New Collection of quirky stories by Steve Fox

 

These Are My People
Steve Fox
Short Story collection
Cornerstone Press, December, 2025, 230 pp
Papberback, $24.95

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About the Book
FINALIST, Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award, Wisconsin Writers Awards (2025)
Award-winning writer Steve Fox returns with These Are My People, where some houses are dark, some are bright and smell of busy kitchens, and some have rooms beyond a looking glass. People crash trucks and make snow angels and spill coffee and buy pottery and self-starve and roam basements and day-drink at nursing homes and can smell broken love through brick walls and make apple pies for new neighbors. Whirling and wondrous, these stories show Fox at the peak of his powers.

My Review

The collection of tales circling Noisy Creek, Wisconsin, are as quirky as its residents. Small-town in nature, yet big enough for a university and a hospital and Walmart, Fox’s cleverly woven short stories explore the lives of people connected in some small way to the accidents and death that unite them. It’s not until a few stories in that the reader can start connecting dots, flipping back and forth to smile at a character transported from one setting to another. Each new perspective sheds more light on the people until you come to rest at the minute before “Rise,” the first story, begins.
            These Are My People include an unrepentant murderess, a shockingly unsympathetic empath who senses emotions in scent, a neighbor who tragically misidentifies the new couple on the block, pedophiles, other family dysfunction, alcoholics, a suicidal son, a daughter reluctant to face the family at a favorite uncle’s funeral, and a bartender with heart, among others. While not a “happy” read, Fox’s cleverness kept me turning pages to find out where characters pop up next and how they face real-life choices. Heidi the student waitress at the new coffee shop sums it up best in “Spaces”: “Everyone who slipped in and out of this place formed a part of this town’s being, this small place, this special little place…” A fun little epilog allows a few of the characters to get a word in edgewise.
            This book is recommended for readers who like snippets of the lives (and deaths) of people you may recognize in your own space.

About the Author

Steve Fox is the award-winning author of Sometimes Creek (Cornerstone Press 2023), winner of an American BookFest Best Book Award, finalist for the Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year, and longlisted for the Edna Ferber Book Award. He is also the recipient of the Rick Bass Montana Prize for Fiction and the Zona Gale Award for Short Fiction. He lives in Wisconsin with his wife, three sons, and one dog.

Kay Anderson a life of service

  

From Silence to Sacramental Moments

Kay Anderson

St. Croix River Press

September, 2026

Autobiography\

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About the Book

Spanning sixty years, Kay Anderson shares her story of a childhood framed by the stifling silence of family dysfunction and alcoholism to her nursing career, grief in faith matters, and eventual sacramental missionary work in Haiti.

Born in the 1960s to dairy farmers, Kay learned of hard work and the cycle of life and death. As a storied high school basketball player, she discovered where talent and ambition could take her. As a nursing professional, Kay chose the most difficult and heart-wrenching aspects of medical care. As the spouse of a cancer survivor, she prayed for miracles. With a keen desire to embrace grief and loss at its core, these stories from home, hospitals, and mission trips to Haiti come alive across the pages.

Kay's desire to "be" amid silence and in every Sacramental Moment led her to found a justice-based nonprofit, where even today, Haitian medical staff manage their own health clinics in rural mountain villages.

From Silence to Sacramental Moments will show every reader what a life of commitment to family and home, career, and faith can overcome and "be."

My Review: 

Beautiful story of a life of sacrifice and service. Laying claim to her true self, author Kay Anderson shows readers how resiliency and a life of giving gives back. From her difficult childhood as "afterthought" kids in a huge farming family with an unfortunate dysfunction, to choosing nursing school despite less than stellar grades, to working with the youngest and most frail medical patients, to filling a need in a third-world country, Kay is a stellar role model. For readers who love stories of true-life nursing with some salt in their faith.

Fun with Time Stitchers from Pat Scheckel

 

Time Stitchers

Pat Scheckel
Time travel adventure thriller
Wisconsin Writers Association Press, 276 pp
 
$9.99 ebook
$22.99 paper
$38.99 hardcover
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About the Book

In the summer of 1989 in Hiawatha, Wisconsin, college student Jimmy Foley can't move forward with his life until he finds who is behind his sister Bridget's hit-and-run death. Sketchy evidence points to the local cranberry kingpin, but no one in town has the power to take him down. When Jimmy brushes against a gravestone, he finds himself in Washington DC in 1862, where he comes across other time-traveling "stitchers" working to solve the murder of the British ambassador. The stitchers try to recruit Jimmy to help solve the murder, in an effort to prevent the reversal of the outcome of the Civil War. Jimmy agrees, and between helping the stitchers and investigating his sister's death he uncovers an even more diabolical human trafficking plot. In a wild time-jumping chase, Jimmy and the stitchers risk everything to stop the cranberry king from realizing his dystopian vision.

 

My Review

Wow, quite an adventure. I learned to drive in a car like Gilbert, so I was back in the late 1980s. Such fun culture pops. I am a historian, so this type of story was right up my alley. Jimmy and his friends were fun to know, and the big twist involving an attempt to change the outcome of the Civil War in America was a thoughtful issue to explore. The author's research in the bits and pieces of Civil War effects we see in Washington DC felt very authentic, good job. My favorite character was Eugene, a soldier in the 1860s, who figures prominently in helping Jimmy and his friends right a wrong in two different eras. I also loved Mrs. Biggs, the history teacher.

There are many twists to keep readers turning pages, such as the way time travel works and occasionally misses, and who you can trust, who you think you know, and family secrets. My only quibble is that the author did murder a prominent real life figure and didn't put him back, which would have irrevocably changed time. But I can live with it. I hope this will become a series! Recommended for those who love a fun light read with some chewy topics. There are some episodes of death and gun violence in war situations and in ambush.

 

About the Author

Pat Scheckel's debut novel, Time Stitchers, was published by WWA Press in the fall of 2026. His short story collection, Frozen Chuck, is forthcoming from Cornerstone Press in 2027. His work has appeared in The MacGuffin, The Hemlock Journal, and Macabre Magazine. You can find him on Instagram @pat_scheckel and at scheckel.com.

New collection of short perfectly scary tales And Night Shall Come

 

And Night Shall Come
David J Rank
October 20, 2026
Cornerstone Press, 208 pp
Collection of short, dark fiction
Paper $24.95

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About the Book:

The stories in David J. Rank’s debut collection reveal what things wait in the shadows beyond human vision: creatures best left alone, monsters lurking within ourselves, and dark emotions ready to erupt from tormented souls.

My Review:

In a gated community where you don’t question authority, Rank’s world comes to stunning life. His collect of short, dark-and-scary-night tales speak of things we all fear: a paradise that has never felt so fragile; the witch’s test may or may not lead to the truth; the myth of the Goatman who steals away people on an abandoned road. The title piece, “And Night Shall Come” is a nightmare for that waits for Paulie in a new house that would never be as exciting as Mom thinks. There’s a tree that’s a tree until it’s not; an artist who literally gives her all to her work. Somehow, I always knew chocolate would save the world in the same-name story “Chocolate.”

Many stories feature corrupt religion or morality, such as the witch hunt in “Witch’s Bluff,”, and a woman with too much power ridding her community of liberal filth in “CCTROMC” and dystopian societies with brutal governmental regimes. Rank eerily parallels some components of cultures who battle knowledge, such as those who resolve the problem of curiosity with brutality in a “Wing and a Prayer.” Most the stories are just plain fun, such as describing the good living to be made by being a token of bad luck; one explanation for why someone would hoard pets; a dying world where librarians are the heroes in “Alexandria”; stories where children knew how things that go bump in the night work much better than their adults; a doctor who controls life and death with a miracle patient. I especially enjoy the turnabout tales where the joke is on the zombies and the renters who can’t stay out of the attic.

Be careful what you wish for, and don’t be a Wally who tries to impress his friends with the 13 Names of Hell. And definitely heed the author’s warning to keep the lights on while you read these deliciously haunted tales in And Night Shall Come.

About the Author:

Published author, editor, and recovering journalist, David J. Rank, spies on things found within the darkest shadows deep in unmapped forests where he often finds himself. In 2014, he founded and is the director emeritus of the nonprofit Novel Bookcamp writing education programs, now. His more than 45 dark fiction stories have appeared in regional publications, online zines, and nine anthologies. And Night Shall Come: Stories from the Shadows, first story collection, is being published by Cornerstone Press in October, 2026.

A former president of the Wisconsin Writers Association, he is a member of the Horror Writers Association, organized the HWA-Wisconsin Chapter in 2018, and is a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. He lives in eastern Wisconsin with his wife, near his grown children and grandchildren, in a quiet neighborhood on the side of a hill with a nice view of the moon, not far from two old cemeteries.

Action Into Words memoir with Peggy Rozga

Action Into Words: A memoir of activism
Margaret Rozga
October 1, 2026
WWA Press, 220 pp
Memoir
 
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About the Book

Discover the inspiring journey of Margaret "Peggy" Rozga in this captivating memoir, Action Into Words, brought to life by the Wisconsin Writers Association. A poet, activist, and Wisconsin's 2019-2020 Poet Laureate, Rozga's story unfolds against the backdrop of the 1960s civil rights movement, where she marched for fair housing in Milwaukee and stood alongside icons like Father James Groppi. Through personal triumphs and tragedies-including the loss of her husband and raising three young children-she found solace and strength in poetry. Her words, infused with a passion for social justice and the beauty of everyday life, have touched hearts and sparked change. This memoir is a testament to a woman who turned struggle into song, offering readers a profound exploration of courage, creativity, and community. Join us in celebrating a Wisconsin treasure whose voice continues to resonate. Available from the Wisconsin Writers Association Press.

My Review

Filled with up close and personal views of icons in the Open Housing and Civil Rights movements, Margaret Rozga's frank look at the push for equity from the 1960s voting rights marches with Dr. King in Alabama to Milwaukee, Wisconsin is an eye-opening and sometimes sorry look at how American treat each other. Readers gain special insight into America as Peggy Rozga sets out to make a difference for equal housing opportunities, voting rights, and social justice. Join Peggy as she marches and speaks through poetry and action in this powerful memoir.

About the Author

Margaret Rozga, emeritus professor of English at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee - Waukesha campus, served as the 2019-2020 Wisconsin Poet Laureate and the 2021 inaugural artist/scholar in residence at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee at Waukesha Field Station. She is the author of six books of poetry, most recently Restoring Prairie and Holding My Selves Together. She has also co-edited four poetry anthologies with Madison poet Angela Trudell Vasquez. She is a member of the Wisconsin Writers Association, the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, and the Society for the Study of Midwestern Literature, an organization that honored her with their 2026 Mark Twain award. She lives in Milwaukee.

 

Pumpkin gore from Brent Michael Kelley

 

Pumpkin Guts

Brent Michael Kelley
Horror
Oct 1, 2026
Mystery Potion Books, 265 pp
Ebook 5.99

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About the Book

Hiding out from the Icelandic mafia in the middle of nowhere, Lia Rail finds herself offered up as the annual Halloween sacrifice to an oversized pumpkin-monster called Jack o’ the Patch. After a narrow escape, Lia is pursued by a growing horde of Jack's pumpkin-minions. Monstrous worms, bats, and spiders will tear the town apart until their master gets his victim. As the creatures flood the town and close in, Lia’s survival depends on making friends and giving them a reason to trust her. She'll have to do it quickly, too, before Jack o' the Patch himself comes down from the mountain to destroy the city in search of his prize.

My review

A mythic curse travels the oceans to America…or is there a real curse in Squatter’s Notch? A little backwater in New England is as good a place to hide as any for a young quirky lass named Lia Rail. She’s running from the mob due to some serious misunderstanding, and realizes she’s jumped from the frying pan into the fire. It’s Halloween, which has an unusual reputation in Squatter’s Notch. Lia, who’s been in residence long enough to make both friends and enemies, finds herself on the wrong side of the fence when the sweet little old lady she does odd jobs for has one final and unfortunately fatal request. A sightseeing drive up the cliff takes a sinister twist, and Lia runs again, this time convincing Notchians to defend their town from the evil Jack even while he takes their neighbor’s souls.

Squatter’s Notch will enchant the reader with its fun cast of police, townsfolk, gas station owners with a heart of gold, and self-sacrificing firefighters who jump into the fray to save a school full of children from the mad Jack o’ the Patch on a rampage of terror. Lia stays true to herself while reaching out to her enemies and showing the people of Squatter’s Notch they can work together in an attempt to overcome their terrible curse. Some gore and possession, but overall, a good time read.

About the Author

Since 2011, Brent Michael Kelley has had six books published. Those works include the first three novels of an ongoing dark fantasy series following Chuggie, the embodiment of Drought on a monster-filled world called Mag Mell (Chuggie and the Desecration of Stagwater, Chuggie and the Bleeding Gateways, Chuggie and the Prisoner Gods). Also included is a YA comedy-horror called Keep Away From Psycho Joe, a dystopian future-sports novella Cruce Roosters, and a short story collection Doomsday Furnace. Brent lives in northern Wisconsin with his wife, son, and two weird dogs, whose names are S'mores and Lil' Smokey.

Soccer to the Max MG by Bibi Belford

 

Soccer to the Max
Bibi Belford
 
Ten16 Press, September, 2026
Middle Grade, 195 pp

About the Book

Sandburg has big summer plans. Win the 3v3 Tournament trophy, then escape for a long-awaited vacay on his grandparents’ ranch. But when he’s left behind at soccer camp while his family visits his sister’s doctor, everything unravels. He really wants to follow his dad’s advice, “Do better to be better,” but as disappointments pile up, it seems like me-first is a better option. That decision sets in motion a disastrous chain of events that even Zander, his amazing superhero-loving roommate, can’t prevent.

My Review

Suprises are usually excellent or not-so-great; it turns out many of the surprises in almost-fifth grader Sanburg Zaproski’s summer are of the not-so-great variety.

Soccer camp would have been the coolest thing for Sandy, if it hadn’t meant missing the family annual vacation to Grandpa’s Texas ranch. Meeting new kids and working on soccer skills would have been completely awesome if Sandy hadn’t drawn the fearsomest opponent in soccerdom, the one who strikes fear in every kid’s heart because of his height and abilities. A head taller than every kid his age, Sandy, who’s tasked by his father to see with empathy eyes, starts to look deeper at the people around him. Lessons at camp come as another unwelcome surprise when he realizes he’s not as good of a player as he thought he was. Sandy has a lot of growing up to do, and once he realizes that other kids have similar quirks and fears, he’s slowly learning to be more forgiving.

Until it comes to his younger cousin, Max. When Sandy gets home from camp, squirrely squirt Max seems to get all the attention and praise and treats that Sandy used to get. When Max turns out to be the surprise last-ditch choice to play in a very special soccer tournament Sandy and his friends Zoya and Cole have entered, it’s up to Sandy to find Max’s superpower and decide whether to use it to help the team.

Belford’s wonderful young characters beautifully take the story and run with it. Sandy frequently addresses the reader, drawing us deep into his opinionated actions, sometimes blaming us and sometimes calling out excuses for his behavior. We’re learning and growing social skills right alongside him. When Sandy gets upset at the unfairness of life, he lets us know with a sentence like, “Steam that could roast corn escapes from the top of my head.” When his family tries to surprise him, he says, “I try to remember how to smile. Lift the corners of my lips…stretch them out towards my ears like a guard dog’s muzzle before it bites an intruder.”

Filled with many wonderful quotable quotes, like “chuck in the bucket and move on,” and “an ant has no quarrel with a boot,” as well as wonderful vocabulary words Sandy teaches his audience, like “intimidation,” Soccer to the Max is a delightful story for both the entertainment and character lessons. Highly recommended for any age.

About the Author

Bibi Belford is the author of books for middle grade readers: CANNED AND CRUSHED, THE GIFT,
CROSSING THE LINE, and ANOTHER D FOR DEEDEE. Bibi starting writing books because her students told her they couldn’t find books they liked. She wants her books to challenge kids to make a difference in their world and be everyday heroes. She lives in a high rise building in Chicago, Illinois and when it’s nice writes on her balcony. She enjoys reading, gardening, beach-bumming, and making her grandchildren laugh. Bibi works part time substituting at Bennett Academy and as an educational consultant and trainer. She also volunteers two days a week at a CPS public school. Some of her credentials include:  B.A. English, K-8 Illinois teaching certificate, Reading endorsement, ESL endorsement, and a Masters of Bilingual Literacy. She is a member of CWA – Chicago Writers Association, SCBWI-Illinois, and has served as a panelist and speaker at the UW-Madison Writers’ Institute.