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I am the author of the Marquette Trilogy: Iron Pioneers, The Queen City, and Superior Heritage. The trilogy is a multi-generation saga ranging over 7 generations from 1849-1999 set in Upper Michigan. I introduce several families in the initial volume, who ultimately all intermarry until the hero of the third novel is descended from all the early pioneer families. The novels concentrate on roots, family, home, and wanting to leave home and the struggle to do so. It is a testament to courage and survival amid all odds, and the characters continually quest for the meaning of life and happiness.
NOVEL SUMMARIES:
IRON PIONEERS, The Marquette Trilogy: Book One:
When iron ore is discovered in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the 1840s, newlyweds Gerald Henning and his beautiful socialite wife Clara travel from Boston to the little village of Marquette on the shores of Lake Superior. They and their companions, Irish and German immigrants, French Canadians, and fellow New Englanders face blizzards and near starvation, devastating fires and financial hardships. Yet these iron pioneers persevere until their wilderness village becomes integral to the Union cause in the Civil War and then a prosperous modern city. Meticulously researched, warmly written, and spanning half a century, Iron Pioneers is a testament to the spirit that forged America.
THE QUEEN CITY, The Marquette Trilogy: Book Two:
During the first half of the twentieth century, Marquette grows into the Queen City of the North. Here is the tale of a small town undergoing change as its horses are replaced by streetcars and automobiles, and its pioneers are replaced by new generations who prosper despite two World Wars and the Great Depression. Margaret Dalrymple finds her Scottish prince, though he is neither Scottish nor a prince. Molly Bergmann becomes an inspiration to her grandchildren. Jacob Whitman’s children engage in a family feud. The Queen City’s residents marry, divorce, have children, die, break their hearts, go to war, gossip, blackmail, raise families, move away, and then return to Marquette. And always, always they are in love with the haunting land that is their home.
SUPERIOR HERITAGE, The Marquette Trilogy: Book Three:
The Marquette Trilogy comes to a satisfying conclusion as it brings together characters and plots from the earlier novels and culminates with Marquette’s sesquicentennial celebrations in 1999. What happened to Madeleine Henning is finally revealed as secrets from the past shed light upon the present. Marquette’s residents struggle with a difficult local economy, yet remain optimistic for the future. The novel’s main character, John Vandelaare, is descended from all the early Marquette families in Iron Pioneers and The Queen City. While he cherishes his family’s past, he questions whether he should remain in his hometown. Then an event happens that will change his life forever.
MY REVIEWS:
My fans have referred to me as the James Michener of Upper Michigan and said that Iron Pioneers immortalizes Marquette the way Gone With the Wind immortalized the Old South.
Praise for IRON PIONEERS:
If you're the sort of person who likes a nice long novel with lots of things going on, this is the book for you. - Andrew Grgurich, The Mining Journal
Iron Pioneers is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Two thumbs way up. - Book.of.the. Moment
Praise for THE QUEEN CITY:
Tichelaar has a knack for creating characters that the reader connects with. You know you've just finished reading a good book when you have to stop and remind yourself that these aren't people who will be coming over for dinner later, or whom you'll bump into at the grocery store; but rather characters in a story. They're that real. - Book.of.the.Moment
“If you are from the U.P., ever visited the U.P., or have always wondered where the heck the U.P. is--grab these books, curl up somewhere comfy, and ENJOY!!†- Gretchen Green, UP Native
Praise for SUPERIOR HERITAGE:
"Customers have been raving about these historical novels." - Snowbound Books, Marquette, Michigan
CHECK OUT MORE INFORMATION AND BUY MY BOOKS AT
www.marquettefiction.com
Listen to my radio interview on my books and being a regional writer at:
www.authorsaccess.com
And another radio interview on the Eric Jones Show January 17th, 2008
www.Eric Jones Blog Talk Radio
I'm also the owner of Superior Book Promotions. Contact me to review your book or help you with your editing and proofreading needs:
www.superiorbookpromotions.com
Besides writing, I enjoy public speaking, meeting other writers, reading, genealogy, watching movies, being outdoors, hanging out with friends, drinking coke, eating pizza, listening to music, going for walks along magnificent Lake Superior, and traveling. Besides my international year long book tour I am planning (still in the works), I really want to go to Germany and the Netherlands.
