Available soon: “Seasons of Love and Laughter”

tree test 3_3 newNEW MEMOIR!

Seasons of Love & Laughter

By Coralie Cederna Johnson

Coming of age wasn’t always a piece of cake!

But, for a small-town girl and her family, every day was an adventure! Meet the “Nuns of Fun” at a January ice-skating party. Learn the real story of St. Urho. Discover watershed moments in Michigan’s historical Watersmeet. Grieve the heartbreaking loss of a child from Infantile Paralysis. Salute coach Willard Anderson’s U.P. football team championships. Plan the perfect Thanksgiving dinner around venison! Honor the traditions of holiday fare with over 130 vintage and ethnic recipes!

“Walk with the author through the change of seasons as she shares true tales—mischievous, adventurous, heartbreaking—of her spirited youth, set in the backdrop of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.”                        Carrie Sayer, Editor

Order books from the author at cjohnson@umich.edu or

Pay with Paypal here: wildwoodpress.org/order-books

$15.00 + 4.50 shipping

 

Two Memoirs Available as “Combo”- NOW on SALE!

P1040978 My first two memoirs, “The Wishing Years,” and “A Tree Grows in Trout Creek,” are now available as a “combo.” While they last, the combo will be on sale for $20.00 + 4.50 media shipping.

THE BOOKS ARE HERE!

New Memoir by Coralie Cederna Johnson

New Memoir by Coralie Cederna Johnson

LAUGHING WATERS, the new book by Coralie Cederna Johnson is here!

In this inspiring and funny memoir, the author shows us what it was like to grow up in Michigan’s magnificent land of lakes, rivers, and iron ore. Laughing Waters takes us through joys and tragedies such as one family’s loss of their father in a mining cave-in. At the same time, it reminds us of the strength in sharing family values, recipes for good food, and laughter…always laughter!

This is the author’s third book of memories of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and follows The Wishing Years and A Tree Grows in Trout Creek…also available from the website or the author.

Payment Options:
1) Pay with PayPal through this website: http://wildwoodpress.org/order-books/

2) Or send your personal check or U.S. P.S. Money Order for $15.00 + $4.50 for shipping to: Coralie Johnson, 1112 S. Durand, Jackson, MI 49203.

(For additional questions, please contact: cjohnson@umich.edu)

 

 

Books are projected to be in print by August 1, 2015!

In this inspiring and funny memoir, the author shows us what it was like to grow up in Michigan’s magnificent land of lakes, rivers, and iron ore. Laughing Waters takes us through joys and tragedies such as one family’s loss of their father in a mining cave-in. At the same time, it reminds us of the strength in sharing family values, recipes for good food, and laughter…always laughter!

This is the author’s third book of memories of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and follows The Wishing Years and A Tree Grows in Trout Creek.

Books are projected to be in print by August 1, 2015!
(You may order now, if you wish. Books will be shipped as soon as available.)

Payment Options:
1) Pay with PayPal here: http://wildwoodpress.org/order-books/

2) Or send personal check or U.S. Postal Service Money Order for $15.00 + $4.50 for media shipping to: Coralie Johnson, 1112 S. Durand, Jackson, MI 49203.

(Make checks payable to: Coralie Johnson.)

New Book—LAUGHING WATERS—Coming Soon!

Life, Love, and Laughter
Along the Great Waters of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula!

Laughing Waters, by Coralie Cederna Johnson, is the author’s third memoir of growing up in the magnificent Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The new book is due out at the end of July 2015 and follows The Wishing Years and A Tree Grows in Trout Creek.

In this inspiring and funny memoir, the author shows us what it was like to grow up in Michigan’s magnificent land of lakes, rivers, and iron ore. Laughing Waters takes us through joys and tragedies such as one family’s loss of their father in a mining cave-in. At the same time it reminds us of the strength in sharing family values, recipes for good food, and laughter…always laughter!

Bear Facts “Gail’s grandpa gave us each a small piece of hot bear on a toothpick. And then we chewed and chewed…but it tasted like an old rubber inner tube. And it stunk!”

Walking from Camp Batawagama to the Ojibwa Burial Grounds at Chicaugon Lake, we observed the rule: “The forest belongs to the animals. Leave it untouched, as you have found it.”

Laughing Whitefish Salmon, long, fat, and joyful, swimming secretly in a hidden stream. And they appeared to be …laughing! The great Ojibwa spirit, Gitchi Manitou, had smiled upon us.

$15.00 + $4.50 Shipping

Discounts available for multiple book orders.
Email the author for quote: cjohnson@umich.edu

New Memoir by Coralie Cederna Johnson

New Memoir by Coralie Cederna Johnson

Little Bonnie Lass – Celebration of a Life

BonniejpgThough we know the end of her life is near, we share our love with her every single day. She has good days and bad days, but she is always the little trooper with an attitude who came to live with us fourteen years ago when she was just two years old.

Her hearing is gone, but she has adapted well to hand signals. She is my constant companion throughout each day. And, in the evening when my husband is at home, she is his devoted sidekick. She shares her affection equally between us, though secretly she loves him just a little bit better than she does me. But that’s okay, because she is who she is and came to us with attachments already formed with her former owners, an elderly couple who loved her, but couldn’t keep her.

Norm and Millie…I remember the day we met them and the little tyrant who would become part of our family.

“I named her Bonnie Lass…you know, like My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean,” Norm said. He was smiling from ear-to-ear, while the little pooch barked wildly and circled the room as fast as she could.

“Our neighbors won’t even talk to us anymore, because of all the barking.” Millie, his wife was not laughing.

“She’s a good girl,” Norm insisted. “But this cancer is getting the best of me and we have to find a good home for her.”

“We’ll give her a good home.” I said, against my better judgment…but she was so darned cute…the tiniest sable and white sheltie I’d ever seen. I couldn’t seem to stop myself, even though it was clear the little kid was going to be a handful.

“Does she sleep in a crate?” I asked.

“Oh. sure…sure…” Norm answered. And though I wanted to believe him, I was pretty sure he was fibbing. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to question him further.

I probably should have. The first night home, as expected, little Bonnie Lass whined in her crate. Everything was new to her, so we forgave her.

But, after two weeks with no change and the other two shelties were walking around the house with long faces and droopy eyes, I began to think I’d made a huge mistake. I was exhausted. And when my easy-going husband, began to sound like a man on the brink of exasperation, I knew what I had to do.

I called my friend Carol who’d just lost her fourteen-year-old dog and told her my dilemma…did she want Bonnie? No. But she had a friend, Mary, who already had a sheltie and might be interested.

So Mary, bless her sheltie-loving heart, came to our home, took one look, and smiled. Bonnie was on her way to her new home in minutes.

“What a relief!” Jim said, and I knew I’d done the right thing.

But two days later I called Mary to see how she and Bonnie were getting along.

“She’s a doll!” Mary said.

“What about nighttimes?” I asked.

“Oh, she sleeps like a log.”

“In a crate?”

“Oh no, on my bed…I think that’s what she’s been used to.”

Two more days went by and I just had to call again.

“How’s she doing?” I asked.

“Just great!” Mary said. “She’s a wonderful dog!”

Yes, I knew she was. But now she was gone. Jim and I were watching some silly episode of Dr. Phil when the tears started creeping out of my eyes. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop them.

“You’re not crying about this show, are you?” Jim asked.

“No, of course not!” I couldn’t talk about it right then.

But next day, I called Mary again.

“How’s she doing?”

“Coralie,” Mary said, “I think we both know what needs to happen here.

“I’m so sorry, Mary.” I felt like a traitor.

“It’s okay. I totally understand. I’ll bring her by tomorrow.”

Mary walked in, unhooked Bonnie’s leash, and she was off and running…right across the living room and into Jim’s lap. Mary just laughed. “I guess we know who she really belongs to, don’t we?”

I didn’t care who Bonnie thought she belonged to! She was mine and she was home!

It didn’t take her long at all to train us. No crate; no problem. Simple as that.

We’re going to miss her terribly, when the time comes, but for now, she just keeps on barking and circling and keeping our home in a joyful state of laughter and love.

The Red Dress Diaries Is Here!

RDD Book Cover Front

* The new book is now available for purchase! Go to http://wildwoodpress.org/order-books/ above to buy using Paypal.
… or
* To pay using a check or money order, please contact Coralie Johnson through email: cjohnson@umich.edu.

RDD Book Cover Back

New Book: SACRIFICIAL OFFERINGS!

 

Sacrificial Offerings Front cover

Sacrificial Offerings tells the riveting stories of twenty-four remarkable women in history. As their monologues come to life through staged performances or silent reading, we learn how they changed the world through religious leadership, acts of courage, and martyrdom. We witness their boundless capacity for love, faith, and hope. And we encounter the profound strength and amazing spirit of women through time.

Visionaries who heard a higher calling and answered by pioneering pathways for other women to follow and choose religious freedom.

Victims who were unfairly charged with crimes such as witchcraft or persecuted for holding tenaciously to their strong religious beliefs.

Victors who defied physical danger, challenged patriarchal boundaries, and dedicated their lives to their powerful beliefs in personal missions.

Sacrificial Offerings back cover

 

The RED DRESS DIARIES Cast & Director!

The Red Dress Diaries Cast & Director!

The cast gathered on March 16, 2013 for the first performance of my new play THE RED DRESS DIARIES. Here they are warming up, under the direction of Carrie Jay Sayer.

Ojibwa Indian Burial Grounds in the Upper Peninsula

Ojibwa Burial Grounds in Upper Peninsula

A few days ago I received a postcard from my dear friend Jeanne whom I’ve known since Kindergarten. We shared the same homerooms throughout our years in grade and high school in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, attended the same church and were active Thespians throughout high school. We attended each others birthday parties when we were kids and corresponded through the years as adults.

The post card I received said to watch for a surprise in the mail and have a camera on hand to take photos. So that is what I did. And what a wonderful & exciting surprise it was to discover a beautiful original oil painting of the Pentoga Park Ojibwa Burial Grounds (located a few miles from where we grew up) by my friend Jeanne. Her note said, “There is only one place this could go…It isn’t the exact shot as the picture in your book A Tree Grows in Trout Creek but it’s the same spot.”

I was deeply touched and thrilled to be the recipient of this memorable oil painting by Jeanne. It’s lovely to see every day this wonderful tribute to the area in which we came of age. But more important, it is the friendship of the many years our lives have been entwined that I cherish.

 

You can find more cultural information about Ojibwa/Chippewa Indians in my books: The Wishing Years and A Tree Grows in Trout Creek, both are collections of stories of growing up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.