Legends of the Lakes

By Lynda Charow

Legends of the Lake is a Halloween themed book. Tori and her classmates get a class project to research and present whether the local legends are based on fact or fiction. Finding an historic map leads them on an adventure that takes them into Lake St. Clair to prove one of the legends. What they find will make history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lynda Charow
• Release date: Nov 14, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452480879

Lynda Charow

Author, Lynda Charow, like her main character Victoria is a firm believer that anything that you put your mind to you can achieve. She worked her way through college to receive a B.S. degree in Broadcasting from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. A month after graduating she gave birth to her daughter, Victoria Lyn. As an independent producer, in the mid-1990's, she co-produced a number of historical documentaries with the WDIV-TV 4, the Detroit NBC affiliate. The research became a springboard for the "Legends of the Lakes" book. Her Emmy award winning documentary "Haunted Legends of Old Detroit" provided some of the inspiration for the legends incorporated in that book. "The Snow Day" was inspired by photos that Victoria's Dad had shared from his days in college up at Michigan Technoligical University in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The "Venetian Festival" was based on some of the experiences that the family had by participating in the cardboard boat races in the annual festival sponsored by the Nautical Mile Merchant Association. "Daylight at Night" was inspired when the fireworks in the city were actually cancelled due to the lack of funds. Lynda has recently completed a documentary "Building on Faith: The Historic Churches of Detroit". DVD Copies of the program are available for purchase for $20.Lynda is also the event director for the Shores-Pointes Adventure Triathlon. She is a triathlete herself and decided to bring this kind of event to her city, St. Clair Shores. The second annual event was held on July 21, 2012 at Blossom Heath Park. The event web site is www.shorespointestri.com. She also maintains a Facebook page where photos of the events have been posted and additional event information is constantly updated.

Book preview

Legends of the Lakes

By

Lynda M. Charow

Smashwords Edition

* * * * *

Published By:

Lynda M. Charow on Smashwords

Legends of the Lakes

Copyright © 2010 by Lynda M. Charow

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

Other titles by Lynda Charow in the Tori Stories series of children’s chapter books on Smashwords are:

Daylight at Night

Venetian Festival

Snow Day

* * * * *

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - The Research

Chapter 2 - The Sea Serpent

Chapter 3 - Legends Live On]

Chapter 4 - The Church is Gone!

Chapter 5 - In Search of Proof

Chapter 6 - Preserving History

Chapter 7 - The Decision

Chapter 8 - Show and Tell

Chapter 9 - The Haunted Forest

Chapter 10 - Halloween

Chapter 11 - Donating History

Legends of the Lakes

Chapter One – The Research

The warm breeze of the fall afternoon stirred the scarlet leaves on the trees outside the classroom. Tori had an active imagination. Her hazel green eyes glazed over as she gazed out the window while listening to her social studies teacher lecture about the link of urban legends to how the community viewed holiday’s like Halloween. Tori’s mind wandered to the leaves that were clinging to the branches of the trees. She pictured the tree as being a towering bark covered monster that shook violently as it tried to shake the leaves from its branches where they would be flung aimlessly into the wind and carried wherever the swirling air desired.

Tori refocused her attention as Mrs. Shaire, the young and enthusiastic social studies teacher, assigned the task of researching historic legends, ghost stories and eerie folk tales relating to Michigan and the Great Lakes. Each student would have to do a different topic and present it to the class.

Mrs. Shaire, was very tall with long straight jet black hair that she pulled neatly back into a ponytail. With very pale white skin and striking deep blue eyes she reminded Tori of a rather ghostly looking person. Her teacher’s look was quite a contrast to Tori’s bronze tanned skin and sandy blond hair with natural bright blond highlights from the hours she spent in the sun during the summer. Though her teacher bore a unique look Tori found her to overall be very interesting and engaging with the way she taught. The report and presentation sounded like something that Tori would enjoy compiling.

The school bell rang and Tori gathered up her books and went to her locker where she had made arrangements to meet up with her friends Natalie and Mary. They planned on getting a head start on their projects and were going to ride their bikes over to the St. Clair Shores Library together.

Mary and Natalie walked down the hall humming their favorite song, at least the one they liked the most that day. As they approached Tori joined in. They continued singing and giggling as they road their bikes over to the library.

As they settled into their chosen table they seemed to bring with them an air of curiosity.

So, what legend were you assigned? Natalie asked Tori.

I’m researching the sightings of sea serpents in Lake St. Clair and the surrounding bodies of water. I’ve heard tales about sea serpents, but I don’t really think there are any still around. You know, like how we make up stories around the campfire or at sleepovers. Well, I think these stories will be just like that, Tori said.

I think they may have some truth to them. Weird stuff happens all the time that we can’t explain. Ghosts really could exist, Mary said.

I hope I don’t dig up a real ghost, Natalie sighed.

It’s not like ghosts are just dying to get to know you, Tori giggled.

"Yeah, but you never know what will turn up when you start uncovering haunting