Mystery, Dunes, and a Lighthouse: Meet the Author at Port Betsie!

Description

Every stretch of the Great Lakes shoreline holds a story, and some are darker than others. On Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, local author and Lapeer County Press columnist Wendy Byard will host a public book signing at the historic Point Betsie Lighthouse to share the suspenseful world of her novel, Devil in the Dunes: A Great Lakes Mystery. Byard recently appeared on Fox 2 in Detroit on its "Lit Happens with Sydee Little" segment. Devil in the Dunes, a psychological thriller, recently selected for the prestigious Library of Michigan collection, has gained a dedicated following for its atmospheric portrayal of Michigan’s west coast. Byard, a former educator and lifelong storyteller, invites local residents and summer visitors to learn about her new crime novel and the inspiration behind it. "I am thrilled to host this event at Point Betsie," said Byard. "The lighthouse is the perfect setting to dive into the scenic, yet sometimes dangerous, coast of West Michigan. The location is the perfect backdrop for an exciting, mysterious page-turner.” The story follows 18-year-old Cadie McLeod, a popular and gifted young woman whose life is shattered when she is abducted from the Lake Michigan dunes. In a chilling turn of events, her disappearance occurs on the exact sixth anniversary of the brutal, unsolved murder of her parents, Thomas and Aileen, who were killed by a hit-and-run driver on a desolate coastal highway. As Cadie fights to escape her captor—a sociopath who has been stalking her—she must also piece together the dark, decades-old secrets behind her parents' deaths. The novel is described as a "whodunnit" that balances suspense and emotion, leading to a climactic confrontation on the waters of Lake Michigan during a severe storm In addition to her work as an author, Byard wrote the "Beyond Our Backyards" column for the Lapeer County Press and was a magazine writer for On The Town. She taught college English for over twenty years. Copies of Devil in the Dunes will be available for purchase and signing throughout the event. Event Details: What: Book Signing with Author Wendy Byard When: Saturday, July 11, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Where: Point Betsie Lighthouse, 3701 Point Betsie Rd, Frankfort, MI 49635 For more information about Wendy Byard, visit wendybyard.com. Her media kit with photos is available at wendybyardauthor.com/media-kit. About the Author: Wendy Byard is a Michigan author, newspaper columnist, and retired English professor and high school teacher. A graduate of Michigan State University with degrees in journalism, history, and English Education, she is the author of Devil in the Dunes: A Great Lakes Mystery and Teach and Reach for Classroom Miracles.