All posts by Author Emma Palova

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Third Coast Festival Books & Authors set for March 21 in Grand Haven, MI

March 9, 2026 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

Release of The Quest for the Lost Town

Author Emma Palova will celebrate the release of her new book, The Quest for the Lost Town, at the upcoming Third Coast Festival of Books & Authors on March 21 in Grand Haven starting at 11 a.m. The festival provides the perfect setting for the debut of the new title as book lovers, writers, and literary enthusiasts gather along Michigan’s lakeshore for a day dedicated to storytelling and the literary arts.

“I am extremely excited about this unique opportunity to present my new book in the literary capital of Grand Haven,” Palova said. “This is my first time at this unique festival.”

“First, we do this festival to honor all the hard work that authors do. We promote literacy and books year round but wouldn’t have either without you,” organizer Mike O’Brien, The Book Cellar owner said. “This is why we provide this opportunity for you to meet the fans, sell your books and keep the money, and do not charge you for the tables. This is all about you and we want you to know we care and want the best for our authors.”

The annual festival brings together regional and national authors, readers, and publishing professionals for a celebration of books and creativity. Held in the heart of Grand Haven, the event offers visitors the opportunity to meet authors, attend engaging panel discussions, explore new books, and learn more about the writing and publishing process.

From fiction and memoir to children’s literature and history, the Third Coast Festival of Books & Authors highlights a wide range of genres and voices from across Michigan and beyond. In addition to author presentations and readings, the festival provides a welcoming space for readers to connect directly with writers, discover new titles, and celebrate the vibrant literary community that continues to grow along Michigan’s “Third Coast.”

In addition to author meet and greet, the Third Coast Festival of Books & Authors provides a welcoming space for readers to connect directly with writers, discover new titles, and celebrate the vibrant literary community that continues to grow along Michigan’s “Third Coast.”

Whether you are an avid reader, an aspiring writer, or simply curious about the stories behind the books, the festival promises a lively and inspiring experience for all who attend.

Stay tuned for a special episode about the festival this Friday and Saturday on the For the Love of Books Podcast at https://emmapalova123.podbean.com

Downtown Hub will host the followsing authors.

Down to Earth. Marie Allen and Halli Starling

GH Vinegar and Oil Susie Wilcox

and Jessica Foster

Lark- Kate Moynihan and Jade Havenaar

New Holland Tasting Room

Jay Leigh Brown and Katie May

Barefoot Dave-Samantha Moran

and Joshua Veith

MacKite- Danica Davidson

Must love dogs- William Jones

Algeria- Susie Finkbeiner

Paper Place- Alby Blake and A.M.Darling

Silverfire- Laura Klynstra

That Hat- Bailey Vos

Tlaquepaque- Dana Reeves and Ann Boyle

J Morgan- Renee Prewitt

Soulshine Juice- Kelly Ohlert

Blueberry Haven- Jennifer Dornbush

and Wndy Byard

Patricia’s Chocolates- Ms.Z and Abigail Evink

Salon 206- to be assigned

Borrs. Lisa Childs-Megan Davidhuizer-

Veronica Bane

Surf Shop- to be assigned

Pinwheel Kitchen- Cindy Schrauben and

Mary Marthey

Grand Finale- Drew Reichard and

Martin L Shoemaker

Aldea- Adriane Leigh

Gliks- Megan Davis and Jeffe Boats

Gliks men’s Marissa Malson

Bookman- Parker Russell Cyrus Keith and

Kelly M Parker

HUB 2 Grand Haven Historical Museum

This HUB does not need to be contacted. If you are ill or something happens please text Mike 616-638-6639 directly so we can plan accordingly.

M. Kelly Peach

Megan Shikora

Steven W Simon

Lynne Schmidt

Joseph Neely

Katryna Delle

Thomas Ford Conlan

Vera West

Carolyn Striho

Dana Vanderlugt

Sophrina Scott

Christopher Cosmos

Emma Palova

Henry Granger

K M McIntyre

Nina Mandell

Stacy N Elliott

Brenda Haas

Rich Nelson

Angela Shupe

Cecilia Garcia

Andrea DeBoer

Ann Goethais

Edward R Rosick

Amy Piper

A.D.Rhine

Dawn Michaels

Ross J Smith

Brian Zemba

Kevin Brown

Ann Marie Kelly

Michael G Farrell

Christina MM Norris

Brian Plescher

Ashley Kammeraad Zuidema

Kevin W Brown

Anna Marie Fernyak

Nancy Collander

Kate Motaung

Brian Plescher

Joseph LaLonde

Isabella J Mansfield

Cecilia A Garcia

HUB 3 Central Park Place

This HUB doesn’t need to be contacted. Text Mike at 616-638-6639 if you are ill or can’t make it so we can plan accordingly.

Richard Chizmar

Billie Chizmar

Johnny Compton

Jimmy Juliano

Giano Cromley

Samantha Moran

Kassidy Vangundy

Dylan Dunbar

Rod Vick

Jean Davis

Meghan Johnson

Kenya-Moss Dyme

Stephanie Gilmore

Brandon G Kroupa

Troy D Wymer

Angela Crandall

Mark Love

Marissa Malson

Megan Davis

Sylvia Hubbard

J.Arens

Melanie Hooyenga

Erin R Hodges

Kathryn Den Houter

Neena Laskowski

Zack Schoppen

Victoria M Sorenson

Michael Asselin

K.W.McLindsey

Lindsey Clement

AA Ralynn Karman

V.L. Barycz

Molly Collier

Dany Crooks

Lewis G Gazoul

Kayliani Shi

Angie Dickinson

Alyson Kuch

D.L. Taylor

Cassidy Clarke

Jenni Howell

Lauren Anderson

Calley Clover

Lia Duchaine

Megan Hart/Mina Hardy/ Rob E Boley

Grace Worthington

Dr.Sarah Monday

Alaina Rose

Pamela Gauthier

Jason Schubert

Jillian Arly

A.S Adams

K.S.Moore

Sara Furlong Burr

Tana Jenkins

Jessica Gomez

Sue C Dugan

Eden Rose

Rachel Esterline

Monica Amore

Anastasia Wilder

Kaila Rose

Cathy Shouse

D.K. Marie

Megan Monarch

A.L. Wilder

Danielle Baker

Jennifer Lowery

Erin R.Hodges

Anne Stone

Jacquie Sewell

Susie Wilcox

Emily Dunckle

Leslie Papp

Kristin Wolden Nitz

Karen Rieser

Isabel Estrada

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March 4, 2026 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

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Third Coast Author & Book Fest

March 4, 2026 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

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The people I miss in 2025

December 29, 2025 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

My walker friend Frank Holwerda comes to mind first. We met on a trail that runs in our backyards on a sunny summer day.

Frank was 90 and eager to talk about his life including the Korean War and growing up on the West side of Grand Rapids.

I’m a good listener and wanted to write up his story for The Lowell Ledger. We even did an interview on the trail.

How many 90 year olds walk on the trail every day?

By the time we met again, Frank changed his mind about the story. But we kept talking while Frank would often cry.

“You’re the only one who finds the time to listen to me. “

He laughed at the fact that he had no middle name coming from the Netherlands.

“Neither do I,” I smiled that we had another thing in common.

The trail was our common denominator for five days of the week, and for every season except for winter.

Frank Holwerda on the trail.

To be continued..

Christmas, Czech Easter traditions, Czech food, Czech heritage

Merry Gentlemen

December 26, 2025 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

Pictured from left to right back row: Vaclav Konecny Jr., Jakub Pala, Ludek Pala and , professor Vaclav Konecny. Front row: Dominik Pala, Samuel Chavent and Henrik Pala.

This was on Christmas Eve. We had traditional Czech Christmas Eve dinner consisting of mushroom soup, Lake Trout and Whitefish from Lake Huron and potato salad.

Desserts varied from mom’s kolache, Polish kolache, cream rolls, French macarons and a French log.

The best part was that my parents could join us from Big Rapids and Emma flew in with Sam from France.

There were 12 of us so we were like 12 apostles. Presents were plentiful.

I have yet to take a photo of the best one. A huge poster for our Moravian Sons Distillery tasting room in @The Old Theater in downtown Lowell.

Stay tuned for more Christmas news.

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Happy Thanksgiving

November 27, 2025 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

I will soon celebrate Thanksgiving with part of my family, the other part had to stay put due to the upcoming snowstorm in Michigan.

That breaks my heart in many different ways. The list is too long to name.

I must stay grounded in my Taurus zodiac sign.

I am also commemorating the 36th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution in former Czechoslovakia.

Again my heart is flooded with emotions too strong to write.

Have a great holiday.

Grief, healing, inspiration, literature, meditation

Tribute to Jan: A Legacy of Friendship

November 24, 2025 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

Dedicated to Dave Thompson as a tribute to his wife Jan who has passed on Nov. 12, 2025.

A letter to Dave

Dear Dave,

It is with heavy heart that I write this sympathy message with Jan’s recent passing. I know how much you loved each other despite all the jokes.

On one of my countless stories about your involvement in American Legion and VFW post 8303 for The Lowell Ledger, Jan responded to my question: Why do you do all this?

“We’d be sitting at home and fighting,” she laughed.

Both of you were anchors of the Memorial Day activities at Oakwood Cemetery that spanned decades. Most recently, I hunted you down still participating in your car parked the closest to the monument.

That was the last time I saw Jan.

To be continued……….

My friends Jan and Dave Thompson

My friends who enrich me

Living in a different country than your homeland has its repercussions. That is what I write about in my memoir and what I have told my daughter Emma Palova-Chavent when she was deciding about immigrating to the USA from France.

“You’re leaving old friends behind, and making new relationships,” I said. “That becomes binding.”

Immigration is not an experiment.

While living here for more than two decades, I have made a lot of friends that keep enriching my life. I know more people around here, than I knew in the village I grew up in back in Czechoslovakia.

Probably the biggest compliment I’ve ever received was from Lowell resident Barbara Schmaltz, who used to work for the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce. I did a story on her for “Behind the Scenes.” The compliment is bigger than an award from the Associated Press.

“Emma, it’s been a privilege knowing you,” she said.

The same goes for my longtime friend, Dave Thompson.

As we approach Memorial Day, I write about Dave who has been the master of ceremonies for the event for the last six years. I met Dave while working for the Lowell Ledger in 2006. He came to my tiny cubicle office to tell me that he was organizing a clown parade to honor the 175^th anniversary of Lowell.

“I am my own chairman,” he said.

Dave told me he wasn’t going to organize the parade unless he was solely in charge of it.

I’ve always liked that statement for its power.

“Once a teacher, always a teacher,” Dave said.

As a former teacher of chemistry and biology, and a coach, Dave always likes to put an educational component into the Memorial Day ceremonies.

One year Dave did a briefing on military uniforms to explain to the public the meaning behind the metals.

Post commander of the Lowell American Legion Dave Thompson with Boy Scouts on Memorial Day.

“Everything on the uniform has a meaning,” he said. “It is decorated based on the things you’ve accomplished.”

And truly while interviewing Dave in his den with the secret door and a miniature railroad track, I noticed what was on the walls and how it was placed. One wall was dedicated to civic honors, and the other to military. There was no more room left.

So, here is Dave’s story abbreviated version:

Dave Thompson was born in Grand Rapids during the depression on Nov. 23 1933. He grew up and attended public schools, and graduated from Central High School in 1952. He attended Olivet College and graduated in 1956. He was the winner of the coveted Olivet Oaks Cup Trophy as the Outstanding Graduating Senior.

After college, he flew in the navy, later he became a Naval Air Intelligence Officer, specializing in survival, escape and evasion tactics. He retired as commander with 21 years of service.

His work history includes teaching in the Detroit area for 10 years biology and chemistry, and coaching football and track.

Dave bargained three of the first five contracts in the Detroit area before the state bargaining law took effect in 1965.

“That made me a bargaining expert, something I still chuckle about,” he said.

Dave was the first executive director of Grand Rapids Teachers Association. He was also the general manager of the Grand Rapids Symphony for five years.

“What was your instrument, Mr. Thompson?” people quite often asked.

“The ukulele and the radio,” he said. “Neither one is a symphony instrument, but I put people in DeVos Hall.”

Dave with wife Jan moved to Lowell in 1996, and built a home on the Flat River complete with hidden moving panel doors and a white pine kitchen fireplace mantle. The mantle originates from the first Thompsons who arrived to Vergennes Township in 1833 as the first pioneer settlers.

Dave & Jan Thompson, avid volunteers, in their unique home.

He is proud of removing cars from Main Street during parades and organizing Dutch spaghetti dinners, as well as being Jan’s ticket out of Arizona. Currently, Dave is the post commander of Lowell American Legion, and on the board of Gilda’s Club.

Dave has three sons scattered around the country and five step children. Both Dave and Jan have lived by a motto:

“We all owe something to our community and we should be willing to give some time to those causes that affect others,” he said. “But when something ceases to be fun anymore, it’s time to move on to something else.”

Dave said the biggest claim to fame after all is said and done is being known as Jan Thompson’s husband. The couple received the title of 2010 Lowell Persons of the Year awarded by the Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce.

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Author’s stop

November 21, 2025 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

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Project 50

November 12, 2025 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

Shifts in time

Time shifts.

dedicated to my father professor Vaclav Konecny who started out as a physicist at the University of Brno, Czech Republic.

Later, he taught calculus at Ferris State University in Big Rapids.

The two images depict shifts in time. The first image shows how I grouped the objects on Wednesday Nov. 12, 2025.

The second image shows how I grouped the objects on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2025.

What is the difference between the two images?

To be continued…

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Project 50 Day 2

November 11, 2025 Author Emma Palova Leave a comment

In memoriam

Project 50

Dedicated to the class of 1976, ZDS Stipa, Czech Republic

Discoveries

Friends

Dedicated to Eva, class of 1986, Technical Universtiy, Brno. in memoriam to the passage of her husband Jan.

Notes: I am using J.R.R. Tolkien and Dan Brown writing strategies in a different manner.

J.R.R. Tolkien created new realms based in mythology and philology.

Dan Brown: You need the Clock, the Crucible and the Contract.

In the Clock, Brown is referring to time pressure, the Crucible presents a situation where escape is possible, the Contract is a promise to the reader to answer all questions.

You determine your own clock in the story, your own crucible and your own contract.

You layer the different characters and reach into the past, bring them into the present and put them in the future.

For example I created Paul character by pulling out his letters and postcards from the 1990s, discovered what he was like, and came across a card game Marias mobile he had created in 2024.

However, I couldn’t download the app categorized as a marriage app.

To be continued…….