Nearly half a million people make up the communities in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana. Awhile back, the staff at Leader Publications set out to tell the stories of those people in a new and unique way, different from what you see in any of our other products.

Six months later, readers can reap the benefits of this great region as the premiere edition of Michiana Life magazine hits the shelves of businesses all over Berrien, Cass and St. Joseph Counties.

The name of the magazine says it all.

Michiana Life was designed to give readers a unique look into the people, businesses, places and opportunities available in this area which has so much to offer people.

Published quarterly, the premier edition debuted this week, and a second issue is will publish in mid-January. Following the second issue, Michiana Life will publish every three months.

Each issue will have a number of standing features that we hope our readers will begin to look forward to.

Readers can take a look at some of the best restaurants in Michiana with the “In the Kitchen” feature, or make their own food at home by following the recipes submitted for the “From the Cookbook” section.

Though Michiana Life could certainly appeal to readers of all shapes and sizes, the content is specifically geared toward women, who will appreciate the shopping features. Unique local businesses will be featured in the “In the Biz” feature, and readers can take a look at some of the items available for purchase in the “Local Treasures” feature.

Readers can also take a peek into some of the beautiful homes throughout the area through our home showcase, or learn about how to create various “do-it-yourself” projects in the homes section.

Perhaps my favorite feature in the magazine, readers from all over the region can find out if they were “Spotted” at any of the local events we’ve sent our photographers to cover. Check out pages this section each issue to see if you know any of the people pictured.

Of course, readers can also find plenty of stories about people. Extraordinary individuals going above and beyond the call of duty to give back to their communities are showcased as “Difference Makers” in each issue, artists are spotlighted in the “On Display” feature and local celebrities close off each edition with their account of why they love Michiana.

The staff at Leader Publications has worked very hard to tell these light-hearted, positive stories about the people and places who make this region what it is, using top-notch photographers and writers to create the packages you’ll see in the magazine and high-quality design to create a product that is both interesting and aesthetically pleasing for our readers.

A list of available pickup places will be published on our website, michianalife.com, within the next few days, and our Facebook page, Facebook.com/MichianaLife.

The thousands of tourists who pass through Michiana each year are a great testament to show Michiana is a great place to visit, but even more, the people and places that exist here year-round prove that it is a wonderful place to live. Get a copy of the first issue today and find out why.

 

Ambrosia Neldon is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com, or by phone at (269) 687-7713.