Founders
Barbara and Frank Siepker, along with their artist friend Suzanne Wilson, established the publishing company in 2002. It was a natural progression from Barbara's Cottage Book Shop experience where she learned that customers want to read about local history and like quality books.
Awards
LP is an award-winning publisher. Its titles received the following awards: Historical Society of Michigan Award; Michigan Notable Book by The Library of Michigan; IPPY Silver Great Lakes Regional Award; Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist; "Foreword Magazine” Book Award Finalist.
We work as a team to produce high-quality, well-written, and designed books. We are proud of:
Our Authors: M. Christine Byron, Paul Dechow, Jack Hobey, Martha F. Mothershead, Barbara Siepker, Helen Hornbeck Tanner, James R. Tozer, John Tris, Mary Tris, Susan Wasserman, Andrew J. White, and Thomas R. Wilson.
Our Photographers: Frederick W. Dickinson, Dietrich Floeter, Grace Dickinson Johnson, and Ken Scott. The five photographs on our Home page are the work of Ken Scott.
Our Book Designers: Rob Burdick, Angela Saxon, David Westerfield, and Andrew White.
Our Editors/proofreaders: Sylvia Duncan, Hope Laitala, Anna Svirid Sarkisian, Brita Siepher, Mary Tris, Marilyn Warburton, and Linda Young.
We print in North America.
Editors: Lisa Jensen, Brita Siepker, and Linda Young.
Logo: Kristin Hurlin.
Saxon Design Inc.
Since 1990, Saxon designs and coordinates the production of full-color coffee table-style books, life memoirs, and murder mysteries. Book design is a demanding and specialized discipline requiring uncompromising devotion to mastering the elements that contribute to the beauty of the book. Angela Saxon designs and Eric handles technical and finances. Their Leelanau Press titles include Ken Scott's Ice Caves of Leelanau and Why We Preserve, Historic Cottages of Glen Lake by Barbara Siepker and Dietrich Floeter, and Art of the Sleeping Bear Dunes.
Angela Saxon creating a monotype. David Westerfield, a frequent en plein air painter, often receives first place.
Michigan resident DAVID WESTERFIELD attended Wayne State University in Detroit, majoring in art. He earned a BA in Art from North Park College in Chicago where he received the Senior Art Award. He also studied at the American Academy of Art in Chicago and the Sedona Art Center in Arizona.
After graduating David began a career in graphic design and illustration which stretched more than thirty years. His illustrations credits include The Saturday Evening Post. In recent years, David transitioned from commercial art to fine arts. He paints both in the studio and on location, regularly traveling to favorite spots in Michigan, California, Florida, and Hawaii. He owns the Arbor Gallery in Glen Arbor, is shown at MacBeth and Co. in Onekama, Becky Thatcher Designs in Leland, and Tvedten Fine Art in Harbor Springs. He paints commissioned art.
Leelanau Press titles: Edmund E. Beebe’s Historic Leelanau Photographs, Frederick W. Dickinson Photographer of Sleeping Bear Dunes, Stepping Off the Boat, and Glen Arbor Township cover and front pieces.
Not for Profit
Leelanau Press is a nonprofit Michigan corporation that publishes only Leelanau County related books, mainly history and art. All proceeds cover the costs of new publications and the annual $2500 Leelanau Press Fellowship at Leelanau Historical Society. Fellowships contribute to original research, writing, presentation, and publication.