John D. Voelker (June 19, 1903 - March 19, 1991), better known by his pen name Robert Traver, was a renowned fly fisherman, and a member of the Fly Fishing Hall of Fame. His early professional career was as an attorney, judge, and later a writer. He is best known as the author of the novel, Anatomy of a Murder published in 1958. The best-selling novel was turned into an Academy Award nominated film - directed by Otto Preminger and starring James Stewart - that was released July 1, 1959. After the success of his novel, Anatomy of a Murder, Voelker retired from the court in 1959 in order to write full-time and to fish at his beloved Frenchman's Pond. There, he devoted himself to writing, and perhaps above all else, fly fishing, with a special passion for wild brook trout. Although he traveled far in his pursuit of trout, he recognized the Upper Peninsula as a particularly special place to fish. His writings, though steeped in fly fishing, also embraced the larger beauty of nature, and human nature.

John Voelker lived his life as most of us wish we could - on his own terms. He was a renowned novelist and outdoor writer, an eminent member of the bench and bar, and a skilled fly fisherman. Author of 11 books and numerous stories, a Michigan Supreme Court Justice who wrote over 100 finely crafted opinions, and self "proclaimed U.P. Cribbage Champ," John Voelker made many contributions that live on today.

$650.00 – Standard

$850.00 – Deluxe

$350.00 – Unbound in Sheets

The Intruder

Illustrated with 10 wood engravings by Jim Westergard and a foreword by Richard F. Vander Veen

The regular edition is quarter-bound in heavy board with a Canapetta book cloth spine and Twinrocker Rustler paper. Copper foil title on cover and an embossed umber printed panel with Jim Westergard's small "fly" wood engraving printed on green paper inset into it. Dark green Hahnemuhle Bugra flyleaves back up the book blocks which are all hand sewn on straps, mull attached and cased in. The book is composed in 14 pt Linotype Janson with ATF Garamond in display sizes and printed in 5 colors on Hahnemuhle Shiller 150gsm paper. 8 1/4 x 10 3/8 x 5/8 inches, 34 pages.

Edition of 150 books, the first 20 are reserved for the deluxe edition and 10 unbound copies are available for hand binders. Signed and numbered.

Jim Westergard is an internationally exhibited and renowned printmaker who lives and works in Red Deer, Alberta. He is an elected member of both the Society of Wood Engravers (UK) and the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers(UK). He is also a member of the Wood Engravers Network (US), the Fine Press Book Association (UK, US), the Boston Printmakers Society (US), and the Alcuin Society (US, CA). From 1975-1999 Jim was an instructor in Printmaking and Drawing at Red Deer College. He is the author of Mother Goose Eggs, Sunny Side Up, illlustrated with his wood engravings "Beasts of New York" (The Porcupine’s Quill) and "Oddballs" (Heavenly Monkey) and co-authored "Fly On the Wall" with Jason Brink.

Richard F. Vander Veen III is many things to Michigan, in this context he is the co-founder of the John D. Voelker Foundation and was a great advocate in getting this project off the ground. Rich knew Voelker and corresponded, cribbaged and fished with him on his Frenchman's Pond. He inherited some of the legacy of his father (who was a Democratic Congressman from Grand Rapids, MI 1974-6) including being a great lover of books, and one concerned with the environment. Rich is president of Mackinaw Power (wind), is involved in the Great Lakes Wind Collaborative and recieved the 2012 NREL Larry Flowers Leadership Award for the Gratiot Wind Project. He co-founded the EARTH University Foundation in addition to his continued participation at the Ryerson Library Foundation in Grand Rapids.

More photos and a recounting of it's creation can be viewed at my blog:
http://deepwoodpress.wordpress.com/