The Adventures of Onyx and The Guardians of the Straits

One stormy night, a homeless dog looking for shelter wanders onto a Coast Guard station in St. Ignace, Michigan. She finds a dry and cozy hiding spot inside a boat's compartment. When the boat launches and heads into the Straits of Mackinac for a search and rescue mission, the frightened dog is still hidden onboard. But when the tireless Coasties are working to save a man overboard, Onyx the dog surprises everyone with her bravery, and she finds more than a home—she finds a purpose.

Tyler Benson

Tyler Benson is from St. Louis, Michigan.  He has served in the United States Coast Guard for more than 18 years.  He began writing short stories about his search and rescue adventures in the Coast Guard to educate his three young daughters about what Daddy does when he goes on duty for 48 hours at a time.  He wanted his daughters to learn the importance of service to their country and helping those in need.  To help his daughters better understand his job, Tyler wrote the stories featuring his real station's morale dog, Onyx.  These stories soon evolved into a dream.  This dream would be a tribute and a way to bring recognition to all who serve or have served in the United States Coast Guard.  Tyler is still currently serving in the United States Coast Guard in Highlands, New Jersey, where he lives with his wife, Kristy, and four children.

David Geister

David Geister is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based artist who specializes in historical art, picture book illustrations and landscape paintings.  He has illustrated over a dozen children's books including, The Adventures of Onyx series, B is for Battlecry, and Surviving the Hindenburg, to name a few.