While some creative types flee to New York City and Los Angles to pursue their passions,
Mike Stratton decided to stay put.
Born and raised in Lansing, this modern day Renaissance man has created a life here in the Capital region that reflects his passions—writing, music and helping others.
Everybody DreamsIn March of 2009, Stratton self-published his first book,
Everybody Dreams. The book became a Schuler Books bestseller for the first quarter of 2009. So far, he’s reordered books five times to restock bookstores. The book has also become a regular selection for local book groups and was recently the selected read for the local chapter of Mensa.
The book follows marital therapist, Emma Davis, whose dreams turn to nightmares. To better understand their meaning, she starts a dream group with several of her clients who also struggle with troubling dreams.
The idea for the book came from Stratton’s experience facilitating a dream group.
“I didn’t want to write just another book on interpreting dreams,” he explains. “There are already plenty of dream dictionaries on the market.” His book takes a unique twist by examining dreams and the symbolism and themes reflected in the dreams, through the psyche of the characters.
Ever since the book hit the market, life has been a real adventure for this 50-something guy. He’s staying busy doing book signings around the state and in Canada. “I’m now getting fan mail from people I don’t even know,” he says.
Although
Everybody Dreams was Stratton’s first commercial success, it was not his first published work. His first poems were published in 1995 when, struggling to cope with the death of his mother, Stratton turned to poetry. He also went on to write three novellas. “But," he admits, "I ultimately dreamed of writing a novel.”
It was a phone call from local writer Chris Henning that jump-started his writing career. Henning was president of
Peninsula Writers, an organization for freelance writers in Michigan. She interviewed Stratton for an article on writer’s block and later asked him to speak at the group’s summer writing retreat at Glen Lake (near Traverse City.)
“Glen Lake was magical. I met so many wonderful writers. I immediately joined the group and finally got serious about writing,” says Stratton.
As a successful writer, he’s now the one handing out advice.
“Be patient with yourself,” he says. “It took me eight years to complete Everybody Dreams." But he’s confident the next one won’t take that long.
“I don’t have that kind of time,” he grins.
Blame It On DanBut it’s not just his passion for writing that puts Stratton in the limelight. It’s also his love of music—especially jazz.
It was Stratton's roommate at
Aquinas College, Dan Merkel (owner of Lansing’s
Georgia Carpets), who first introduced the Rock n'
Roller to the likes of Coltrane, Ramsey Lewis and Jimmy Smith.
In no time at all Stratton had amassed a huge collection of jazz recordings—a collection that now takes up an entire wall of his house. “I’m buying new shelves all the time. I’ve literally got thousands of CD’s.”
By 1996, Stratton’s friends had gotten totally bored with his esoteric taste in music. He decided to pitch the idea of a radio show to
WLNZ,
Lansing Community College’s (LCC) public radio station. Thirteen years later, he’s still at it. His show,
The Vinyl Side of Midnight, airs Sunday evenings from 9 p.m. to midnight and features an eclectic blend of jazz and blues.
He left Aquinas with more than a passion for jazz. He also completed a Master’s degree in social work and, since 1987, has worked in private practice as a clinical social worker. Stratton specializes in substance abuse, couples counseling and
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma. “I love being able to give back to people and my clinical work lets me do that.”
Staying PutAt this point in his career, Stratton can work when he wants from wherever he wants. So what keeps him here?
“Lots of things,” he says. “This area has a great music scene. We’ve got the
MSU Professors of Jazz. They’re world-class stuff! You’d have to go to New York City to get this kind of quality.”
He’s also big on the city’s many festivals and is especially drawn to the musical talent they bring to the area. “It drives me crazy when I hear someone say that there’s nothing to do in Lansing."
"I remember a time when that might have been true,” says Stratton, who grew up on Lansing’s Westside and remembers when the
Stadium District was full of porn shops and empty storefronts. “Now look at it,” he says.
www.thestadiumdistrict.com/
“Film is also playing a big part in the area’s transformation,” adds Stratton. “The East Lansing Film Festival has some amazing stuff. I recently saw the indie film
Fairview St. (filmed in Lansing). It was great!”
What’s Next?Although Stratton is committed to Lansing, he definitely wants to travel. He was recently in New York City doing research for his newest book—a murder mystery. “The main character is from Lansing," he says. "It has lots of murders.”
In addition to promoting his book, Stratton also does a lot of public speaking—from presentations on motivational interviewing in Michigan to
solution-focused management in Montreal. “It’s a management style that works from a strength-based perspective rather than a deficit model.”
If his life does one take find Stratton venturing beyond Lansing, he’s sure he’ll always be back.
“I couldn’t go long without dinner at Emil's or Sparty's or
El Az," says Stratton. "But most of all I would miss the people. Folks here are so authentic, so sincere.”
He described spending election night at the local UAW hall with his fiancé, Cathie Blumer.
“Looking around the room, at this collection of people who are the backbone of Lansing, I just felt so proud.”
"I’ve spent a lot of time trying to create a life worth showing up for,” said Stratton. “I think I’ve finally gotten there. And that life is here.”
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Viki Lorraine is a Public Health Consultant by day and a writer by night.
Dave Trumpie is the managing photographer for Capital Gains. He is a freelance photographer and owner of Trumpie Photography.
Photos:
Mike Stratton at WLNZ and in his office
All Photographs © Dave Trumpie