Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Lynne Carol Austin Reading May 2

Lynne Carol Austin will be reading from the Ten of Swords, on May 2nd, in Waukesha.

Lynne says: I will be published and released in August. Kathie Giorgio, All Writers Workplace and Workshop, is sponsoring four new authors who will be published this summer, at a reading at the First Baptist Church, 247 Wisconsin Ave, Waukesha. 7 pm. She will read also, along with poet Margaret Rozga. Free. I hope to see some of you there.

Edith Ann Marie, the sun is in my heartAbout Lynne: Her first book, Edith Ann Marie-The Sun is in My Heart, was written out of the memory of her loving relationship with her grandmother, Lena. In her book, Grandmother is the wise sage, offering sound advice when Edith Ann Marie has questions with her very concrete view of life. Sister adds a bit of drama, which is sometimes hard for Edith Ann Marie to understand.  Lynne complements the written word with her original artwork. All work is three dimensional, using hand-made paper, material, pastels and acrylics.
Lynne has been published in spiritual magazines in the Midwest throughout the 1990’s. She wrote a feature chapter in the book, The New Healers Minds and Hands in Complementary Medicine , by Dr. Barbara Stevens Barnum.” She has a story-telling C.D. called Earth Spirituality-Spiritual Storytelling.  She has lead spiritual retreats to Peru and the Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota. She has an alternative healing practice, the Gayatri Center for Healing, in Brookfield ,Wisconsin.
Lynne’s next book, Tell Me A Story, Mama-Little Berry and Mama Bear, is coming soon! Also watch for her children’s poetry book in the near future.

Lynne Carol Austin Author of Edith Ann Marie The Sun is in My Heart

 
Websites:
www.lynnecarolaustin.com
www.lynnecarolaustin.wordpress.com

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Review of In the Comfort of Shadows by Laurel Bragstad


In the Comfort of Shadows
Laurel Bragstad

$3.99
$12.99

Orange Hat Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1937165635
386 pp
December 9, 2013
buy on Amazon

From the publisher:
In the Comfort of Shadows is a story of family secrets and the love and romance often found hidden deep within sins of the past. The novel follows Ann Olson, a big city professor, who longs to fill in the empty pages of her childhood. Unfortunately the only man alive who knows the whole story is Emmett Pederson, her adoptive dad’s crazy, poor, hermit cousin who never married and still lives on his run-down farm in rural Wisconsin. Disregarding her sister’s objections, Ann stubbornly sets out to prove that Emmett is their “father unknown.” Once she gets over Emmett’s shabby clothes and missing teeth, she senses a surprising connection to him. That changes when she discovers Emmett’s WW2 diaries which reveal the truth about her Austrian-born birth mother. As Ann struggles to sort out the facts of her birth parents’ forbidden romance and her own adoption, she finds herself falling in love with a man who has heart-breaking secrets of his own.



Biography
Image of Laurel Bragstad
Laurel Bragstad was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As the oldest of five kids sitting around the dinner table, she learned very early that family stories are often better than any drama, mystery, or sit-com on television--with enough secrets and distinct characters to fill a book.
 
These days, she teaches at Alverno College in Milwaukee and has an online course with Ed2Go/Cengage Learning. When she's not teaching, writing, or reading, you might find her digging in her garden (weather permitting), where she's either working out an assignment for her class or shaping characters and chapters for another novel.

 

My review:
Cleaning out the family closet is risky at best, heartbreaking at worst. All her life, Ann Olson barely contained her curiosity about her parentage after a disgruntled relative broke the news that Ann and her sister were adopted. Elise is content being the daughter of the only parents she knew, but Ann can’t let it go. After her father’s death, and now in her early fifties, divorced, and armed with an old letter, Ann sets off on a thinly-disguised sabbatical assignment studying family history’s effect on family relationships. First on the list is her own family, her father’s cousins. 

Bragstad’s novel is a charming, genteelly-paced novel set in rural Wisconsin, with all the typical flavor of “up north.” Her characters never quite go over the top and their lives are all-too-true to life. Frank and Betty, Ann’s hosts, are eager to help Ann unravel the mystery of her and her sister’s parentage. Ann’s chief suspect, the letter-writer Emmett, is an old man now, an incongruous mystery of assumed poverty and dementia. As Ann works through the cast of family characters who might be the birth father, she meets a helpful and compassionate gentleman, John Bennett, who soon becomes more than a friend. 

Picking through clues, packets of letters and the detritus of a lifetime in Emmett’s house is a peek through over fifty years of mistakes, lies, and secrets; angst, the gruesomeness and horrors of World War II. Ann must also sort out her own feelings and those of her siblings as the real story comes to light. Ulterior motives, family secrets and grumblings give Ann plenty to consider about her heritage and family relationships. 

Filled with both charming conversation and introspection, quotes like “…truth lays bare what is or was; but it can’t fix everything” stays with the reader. 

Told in third person solely from Ann’s view, The Comfort of Shadows is part voyeurism, part revelation. Lovingly told, engaging.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Hiking Barron County by Rob Bignell, speaking May 10 at the NW Writers Fest


Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Barron County
Rob Bignell

The new book Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Barron County, Wisconsin (Atiswinic Press) describes more than 40 trails in and near the county.


HUDSON, Wis. (April 28, 2014) – Atiswinic Press has released the first-ever comprehensive guide to day hiking trails in Barron County.

Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Barron County describes more than 40 trails in or surrounding the county. The book was released in paperback during late April. 

“Barron County boasts more than a hundred glacial lakes and trout streams, many of which have public trails,” Bignell said. “In parts of the county, you can hike where ancient hills that formed 1.7 billion years ago stand as a backdrop.”

Among the Barron County day hikes included in the book are the Cattail State and the Wild Rivers trails. Trails near Cameron, Chetek, Cumberland, Rice Lake and Turtle Lake are listed.

Interested readers can meet Bignell and purchase copies of the book on Saturday, May 10, during the Northwest Wisconsin Writers Festival at UW-Barron County in Rice Lake. Bignell will read from his novel “Windmill” (10-11 a.m., Commons), is a presenter in a breakout session about the business of writing (1-1:45 p.m., Ritz 202), and will man an author’s table most of the rest of the time (9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Commons), where he’ll meet with readers and sign their purchased books. 

The title also is available at Idlewild Outfitters, 1414 2nd Ave., Cumberland.

The book is dedicated to former Chetek resident Mark Gunnufson, who passed away in 2013, a year to the day the book was published in paperback. Bignell served in the Wisconsin National Guard with Gunnufson.

“We were best friends at basic training,” Bignell said. “Mark saved my butt from the drill sergeant’s wrath quite a number of times.”

What’s in the Book
“Day Hiking Barron County, Wisconsin” provides a plethora of information about each featured trail, including:
 Driving directions to the trail
 Where to park and find the trailhead
 Course the trail takes
 Scenic points to look for on the trail
 Wildlife and flora you might spot
 Interesting tidbits about the area’s geology and history
 Trailside amenities such as water fountains and bathrooms
 Best times to hike the trail

Following each featured trail are brief descriptions of other nearby day hiking trails.

“These trails are perfect for families with children or anyone who wants to spend just a couple of hours outdoors enjoying and discovering nature,” Bignell said. The trails run from a third of a mile to six miles in length, with most only a mile to three miles long.

In addition to Barron County trails, the book details those that are right across the county border in Polk, Washburn, Rusk, Chippewa and Dunn counties.

Day Hiking Barron County is one of six guidebooks in the well-received “Hittin’ the Trail” series. “Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway” last month hit No. 1 on Amazon.com’s Travel>Midwest bestseller list for both paper and ebooks. “Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Polk County, Wis.” spent 10 consecutive weeks on Amazon.com’s travel bestseller list last year while “Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Grand Canyon National Park” reached the top 10. 

Day Hiking Barron County, Wisconsin is the second title in the “Hittin’ the Trail” series to be released as a paperback. Previously, titles were only released as ebooks for Kindle, iBook, Nook, Kobo and Sony Reader.

About the Author (photo: 
“Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Barron County, Wisconsin” author Rob Bignell and his son, Kieran, set out ona hike in California’s Mojave Desert.)
A long-time hiker, editor and journalist, Bignell is uniquely qualified to discuss day hiking, especially for

families. The author of eight other hiking guidebooks, including the popular “Hikes with Tykes” and “Headin to the Cabin” series, Bignell is an avid hiker, long-time editor, and Wisconsin native who’s been day hiking with his son, Kieran, for more than six years. Together they’ve scaled summits almost two miles high, crossed America’s driest deserts, and walked beneath trees soaring 15 stories over their heads.

Before Kieran, Bignell served as an infantryman in the Army National Guard and taught middle school students in New Mexico and Wisconsin. His newspaper work has won several journalism awards, from editorial writing to sports reporting. In 2001, The Prescott (Wis.) Journal, which he served as managing editor of, was named Wisconsin’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year. 

Bignell now lives with his son in Hudson.

Copies of “Day Hiking Barron County” also are available for purchase online in paperback and a variety of ebook platforms at Hikes With Tykes.


Book specs:
Publish date: April 22, 2014 Atiswinic Press
ISBN: 978-0989672368 (paperback); 978-0989672306 (ebook)
$5.95 (paperback) $0.99 (ebook)
Pages: 86 (paperback)


Website: http://hikeswithtykes.com/hittinthetrail_DayHikingBarronCountyWisconsin.html

Friday, April 25, 2014

Bullet in the Night by Judith Rolfs


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Exciting novel ready for pre-order:

Available in e-book format in May 2014

An intricate tale of love and renewal... Psychologist Lenora Lawrence lingers in a coma after being shot by a sniper as a web of intrigue unravels around her. Her redemptive work with society's ex-convicts and her personal counseling with vulnerable women has created many enemies in the resort town of Lake Geneva, WI. Lenora's colleague and good friend, Jennifer Trevor, intends to see that Lenora's sniper is brought to justice, even if it means making deadly enemies herself.

About the Author
Judith Rolfs minored in English and creative writing at college but her major focus became psychology and ultimately marriage and family counseling. Her first article was published in Fresh Ink magazine while a student at Marquette University. At her first writer's conference her novel proposal won the Best New Novel Award. Mystery writing is her first love, although she has ten non-fiction books published on various family issues. Twenty-five years listening to marriage and family clients further validated Rolfs awareness that words are the messengers of the heart. She learned to listen for the meaning behind words and tries to convey emotional depth in her characters. Writing Bullet in the Night from the perspective of her own and her heroine s counseling profession lets her share insights with readers who may never enter a professional counselor's office. Rolfs says, "I value the opportunity to contribute a word or two of wisdom: life is hard, people can be evil, but God is good, and all the time."
 
Judith shares life with her husband and best friend, Wayne, and their chocolate lab, Alex. They enjoy spending time with four adult children and seven grandchildren from home bases in Wisconsin and Florida.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Novel in Progress Book Camp

Wisconsin Writers Association
A Writer Resource Since 1948

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2014

Internationally acclaimed novelist heads writing workshop in Washington County

WEST BEND, Wis. – Award-winning novelist and international writing instructor SJ Rozan is the author-in-residence and writing advisor for the first Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp, May 18-24, at Cedar Valley Center & Spa northwest of West Bend.

Co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Writers Association and the Chicago Writers Association, the Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp provides hands-on advice and one-on-one guidance for writers developing or polishing a book-length manuscript in any genre. The N-I-P Bookcamp receives additional support from Creative Co-Sponsor Diana Schramer, Write Way copyediting LLC, www.writewaycopyediting.com.

“The Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp is a great opportunity for writers inspired to start a book and who are determined to finish their work. The Bookcamp provides a platform designed specifically to help you to complete your manuscript and make it a successful addition to the literary world,” said Tori Collins, president of the Chicago Writers Association.

Rozan’s 14 mystery novels have won multiple awards including the Edgar, Shamus, Anthony, Nero, Macavity, and the Japanese Maltese Falcon Her short stories have appeared in various “Best of” collections and she’s edited two short story anthologies. Based in New York, Rozan teaches and lectures widely including the Crime Fiction Academy in New York, the Art Workshop International in Assisi, Italy, The Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Symrna Beach, Fla., and as writer-in-residence at the Singapore Management University.

Joining her at this year’s Bookcamp are staff members Philip Martin and Lisa Lickel.

Former acquisitions editor for The Writer Books, Martin is director of Great Lakes Literary, Milwaukee, where he edits and produces award-winning nonfiction and fiction title for adults and young readers. He also is the author of several books on writing.

A versatile and award-winning novelist, historian, and editor from Washington County, Lickel has published eight books ranging from Christian romance to mysteries to paranormal. Her experience with e-publishing and the blossoming field of boutique publishers will be an invaluable resource for Bookcamp registrants. She will lead a panel discussion on the publishing industry and multiplying publishing avenues – and pitfalls – for today’s writers.

Scheduled guest speakers include TV and movie scriptwriter James Strauss from southeast Wisconsin, and the agents of Red Sofa Literary, Dawn Frederick and Jennie Goloboy, St. Paul, Minn.

“Unlike the traditional classroom writing conferences, the Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp offers a small group of writers an opportunity to spend six days entirely focused on their works-in-progress, with one-on-one counseling from published authors and experiences writing instructors and literary agents,” Wisconsin Writers Association President Dave Rank said.

The six-day Bookcamp registration remains open for commuter enrollees for $795, which includes all Bookcamp classes, materials, critique sessions, one-on-one consultations, and all meals. A limited number of residential registrations remain open.

For more information and application details contact Dave Rank, N-I-P Bookcamp Director
vpres@wiwrite.org, 262-717-5154, www.nipbookcamp.wordpress.com, www.facebook.com/NIPBookcamp.
Check out http://writewaycopyediting.com/! Write Way Copyediting It's All How You Say It Home Page. ...

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

New Hiking Book from Rob Bignell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:


Wisconsin author's new hiking guide focuses on St. Croix National Scenic Riverway

OJAI, Calif. (April 14, 2014) – Atiswinic Press has released the first-ever comprehensive guide to day hiking trails in the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

The new book “Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway” (Atiswinic Press) describes more than 70 trails in 
the popular National Park Service unit.

Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, by Rob Bignell, describes more than 70 trails in the popular riverway. The riverway annually boasts more than 520,000 visitors, making it more popular than over half of all national parks.

The National Park Service unit straddles the Minnesota-Wisconsin border and includes both the St. Croix and Namekagon rivers. It runs from Prescott, Wis., north to near Solon Springs, Wis., then extends into Wisconsin stretching from outside Danbury, Wis., east to near Cable, Wis. Seven state parks and several state forests, county parks, and nature centers are in the riverway. 

“In the scenic riverway, you can lean against 200-year-old trees or feel the splash of a hidden waterfall, you can retrace the steps of historic portages or watch bald eagle families soar overhead, and you can walk across billion-year-old rock or pick apples as autumn leaves turn red and golden,” Bignell said. “It’s not surprising that the riverway and its parks are so popular.”

The book provides a plethora of information about each featured trail, including:
  • Driving directions to the trail
  • Where to park and find the trailhead
  • Course the trail takes
  • Scenic points to look for on the trail
  • Wildlife and flora you might spot
  • Interesting tidbits about the area’s geology and history
  • Trailside amenities such as water fountains and bathrooms
  • Best times to hike the trail

Following each featured trail are brief descriptions of other nearby day hiking trails.

“These trails are perfect for families with children or anyone who wants to spend just a couple of hours outdoors enjoying and discovering nature,” Bignell said. The trails run from a third of a mile to 6 miles in length, with most only a mile to three miles long.

Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is the sixth guidebook in the well-received “Hittin’ the Trail” series. Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Polk County, Wis. spent 10 consecutive weeks on Amazon.com’s travel bestseller list last year while Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking Grand Canyon National Park reached the top 10.

Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway is the first title in the “Hittin’ the Trail” series to be released as a paperback. All previous titles are ebooks, available for a variety of e-readers, including Kindle, iBook, Nook, Kobo and Sony Reader.


“Hittin’ the Trail: Day Hiking the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway” 
author Rob Bignell.


A long-time hiker, editor and journalist, Bignell is uniquely qualified to discuss day hiking especially for families. The author of eight other hiking guidebooks, including the popular Hikes with Tykes and Headin to the Cabin series, Bignell is an avid hiker, long-time editor, and Wisconsin native who’s been day hiking with his son for more than six years. Together they’ve scaled summits almost two miles high, crossed America’s driest deserts, and walked beneath trees soaring 15 stories over their heads.

Before Kieran, Bignell served as an infantryman in the Army National Guard and taught middle school students in New Mexico and Wisconsin. His newspaper work has won several journalism awards, from editorial writing to sports reporting. In 2001, The Prescott Journal, which he served as managing editor of, was named Wisconsin’s Weekly Newspaper of the Year.

Bignell now lives with his son in Hudson, Wis., only a couple of miles from the scenic riverway.

“Hittin’ the Trail” is available for purchase online at: http://hikeswithtykes.com/hittinthetrail_stcroixnationalscenicriverway.html.

Book specs: