About Janie Lynn Panagopoulos - Bio. Sheet
Janie Lynn Panagopoulos, historian, author, lecturer has worked in the field of historical research, interpretation, and writing for thirty-seven 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 also syndicated a history series that ran in fourteen Midwest newspapers (1985-1987).
Ms. Panagopoulos taught courses in theater arts and playwriting (1986-1990) and has had several of her plays produced. She has also taught writing courses and workshops at colleges and schools throughout the United States. Ms. Panagopoulos served as an editor for Health Horizon magazine (1988-1990).
In 1989, Panagopoulos was a National Historical Grant recipient which ignited her passion for historical research. In 1993, 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 (1994), Erie Trail West (1996), North to Iron Country(1997), Little Ship Under Full Sail (1999), Train to Midnight (2001), Runes of Isle Royale (2003), Calling the Griffin (2004), Madame Cadillac’s Ghost (2005), A Place Called Home (2000), Castle At the Straits (2003) , Mark of the Bear Claw (2006), and A Faraway Home: An Orphan Train Story (2008). Currently, Janie is working on another book in the Dream Quest series and continues her archaeological and academic research focused on the Great Lakes.
In the year 2000, Ms. Panagopoulos 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 her books have won the notable “Student Choice Award” for the Midwest. In November 2008, the National Council for Geographic Education, Washington D. C., awarded Ms. Panagopoulos’ book, A Faraway Home: An Orphan Train Story the prestigious “GEM Award” (Geographic Excellence in Media). This being the first time in the organization’s 93 year history that a work of fiction has received this award. In June 2009, Ms. Panagopoulos was awarded the “Content Service Provider’s Honorable Mention Award” for her videoconferencing and Distant Learning programs, and in 2012 & 2013 she was awarded “Top Content Service Provider Award”.
In Ms. Panagopoulos’ historical research, she has canoed over 4,000 miles on the Great Lakes and along Canadian waterways, studied and lived with traditional Native Americans, followed the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo, researched lumber and mining camps throughout the United States, participated in archaeological digs, dog-sled, snowshoed,traveled by wagon train, in costume, across the state of Wisconsin as a historian; and today she continues to travel the trails of history and exploration in North America and Europe in search of our American/Great Lakes roots. Ms. Panagopoulos spends three-eight years on historical research per project and takes her job as a historian seriously.
Janie Lynn Panagopoulos is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts and lives the life of an academic, historical explorer, and researcher, learning about the history of our nation and the Great Lakes, its diverse cultural background, and the stories of our ancestors.
In the last twenty years, Ms. Panagopoulos has traveled on book tour and spoken extensively throughout North America to students and educators, sharing with them her passion for historical research and adventures that celebrate our history.
Ms. Panagopoulos visits schools throughout North America via Videoconferencing, conducting writing workshops and classroom visits through Skype, Zoom, Polycom, the A.S.K. Programs, and National Distant Learning programs.
Ms. Panagopoulos lives in both Michigan and Virginia, and has been married to her husband Dennis for 37 years.
Ms. Panagopoulos taught courses in theater arts and playwriting (1986-1990) and has had several of her plays produced. She has also taught writing courses and workshops at colleges and schools throughout the United States. Ms. Panagopoulos served as an editor for Health Horizon magazine (1988-1990).
In 1989, Panagopoulos was a National Historical Grant recipient which ignited her passion for historical research. In 1993, 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 (1994), Erie Trail West (1996), North to Iron Country(1997), Little Ship Under Full Sail (1999), Train to Midnight (2001), Runes of Isle Royale (2003), Calling the Griffin (2004), Madame Cadillac’s Ghost (2005), A Place Called Home (2000), Castle At the Straits (2003) , Mark of the Bear Claw (2006), and A Faraway Home: An Orphan Train Story (2008). Currently, Janie is working on another book in the Dream Quest series and continues her archaeological and academic research focused on the Great Lakes.
In the year 2000, Ms. Panagopoulos 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 her books have won the notable “Student Choice Award” for the Midwest. In November 2008, the National Council for Geographic Education, Washington D. C., awarded Ms. Panagopoulos’ book, A Faraway Home: An Orphan Train Story the prestigious “GEM Award” (Geographic Excellence in Media). This being the first time in the organization’s 93 year history that a work of fiction has received this award. In June 2009, Ms. Panagopoulos was awarded the “Content Service Provider’s Honorable Mention Award” for her videoconferencing and Distant Learning programs, and in 2012 & 2013 she was awarded “Top Content Service Provider Award”.
In Ms. Panagopoulos’ historical research, she has canoed over 4,000 miles on the Great Lakes and along Canadian waterways, studied and lived with traditional Native Americans, followed the Erie Canal from Albany to Buffalo, researched lumber and mining camps throughout the United States, participated in archaeological digs, dog-sled, snowshoed,traveled by wagon train, in costume, across the state of Wisconsin as a historian; and today she continues to travel the trails of history and exploration in North America and Europe in search of our American/Great Lakes roots. Ms. Panagopoulos spends three-eight years on historical research per project and takes her job as a historian seriously.
Janie Lynn Panagopoulos is a lifetime member of Girl Scouts and lives the life of an academic, historical explorer, and researcher, learning about the history of our nation and the Great Lakes, its diverse cultural background, and the stories of our ancestors.
In the last twenty years, Ms. Panagopoulos has traveled on book tour and spoken extensively throughout North America to students and educators, sharing with them her passion for historical research and adventures that celebrate our history.
Ms. Panagopoulos visits schools throughout North America via Videoconferencing, conducting writing workshops and classroom visits through Skype, Zoom, Polycom, the A.S.K. Programs, and National Distant Learning programs.
Ms. Panagopoulos lives in both Michigan and Virginia, and has been married to her husband Dennis for 37 years.