Atlanta

“Swooping down into various Atlanta neighborhoods in the early 21st century, Loreen Niewenhuis populates her first novel with a diverse cast of more than a dozen characters. Like the great Atlanta explores the tapestry of life in this modern, Southern city. Atlanta follows the interweaving lives of mothers and daughters, siblings, friends, and lovers. Atlanta explores finding yourself, losing yourself, and the strength discovered in a steadfast friend. *Winner of the Five Star Readers Choice Award*

Loreen Niewenhuis captures the vitality and pulse of modern Atlanta in her novella, ATLANTA. Niewenhuis lived in Atlanta in the mid-nineties. The city was waking up and transforming into a modern metropolis. Hosting the Olympics thrust Atlanta onto the world stage and the city rose to the occasion. Niewenhuis captures this transformation and the diverse tapestry of life in this magical city. Atlanta explores the tapestry of life in this modern, Southern city. Atlanta follows the interweaving lives of mothers and daughters, siblings, friends, and lovers. Atlanta explores finding yourself, losing yourself, and the strength discovered in a steadfast friend. *Winner of the Five Star Readers Choice Award*

Loreen Niewenhuis grew up in Michigan and has lived there most of her life. She pursued a life of science, getting a Bachelor, then Master of Science degrees. She worked in various aspects of that world including a hospital laboratory, basic animal research, and a bone marrow transplant group. While taking a break from this work to raise her young sons, Loreen began writing fiction. This evolved into a passion and she returned to school to get her MFA from Spalding University. In 2009, her short story collection, Scar Tissue, was a finalist for the Flannery O’Connor Award. From the time she was a young girl climbing sand dunes and splashing in its cool waters, Loreen has felt connected and drawn to Lake Michigan. She decided to explore the lake fully by walking around it. The fascinating account of her journey, A 1,000 Mile Walk on the Beach, was released in 2011 by Crickhollow Books. Her novella, Atlanta, was also published in 2011 by Main Street Rag Publishing and is currently also available as an eBook. This book won the Five Star Award from Readers Favorites and was also a finalist in the novella category for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards. In 2012, Niewenhuis undertook another 1000-mile hike, this time along the shores of all five Great Lakes. The book about this adventure, A 1000-Mile Great Lakes Walk was published by Crickhollow Books in 2013.