Date:
Tuesday, 08/19/2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Category:
Join author Tim Mulherin as he discusses, This Magnetic North: Candid Conversations on a Changing Northern Michigan. Mr. Mulherin addresses the impact of the pandemic, climate change, and tourism on northern Michigan in this microcosmic look at the phenomenon that’s occurring in communities throughout the Great Lakes region and other high-demand scenic areas in the United States. The author spent more than a year researching and interviewing nearly 90 experts in their respective fields, including tourism, agriculture, viticulture, law enforcement, commercial and recreational fishing, marine science, environmental law, nature conservation, astronomy, government, retail, real estate, and journalism and met with representatives of the National Park Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Coast Guard, and members of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
All weighed in on the profound changes that have come to northern Michigan — which are accelerating and all looked critically to the future we need to build together: intentionally, thoughtfully, and creatively to preserve cultural traditions and protect the environment, and to evolve in the most constructive way possible — no small undertaking. It’s a hot topic, one that impacts everyone who lives in the Great Lakes region, owns seasonal property there, or is a return visitor.
About the presenter:
Tim Mulherin first visited northern Michigan in 1986 and, like most everyone who comes here, was instantly smitten by it. In the early 2000s he found work in the Ann Arbor area then later Grayling, failed attempts to move closer to the Grand Traverse region due to his dear wife’s reluctance to leave her ancestral home in Indianapolis. Nonetheless, he wrote about his love for northern Michigan’s incomparable scenic splendor and his humorous tries to become a Michigander in his collection of essays and stories titled Sands, Stars, Wind, and Water: Field Notes from Up North (2021).
Now a seasonal resident of Leelanau County, Mulherin began conceptualizing This Magnetic North: Candid Conversations on a Changing Northern Michigan during a conversation with Traverse City writer Dave Dempsey. Mulherin wondered why no one had written a book about the impact of the pandemic, climate change, and tourism on northwest lower Michigan.
Mulherin holds a bachelor of arts in English, with a concentration in nonfiction writing, from Indiana University Indianapolis. He also earned a master of arts in journalism from IU Indy and a master of science in management from Indiana Wesleyan University. He taught nonfiction writing for nearly a decade in IU Indy’s Department of English. Mulherin is a frequent contributor to the Glen Arbor Sun newspaper, and his writing has appeared in Traverse Magazine. He is currently writing a book on Michigan and Indiana’s wildlife.
This program will be in the Library’s lower-level meeting room. Registration is appreciated. Scroll down to register on the Library’s events calendar or call 734-426-4477 (ext. 120)
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This event has room for 200 people. There are currently 0 people registered.08/19/2025 7:00 PM 08/19/2025 7:00 PM America/Detroit Author Talk with Tim Mulherin – This Magnetic North: Candid Conversations on a Changing Northern Michigan
Join author Tim Mulherin as he discusses, This Magnetic North: Candid Conversations on a Changing Northern Michigan. Mr. Mulherin addresses the impact of the pandemic, climate change, and tourism on northern Michigan in this microcosmic look at the phenomenon that’s occurring in communities throughout the Great Lakes region and other high-demand scenic areas in the United […]
Dexter District Library lryan lryan@dexter.lib.mi.us