Karen Melvin, a native of Streator, has contributed her photography, which specializes in home interiors, to a book on homes on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota.

Melvin, who now resides in Minnesota, collaborated with author Bette Jones Hammel on "Legendary Homes of Lake Minnetonka."

The book captures 30 historic and architecturally significant homes on the lake, which Melvin says is now predominantly residential. Lake Minnetonka is 10 miles west of downtown Minneapolis, has 125 miles of shoreline and, according to Melvin, has approximately 400 houses, 200 to 300 feet apart from each other.

"I met Bette Hammel, who I knew as an architectural journalist," Melvin told The Times. "We did an article on boat houses in 2005 for Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine, which led to us saying, 'Let's do a book on it.' "

The pair had a wish list of homes to highlight and narrowed it down to the 30 featured in the book.

"We selected a lot of cottages and cabins that have been in families for generations, we also selected some for their architectural statements," Melvin said. "It's a good mix of cabins, houses and those designed by well-known architects. They had to be historically and architecturally significant."

Melvin said the book offers people a chance to view the interior of homes they might usually boat or drive by.

"This is the only way people could see the interior of these great houses," she said.

Melvin has been an architectural photographer for 25 years. She is a commercial photographer for Marvin Windows and Medallion Cabinetry, among others. Melvin has freelanced for Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine, Home Magazine, Architectural Digest, Woman's Day, House Beautiful and other national and local magazines. She also has contributed to "The Not So Big House," a book by renowned architect Sarah Susanka.

"When people hire me, they're hiring my expertise and vision," Melvin said. "Clients would hire me because they like my style or lighting and how I would portray their product."

The book took three years to write, photograph and produce. Autographed copies of the book can be purchased at www.karenmelvin.com. Books also can be purchased through Amazon.com.

"People most often comment that they're happy that someone has finally done this," Melvin said. "It's really a book that will have a long shelf life because these are some of the best houses on Lake Minnetonka."

Melvin is the daughter of Alice Melvin and the late Alan Melvin of Streator.