Wildwood Press

Some schools had a “Sock Hop.” But at Stambaugh High School in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, it was called the “Sadie Hawkins Day Dance.” It was held every year in October—the chance for girls to ask out boys for a change. The boy I asked, who shall forever remain nameless,

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Read about the wonderful dogs I grew up with in my new book, A Tree Grows in Trout Creek. There’s a border collie named Bippo in the story called No More Pets. Calling Coyotes is the adventure that led to my being allowed to get the dog of my dreams. The story Crossing Bridges is [...]

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Ancient Ojibwa burial grounds, Northern Lights, and the life of an iron miner’s family are looked at through the eyes of a spirited, sometimes somber girl searching out her wishes and dreams. Poignant and funny, A Tree Grows in Trout Creek celebrates the mystery and miracles of growing up as it follows a small town [...]

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Want to take a trip to the past, find your favorite memories? Rediscover the fun and adventure you shared with your family and friends a few—or many—years ago? Since I am an author of memoirs, actually two books of memoirs, The Wishing Years and A Tree Grows in Trout Creek, recollecting my life stories is [...]

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Ah, the writing life is wonderful! Going to the post office has become my major source of entertainment since Wildwood Press sent out the pre-publication discount flier for my new book, A Tree Grows in Trout Creek. Why is the post office so exciting and fun? Well, for one thing, we are receiving book orders [...]

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The writing of my memoirs now fills two increasingly popular books of collected stories about growing up in Michigan’s rugged, isolated, and enchanting Upper Peninsula. My first book, The Wishing Years, was published in 1995. The second book, A Tree Grows in Trout Creek, is in production now and will be available for shipping in [...]

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The other day, a friend asked me what kind of writing I liked best. What kind of writing, she asked, brought me the most enjoyment and satisfaction? I didn’t have to think about that for long because, although I’ve done many different kinds of writing projects, I always come back to “writing by heart”. Both [...]

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A selection from the new book, A Tree Grows in Trout Creek, now in publication: When Dad wasn’t working one of three rotating shifts underground in the Hiawatha Mine, he’d be riding out on M-73 to work on the cottage he was building at Hagerman Lake. There was always some new project to be done, [...]

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A selection from the book The Wishing Years, by Coralie Cederna Johnson, published 1995: Following The Great Depression, when the Oliver Mining Company sold the Dober Mining Location houses, Mom and Dad bought ours, House #13, for $450. My cousin Joanne lived just three doors down the block and even though she was a grown [...]

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