The leadership team is responsible for putting on the Holland Literary Festival. This core group of volunteers handles stuff like:
- Facilities and logistics (Aimee)
- Infrastructure, risk, safety, and finance (Jason)
- Author relations (Jean)
- Community partnerships and marketing (Benjamin)
- Volunteer coordination (Laura)
Our People
We look forward to welcoming you in September!
Aimee Chipman, the owner of The Bluestocking Bookshop, is passionate about fostering literacy and building a welcoming community for readers of all ages.
She values inclusivity, creativity, and the power of books to inspire and connect people. Aimee’s dedication shines through her thoughtful curation and her commitment to remembering customer names and preferences, making every visit a personal and meaningful experience.
Jean Davis writes an array of speculative fiction spanning short story collections, stand-alone novels, two sci-fi series, and children’s picture books. She lives in West Michigan with her musical husband, an attention-craving terrier, and a mostly friendly flock of fluffy fowl. When not writing, she’s busy assembling authors for various events around Michigan, devouring books and sushi, or weeding her flower garden.
Jason Gillikin is the executive director of the Lakeshore Literary Foundation and 2025-2027 president of the Midwest Independent Publishers Association. He is an experienced writer, journalist, editor, and publisher. He is the editor of The Lakeshore Review and host of the Midwestern Lit Podcast. He earned his degree in moral philosophy and spent a good chunk of his life as a working bioethicist and a healthcare quality expert.
He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan; with his fiancé, he cares for more than 100 animals ranging in size from anoles and mice to a half-dozen horses.
Learn more about Jason at jegillikin.com/literary.
Benjamin Kamphuis is a Holland native and author of the Shades of Aura fantasy series. In betweeen his degree in Zoology and chronic anxiety, he hones his passions into being an advocate for mental health in the community and the owner of his own personal zoo. Whether traveling for pleasure or for another book event, he loves exploring new places and bringing those insights back into the community. A keen eye for event planning with nonprofits, he brings a wide range of expertise to the Holland Literary Festival.
Ms. Z (Laura Zamiski) is a teacher of multilingual Bananas by day and an author by night. She lives in Grand Rapids and works in Holland. She loves reading, writing, and going on adventures all over the world with her travel bear Felipe, who helps her in finding magic.