SCBWI New York Conference 2025 Notes & Pics by Kara Marsee

Going to the NYC conference was something I had thought about for years, but the timing, the cost, and not feeling my work was “prepared enough” - got in my way. But this time, I had worked hard to prepare for the Midwest Conference in Spring of 2024, and I learned a lot from the portfolio showcase I participated in there. So I entered the drawing for the scholarship that Shutta Crum generously offers to SCBWI-MI members. When I came home from work in October and found out I was the winner, I was so excited! I scrambled to register, and I still felt like I had a lot of preparing to do. 

I was thrilled when one of my critique partners, my friend Anne Awh from Chicago, said she’d go too. We did phone check-ins with each other to keep each other on task. I did 6 new pieces for my portfolio and updated my dummies. I lost track of how many times I rearranged my portfolio. 

The Portfolio showcase was enormous and was over before I could even see half of the portfolios. I came home with a beautiful array of postcards from fellow artists. I happened to see someone carrying my postcard, who asked if I was published. I said “not yet.” Her response was, “You will be.” I treasure that comment.

Some of my favorite quotes, and notes from the weekend:

“Gathering here together during these uncertain times feels like a creative act of rebellion. One thing is certain, the people who create children’s books are the friendliest, most encouraging people” - Sarah Baker, Executive Director of SCBWI

Erin Estrada Kelly spoke a lot about bravery. 

One form of bravery is “Writing and letting other people see it.” 

“Do something even when drowning in self-doubt.” 

“We’re here because we have a dream, a hope to tell stories.”  

“Biggest regret at the end of life is not trying at all.” 

“Being here is betting on yourself and that is deeply meaningful.”

Peter Brown enjoys the process of getting into the heads of his readers. He is struck by the idea that we are animals, but we feel removed…whereas children don’t feel as removed.

I found it fascinating that Peter thought of each chapter of WILD ROBOT as a Picture Book, because that’s what he knew how to write. Writing a novel was new for him, and it was a big challenge. 80 chapters = 80 key plot points.

If you have stories that you really love, you will work through the times when you’re “lost in the woods” like Roz. “Pick projects that you genuinely love.”

Sophie Blackall’s speech was so endearing, just like herself, and her stories.

She offered tips like, “Remember People’s Names” “Give Voice to your own Astonishment” and “Dig Deep.” She also reminded us to stand tall, collaborate, and build community, as she built the amazing Milkwood Farm.

 

In Suzanne Kaufmann’s Creative Lab, she
encouraged us to “embrace the MESS.” (I love this!)

“Just write down what happens - even if it’s insane. Turn off the internal #$@! editor”

“Keep pushing, keep thinking of the feeling”

She played a Mr. Rogers clip, the “You’ve got to DO it” song (12 minutes in, from this episode)

Suzanne showed us her process, and how she worked through challenges during the development of her new book BLUE, which is coming out this spring. 

“If you get stuck on something, ask for help from a friend, take a break, or go to bed thinking about your question, your answer may come in a dream.” 

In Catia Chien’s Creative Lab, Catia guided us through examples and pushed us to examine lighting and value work in illustration.

“What can the value do for the story - what can it show, and what can it hide?”
“Protect that place in you that loves the work. We all make mistakes, but there is learning.”

Catia also gave us time to work on our pieces, which was so valuable while her information was fresh. I sat near Heidi Woodward Sheffield and we talked together about our works in progress. This lab really made me reconsider a scene in one of my dummies and walk away with a stronger composition.
 

The biggest highlight of the conference for me was attending the Society of Illustrators gallery, to see “The Original Art” show, an annual celebration of the fine art of children’s book illustration. It was thrilling to see so many beautiful pieces of art in person. I got to “party” in Lian Cho’s PIG TOWN PARTY, with one of Michigan’s ICs Jen Boehler, and see the originals for some of my recent picture book loves, like “WHAT’S NEW DANIEL?” by Micha Archer and “WORM’S LOST & FOUND” by Julie Wellerdiek. There was art by Rahele Jomepour Bell, Matthew Cordell, Ye Guo, and so many others I felt like a kid in a candy shop.  

Laurent Linn, the AD at Simon & Schuster Books, as well as the President of the SCBWI Board of Directors, introduced the members of the SCBWI Advisory Council who were present, as well as the Illustrator Coordinators.

It was so nice to have these introductions and to meet just some of the many hands who contribute to making SCBWI such a vibrant community. Inside the red bags everyone received was the greatest souvenir - a printed catalog of the exhibit.
 

As a “thank you” to Shutta, I bought an autographed GRANDMA HEAVEN written by Shutta Crum, illustrated by Ruth McNally Barshaw, and brought it with me to NYC. My intention was to find a little free library I could put it in. I imagined finding one in Central Park, but that wasn’t the case. Luckily, I was able to meet up with another critique partner, Hannah Krueger from Brooklyn, and she was able to deliver the book to a little free library in Brooklyn.  

Yes, NYC is large and intimidating. But there are things that can only be done in NYC - like eating at Ellen’s Stardust Cafe (where the waitstaff belt out Broadway tunes), with Amelia Bothe, who I just met while dropping off portfolios. Or taking in the amazing art at the SOI gallery. And no matter where I go, I feel like SCBWI is a family- a family of dedicated, talented, generous people, like Shutta Crum, the SCBWI volunteers, my critique partners, and the new people I met, one who helped guide me through subway shutdowns- but that’s another story! 

-Kara Marsee is trying to embrace her messy desk in Ann Arbor Michigan, where she works on picture book writing and illustrating. By day she works in the office of an elementary school, where she works with magicians (teachers) and cares for wild things. She shares her home with a hungry house rabbit, 2 growing boys, and her husband, who is also an artist. You can follow her on Instagram, Facebook or BlueSky. 

Book Birthday Blog with Mary Morgan

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Mary Morgan on the release of Tugboat to the Rescue

 

What was the inspiration for your story? 

I used to live near Port Huron and took our children to watch freighters navigate the waters where Lake Huron fed into the St. Clair River under the Blue Water Bridge. We were fascinated watching tugboats guide the freighters and barges through the turbulent waters. Often, they had to go out into Lake Huron to rescue a boat in distress. They were smaller than many of the ships but could tackle a huge job with success. 

What was the most difficult part of writing the book?

Being a picture book, I had to decide what illustrator to use and then develop pictures to suit the text. This is James Long’s first time illustrating a book, and he did an outstanding job with the colorful artwork, creating expressions on many characters, showing the action for little ones who can’t read, and hiding a crab on each page.

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book?

At the end of the story, I have three questions, asking children about doing big jobs even if they are little. My hope is that little ones will see themselves being capable of helping others in many ways. 

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

The best place to find it is on the website: www.nationalparkmysteries.com. I sell at numerous craft shows around Michigan, including participating in events sponsored by SCBWI. I speak in schools and Kinder-Care day locations. My books are sold in the Shiawassee Art Center and Fable Land Bookstore in Owosso. Some are on Amazon, so I want to get the newest titles included too.

What's next for you?

It has been exactly a year since my tenth National Park Mystery Book launched, and my reading fans are begging for more. Because I include an extensive amount of history, science, and geography, it requires a trip to the national park and then weeks of research before I begin writing. My husband and I travel extensively to sell at educational conventions, in addition to the book shows we do each year. I need to clone myself to find time to write – but when I do, the plot might be a fishing competition of boys against the girls at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, titled Hook, Line, and Sink Her. Or it might introduce Cherokee Indian culture with bears running through a campground at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Or possibly a re-enactment gone wrong at the Golden Spike Railroad National Historical Park in Promontory, Utah. I’ve been to sixty-three national parks, so I have many options running through my imagination. I just enjoy doing what I do. To sum it up briefly, my writing journey has been a trip of a lifetime.

More about the book . . .

Tugboat to the Rescue is a picture book for pre-school children and early readers, starring Toby the Tugboat. Toby is busy most days pulling big boats under the bridge and pushing barges out into the big lake. One day he hears a distress cry from a sailboat that is about to tip over. He braves tall waves and becomes a hero, saving the sailboat just in time. After much praise, he replies, “I might be little, but I can do big things to help.” There is a hidden crab on each page and downloadable coloring pages available from my website.

Published by: Buttonwood Books

Richard Baldwin, a local publisher of Buttonwood Press in Haslett, was looking for a children’s author who wrote mysteries and took me under his wing in 2011.  While he was still living, I wrote eight of the ten titles in my National Park Mystery Book series and The Runaway Lawnmower. Following his death, the company shut down during the pandemic. Not ready to quit writing and selling, my husband and I tweaked the company’s name to Buttonwood Books and opened a new one in 2022. Being self-published works well for our selling model and being able to make decisions for upgrades and changes has been satisfying.  

More about the author . . .

I grew up in Upstate New York and moved to Michigan with my husband in 1971. We have two children and two grandchildren and currently live in Lansing. I have always had a passion to write and after my children were out on their own, I attended a writers conference to get book-writing pointers and then put what I learned into practice. A key point was to find a genre that appeals to you and write for it. I like to travel and love a good mystery, so I put them together and started my National Park Mystery Book series for pre-teens. While selling at events, younger brothers and sisters wanted a book too, so I wrote The Runaway Lawnmower. It has been wildly popular, so in response to requests for yet another book, Tugboat to the Rescue was born. 

Email: nationalparkmysteries@gmail.com

Instagram: Mary_Morgan_50

Twitter: MaryMor00841393

Facebook: Mary Morgan National Park Mysteries

Book Birthday Blog with Ann Dallman

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Ann Dallman on the release of Cady and the Search for Family

 

 

This is the third book in the Cady Whirlwind Thunder series. How did you come up with the idea for your third book?

Like many authors, I’ve found that my characters assume a life of their own. When writing my Cady books (middle grade novels) I often feel as if I’m channeling my character. I felt Cady’s frustration, anger and sadness at the disappearance of her mother. Cady and the reader don’t know what happened to her mother and the reason for her disappearance. I wanted to write about a female heroine, someone the age of my former students, who was from a woodland band of Indians. The Potawatomi (Keepers of the Fire) have seven bands and Hannahville is the Woodland Band.

The Potawatomi are part of the Three Fires Confederation (Potawatomi, Ojibway and Odawa).

What was the most difficult part of writing the book? 

Writing this particular story was difficult because it contains an underlying theme of Murdered and Missing Indigenous People. I was helped with my research by a few of my former students from the Hannahville Reservation (Potawatomi) in Wilson, MI. This is an important topic and one which needs to receive more attention. I also wanted to present a warning, within a story, telling teens to be careful of internet involvements with strangers. From my twenty-five years as a classroom teacher, and as a parent and grandparent, I know that direct lectures are not always the most effective way to do this. I hope that readers will respond to the message when presented in story form.  

What is something you hope your readers will take away from your book? 

I’d like my readers (and I have readers of all ages) to relate to Cady’s message, “I’m here, see me.” Through missing her mother and trying to find her, Cady is learning how to see herself. All of us, at varying times in our life, seem to struggle with how to see ourselves as we grow and change. Christine DeSmet, a fabulous mystery writer, developmental editor and Distinguished Faculty Associate (writing) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said “We are inundated with ads and commercials about makeup, right? As if seeing ourselves isn’t good enough. We need masks. But we don’t…girls and young women need to truly ‘see’ themselves and value themselves so that they don’t get into trouble by following the wrong guy or path.” I love her explanation of this which truly captures one of the main themes of this third Cady book.  

I am also very proud of these two reviews:
 
“An adventure requires friends, and Cady Whirlwind Thunder has many. She must draw on the strength of all her spirit helpers as she reluctantly follows a path into a mystery about her very identity. Ann Dallman invites the reader to share a worthy, modern story about Native American youth, family, values and resilience.”
     -Martin Reinhardt, PhD (Anishnaabe Ojibway) Professor Emeritus, Northern Michigan University Center for Native American Studies
 
“In Cady and the Search for Family, the third novel in the Cady Whirlwind Thunder mysteries, author Ann Dallman gives the reader another heart-deep journey into the disappointments and hope-filled dreams of Cady, a modern Native American teenage girl. As in the first two novels of the series, Dallman spins a mystery within the storyline that adds the perfect touch of tension.”
      -Sue Harrison, internationally best-selling author

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

I have several author appearances lined up in the UP and Wisconsin. My first one is set for April 12 at Spies Public Library in Menominee, MI followed by two this upcoming summer in Door County. I’m especially excited about a July author signing I’ll be doing in Chicago. The exposure through SCBWI is invaluable and I plan to approach radio and newspaper outlets and will pursue the usual social medial sources. I’ve found that word of mouth and local advertising in my hometown areas of Marinette (WI) and Menominee (MI) are also worth pursuing. 

What's next for you?

Years ago, I wrote a memoir focused on my 15 years teaching on the Hannahville Reservation. I was working with a literary agent from New York who referred me to an editor from the New Yorker magazine. I put that project aside for various personal reasons and then wrote my Cady books. I’d like to return to that project with a fresh outlook that time has provided. 

More about the book . . .

Cady’s mother disappeared when Cady was only six-years-old. Now about to turn 14, Cady aches for her mother to be with her. In an attempt to curb her granddaughter’s angry outbursts, Grandma Winnie takes Cady on a road trip throughout Wisconsin and Michigan. “We’ll repeat the trip your mother took when she was your age and maybe you’ll learn more about her,” Grandma tells Cady. Adding to Cady’s stress is the deadline for her essay entry in Barnesville’s centennial celebration. Through missing her mother and trying to find her, Cady is learning to see herself. Accompanying her on her adventures are her best friend, Irish; her “crush,” John Ray Chigaug; and, an ever-present blue jay.

Published by: Modern History Press (an imprint of Loving Healing Press) of Ann Arbor, MI

More about the author . . .

Ann Dallman has lifelong roots in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This is her third Cady novel. Cady and the Bear Necklace (Midwest Book Award Winner) and Cady and the Birchbark Box are both UP Notable Books and received State History Awards from the Historical Society of Michigan. (Cady and the Bear Necklace also received the New Mexico-Arizona Book Award.) A retired teacher, Ann continues to work as a freelance journalist and photographer. “Sometimes I write myself into a corner. That’s when I go swimming, that’s where the solution comes to me.” Fall is her favorite season, and she is passionate about making applesauce.

Website: https://www.anndallman.com/

Instagram: AnnDallmanAuthor

Facebook: AnnDallmanAuthor

 

 

 

SCBWI-MI Spring Conference Presenter Maria Dismondy

 

MSU, Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun, CEO, Cardinal Rule Press, and Bright Spirits: Author and Publisher Maria Dismondy

Charlie Barshaw coordinates our regular Writer Spotlight feature and interviews writers of SCBWI-MI. In this piece, meet author and publisher Maria Dismondy. Maria is also part of the cast of distinguished faculty at the SCBWI-MI spring conference. 

To see interviews with other conference presenters, click HERE for Carrie , HERE for Sarah, HERE for Kat, HERE for Debbie, and HERE for John.

You’ve claimed that your favorite book is The Notebook  by Nicholas Sparks. What is it about the story that touches you so deeply? Does the movie increase or decrease your pleasure with the novel?

It’s the love story for me. I believe in true love and the book illustrates the many emotions that take you on a rollercoaster ride in a relationship. The movie made me love the book even more which I can’t say for every book turned movie!

You alluded more than once in interviews that your family life as a child was not ideal. Without getting into painful specifics, how did your experience of growing up shape your future as a teacher, writer, speaker, and publisher?

My experiences as a child fueled me with empathy and compassion as an adult. I’ve spent my life in roles of helping others. First, as a teacher, then as an author and now as the leader of a nonprofit. I want to help others to find their light, especially in dark times!

After commuting to college your first year, you applied and were accepted at MSU. What did you find in the dorms and the MSU community that powered you through undergraduate and graduate course in education, child development, and research?

I loved my experience in college. I didn’t take my studies very seriously in high school. In college I learned how to study and I discovered a love of learning. I always had a job in college and enjoyed the challenge of balancing my school work with my job as a sandwich artist at Subway! I was so lucky to have really wonderful teaching experiences at a local Head Start Preschool along with elementary schools in the area.

You have always had a drive to succeed, as a teacher, as an author, as a book publisher, as a speaker. How do you keep your energy up? What strategies and tools do you use to keep organized and moving forward?

I loved my experience in college. I didn’t take my studies very seriously in high school. In college, I learned how to study and I discovered a love of learning. I always had a job in college and enjoyed the challenge of maintaining harmony in both working and learning.

Finding a strategy to stay organized is still a mission of mine! I have tried digital tools but always find myself back at the basics. A pad of paper and pen work wonders on keeping my deadlines in check!

As a teacher you searched for books teaching empathy and self-worth to students, but were frustrated when the books featured animal characters. You wanted realistic fiction with characters the students could identify with and root for. That’s why you wrote your first book. Why do you think that important niche for young readers had been ignored?

This is a great question! I am not sure I know the answer. Why was realistic fiction ignored for so many years? Maybe because one component of reading is for entertainment. Authors have fun creating dancing dinosaurs and singing fish! However, another aspect of reading is to learn about new things, to practice empathy and look into the life of another human being.

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun was a book you shopped around on your own in 2005, sending out 90 queries, getting back 88 no’s, 1 maybe and 1 yes. This was based on your own school experience bringing “weird” food for lunch. This is still your best-selling title. What is the long-term appeal of the story?

It’s wild to me that this book is still selling thousands of copies a year! Children share their honest feedback with me all the time while visiting their school for author programs. They love how the main character Lucy chooses not to fight back but to show kindness to someone who needs help. They also think Lucy is brave because she goes back to school at the very end of the story with her favorite sandwich (spaghetti in a hot dog bun) even after being teased for eating such an odd combination!

The subsidy publisher who took on Spaghetti went out of business, but not before you recouped our initial investment on book sales. Did the experience of switching horses in the middle of a stream plant the seeds for your future venture into publishing?

I never planned on writing books and I definitely never dreamed of being a business owner. I love how life takes you on a journey outside your wildest dreams!

After the publisher I originally worked with went out of business, I knew it was my responsibility to keep my books out in the world. They were needed by children and they were making a difference!

You were approached by a former football player who had a children’s book he wrote and wanted to publish. You decided this would be a one-off for you as you ventured into publishing other’s work. What was it that convinced you to found Cardinal Rule Press and take on the role of CEO?

I didn’t have the idea to start CRP, our distributor, IPG out of Chicago suggested it since my books were performing so well. I also had a business coach that pointed out I was already running a business and it didn’t need to look very different!

You offer a free six-week mentorship with your new authors, focusing on promoting and marketing their books. How has your relationship with authors evolved since you first took over the helm at your publishing company?

Once a teacher, always a teacher! I knew from my own experiences being a published author that when we feel educated and empowered, we are more confident in marketing our platform and mission. I never liked feeling in the dark and not knowing what my publishers were doing on their end as far as promotions. We communicate quite clearly with our author family so they don’t have a ton of gray area working with us!

Our editor, Adam Blackman has recently taken on a new role and has been working one on one with our team of authors to support backlist title promotions. We are dedicated to selling our books the entire time they are in print, not just before and during the book launch! Now Adam has created a relationship with authors so I have more time to focus on other areas of the business.

How does Cardinal Rule Press handle the writers? Is it a flat fee system? What rights do they retain? How about illustrators? Work-for-hire? What rights do they retain?

Each contract looks a little different. In a nutshell, our authors receiving an advance along with a royalties. Our illustrators have always been work for hire in the past simply because this was an easier system for me as a small business. We have our first author/illustrator book being released this fall which goes to show we are not afraid to try new things!

You never took marketing or public relations classes in college, but those areas are your strong suit. How did you learn to effectively market and promote books?

I am constantly reading books, attending webinars and listening to podcasts. I love learning from others experiences though networking and relationships with my colleagues. This is the best way to learn in my opinion. Connect with others and learn what works for them and what doesn’t. I think it’s important to be willing to share openly with others and in return, the walls of competition break down!

You are a master at using social media. Which platforms work best for what purposes?

You are so kind! I would not say we’ve mastered social media by any means. It’s frustrating how it is always changing and makes it hard to keep up. What we have done is chosen to focus on just a few platforms instead of spreading ourselves thin and trying to be on them all!

Currently, we have taken a pause from the platform X. In the past, we have used this platform to connect with literary agents and aspiring writers. Our Acquisitions Editor, Adam, has built relationships outside of social media and we don’t feel we need the platform for visibility as much these days.

You’ve never met a podcast (samples HERE, HERE, and HERE) you didn’t agree to appear on. Why is a podcast an effective informational and marketing tool?

As a former teacher, I go back to the fact that there are many different learning styles. Let’s meet people where they are at and give them many options to absorb information in a way that works for them. Podcasts are just one delivery system!

What will you be presenting at the SCBWI-MI spring conference?

This spring I will be diving into writing craft that is not often talked about. We are going to dig deeper into what is currently trending versus traditional craft.

What’s next for Maria?

In 2023, I became active in conversations around book access. I started a nonprofit called Making Spirits Bright. Metro Detroit needed a book bank, a place dedicated to recycling like new books into the hands of children who need them. 

My researcher heart couldn’t believe how many pockets in our area that are deemed as book deserts (locations where children do not have age appropriate books in the home). I could go on and on about the work we do at MSB. 

Publishing feels like a secluded job. You spend a lot of time at your desk and behind computer. With the book bank, I am in the community with others who are passionate about reading. 

It has helped restore so much joy in my heart during the work day and has reminded me how very important publishers and writers are in the world of literacy!

Social media you'd care to share:

www.cardinalrulepress.com

www.makingspiritsbright.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Birthday Blog with Larry Deary

 

Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors, illustrators and translators.

 

Congratulations to Larry Deary on the release of The Boy Who Talked to the Moon

 

Please share a little about this book's journey. How did you come up with the idea?

The idea came from watching my grandson who was enthralled with a book about the moon, stars and planets. His nickname was “Bernie,” which became the name of the main character.  I decided to self-publish the story as a picture book after a chance meeting with some authors, who urged me to pursue it. I started by attending writers group meetings at my local library. I received positive feedback from them about the story, which encouraged me to continue.

It took many drafts of the story until I was comfortable that the story “felt right” to me and had the ending that would make the reader feel good. I did use an editor to review the final draft prior to publication. I really enjoyed the collaborative process with my illustrator to develop the image of Bernie, as well as the other artwork. I used SCBWI to find my illustrator, and Leighanna Martin did a wonderful job.

What was the most difficult part of writing the book?

I understood what my process would be for writing, so my biggest challenge as a debut author was learning the book business and the process it took to self-publish a book. I benefited from all the available resources that exist which provide the needed information of “how to” and what not to do.

What are your marketing plans for the book and where can we find it?

The book is currently available on Amazon. As a first-time author, I was focused on publishing the book and did not put enough emphasis on marketing strategies and tactics with the launch of the book. This is my focus for 2025.  I’m currently finalizing relationships with Ingram Spark and Barnes and Noble Press. Connecting with libraries will be important. Social media efforts with a Facebook business page and Instagram are planned. I’ve also identified key FB groups to join that focus on children’s books. I continue to learn what experienced children’s book authors recommend for marketing success.

What's next for you?

I have drafts of two more picture book stories but I’m holding off on these until I get my “handle” on the marketing strategies to support them. However, one of these, which would be a continuation of the “Bernie” series, might be pursued sooner than later – “The Boy Who Talked to the Giraffe.”

More about the book . . .

Bernie loves the moon so much that he talks to it. But what happens when the moon talks back? 

Bernie is a young boy fascinated with the moon. His curiosity urges him to talk to Mr. Moon, as he calls him. Surprisingly, Mr. Moon talks back, and they begin a dialogue. 

Bernie’s conversation with Mr. Moon takes him on a journey as he learns about the moon. He receives advice from Mr. Moon that teaches him a valuable lesson, and results in a heartwarming outcome.

Publisher: LDPICBOOKS

More about the author . . .

Lawrence, or Larry as his friends call him, was born and raised in Michigan. He currently resides with his wife in a suburb some 30 miles north of Detroit. His debut book, The Boy Who Talked to the Moon, was a story written for his grandchildren several years ago and recently expanded and enhanced with illustrations for publication.

Larry retired from a career in human resources administration and consulting and is also a military veteran. While in college he was a journalism major before being attracted to human resources. He holds degrees from Wayne State University and Central Michigan University.

He is a sports enthusiast and describes himself as an avid amateur golfer.

Website: https://ldpicbooks.com/

Email:  ldeary@ldpicbooks.com