From Classroom to Crime Scene
AUTHOR BIO
Devil in the Dunes: A Great Lakes Mystery is Wendy Byard’s debut, page-turning psychological thriller that is already installed in the prestigious Library of Michigan permanent capital collection.
After two decades of teaching English and publishing a book for educators (Teach and Reach for Classroom Miracles), she has taken the lead in her own narrative, channeling a lifelong love of storytelling into a nail-biting crime novel. The result, Devil in the Dunes, is a suspenseful thriller with deep themes, rich characters, and a strong female lead set on the dazzling, but sometimes deadly, West Michigan coast.
A marketing pro and former newspaper columnist, Byard brings decades of insight into human nature and a knack for a compelling story to her fictional work. From the bustle of Chicago advertising to the vibrant classrooms of Michigan, Byard's career journey has always been guided by a singular mission: to make a bigger impact.
A dedicated public servant and community leader, Byard now thrives by connecting with the community through her writing, proving that a lifelong desire to write and teach can become a powerful new story all its own.
Byard earned her bachelor and master's of art degrees from Michigan State University and studied overseas in London as part of MSU's Journalism Program. She is a member of International Thriller Writers and Detroit Working Writers. She resides in Michigan.
Unearthing Michigan’s Secrets: How Author Wendy Byard Turned Great Lakes Lore into Gripping Fiction
For most of her life, Wendy Byard has been a collector of Michigan stories.
As a veteran educator who spent decades teaching writing at Mott Community College and a lifelong resident of Michigan, Byard understood the quiet magic found along Great Lakes backroads—the shifting weather, the tight-knit rural communities, and the subtle secrets that ripple beneath the surface of small-town life.
So, when Byard stepped away from the college classroom and turned her focus full-time to fiction at age 60, she didn't look far for inspiration. She looked right out her back door toward the sweeping sand dunes and cold, deep waters of the Mitten State.
A Debut Born of Local Lore
Byard’s debut psychological thriller, Devil in the Dunes: A Great Lakes Mystery, is as much a love letter to Michigan’s natural landscapes as it is a pulse-pounding page-turner.
Set against the rugged beauty of the Lake Michigan shoreline, the novel transports readers into a world of wind-swept bluffs, dense pine woods, and coastal mystery. Drawing on rich local history and the unforgiving terrain of Michigan's iconic dune country, Byard weaves a suspenseful narrative where environmental peril meets deep-seated human secrets.
“Michigan’s landscapes are almost characters in themselves,” Byard says. “Our dunes are breathtakingly beautiful, but they’re also wild, vast, and constantly shifting. They can preserve the past—or hide it completely.”
Since its publication, Devil in the Dunes has connected deeply with Great Lakes readers. Recognized for its rich atmospheric storytelling, the manuscript earned a place in the permanent collection of the Library of Michigan—a proud milestone for an author dedicated to capturing the authentic spirit and geography of the state.
Deep Roots and Local Pride
Born and raised in Michigan, Byard holds degrees in Journalism, History, and English Education from Michigan State University. Her connection to the state runs deep, spanning community involvement from school board service in Lapeer to leadership roles in local non-profits.
That grounded, small-town perspective infuses every page of her work. Whether describing a crisp autumn morning, a lakefront storm brewing on the horizon, or the cozy warmth of a local coffee shop, Byard’s writing evokes a sense of place that instantly resonates with anyone who calls Michigan home.
That community connection extends to her audio project as well: when it came time to record the audiobook version of Devil in the Dunes, Byard opted to keep production close to home, narrating the book herself in a local studio engineered by Michigan musician JonPaul Wallace.
The Next Chapter
Byard isn't slowing down. She is currently at work on her next thriller, Shadows of Superior, which journeys north to the stark, breathtaking wilderness of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Between drafting new chapters, Byard stays active across the state—visiting independent bookstores, speaking at senior centers and libraries, and encouraging older adults to pursue creative passions in their next chapter of life.
For Byard, the journey of writing regional fiction comes back to a simple, shared connection: celebrating the place she calls home.
AUTHOR OF TEACH AND REACH FOR CLASSROOM MIRACLES & A DEVIL IN THE DUNES
I am the author of two very different books! One is for educators to encourage them to implement intentionally caring practices into their classrooms. The second is a crime thriller set in West Michigan!
Teach and Reach for Classroom Miracles and A Devil in the Dunes.
COLLEGE WRITING INSTRUCTOR
For 20 years, I taught English Composition 1 and 2 to students who added to my heart in immeasurable ways. As I sought to love them, we all experienced the power of relationship.
BUSINESS OWNER & GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Once I retired from Mott College, I opened my marketing and graphic design business Wordgirl Marketing. I love helping clients realize their dreams. I create websites, logos, business cards, brochures, and more and provide photography, writing, proofreading, and research. I also share my marketing and advertising knowledge gleaned from working at Group 243 Advertising in Ann Arbor and Grey Chicago.
SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE & COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
Serving as a school board trustee for seven years and chairing the district's teaching and learning committee grew me as an educator. I'm also a member of and Marketing Director for the Women's Fund and a member of the Lapeer County Democratic Party Communication Committee.
PUBLIC SPEAKER
From appearing on a local radio show to high school graduation speeches to talks at Saginaw Valley State University, the Genesee County Teachers as Writers Association, the
annual Children's Mental Health Symposium, and the annual Genesee County Counselors' Association, among others, public speaking has enriched and clarified my views. Go to 29:30 at Find Out More below.
WRITER: ON THE TOWN MAGAZINE
I was a staff writer for On The Town Magazine in Genesee County, MI. I've written about human trafficking, a breast cancer warrior and cancer camp for children, an urban farm for at-risk youth, and many other subjects. These experiences have added insight to my educational views and practice.
Michigan State
From Michigan State University, I earned a Master's Degree in Critical Issues in the Teaching of English, a Bachelor's in journalism and history, and a 9-12th grade Teaching Certificate Also while at MSU, I wrote for The State News. "On the banks of the Red Cedar, there's a school that's known to all . . . ."
