Author, journalist, sailor Cyndi Perkins announces her newly published novel; four authors to sell books at Eagle Harbor, Copper Harbor art fairs

Cyndi Perkins, journalist and sailor, is now a novelist, with the publication of her newly released debut novel, More Than You Think You Know. Perkins will join three other Copper Country authors at the Eagle Harbor Art Show this weekend, Aug. 12-13, and in Copper Harbor's Art in the Park Aug. 19-20.

HANCOCK -- Award-winning journalist Cyndi Perkins has announced the publication of her debut novel, More Than You Think You Know, released in July 2017 by Beating Windward Press.

More Than You Think You Know, by Cyndi Perkins, is described by the publisher, Beating Windward Press, as "a women's road (river) trip novel about ships and friendships, crashes and hot flashes." (Book cover courtesy Cyndi Perkins and Beating Windward Press)

The 215-page, contemporary novel follows Hailey, Robin and Trish, three women piloting the stolen 44-foot luxury trawler Blackout through the Heartland Rivers from Chicago to the Gulf of Mexico. The women navigate the 1,300-mile-long series of rivers and locks keeping weary eyes out for barges and Hailey’s abusive husband, whom she is fleeing with the help of her two new companions. With no sense of destination beyond Mobile Bay, they are on not one journey, but two: America’s Great Loop and the search for their own place to be safe, to be happy, to be themselves.

Author Perkins has sailed Lake Superior, the Heartland Rivers, and the Eastern Seaboard since 1995. She and her husband survived two 6,000-mile circumnavigations of America’s Great Loop aboard their 32-foot DownEast sailing vessel Chip Ahoy.

Cyndi Perkins writes and edits for Michigan Technological University digital and print publications. For 10 years, she worked at the The Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton as a reporter and editor and wrote the popular "Line of Sight" column. Her nautical writing credits include Cruising World, Latitudes and Attitudes, Good Old Boat, PassageMaker, Southwinds, and Northern Breezes magazines. Reach her at cyndiperkins.com and connect on social media @cyndiperkins. 

More Than You Think You Know is available for sale at at Copper World, Book World, Grandpa's Barn (in Copper Harbor), and will be at the Carriage House gift shop in Eagle Harbor following the Eagle Harbor Art Fair this weekend, Aug. 12-13.

Four local authors to sell their books at Eagle Harbor, Copper Harbor art fairs

Perkins will join three other Copper Country authors -- Debbie Frontiera, Kristin Neva and Corey LaBissoniere -- at the Eagle Harbor Art Fair this weekend, Aug. 12-13, and at Copper Harbor's Art in the Park, Aug. 19-20.*

Frontiera said she will be sharing her tent/booth with the other three authors at both events.

"My booth is usually near the church (in front of the septic mound) at Eagle Harbor," Frontiera said. "This will be the first time for me at Copper Harbor, so I have no idea where my booth will be there. We -- the four of us -- also have slots on Saturday or Sunday (Aug. 19, 20) at Grandpa's Barn (Copper Harbor) on the porch."

Copper Country Associated Artists will sponsor the Eagle Harbor Art Fair at St. Peter's by the Sea Church from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, and from noon - 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13. In addition to the authors selling their books, more than 60 artist vendors will be selling their wares: photography, pottery, jewelry, painting, woodworking and much more. The featured artist this year is photographer John Dodge.

Dodge is a seasonal resident of Eagle River and enjoys capturing the Keweenaw in all its beauty. His photographic interests include landscape, wild life, portrait, lighthouses, street photography and an occasional wedding. Dodge will have his art work on display and for sale in the basement gallery of St. Peter's By The Sea Church during the Eagle Harbor Art Fair.

Art in the Park in Copper Harbor will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19, and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 20.

Art in the Park is an annual Copper Harbor Improvement Association event. The two-day event has been going strong since 1987. With over 60 artisans and crafters the show offers a large variety of amazing items. The event is held each year on the third weekend in August.

Inset photo: Photographer John Dodge. (Photo courtesy Copper Country Associated Artists)

* See ads for books by Cyndi Perkins, Debbie Frontiera and Kristin Neva in our right-hand column. Learn about Corey LaBissoniere's writing on his web site.