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On being a Yooper: U.P. author is part of Great Lakes story collection

Bands of green and purple light up the night sky over Lake Michigan.
Diana Robinson
The northern lights, as seen over Lake Michigan in May of 2021, with the Upper Peninsula on the horizon. (Diana Robinson, via Flickr Creative Commons)

"What's a Yooper Without Winter?" That's the title of a short story by Sault Ste. Marie author Sara Maurer. It's part of a new collection titled "On an Inland Sea: Writing the Great Lakes," exploring what it means to live in our part of the country.

Maurer's story looks at what it means to live in the Upper Peninsula amid a changing climate. She shares an excerpt with us and talks about her Yooper identity.

Also, some northern Michigan motorists sound off on higher gas prices.


Producer: Austin Rowlader
Editing: Steve Junker
Music: Blue Dot Sessions

Austin is a freelance reporter and producer based in Bellaire.
Maxwell Howard is a reporter for IPR News.
Ed Ronco is IPR's news director and the local host of "Morning Edition."