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Beyond “I have a dream”—King biographer visits National Writers Series

The National Writers Series will host Martin Luther King, Jr., biographer Jonathan Eig at the City Opera House in Traverse City on Thursday, March 13 at 7 pm. The Glen Arbor Sun spoke with Eig about his portrayal of King, about our collective tendency to oversimplify the icon and forget that in his time he was radical and disruptive, and why we need to hear King’s message in today’s America. “King: A Life” is the first major biography written in decades about the civil rights icon. Vividly written and deeply researched, this revealing portrait by a master storyteller is an intimate view of the courageous and often emotionally troubled human being who demanded peaceful protest for his movement but was rarely at peace with himself.

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Cherry Republic’s Bob Sutherland takes stage with “True Gretch”

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Governor Gretchen Whitmer will visit the Traverse City Opera House on Wednesday, July 31, to promote her new book, “True Gretch,” as part of the National Writers Series. Michigan’s popular second-term governor has a national profile and co-chairs Vice President Kamala Harris’ bid for the White House—a role she also held for President’s Biden’s campaign before he exited the race earlier this month. Cherry Republic founder and president, and Glen Arbor native, Bob Sutherland will guest host the event and interview Whitmer on stage. The Sun chatted with Sutherland about Whitmer—whom he has hosted at Cherry Public House—about his support for progressive candidates and environmental causes, and about the need for businesses to get involved in important issues. “Businesses are one of the few institutions that people still trust,” said Sutherland. In-person tickets to the July 31 are sold out. Click here to purchase a virtual ticket.

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Twin Flames Universe holds covert Traverse City wedding

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The photos and cell phone videos suggested a typical northern Michigan summer wedding. But the ceremony held between Daniel Carboni and Cristina Fernandez on Sunday, June 16, at the Lodge at Hickory Hills—Traverse City’s municipal-owned ski hill—was anything but typical. The nuptials were the culmination of a four-day “Spiritual Life Summit” held by the Twin Flames Universe, a new age relationship cult run by Suttons Bay residents Jeff and Shaleia Ayan. They are accused of charging their cult members thousands of dollars while pressing them into toxic relationships and manipulating their emotional and mental health struggles. To avoid detection, the summit’s organizers used alias names when they booked Traverse City venues. Even so, an informal group of concerned individuals who call themselves Citizens for the Prevention of Predatory Commerce have worked behind the scenes, contacting many venues in the Traverse City region and Leelanau County and encouraging them to exercise due diligence if contacted by Twin Flames Universe. In February, the National Writers Series hosted author Janja Lalich—an authority on cults—and Twin Flames survivor Keely Griffin to the Traverse City Opera House for an event packed with drama, emotion and education about the nature of cults, then and now.

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Twin Flames, Boat Fire, The Mill opens: Glen Arbor Sun’s top viewed stories of 2023

This year was a banner year for news in Leelanau County. The Glen Arbor Sun’s top viewed stories on our website in 2023 included the strange—a relationship coaching cult in Suttons Bay (“Twin Flames, a Suttons Bay cult, an inferno of controversy” was our fourth most-viewed story of all time); the heroic—a neighborhood effort to rescue boaters from a burning craft; the celebratory—The Mill made its long awaited opening on the Crystal River, and collaboration between the National Lakeshore and Leelanau Conservancy to preserve Glen Lake ridge property; the breaking news—an 18-hole putting course and restaurant planned to open next year in Glen Arbor; the historical—our 12-part series covering Leelanau’s farming families; and the reflective—remembering Horndog Newt Cole. Thanks for your readership, and Happy New Year! Here’s the list of our top 10 stories by online views in 2023.

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Novelist Ann Patchett visits NWS—new novel set in Northern Michigan

Just about every big-name national newspaper has written rave reviews about Ann Patchett’s newest novel, Tom Lake. That means that northern Michigan is in the national spotlight again, as the book takes place on a cherry farm in Traverse City. Patchett will visit Traverse City to present her new book at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12 at the City Opera House (and livestreamed) in front of a live audience, hosted by the National Writers Series. Here is the Glen Arbor Sun’s Q&A with Patchett.

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National Writers Series author stays drama free

Nedra Glover Tawwab wants people to know that positive changes in relationships are possible, even if those around you don’t want to revise their behavior. That’s what her new book, Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships is about. The National Writers Series will host her at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 21 the City Opera House and via livestream. Her first book, Set Boundaries, Find Peace became an instant New York Times bestseller.

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National Writers Series author Egan casts a world out of balance

New York Times best-selling author Dan Egan writes about the source of great bounty—and now great peril—all over the world in his new book The Devil’s Element: Phosphorus and a World Out of Balance. He’ll visit the Traverse City Opera House on Friday, March 10, at 7 pm, for an event co-hosted by the National Writers Series and the International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College. Patrick Shea, environmental reporter at Interlochen Public Radio, will be the event’s guest host.

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National Writers Series brings “Driving the Green Book” author Alvin Hall to Traverse City

In honor of Black History Month, the National Writers Series will welcome author and radio broadcaster Alvin Hall, to discuss his latest book, Driving the Green Book. Using the historic guide for Black travelers, Hall tells stories of safe havens for Black Americans in a hostile “Whites Only” country. He drove from New York to Detroit to New Orleans. The event is available via livestreame or in-person at the City Opera House at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23.

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National Writers Series features Northport’s James Tobin

Historian, award-winning author and part-time Northport resident James Tobin will visit the National Writers Series on Saturday, Feb. 6, to discuss his books about Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the Wright brothers’ race to flight and World War II reporter Ernie Pyle.

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