Janie Lynn Panagopoulos, historian, author, lecturer has worked in the field of historical research, interpretation, and writing for the last thirty-two years. Originally working in advertising and as a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines, Panagopoulos has had over 1,000 articles published (1974-1992). She has written four community history books and syndicated a history series that ran in fourteen Midwest newspapers (1986-1987). She has taught courses in theater arts and playwriting (1986-1990) and has had several of her plays produced. She has taught numerous writing courses and workshops at colleges and schools throughout the United States. Ms Panagopoulos has also served as an editor for Health Horizon magazine (1988-1990). And today she works with serious minded writing students from around the world as a writing mentor on the Internet and with Yahoo in the "Ask An Expert" program.
In 1989, Panagopoulos was a National Historical Grant recipient which turned her on to her love of historical research. In 1993, Panagopoulos had her first documentary Historical fiction novel, Traders in Time published by River Road Publications, a scholastic publishing house. Other novels followed including: Journey Back to Lumberjack Camp, Erie Trail West, North to Iron Country, Little Ship Under Full Sail, Train to Midnight, Runes of Isle Royale, Calling the Griffin, Madame Cadillac’s Ghost, A Place Called Home, Castle At the Straits, Mark of the Bear Claw, and A Faraway Home: An Orphan Train Story. Currently, Janie is currently working on her first adult novel and several new projects. Janie Lynn Panagopoulos in the year 2000, was awarded the prestigious Michigan Authors Award.　 In 2001, she received the coveted Read Michigan Award granted by Michigan’s Governor Engler and Michigan’s Secretary of State Candace Miller, two of Janie’s books have also won the notable Student Choice Award and her books have been nominated for many other national, state, and regional awards and accolades. In Janie’s historical research she has canoed over 3,800 miles on the Great Lakes and along the Canadian waterways, studied and lived with traditional Native Americans, followed the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo, researched lumber and mining camps, participated in archaeological digs, dog-sled, snowshoe, traveled by wagon train, and continues to travel the trails of history and exploration in North America and Europe in search of our American roots. Janie generally spend 2-5 years or more on historical research per project and takes her job as a historian seriously. Panagopoulos is also a lifetime member of Girl Scouts and lives the life of an explorer/researcher learning about the history of our nation, its diverse cultural background, and the stories of our ancestors.
In the last thirteen years she has spoken to over 1,000,000 students and educators throughout the United States sharing with them her stories of adventure, research and celebrating the great history of America.

Currently, Janie is using I.P. Videoconferencing to do educational and writing workshops through the Distant Learning program in both the United States and Canada. Janie also has several educational blog sites which contain podcasts.