Nibbles, Novelists and New Beginnings - October 15, 2026

On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and clients of Green Gables Haven, I would like to thank you for your continued support of our fundraising efforts. Our annual event Nibbles, Novelists and New Beginnings, will be held on October 15^th, 2026, at The Legacy at Hastings. I would like to extend an invitation to your organization to be involved as a sponsor. You, your colleagues, and friends will enjoy cocktails, dinner, and networking time with each other and four best-selling authors.

Kathryn Christie is a Hastings native, fifth-generation Michigan farmer, children’s author, and Certified Agricultural Literacy Educator dedicated to helping children and families better understand where their food comes from. Through her business, An Ear Full of Agriculture, she brings agriculture to life through engaging books, school visits, hands-on educational programs, and presentations for audiences of all ages.

Her debut children’s book, The Hibernating Combine, has introduced hundreds of families to life on the farm through storytelling, and she is currently completing her second picture book, Away in a Manger: Christmas on the Farm. Kathryn has spent more than a decade partnering with organizations such as FFA, 4-H, and Farm Bureau to connect young people with agriculture in meaningful and memorable ways. As a lifelong member of the Hastings community, Kathryn is honored to support organizations that invest in local families. When she’s not writing or speaking, she can usually be found on her family’s farm with her husband and son, caring for cattle, raising chickens, or sharing everyday farm life with her online community.

Dan Ellens is an outdoor enthusiast who is passionate about connecting people with nature. He spends nearly half of each year in an isolated, electricity-free treehouse on Winterfield Pines Nature Sanctuary with woodstove heat, handpump water, and oil lamp lighting. Ellens has written four nonfiction books intended to inspire adventure, promote self-sufficient lifestyles, and connect people with nature. While he has five books to his credit and they are all currently available, he will only be promoting FOREST LEGEND at this event. When Dan is not out in the wilds, Ellens and his wife live in the small community of Salem, Michigan.

Allie Seibert is a Michigan-based historian and author who brings forgotten true crime cases back to life through meticulous research and compelling storytelling. She’s the founder of Household History, a research service that creates historical narratives for homes, buildings, and communities across the state. Her latest book, Bloodstained: Exploring Michigan’s Darkest Murders Forgotten By Time, uncovers five chilling and nearly lost murder cases that once made national headlines. Through a combination of newspaper archives, photographs, letters, and court records, Allie gives voice to the stories history tried to forget. When she’s not buried in old archives, she can usually be found at home with her husband, surrounded by their small army of dogs and cats.

Jenna Slot is the author of two novels, Skunk Cabbage and Radelzia. Jenna earned a bachelor’s degree in communications and writing from Grand Valley State University, a bachelor’s degree in nursing from GVSU and a master’s degree in nursing from Kent State University. As far back as she can remember, she has always loved to write. Her inspiration for writing comes mostly from memories of her beloved mother, parenting her four boys, her career as a labor and delivery nurse, and most importantly from her faith in Jesus Christ. In addition to writing, Jenna is an avid reader, loves to run, makes the best cookies you’ll ever taste, and loves to study Bible prophecy and Eschatology. Jenna resides near Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband and four sons.

Nibbles, Novelists and New Beginnings will surely be an event guests won’t soon forget. We are thrilled to have Terri DeBoer serve as our Emcee, once again, and ecstatic that we have four authors lined up to participate in the event.