About

Lorien Books began as a desire to showcase the many creative and unique individuals who have called Detroit home. In a city, the butt of many a national joke, suffering from the effects of a depressed automotive market, the thought was to highlight the many inspirational people who got their start here and tell something of their story. The book, Motor City Memoirs, was a huge success debuting to rave reviews in the media. Photo exhibits from the book traveled the city, book signings included many of the individuals from in the book.

The success of MCM led to work on a second book in the series, Cleveland Classics, spotlighting a city that shared many of the same image concerns faced by Detroit. CC debuted to even greater press reviews, excerpts were run in both the Cleveland Magazine and Plain Dealer, Sunday edition. The book’s authors, Terry Troy and John Sobczak, were interviewed on local radio and television stations. Cleveland Classics struck #2 on the Regional Bestsellers list and the hardcover version has since sold out.

The third in the series, Hub Histories, Great Stories from Boston differs from the other two in that the community doesn’t share many of the same economic and media concerns as the others; however, the stories are still just as heartfelt, and the images of Denis Leary, Nancy Kerrigan, Cam Neely, and others resonate with strength equal to those in the two preceding books. HH is scheduled to debut in the Spring of 2008.

John Sobczak

Publisher/Photographer
John has been a commercial photographer for over 20 years. He has received numerous regional and national awards for his images and has worked for many of the Fortune 500 companies, including Ford Motor Company, Daimler-Chrysler, General Motors, AT&T and IBM, as well as such publications as Newsweek, Fortune, Entrepreneur and Parade. Sobczak lives in Bloomfield Township, MI with his wife, Jackie and nine year old daughter, Alex.

Sal Vanadia

Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Sal has worked in marketing and sales for more than 25 years, including serving as Director of Sales for a large telecommunications firm and positions with Ford Motor Company and Huntington Bank, as well as running his own business for several years. A graduate of Ohio State University, Sal moved to Michigan in 1996 and currently resides in Waterford, Michigan with his wife, Jennifer, and two children, Victoria and Sebastian.

Jennifer Thomas Vanadia

Executive Editor
Jennifer has worked as an advertising copywriter since 1986, and currently writes on a freelance basis for several magazine publications and advertising agencies, including Campbell-Ewald, BBDO and Doner. She served as editor for the book Motor City Memoirs and lives in Waterford, Michigan with her husband, Sal, and children Victoria and Sebastian.