Kristin grew up on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula where the hard-working, rugged residents persevere through harsh winter weather, sustained by friendship and family, surrounded by natural beauty. Kristin’s first book, Heavy, co-authored with her husband, Todd, journeys through the first year after Todd’s ALS diagnosis as the Nevas struggle to find meaning, hold on to faith, and discover joy in the midst of pain.
It is this life experience that brings authenticity to Kristin’s fictional works as she explores themes of love, loss, and faith in the Copper Island Novels. Her quirky characters are endearing and wholesome. But they are also full of healthy grit, humor, flaws, and appetites.
Creativity and natural beauty have brought solace during the decade she has been Todd’s caregiver. She walks and skis in the fields and woods, often stopping to take pictures of the beauty she sees. She collect pinecones, birch bark from fallen logs, and pebbles from the shores of Lake Superior. These natural elements inspire and provide the material for her artwork.
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Very excited to meet Beth and Grandma Lou!
Kristin, you are enormously talented! Your writing soars!
Hello this is awesome!
When I saw to book on Amazon and the authors name I was immediately drawn to know more abt. her. My last name is Neva also. With it not being a common name wondering if oculd be some ancestry there??
Hi Kristin,
I just wanted to let you know that I have mailed a vendor packet for the Home for the Holidays Gift Mart.
My grandfather Isaac Niva (pronounced Nee’-va) was born circa 1859 in the Tornio River valley of Northwest Finland.
It’s tough to track ancestry for people whose families came from the West of Finland, where people adopted place names as their surnames. Different families living in the same location may have had the same last name, even though they were not related. If they moved, they would have adopted as their surname the new location’s description.
Niva means fast flowing waters, so his family likely lived in a place near fast flowing waters.
At some point, our family name was anglicized to Neva, although we still pronounce it Nee’-va. Neva is also a Finnish name, pronounced Naa’-va, and meaning marsh or bog.
Todd (Kristin’s husband)
Hi Todd,
I just now saw the explanation of your Neva name! I am not sure where my husbands ancestors were from on that side of the family either! I have a friend that does Ancestry so maybe she can find more! It has been interesting to see the name as not many around that I have known! His father and Uncles lived in North Dakota for many years! They are gone now tho as is my husband! I wish you well with your disease too! Shari Olson-Neva
I enjoyed Copper Country book 2. Parts made me cry and others axe me laugh. Good character development. Felt like I was there and part of the story. I’ve been to the UP, I took a sauna, brought back memories. I live in Milwaukee and pictured the details as they were written. Keep writing – want to know more about each character.
I was not familiar with your books but just got through reading Snow Country the first of the series. I look forward to reading more of your books. I was curious where to find the song in the book sang by Allie Nantuck. Is this a fictitious name and song as there was no song title? I have searched for any information I could find in your book and online. It so touched my heart. Thank you so much and bless your family during these trying times.