Taking a Little Pre-Vacation Break

Real vacation comes in September. I won't be gone all month and probably not even for two weeks, but there will be times when the shop will be closed. For now, in August (and remember, I've been taking Sundays and Mondays off all summer), I'll be away from my bookstore from Sunday, Aug. 23, to Thursday, Aug. 27. I'll be taking time to appreciate a little summer before it's over.

Today is the day! 8/13/26, 4 p.m.

 

Are you thinking of writing and self-publishing a memoir? Have you ever thought about it? Wondered how to interest other people in your family story? 

Jennifer Sager never thought she would become an “author,” but she had a lot she wanted to share about her older sister’s life, and those stories turned into a book. Come to Dog Ears Books today at 4 o’clock and enjoy an opportunity to learn about Steph’s life and Jenny’s writing journey. 

LOCAL AUTHOR -- NORTHPORT!

 

Jennifer Sager of Northport, MI

Jennifer Sager and her husband made Northport their retirement home, so it was not surprising that when Jennifer wrote a book, she and her best friend would make their first call on Dog Ears Books. "We don't know what we're doing," one of them told me. Jennifer even said, "I don't consider myself an author." But they told me about Jenny's book, Steph's Story, and when I looked it over and read a few pages, I told her, "You are the author of this book, even if you never write another!"

Jennifer's book is a very personal story. Her older sister, Stephanie, their parents' first child, was born with Down syndrome. The challenges Steph and her family face in trying to balance care for Steph with as much independence as possible change over the years, and some are occasionally heartbreaking, but love and devotion see them through, and the baby not expected to live past her second birthday reaches age 63, experiencing many triumphs in the course of her life. This is basically a happy, upbeat book.

Author Jenny Sager sees her sister's story as being helpful to other families where some kind of disability is an issue, and I'm sure that's true. It's always good to learn how others have dealt with situations we are facing ourselves. But my view is that Steph's Story is a book for anyone with a family, of whatever kind, and that is pretty much all of us, isn't it? Jenny is never preachy. The factual information she passes along about help for those with disabilities is woven into her memories in such a way that the story reads seamlessly from start to finish. 

She is a delightful person, too! 

So please join us at Dog Ears Books (in the David Grath gallery next door, actually) on Thursday afternoon, August 13, at 4 p.m. You will be glad you made the time for this event.

More complete biographical information on the author has come in now: 

Jennifer Sager is the author of Steph’s Story, an honest account of her family’s joys, challenges, and creative strategies for helping Steph, born with Down syndrome, to flourish. Although Steph died a few years ago, Jennifer continues to support friends in the Downs family community as they navigate changes in their needs and in the policies regulating benefits.

Over a span of 30 years, Jennifer earned degrees from multiple universities in general education and special education. She received licenses for both teaching and administration, has taught across all grade levels, and worked for a county-wide non-profit organization to develop educational programming for families. She has been a school principal, a supervisor for special education cooperative, and a district-level special education administrator; however, she may tell you that the most rewarding work of her life was as her sister’s legal guardian.

Jennifer assumed co-guardianship with her mother for her older sister, Stephanie, who lived with Down syndrome, and she and her family were instrumental in challenging the accepted “quality of life” standards for people with disabilities. Her family navigated support for Stephanie when she found a boyfriend. Steph was able to move to her own apartment with supported living on the Medicare waiver, and Jennifer worked with the supporting agencies to navigate changes in state and federal systems and to advocate for the couple’s continuing relationship.

For her entire life Jennifer has advocated support for all people with disabilities. She served on the ADEC  Board of Directors in Elkhart and the ARC of Indiana Board of Directors. Most importantly for educators, service providers, and policy makers, Jennifer also has an incredible gift of story-telling that allows her to engage listeners and to illustrate profound lessonswith anecdotes from her professional and personal life. She is a passionate advocate for those with disabilities and for their families. 

Jennifer can often be found in the peaceful woods of Michigan’s Leelanau peninsula with her husband, Jim.