Author Bios

Donna Searight Simons is the author of Copper Empire and has been published in magazines and newspapers, including Cycle California, Advisor/Source newspaper and Lake Superior Magazine. She has a great love and interest in the copper country due to the fact that her grandmother, Dorothy Carpenter Searight, was born and raised in Houghton. Her grandfather, Richard Searight, wrote the novel Wild Empire. Donna has been an administrative secretary at Oakland University since 1994 and currently lives with her husband Ron in Macomb Township.

Richard Searight is the author of Wild Empire and was born in 1902 in Manistee, Michigan. In 1924, working as a telegrapher for Western Union, he was transferred to Houghton where he developed a deep and abiding love for both the Copper Country and his wife of 50 years, Dorothy. Richard spent countless hours meticulously researching and writing Wild Empire, ensuring its historical accuracy. He passed away August 19, 1975 while enjoying his annual vacation in Copper Harbor.