New picture book brings West Michigan lighthouse to life

Growing up, Stephanie Owen would spend summers at her family’s cottage on Upper Silver Lake in Mears.

“My grandparents purchased land in Mears in 1970 to build a summer cottage. But during the building process, my grandfather passed away. My dad, who was 16 at the time, chose to finish the construction. Every summer since then, my family has vacationed at our summer cottage and, of course, visited Little Sable Point Lighthouse,” Owen said.

Fast forward to 2020, when children’s book author Karen M. Greenwald hosted the writing contest #SunWriteFun. The contest required participants to write a nonfiction story that featured summer in some way.

“I chose to write ‘The Lonely Lighthouse,’” Owen said. “I ended up being one of the contest winners, and that’s when I realized I had a story that could become a book someday. Mears is so special to me, and Little Sable Point’s history is so fascinating. I loved writing its story.”

Owen will read and sign copies of “The Lonely Lighthouse: The Story of Little Sable Point Lighthouse” (Sleeping Bear Press, $19), illustrated by Michigan native Sona Avedikian, Saturday morning at Schuler Books in the Meridian Mall.

“I’ll do a storytime reading at 11 a.m., and then I’ll be available afterward to sign copies, answer questions and chat,” she said.

“The Lonely Lighthouse” is told from the perspective of a new lighthouse in Mears that stands 115 feet tall. The lighthouse is eager to share its light with the ships sailing on Lake Michigan. However, it needs a keeper to light its oil lamp. Soon, one comes along.

The lighthouse and its keeper settle into a daily routine. Every night, the keeper climbs to the top of the lighthouse to light the oil lamp, sharing its light with the ships sailing on the lake.

When the keeper can’t continue his duties, a new keeper arrives. And then another and another as the years go by. But one day, workers come to take away the oil lamp and install an electric light. There is no need for a keeper anymore. The lighthouse is left alone and lonely. Will anyone ever share its spark again?

“The best part about this book was getting to write about a place that’s so special to multiple generations and members of my family,” Owen said. “The most challenging part was trying to cross-reference my research to make sure I was as historically accurate as possible, but that was also very rewarding. One of the highlights of my research was being able to email with David A. Dietrich, the great-great-nephew of James Davenport, the first keeper of Little Sable Point. David was the person who spearheaded the efforts to reopen Little Sable Point Lighthouse to the public in 2006.”

Born in Wheaton, Illinois, Owen is the younger of two children. She lives with her husband of 20 years and 9-year-old daughter in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She graduated from Huntington University in Huntington, Indiana, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and went on to earn a master’s degree in creative writing and literature from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

When she was in second grade, Owen realized she wanted to be both a teacher and an author.

“I had an amazing teacher in second grade. Her name was Mrs. Johnson. She made learning fun, and I knew I wanted to do the same thing for other students. In fact, during high school, I was able to take an early childhood education class, and Mrs. Johnson is the teacher I ended up completing my internship with,” Owen recalled. “In second grade, we had an author come and visit our class. I don’t remember who it was, but I remember she told us about writing books, and I thought that sounded like so much fun. I started writing stories and creating illustrations and put them together in little books that I shared with my family.”

Owen teaches English and speech at Widefield High School in Colorado Springs. In 2015, she self-published “Living in the True Spirit of Christmas: An Advent Devotional.” However, “The Lonely Lighthouse” is her first traditionally published picture book. It took her six years to complete, from first draft to final product.

“I had written a few manuscripts after getting my master’s in creative writing and literature, but I started writing more seriously in 2020,” she said. “I used the manuscript for ‘The Lonely Lighthouse’ to apply to the Rocky Mountain chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ Michelle Begley Mentorship Program and was paired with (children’s book author) Heather Preusser. She really helped me polish the story. Then, in 2022, I signed with my literary agent, Andrea Comparato. In 2023, I signed my contract with Sleeping Bear Press to publish ‘The Lonely Lighthouse.’”

Owen has designed lesson plans for fellow teachers that complement “The Lonely Lighthouse.” They’re available to download on her website, stephanieowenbooks.com. There are lessons for every grade from kindergarten through high school.

“As a teacher, I know the power that books can have at any age,” Owen said.

Her next book is called “Hammerhead Needs Help.”

“It’s about a hammerhead shark that likes to build things, but when he takes on a project that’s more than his two fins can handle, he’s hesitant to ask for help,” she said. “It comes out in February 2027.”