Wendy Byard is the acclaimed Michigan-based author of Devil in the Dunes: A Great Lakes Mystery, former college English professor and magazine writer, author of Teach and Reach for Classroom Miracles, and newspaper columnist whose storytelling is deeply rooted in the atmospheric landscapes of her home state. Holding degrees from Michigan State University—including a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and History and a Master of Arts in English Education—Wendy spent over two decades teaching writing and inspiring students before turning her lifelong passion for mystery into compelling fiction.

A member of International Thriller Writers and Detroit Working Writers, Wendy writes suspense that captures both the raw beauty and hidden dangers of the Great Lakes.

🌟 Accolades, Media, & Highlights:

• Library of Michigan: Devil in the Dunes was installed into the permanent capital collection of the Library of Michigan. It was a recent nominee for the Killer Nashville Readers' Choice Award.
• Bestselling Recognition: Achieved stellar reader acclaim, ranking as a bestseller on Amazon in five categories with thousands of physical copies sold. Reached a high ranking of #427 out of 40,000 books in the Teen & Young Adult Mysteries & Detective Stories category.
• Print & Media Spotlights: Featured as the cover profile story for Women2Women Michigan Magazine and highlighted on the cover of the Grand Haven Tribune and the Mackinac Island Town Crier.
• Broadcast Appearances: Brought the story to life on regional television and media broadcasts, including Fox 17 Morning Mix Grand Rapids, Fox 2 Detroit, ABC 12 News, WNEM TV5, WILX Studio 10 Lansing, and Traverse City Channels 9 & 10.
• Featured Literary Speaker: Invited as a featured author, panelist, and speaker at major regional events, including the Third Coast Author Festival, Grand Haven Summer Author Series, Inscribe Bookstore Author Fest, and the Women2Women Michigan Expo.
• Local Voice: Writes the newspaper column "Beyond Our Backyards" for The County Press.