(Chelsea Update would like to thank Michelle Tuplin and Katie Hubbard for the information and photos in this story.)
Serendipity Books is thrilled to welcome Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to Chelsea in support of her autobiography, True Gretch. The governor will be joined in conversation by Jeff Daniels, actor, playwright, and founder of The Purple Rose Theatre.
The ticketed event will take place at The Purple Rose Theatre, 137 Park St. in Chelsea on Monday, July 22 at 7 p.m. In-person tickets are general admission and include a pre-signed copy of True Gretch.
Virtual attendance tickets also include a pre-signed copy of True Gretch, with the option of a pick-up from Serendipity Books in Chelsea, or domestic shipping.
A limited number of additional add-on pre-signed copies of True Gretch may be available.
$35 General Admission Signed Book Bundle
Includes one pre-signed hardcover copy of True Gretch and general admission
$30 Virtual Admission Signed Book Bundle with pick up from Serendipity Books
Includes one pre-signed hardcover copy of True Gretch plus a link to attend virtually
$36 Virtual Admission Signed Book Bundle with domestic USPS media mail shipping
Includes one pre-signed hardcover copy of True Gretch shipped domestically plus a link to attend virtually
About the book: From trailblazing Michigan governor and rising Democratic star Gretchen Whitmer comes an unconventionally honest, personal, and funny account of her remarkable life and career, full of insights that guided her through a global pandemic, showdowns with high-profile bullies, and even a kidnapping and assassination plot.
When Gretchen Whitmer was growing up, her beloved grandmother Nino taught her that you can always find something good in other people. “Even the meanest person might have pretty eyes,” she would say. Nino’s words persuaded Whitmer to look for the good in any person or situation—just one of many colorful personal experiences that have shaped her political vision. (And, as Whitmer writes, one that resonated more than another piece of advice her grandmother offered, to “never part your hair in the middle.”)
In this candid and inspiring book, Whitmer reveals the principles and instincts that have shaped her extraordinary career, from her early days as a lawyer and legislator and her 2018 election as governor of Michigan, to her bold and innovative actions as she led the state through a series of unprecedented crises. Her motto in politics, she writes, is to “get shit done.”
Whitmer shares the lessons in resilience that steered her through some of the most challenging events in Michigan’s history, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, a 500-year flood, the rise of domestic terrorism, and the fierce fight to protect reproductive rights.
Along the way, she tells stories about the outsize characters in her family, her lifelong clumsy streak, the wild comments she’s heard on the campaign trail, her self-deprecating social media campaigns (including her star turn as a talking potato with lipstick), and the slyly funny tactics she deploys to neutralize her opponents.
Written with Whitmer’s trademark sense of humor and straight-shooting style, True Gretch is not only a compelling account of her remarkable journey, but also a blueprint for anyone who wants to make a difference in their community, their country, or the world. It is a testament to the power of humor, perseverance, and compassion in the face of darkness.
Gretchen Whitmer is the governor of Michigan and a rising figure in US politics. Known for her bold and plainspoken style, Whitmer is a national voice on the rights of women, voters, and the LGBTQ+ community. She rose to national prominence for her leadership in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, when her efforts to save lives in the state earned her the nickname “That Woman from Michigan” from the former president. Later that year, a domestic terrorist cell began planning to kidnap and kill her, a plot that was foiled by the FBI and state police.
Whitmer is a lifelong Michigander who first ran for office at age 29, has served in both state houses, and has never lost an election. She is the proud mother of two daughters, a huge Detroit Lions fan, and the subject of the song “Big Gretch” by rapper GMac Cash.
Jeff Daniels (Purple Rose Theatre Company Founder and Artistic Director) has been the Artistic Director of his career for 47 years. Stepping into the role at The Purple Rose, he is giving his decade’s worth of experience to the talented artists who call The Purple Rose their creative home.
Aside from his 22 plays, all of which premiered here, Jeff directed the PRTC production of Lanford Wilson’s The Hot L Baltimore (1997) and two of his own plays; Boom Town (1998) and Diva Royale (2023). On film, he wrote, directed, and starred in two independent features: “Escanaba in da Moonlight” (2001) and “Super Sucker” (2002), both shot in Michigan.
In 1976, Jeff became a member of New York’s Circle Repertory Company and over the decades appeared on Broadway in Fifth Of July (1980), The Golden Age (1984), Redwood Curtain (1993), God Of Carnage (2009), Blackbird (2016), and To Kill A Mockingbird (2018). He has been nominated for five Golden Globes, five Emmys (winning for “Newsroom” and “Godless”), and three Tonys.
