Pam Lach’s New Fiction Book Series Inspired by Island
By Leslie Rott

“The Secret of the Talking Cave” by Pamela Lach is the first book in a series of 12 “Mackinac Mystery” fiction books for young adults. The cover art is by Elisabeth Pitts.

After writing eight nonfiction books, local author Pamela Lach has published her first work of fiction, “The Secret of the Talking Cave,” which is geared toward readers in the fifth through seventh grades.

The book is about two cousins, Casey and Maureen. Casey lives on Mackinac Island and Maureen is visiting for the summer. Casey, who thinks Maureen is bossy, tries to get her lost in the woods; however, the Island plays a trick on him.

The two end up meeting Meeshka and Ahkeya, who Casey and Maureen think are historic interpreters at Fort Mackinac. They soon realize, however, that Meeshka and Ahkeya are not historic interpreters at all. They are, in fact, very real and very 19th century. But Casey and Maureen are from the 21st century. How can that be?

The rest is a mystery that readers have to solve for themselves.

Ms. Lach said she wanted her first work of fiction to be for children, but said her book will be enjoyable for readers of all ages.

The book focuses not only on the story of the talking cave, but on the intricacies of Island life. Maureen questions whether Casey, an Islander, lives in the “real world.” With humor, Ms. Lach helps to dispel some of the myths that outsiders come to the Island thinking are true.

“It gives you little insights into the Island,” she said of her book.

While writing the book, Ms. Lach said she kept Island children in mind as models of what life is like for youngsters, but based her characters on no particular person on the Island.

The author said she has “always been a fanatic for books,” and made up stories as a child, and has enjoyed writing ever since she learned how.

Mackinac Island, she said, has always been an inspiration to her and has spurred her creativity. Of course, she added, most people, including herself, tend to “write about what you love and what you know.”

Writing about the Island was an easy choice for Ms. Lach. Since she used to come here as a visitor, before moving here, she has been a tourist as well as an Island resident. Being a tourist, she understands the questions that people have about the Island, and now, as an Island resident, she is able to answer many of those questions.

“The Secret of the Talking Cave” is the first installment in what is to be a series of 12 fiction books, entitled the “Mackinac Mystery Series.”

Other potential books to be added to the series include a mystery about summer workers, a mystery about deer camp, and one about the teachers at Mackinac Island Public School disappearing. She would like to publish a new book in the series every spring.

The book, which was released last fall, was published by Island Spirit Publications and is available at The Island Bookstore and Alford’s Drug Store on the Island and at Book World in St. Ignace and The Island Bookstore in Mackinaw City.