Author and fly fisherman Tim Schulz brings his newest work, "A Cast Away in Montana"—a 2025 Michigan Notable Book—to the Peter White Public Library on Monday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. The book chronicles Schulz’s first trip to Montana, blending fly fishing, solitude, and unexpected moments of humor with reflections on personal loss and the freedom of the open road.
“When I first went on the trip, I didn’t intend to write a book,” Schulz admits. “But about two weeks in, I realized there was a story to tell.” What unfolded was not only a narrative of wide skies and trout-filled rivers but a meditation on change, connection, and healing.
A U.P. native, Schulz sees fly fishing as both a technical pursuit and a metaphor for life. “It's so simple, and yet so complicated,” he says. “No outing is ever the same. There's always something new to learn.” That sense of curiosity drives both his angling and his writing, and in "Cast Away," humor plays an important part. “Sometimes you fall in a river,” he chuckles. “You can either get upset or laugh. I try to choose laughter.”
Schulz’s trip—much of it spent sleeping in the back of his Suburban—was a long-awaited adventure, marked by spontaneity and connection with nature. “I had no set plans most days. Just waking up and deciding where to go next was part of the beauty,” he says. That sense of exploration will be central to his talk at Peter White.
Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Tim by phone:
Despite the book’s Montana setting, it holds strong Michigan ties, including a chapter comparing copper mining in Montana and Michigan’s Copper Country. Schulz says he was surprised to be named a Michigan Notable Book recipient—“especially with another state in the title”—but deeply honored by the recognition.
Whether you're a fly fisher, an armchair traveler, or simply in search of a good story, Schulz’s appearance at Peter White Public Library promises insight, laughter, and perhaps even a tip or two. One piece of advice? “If you're fly fishing in the U.P., bring a thermometer,” he says with a smile. “If the water’s cold, the trout are there.”
Find out more about the book at timschulzwriter.com or the 2025 Michigan Notable Books site.
