Photo of Ludington author Don Hansen inside the Book Mark of Ludington, where readers can find his books prominently displayed. Hansen’s books are also available at Hoot and Honey of Manistee.
By Pat Stinson
Since his retirement from teaching in 2017, Don Hansen has kept himself busy. He had three books published. He moved with his wife, Jayne, from their hometown of Ottumwa, Iowa, to Ludington last year. And he plans to submit another story for publication this summer.
His new book will include “Meg,” the heroine of his first children’s story, “Meg and the Konkreet Krockadile”, (PBL Limited, 2020).
In the new story, Meg grapples with her wavering belief in Santa Claus. A sighting of Santa on a ship in Manistee and a friend’s advice may or may not restore her faith in the spirit of Christmas.
“I wanted to address one of the ‘growing pains’ of childhood,” Hansen said, adding, “Is Santa real?”
His character Meg is based on the real-life Meg (Meghan), whom he met while teaching in his home state.
“One of my students happened to be from Manistee,” Hansen explained. “She had experienced a tragic sophomore year, losing her father and also enduring open heart surgery. She was placed in my class, where she achieved her credit for that term, but the experiences left her short of graduation requirements.”
As it happened, Hansen had joined the school’s credit recovery program that enabled students to gain credit toward graduation.
“She earned her credits, graduated with her class, and moved on with her life,” he said.
He and Meghan kept in touch. During one phone conversation, she told him she was in the E.R. with her mother, who had broken her arm after tripping over a concrete bumper in a parking lot.
“I tried to lighten up the call with a joke about ‘concrete crocodiles.’ Meg and her mom became hysterical and begged me to stop because it hurt to laugh!”
The incident became the inspiration for his first children’s book which he set in the Manistee/Bear Lake area.
“I have a dozen more stories to publish, most about Michigan Meg and the Manistee and Ludington area,” he said.
His second children’s book, “There’s a booger in my book!”, is based on his children’s experiences and has a “surprise ending.”
In his first published work, “Seven Who Served” (PBL Limited, 2020), Hansen tells the stories of his father and his father’s six brothers, all of whom served in the military. He compiled their service records, from WWII through the Vietnam War, and their letters home, adding recollections from their wives.
“My storytelling has its roots with these men,” he said, explaining that his creativity springs from his uncles and father, who made up stories he called folk tales. “You could tell they could lie their way through a noose,” he added with a chuckle.
Hansen was ready to join the service, following in his father’s and uncles’ footsteps, even touring the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. However, his grandmother put her own foot down, saying, “You will not go there …” and he didn’t.
Instead, he yearned to be a history teacher and coach, but his counselors told him his math skills would serve him well as an engineer. He attended school then worked in the construction trades for 15 years as an ironworker, carpenter and laborer. He describes himself as “an altitude junkie,” and said he had no fear working 300-600 feet in the air on bridges, power plants and even a smokestack. When his first-born came along in 1985, he went back to school and worked summers in the trades.
“I had to do it for the kids,” he said. “You just have to create a new chapter in your life.”
He graduated with a teaching degree and eventually became a high school social studies teacher and wrestling coach. “As a teacher I found that history was much more interesting if the dull and drab facts were inserted in an interesting narrative. I also developed my own stories about my own children.”
Hansen spent the last two years of his career helping students earn credits toward graduation in an alternative school program. Many of the students were from tough neighborhoods in Chicago, and his wife Jayne said, “The kids knew not to cross him … they ended up being respectful.”
“I took a job that few wanted and helped dozens of kids that would not have made it otherwise,” he explained. “Even with all the drugs, gangs and violence, I believe these were two of the most rewarding years of my career. After I retired, writing became my passion.”
Visits to a co-worker’s house in western Michigan lured Hansen and his wife, both lifelong Ottumwa residents, to the Ludington area. Jayne Hansen said her husband always wanted to live in a cabin in the woods, and living near a lake appealed to them both. Hansen said walking his two dogs, visiting the state park and driving along M-22 toward Frankfort are some of his favorite pastimes. He currently owns five motorcycles and likes to haunt area “bike” shops.
“I’m kind of a motorcycle nut,” he said, estimating he has owned 100 in his lifetime.
Where you’re most likely to spot him, however, is in his local bookstore, the Book Mark, at 201 S. Rath Ave. All three of his books can be found there and in Manistee at Hoot and Honey, 358 River St.
Pat Stinson is the co-editor of the Freshwater Reporter.
