Amanda Lester and the Orange Crystal Crisis by Paula Berinstein

In approaching the Mary Russell stories, I started not with her first, but her fourth novel, The Moor. Yes, I’d read the stories and even owned a few pastiche novels, but coming to find and love Holmes later in life seems, to me, to be the secret of her series’ success. Like Laurie R King, I came to discover Sherlock Holmes in my middle years. The Moor by Laurie R King, Allison & Busby, May 2014. LaShelle has walked the path towards her childhood dreams, and with God's help, she will continue the journey.Our latest review visits one of the most famous series of Holmes stories not written by Conan Doyle-Laurie R King’s Mary Russell & Sherlock Holmes mysteries. She currently teaches art at Kalkaska High School. LaShelle's belief is that any student can use the arts as a vehicle to find a place in this world. Ed's gift as a mentor and friend will be something she will always treasure. She decided to engage in this project to help her students, but came away from it as a more mature person and artist. LaShelle considers this a changing point in her life. Ed not only taught LaShelle and her students about art, but also about life. During those two years everyone had the opportunity to learn from a true artist. She began taking her students that were considered 'troubled' to Mr. The day LaShelle was introduced to Ed Lantzer was a life changing moment. They also painted a mural, which measured 45' wide by 12' long, of Mackinaw Island's Grand Hotel for Fitch's School of Dance. Some of the projects included painting two large murals for The National Trout Festival, which are used as a backdrop for the grandstand. During that time LaShelle and her students took on several mural projects for the community.

Eight of those years were spent using the arts to touch the lives of at-risk adolescents. LaShelle has worked as an art teacher for Kalkaska Public Schools for over ten years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Family Life Education and a Master of Arts degree in education. LaShelle studied art at Northwestern Michigan College and has been working as a freelance artist and muralist for twenty-five years. The two dreams that she had during her childhood were that her life would involve the arts and that she would make a difference in the lives of other people. She is married to Ken VanHouten and they live in Eastport, Michigan.

She is the mother of two children, Kaleigh and Ty, and the Grandmother of Elliana. LaShelle VanHouten was born and raised in Kalkaska, Michigan.

Amanda Lester and the Orange Crystal Crisis by Paula Berinstein