Local authors to visit Yardstick Books

ALGOMA – On Saturday, Dec. 6, local authors Judy Benkowski and Jim Baudhuin will visit Yardstick Books, located at 317 Steele St., from 4-6 p.m. for an author talk, Q&A and book signing.

Baudhuin and Benkowski have known each other since walking the hallways of St. Mary’s School in Algoma 75 years ago. But no one could have predicted that one day they’d be trading stories, sharing adventures and ultimately collaborating to create a fictional book series after burying their spouses.

“Neither of us ever wrote a book before we started this crazy venture early last year,” said Baudhuin. “Kind of a strange new career move for a couple of octogenarians, huh?”

Throughout the summer of 2024, their first novel, “The Aztec Pendant,” took shape. The picture selected for the cover is an Aztec calendar pendant that Baudhuin purchased in Mexico and gave to Benkowksi. It plays a pivotal role in the story.

“When the female character in the book is facing a very difficult decision, she rises early in the morning and goes to Crescent Beach to watch the sun rise while she wrestles with the problem, something Judy did as a kid to help resolve personal issues,” Jim said. “And she still does.”

Said Benkowski, “I just love Algoma. Growing up there, such a wholesome little community. We knew everyone’s house, and their parents. It was like a great big family. Life was so simple.”

Book two, “The Tuscan Odyssey,” is set in Italy; book three, “The Mount Etna Legacy,” leads to a wild career change after meeting a CIA agent and book four, “The Couriers,” expands on that as the characters travel around Europe before being trapped in Russia. All four books are part of the “World of Scott and Kathy” series.

Benkowski said the pair are already at work on a fifth book.

Learn more about Baudhuin and Benkowksi and their journey to becoming authors at Yardstick Books.