John Bates is the author of seven books on the Northwoods and Upper Midwest, and a contributor to four others. He has worked as a state forest naturalist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and owns Trails North, a naturalist guide service. He also conducts outdoor classes for Nicolet College, the University of Wisconsin Extension, and the North Lakeland Discovery Center. For nineteen years he has written a biweekly column, "A Northwoods Almanac" for the Lakeland Times in Minocqua, Wisconsin.

Mary Burns expresses her love of northern woodlands and waters in her weavings and writings. Mary's first novel Heartwood (2003) is a fantasy/natural history novel for young adults. She is a contributor to A Place to Which We Belong: Wisconsin Writers on Wisconsin Landscapes (1998). An award-winning weaver, she weaves custom designed hand-woven rugs and wall pieces. Mary also creates tapestries and felted work that reflect the hues and patterns of the natural world. Mary and John live in northern Wisconsin.

Graced by the Seasons: Fall and Winter in the Northwoods

Graced by the Seasons: Spring and Summer in the Northwoods

A Northwoods Companion: Spring and Summer

A Northwoods Companion: Fall and Winter

River Life; The Natural and Cultural History of a Northern River

Trailside Botany: 101 Favorite Trees, Shrubs & Wildflowers of the Upper Midwest (University of Minnesota Press)

Seasonal Guide to the Natural Year (Fulcrum)

Books Contributed to by John Bates and Mary Burns:

A Place to Which We Belong: Wisconsin Writers on Wisconsin Landscapes
Edited by Dennis Boyer and Justin Isherwood; ISBN 0-9666359-0-6; Published by The 1000 Friends of Wisconsin Land Use Institute.
"Slanting North" by John Bates and "Sketches of Winter along the Manitowish River" by Mary Burns.

White Deer: Ghosts of the Forest
Photographs by Jeff Richter, Text by John Bates; ISBN 978-0-9741883-1-7; Published by Nature's Press, Mercer, WI.

Seasons of the North: Photographs by Jeff Richter
Essays by John Bates, Justin Isherwood, Chad McGrath and Terry Daulton; Published by Nature's Press, Mercer, WI.

Harvest Moon: A Wisconsin Outdoor Anthology
Edited by Ted Rulseh; ISBN 1-883755-00-X; Published by Lost River Press (out of print)
"Plunkett Road" by John Bates

Books by Mary Burns:

Heartwood, a Novel

A Study Guide and Companion to Heartwood