in and say hi if you are in the great north country.

In my next blog I will tell you why I think Johnny and I are finally growing up

My summer vacation is underway as I go with my old buddy Johnny Burke on his annual “Shake Hands Across Michigan Tour” on 96.1 FM WHNN. I will be on the air with JB, and use my book, “The Great, Great Lakes Trivia Test” to do Michigan trivia. It’s the perfect around the campfire/grill/travel conversation starter.
Hope to visit some book stores and do a couple of books signings over the next month.
*We will be in Benzonia Thursday and Friday Morning June 2 & 3.
*It’s up to Mackinaw City on June & 10.
*Carsonville, in the Thumb’s Sanilac County on June 16 & 17.
*Then we finish up with a visit to Saugatuc on June 30 & July 1.
IF you want me to stop by your book store or shop just contact me.
See you on the radio!

While I am collecting interesting stories of the Great Lakes, for my next book, the “GreatER, Great Lakes Trivia Test”, I am also working on correcting mistakes in the first book.
Oscoda’s Dr. Dave Wright, a self proclaimed “boatnerd”, found a mistake.

Whose name was on the Great Lakes freighter that sank on Lake Superior in the famous “gales of November”?

A. Carl D. Bradley
B. Daniel J. Morrell
C. Edmund Fitzgerald

My Answer was A, B & C
I said it was a trick question, (it was for me), all of the ships went down in November storms on Lake Superior. The Bradley in 1958, taking 33 lives, the Morrell in 1966 with 29 lost, and the Fitzgerald in 1975 with 29 losing their lives.

Here is what Dr. Wright wrote to me…

Michael J., I purchased your book recently and noted what I believe is an error. Pg 21 the question about ships that sank in November storms. The Fitz sank in Lake Superior, the Carl Bradley sank in Lake Michigan and I believe the Morrell sank in Lake Huron. Enjoying the book, but I am a “boatnerd”. www.boatnerd.com

Of course he was Wright, or right I mean:

Hi Dr. Wright,
Thanks for the correction. I looked at the question and see that just like when I was in college I answered a question that wasn’t asked.
You can be sure it will be corrected in the 2nd edition. Thanks again for your correction, and I’m very pleased you are enjoying my book.
Michael J.

There are two ways I can correct this answer.
1. The answer could be just C, the Edmund Fitzgerald is the only one to go down on Lake Superior in the gales of November

2. I could change the question and remove the reference to Lake
Superior. These Lakers all went down in November, which is quite telling.

If you see a mistake in my book please let me know so I can fix it, and learn more.
________________________________________

I have been having a ball visiting people around the state and talking about my book, and Michigan. In January I spoke at the “Cabin Fever” program for the Friends of the East Tawas Library.  What a great group.  On February 19th I had the pleasure of  speaking to a gathering of the Royal Arch Masons of Michigan in Caro for their Washington’s Birthday Dinner.  Both groups gave me ideas about the next, “Great, Great Lakes trivia Test.” 

If you would like me to bring the “Great Lakes Trivia Test to your community, I’d love to visit.  Just contact me through my web site.

Michael J.

Like the peace and solitude of the woods? Michigan offers vast park and recreation areas like this dune in Grand Mere State Park.