Monster Hunting: Michigan Isn't Safe from The Wendigo

My friend, Shannon talks Wendigo lore and its link to Michigan

I’m dropping in with a special guest post. My writing buddy Shannon Lawrence is releasing a new book called Wendigo Nights. To celebrate, she’s here to introduce you to the cryptid that has been spotted in Michigan and inspired her to write a book.

The Wendigo

Wendigo is a creature from First Nations lore that has spread south into the northern United States from Canada through the years. They’re most common around the Great Lakes. Wendigo is several things. It’s a spirit of nature that can overtake the spirit of a human. It’s also what the fallen human is called when the spirit overtakes them. The most common way a person ends up being possessed by the Wendigo spirit is if they commit one of the most taboo of crimes: cannibalism.

Born from the cold, deadly winters of years past, Wendigo is a warning against gluttony, selfishness, and greed, but also a cautionary tale about being unprepared for harsh weather It may be the only creature from lore to have inspired a mental illness: Wendigo Fever.

Typically, Wendigo takes the form of a tall, humanoid figure that is deeply emaciated, often covered in dirty, white fur to blend in with the snow. Some say its heart becomes ice, its eyes red or yellow. There are also those who believe that its lips are bloodied and torn from the deep hunger for human flesh that causes it to gnaw off its own lips. The hunger is ceaseless, and Wendigo cannot eat any other meat besides human. In fact, wild animals feel safe with Wendigo. Safer than with humans.

In Michigan, indigenous folks believe in Wendigo, but non-Native folks, especially hunters, have also run into this fearsome entity while in the depths of the forests. The cautionary tale of Wendigo is still passed down, particularly when the icy bite of winter creeps up on frozen white feet.

Wendigo Nights by Shannon Lawrence

A late night call from her mentor sends Selina Moonstone on a mission to Canada, determined to track down a Wendigo and exterminate it.

Accustomed to facing off with the all too real creatures of Native American lore, Selina discovers the Wendigo is someone close to her, forcing her to change gears from destruction to frantic search for a cure. There's no known way to rid a person of the Wendigo spirit once it has begun the consumption of the victim's soul, a lesson she learned the hard way in her youth.

With her loved one's transition to Wendigo imminent, Selina must fight her own lifelong training as a Myth Stalker and find another way. She gathers a mismatched group of allies, including a charming Sin Eater and a conceited mercenary Cryptid hunter from her past, and embarks on a mission to find a solution before it's too late.

Available in paperback and e-book, from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and more. Find the book at your favorite store today for $3.99!

About the Author

A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her stories can be found in over fifty anthologies and magazines in addition to her collections. Her nonfiction title, The Business of Short Stories, is available now and her debut urban fantasy novel is releasing March 2024.

You can also find her as a co-host of the podcast Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem.

When she's not writing, she's hiking through the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings, where, coincidentally, there's always a place to hide a body or birth a monster. Find her at www.thewarriormuse.com.