Free For All Jan 6 at All Writers

AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop Winter Friday Night Free For All at Café De Arts: 

Far Reaching and Far Flung!

WAUKESHA – Four times a year, AllWriters’ shares its talents with the community, offering up readings of poetry, short stories, novels and memoirs, as well as inviting an inspirational guest reader and including a special reading by AllWriters’ director Kathie Giorgio. This winter, celebrate 12 years of AllWriters’ Workplace and Workshop and the incredible reach of the studio in our community, across the United States, and even around the world.

On January 6th, our special guest reader will be AllWriters’ faculty member Michael Giorgio. Michael’s short fiction has appeared in The Strand, Mammoth Book of Tales from the Road, Tales from the Cash Register and many other anthologies and magazines. The first of Michael’s two books, Justice Comes Home, was released by Black Rose Writing in 2014. This January, Michael will be debuting the sequel to Justice Comes Home, The Memory Swindlers, released by Black Rose Writing in 2016. In addition to writing, Michael is also a creative writing instructor for AllWriters’ Workplace and Workshop, a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the rock on which AllWriters’ founder and director Kathie Giorgio leans as she continually pursues being the best author, teacher and mother she can be. To learn more about Michael, visit www.michaelgiorgio.org.

Also reading will be AllWriters’ students from around the United States including Karen Wolf, from Ohio (poetry - since starting with AllWriters' in February of 2016, Karen has sold 15 poems!), Christopher Werkman, from Ohio (reading from his second book, a short story collection called Girlfriending), and Julie Beekman from Colorado (reading from her just-accepted full-length memoir, Two Trees). Kathie Giorgio, AllWriters’ founder and director, will read one of her works as well.

Winter’s Friday Night Free For All will take place on Friday, January 6th, 2017. Because these events have become so well-attended, AllWriters’ has moved them to a larger venue to accommodate the crowd. We are delighted to partner with Café De Arts for this event! Café De Arts is now located at 830 W. St. Paul Avenue, near downtown Waukesha. Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and the event begins at 7:00 p.m. The café’s full menu will be available for purchases, so come for dinner and meet our writers! This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.



AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop offers on-site and online writing courses in all genres and abilities of creative writing, as well as coaching, editing, and marketing services. We are located at 234 Brook St., Unit 2, in downtown Waukesha. A schedule of classes and registration is available online at www.allwritersworkshop.com or you can call 262-446-0284.



234 Brook St., Unit 2
Waukesha WI 53188
Phone: (262) 446-0284
www.allwritersworkshop.com
Please "like" Author Kathie Giorgio on Facebook, and follow KathieGiorgio on Twitter

Council for Wisconsin Writers Contest OPEN!

SIX WEEKS TO GO …

   … for work published in 2016 to be entered in the Council for Wisconsin Writers’ annual awards contests. Entries must be postmarked by Jan. 31, 2017.

     Work published by Wisconsin writers in 2016 is eligible in seven categories, including book-length fiction, nonfiction and poetry; short fiction and nonfiction; a set of five poems two of which must have been published in the contest year, and children’s literature.

     First-place winners receive $500 and a one-week writer’s residency at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point WI. Honorable mention recipients receive $50  and a one-week writer’s residency at the Painted Forest Study Center in Valton WI.

     Entries for this year’s Wisconsin Writers Awards must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2017. Authors who enter must be current Wisconsin residents.

     The entry fee is $25. Membership in CWW is not required, but members are entitled to one free entry. Out-of-state judges will make the selections. Awards will be presented at a May 13, 2017, banquet. The Major Achievement Award for 2016 will also be presented at the May banquet. That award, which includes a prize of $1,000, recognizes a Wisconsin writer for work of extraordinary literary merit.

     CWW also sponsors an Essay Award for Young Writers (1,500 word maximum) for Wisconsin high school students; there is no entry fee. The award is $250 for the winning student. Members of the board will judge. Entries for the student essay contest must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2017.

     Specific guidelines, entry forms, and important additional information for each award category are available in the 2016 Entry Forms section of the website, wiswriters.org/2016-contest-entry-forms.

CWW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of published Wisconsin writers and encouraging an appreciation of Wisconsin writing.

For more information about the Council for Wisconsin Writers and its Awards program, please go to www.wiswriters.org, or contact any of CWW’s board members at www.wiswriters.org/about/board-of-directors/

Thriller for Contemporary Political Fiction Junkies: Presidential Purchase

Presidential Purchase

Dawn Kunda

November, 2016

Political Thriller, Suspense

Buy on Amazon 

About the Book

What will it cost? A novice journalist learns the scathing details of the former President of the United States' deadly campaign for office. Dale Sorenson got the surprise call of his life. Former President Robert Manfield wants to detail his path to the presidency. The president infers there will be a golden nugget at the end of the trail so long as Sorenson agrees to inform the American citizens on the importance of this interview. Back in the woods of northern Wisconsin and under tight security, Dale meets with President Manfield. A series of discussions add more questions than answers as to what the president truly wants to reveal. Unknown to Dale and the president, as the story closes in on the PAC influence, the money, and the driving power of a successful campaign, a gun smolders at a nearby town. The gun does not act alone. The gun does not quit until the main target is found. The team directing the gun has deep pockets that will not stop without a successful mission.

My Review

Kunda’s latest thriller is a frightening, could-be-true tale of modern American politics. What goes into maneuvering and manipulating for control of the world’s top office? Is it really the foremost voice on the planet? Readers get a fictional taste of who’s really holding the strings when they read Presidential Purchase.

Told in multiple viewpoints and alternating past and present, readers are drawn into the making of a president, and the small-town world of Wisconsin newspaper reporter Dale Sorenson who’s been chosen as the voice of the world’s most important secret. Why him? Why not—in the atmosphere of trust no one, not even yourself (as we learn when the former president goes to share the secret), there’s no place like home to start the fires of revelation burning.

Watch the big boys go down in this winding tale of betrayal, murder, and ulterior motives that will leave you thinking, maybe? Wow!

About the Author

As a former private investigator with a BS in Political Science and attendance at Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Dawn is only intensely satisfied with suspense in her writing. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Kettle Moraine Writers’ Guild. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and dogs. Dawn would love her readers to visit her website at dawnkunda.com and contact her with questions or comments at dawnkunda@dawnkunda.com.

Council Opens 2016 Contest

CWW OPENS 2016 WISCONSIN WRITERS CONTESTS 

The Council for Wisconsin Writers announces that its awards contests are open for entries for work published in 2016.

From: Council for Wisconsin Writers  www.wiswriters.org

Contact: Jerrianne Hayslett jfarhsi@aol.com  414-766-9481

Release Date: now

The Council for Wisconsin Writers opens its Wisconsin Writers Awards contests on Nov. 1. Work published by Wisconsin writers in 2016 is eligible in seven categories, including book-length fiction, nonfiction and poetry; short fiction and nonfiction; a set of five poems two of which must have been published in the contest year, and children’s literature.

First-place winners receive $500 and a one-week writer's residency at Shake Rag Alley in Mineral Point WI. Honorable mention recipients receive $50  and a one-week writer's residency at the Painted Forest Study Center in Valton WI.

Entries for this year’s Wisconsin Writers Awards must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2017. Authors who enter must be current Wisconsin residents.

The entry fee is $25. Membership in CWW is not required, but members are entitled to one free entry. Out-of-state judges will make the selections. Awards will be presented at a banquet in May 2017. The Major Achievement Award for 2016 will also be presented at the May banquet. That award, which includes a prize of $1,000, recognizes a Wisconsin writer for work of extraordinary literary merit.

CWW also sponsors an Essay Award for Young Writers (1,500 word maximum) for Wisconsin high school students; there is no entry fee. The award is $250 for the winning student. Members of the board will judge. Entries for the student essay contest must be postmarked no later than Jan. 31, 2017.

Specific guidelines, entry forms, and important additional information for each award category are available in the 2016 Entry Forms section of the website, wiswriters.org/2016-contest-entry-forms.

CWW is a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of published Wisconsin writers and encouraging an appreciation of Wisconsin writing.

For more information about the Council for Wisconsin Writers and its Awards program, please go to www.wiswriters.org.

###

Barbara M Britton and Providence: Hannah's Journey

New from Barbara M. Britton
“Providence: Hannah’s Journey”~ Harbourlight Books~ October 2016

As the sole daughter of the chief priest, Hannah is publicly shamed when the prophet of Israel refuses to heal her. Determined to restore her family's honor, she escapes Jerusalem in hopes of finding the prophet and convincing him to restore her deformities. Gilead, a young Hebrew guard sympathetic to her plight, willingly accompanies her. On their way, they are captured by a band of raiders and Hannah is forced to serve in the household of the commander of the Aramean army, an officer who is in need of healing himself. Meanwhile, Gilead is being used as sword practice for the Aramean soldiers. Hannah must act fast to save Gilead and herself, but survival will mean coaxing the prophet of Israel to heal an enemy commander.

$4.99 eBook

$15.99 Print

Buy on Amazon

Sample review from an Amazon reader, supplied by the author:

As an avid reader of fictional novels and daily bible reading I love this idea of bringing bible stories to life! Sometimes reading through the bible I wonder about lives and "the rest of the story". Barbara brings the story of in 2 Kings to life using a beautiful romance, faith and love. Both the heroin and her true love have the faith to believe all things are possible! It speaks truth to the fact that healing was a reality and is still a reality today for those who have the faith to believe. Sometimes we don't get what we want in our time but as this story reveals God always has perfect timing and there are reasons why sometimes he makes us wait as he made Hannah wait. I always love a story with a good ending too and I was extremely surprised but I wont be the spoiler. This book is what I will call a Biblical Harlequin romance! I am looking forward to her next book. Thank you Barbara Britton!

Enjoy the video trailer:

 

About the author:

Barbara M. Britton was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, but currently lives in Wisconsin and loves the snow—when it accumulates under three inches. She writes romantic adventures for teens and adults. Barb has a nutrition degree from Baylor University but loves to dip healthy strawberries in chocolate. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Wisconsin Romance Writers of America, Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. 

www.barbarambritton.com, facebook, Twitter

Coming:

“Building Benjamin: Naomi’s Journey”~ Harbourlight Books~ February 2017

Feta and Freeways by Susan Baganz

Prism Book Group

2016

ISBN 978-1537366043

eBook $3.99

Print $13.99

Buy on Amazon, BN, Smashwords

From the Back Cover

He’d never noticed her…till now.

Nikolos Acton is the lead singer of a Christian Band, Specific Gravity, struggling to make it in the industry after an unplanned break, touring the country with their manager, Tia.

Tia Bartel loved Niko for the longest time, but it wasn’t until she stepped in to save his life that he finally realizes what has been there all along. Is it too late for him? Could a relationship between them work after years of ignoring her? How would he ever convince her he’s worthy of her trust?

As they journey on the freeway of life and love, they encounter struggles as they are forced to rely on their faith, and friends, to make it through.

My Review

I’m a big fan of outside-the-box contemporary fiction, and the Orchard Hill series steps right in to fill a rut of genre-specific romance, suspense, or mystery. Yes, these are love stories, but tales with a purpose that don’t need to be formulaic.

This fourth story from Baganz follows her general true-to-life premise that everyone has issues, everyone is broken and everyone needs the Lord as Master of his or her life. Then we need each other, and it’s the dealing with each other part that always gets tricky, even for Christians. These very faith-oriented stories are all stand-alone, but draw on characters from the other books. In this book, the person who makes everything work for a rising contemporary Christian band, Tia, prefers the shadows of anonymity to worship her hero, the lead singer Niko, from afar. When Niko receives his wake-up call after Tia’s attack by a crazed not-fan, the spotlight shines on her—both the ugly and the good sides of what she’s made of. Coming into the light is a huge risk, yet one she’s willing to take with Niko’s enlightened promises and support.

Feta and Freeways is this story of what it takes to be committed to a higher purpose, a network of people who rely on each other through faith, family, and talent offered to the glory of God. It’s not perfect, it can be messy and twisted, but through it all there’s some giggles, a number of surprises and twists, revelations and a set up for the next adventure. A truly enjoyable read with a peek into life on the road, roots and wings, and the joy of camaraderie. For those who like faith-based stories of contemporary life in sometimes not so nice places and realistic decision-making.

2016 Fall Book Festivals in Wisconsin

September 24 - The Peninsula Bookman will host its third annual Festival of Books and Authors 

This year five Wisconsin writers with more than a dozen of their works will attend the festival.

This year’s event will include:

Kathleen Ernst, author of the recently released seventh volume from her Chloe Ellefson mystery series, A Memory of Muskets and A Settler’s Year from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press.

J.F. Riordan will autograph The Audacity of Goats, the follow-up novel to her award-winning debut North of the Tension Line.

Patricia Skalka will sign copies of the brand-new third volume in her best-selling Dave Cubiak Door County mystery series, Death in Cold Water.

Virginia Maher and Paul Burton will present their brand new release Selected Artists of Door County, a series of profiles showcasing the area’s working artists.

The authors will be available throughout the day to sign books and discuss their work. Drop by at any time from 10 am 5 pm to meet these accomplished writers.

The Peninsula Bookman is located at 4083 Hwy 42, in the heart of Fish Creek, next door to The Oilerie. For more information, call 920.868.1467 or visit peninsulabookman.com.

October 7-9 Sheboygan Children's Book Festival

http://sheboyganchildrensbookfestival.org/

October 10 - 20 Chippewa Valley Book Festival

Eau Claire, WI

http://www.cvbookfest.org/

October 20 - 23 Wisconsin's Book Festival

Central Library, Madison, WI

http://wisconsinbookfestival.org/

November 4-5 Southeast Wisconsin Book Festival

UW-Waukesha

http://www.sewibookfest.com/

November 5 Edgerton Sterling North Book & Film Festival

Edgerton High School

http://www.bookandfilmfestival.org/

All Writers Celebrity Sat Oct 1 with poet Liam Callanan

From the desk of Kathie Giorgio, Director, AllWriters' Workplace & Workshop LLC: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

CELEBRITY SATURDAY: LIAM CALLANAN      

 

WAUKESHA – Where to begin? It’s a key question for any writer, and perhaps the most important to answer well. Without a good beginning, even the best story will be overlooked. Join author Liam Callanan to learn what makes a great, or a terrible, beginning. Be it short, novel length, or something in between, every great work must begin somewhere. On Saturday, October 1^st, AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop welcomes special guest lecturer LIAM CALLANAN with his workshop, OPEN UP: HOW TO START IN THE STRONGEST WAY POSSIBLE.

 

When we write, we need to earn the reader’s attention word by word. Nowhere is that more important than in a story’s first paragraphs. In this class, we’ll subject several examples to close readings in order to figure out what makes them work. How are characters introduced, action started, and a rhythm established, all in a story’s opening lines? The answer isn’t always noisy, but certain successful characteristics recur. We’ll read examples of those, and selected student work as well, with an eye toward crafting the strongest openings possible.

 

LIAM CALLANAN is the author of The Cloud Atlas (Delacorte, 2004; Dial, 2005), All Saints (Delacorte, 2007; Dial, 2008), and Listen(Four Way, 2015). He serves in the English department of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and was previously its chair, as well as coordinator of its Ph.D. program in creative writing. He has regularly contributed to local and national public radio. His short fiction has appeared or is forthcoming in a variety of literary journals, including Gulf Coast, the New Haven Review, Tinge (where his story was named one of the Million Writers Award Notable Stories of 2011 by storySouth), the Writers Chronicle, Blackbird,Crab Orchard Review, Southern Indiana Review, Caketrain,failbetter and Phoebe. Liam is also the creator and co-executive producer of the Poetry Everywhere animated film series.

 

Celebrity Saturdays are a great chance to broaden your knowledge of what it takes to be successful and to learn from writers who are already knee deep in an author’s life. Liam Callanan’s workshop will be held on Saturday, October 1^st, 2016. This event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and costs $95, which includes a lunch catered by Waukesha’s own Café de Art.

 

AllWriters’ Workplace and Workshop offers on-site and online writing courses in all genres and abilities of creative writing, as well as coaching, editing, and marketing services. A schedule of classes, with online registration, is available atwww.allwritersworkshop.com or by calling (262) 446-0284. AllWriters’ is located at 234 Brook Street, Unit 2, in historic downtown Waukesha, as featured in Milwaukee’s Journal Sentinel. 

Summer Hanford

AllWriters’ Assistant

summer@summerhanford.com

www.summerhanford.com

Summer Hanford on Facebook

234 Brook St., Unit 2
Waukesha WI 53188
Phone: (262) 446-0284www.allwritersworkshop.com
Please "like" Author Kathie Giorgio on Facebook, and follow KathieGiorgio on Twitter!

All Writers Workplace Teen Workshops

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

From the desk of Kathie Giorgio, Director, AllWriters' Workplace & Workshop LLC:

THURSDAY NIGHT TEEN WRITERS WORKSHOP!

WAUKESHA – By popular demand, AllWriters’ welcomes high school students into our creative writing community! Teen writing is an explosive new industry, both in the areas of teen work written for other teens, and written for the world at large. Whether it’s novels, poetry, short fiction or creative nonfiction, teen work should be taken as seriously as any other, and be as well written. AllWriters’ offers professional instruction covering all genres. A full staff of traditionally published authors provides feedback, guidance, help getting ready for real-world publication, and fosters a culture of encouragement and a sense of community. On September 29th, AllWriters’ is launching a THURSDAY NIGHT TEEN WRITERS WORKSHOP!

This ten-week workshop is a carbon copy of AllWriters’ most popular and enduring writing workshops, with one notable exception; we’re welcoming high school students into our creative community! This course encourages high school writers, grades 9 to 12, of all abilities and genres, but two things are required: a genuine interest in writing and a desire to write professionally for publication. Poets, novelists, short fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers are all welcome! If you write, this is where you should be. Each week in the workshop, students present their works-in-progress to the other students and the instructor for positive and constructive feedback. Students will also receive a line-by-line edit and a thematic critique of their work from the instructor, a traditionally published author with an extensive writing resume, including two novels.

The new THURSDAY NIGHT TEEN WRITERS WORKSHOP begins Thursday, September 29th and goes through Thursday, December 8th. Classes meet each week in the AllWriters’ classroom from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. For more information, and to sign up, visit www.allwritersworkshop.com and select On Site Courses from the drop down menu under Courses, or call (262) 446-0284. Space in this course is limited to 15 students! AllWriters’ Workplace and Workshop offers on-site and online writing courses in all genres and abilities of creative writing, as well as coaching, editing, and marketing services. A schedule of all classes, with online registration, is available online or by calling (262) 446-0284. AllWriters’ is located at 234 Brook Street, Unit 2, in historic downtown Waukesha, as featured in Milwaukee’s Journal Sentinel.

Summer Hanford

AllWriters’ Assistant

summer@summerhanford.com

www.summerhanford.com

Summer Hanford on Facebook

234 Brook St., Unit 2
Waukesha WI 53188
Phone: (262) 446-0284
www.allwritersworkshop.com
Please "like" Author Kathie Giorgio on Facebook, and follow KathieGiorgio on Twitter!

Rex Owens, Contemporary Irish Fiction

               

Murphy’s Troubles

Rex Owens

ISBN: 978-0615895048

eBook: $2.99

Print: $14.99

Buy on Amazon

Ian Padraic Murphy harbors a scandalous secret. To avenge the death of his best friend in a Belfast raid, Ian joins the Provisional IRA which he conceals for 30 years. He meets investigative reporter Eileen Donohue and friendship blossoms into a love affair. Eileen inadvertently discovers the man she thought was a reclusive novelist is actually the brain trust for the IRA. Eileen betrays her lover by disclosing his secret in Ireland's leading newspaper. Driven by guilt and remorse, Ian atones for his years in the IRA by working with Sinn Fein to negotiate the 1998 Peace Accord which ended The Troubles in Ireland. After deserting the IRA Ian's own troubles are far from over when they order his assassination. The assignment is given to his friend, IRA Commander, Kieran Fitzpatrick. Will Ian pay the supreme price for disloyalty to the IRA?

My review:

Owens has a passionate voice for the historical extremist movement in contemporary Ireland. Told mostly through alternating viewpoints, the reader is carried along with Ian Murphy, who as a young university student, is recruited and serves the next thirty years in the Irish Republican Army.

With loving exacted scenery and dialect, the author transports his readers to the Ireland of the sixties, to the underlying despair of prejudice, anger, and inequality due not to outward characteristics, but to devotion and heritage according to faith. Allegiance to a culture of religion causes sides to be taken and lines to be drawn. Owens’ fictional account of the inner workings of what it might have been like for principal players in the movement, unable to trust anyone, not even the people you grew up with, called brother, or confessed to or shared a bed with, provides a rich and satisfying read.

Out of Darkness, book 2

Rex Owens

eBook

Print

ISBN: 978-0983298489

Buy on Amazon

Author Ian Murphy battles lifelong alcoholism and chronic depression. Desperate to cleanse his soul, Ian dedicates himself to finding redemption. To confront his demons, he spends a summer hiking on Dingle Peninsula. He meets Mairin McCarthy, and finds unconditional love but still succumbs to the shadows within.

In the fall of 1998 the British government is determined to build walls in Belfast to separate Catholics and Protestants. The only peace citizens of the city can have requires walls. Murphy dedicates himself to stopping more walls from being built. He's convinced the challenge is his path to redemption.

While living in Belfast Ian learns that distrust and hatred divide the city's residents as much as the walls do. Both Catholics and Protestants accept the walls as the price of peace. The walls will be built. How will Ian Murphy find redemption and crawl out of the darkness?

My review:

Owens slips into first person for this second book of his trilogy about contemporary Ireland and the violence of religious extremism. We left Ian Murphy at the end of book one still alive after his friend is ordered to execute him. Realizing his entire life was one of self-imposed seclusion and layers of lies, Murphy tries to reach out and grasp a spark of life before he has nothing left but darkness. In the first book, Murphy wants to end it all; in this book, he’s coming out to meet the life he’s missed.

Told in on-the-spot scenery and dialog, Owens transports readers into a vicarious visit in Ireland of today, with all the nuances, smells, and sights that hide the brewing troubles. The authors has a fine voice with a message of hope that any reader in any era can grasp.

About the Author:

In 1997 novelist Rex Owens attended the first of many UW Madison Writers Institutes. The featured speaker was author was Robert Moss who talked about conscious dreaming as a way to explore the writing life. The die was cast to be a writer. In 1999 he joined a critique group led by Dr. Laurel Yourke where he learned craft the old fashioned way – by writing. 

His son brought him newspapers from Ireland. He read a story of children injured in the Peace Zone in Belfast in 1998 which became the inspiration for MURPHY’S TROUBLES. By 2003 Dr. Yourke suggested he had enough material to consider writing a novel. 

Detective mysteries from Patricia Skalba

Death Stalks Door County

A Dave Cubiak Door County Mystery

Patricia Skalka

 First Paperback Edition

March 2016LC: 2013033800 PS

256 pp. 5 1/2 x 8 1/4

1 map

	Cloth $26.95 t ISBN 978-0-299-29940-8
	Paper $16.95 t ISBN 978-0-299-29944-6
	eBook $16.95 t ISBN 978-0-299-29943-9
	About Adobe Digital Editions About our e-books
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Terrace Books

Finalist, Traditional Fiction, Book of the Year, Chicago Writers Association

Introducing the Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries: smart, hard-edged detective fiction on a popular vacation peninsula, a scenic wonderland surrounded by the pristine waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan

Six deaths mar the holiday mood as summer vacationers enjoy Wisconsin’s beautiful Door County peninsula. Murders, or bizarre accidents? Newly hired park ranger Dave Cubiak, a former Chicago homicide detective, assumes the worst but refuses to get involved. Grief-stricken and guilt-ridden over the loss of his wife and daughter, he’s had enough of death.

Forced to confront the past, the morose Cubiak moves beyond his own heartache and starts investigating, even as a popular festival draws more people into possible danger. In a desperate search for clues, Cubiak uncovers a tangled web of greed, betrayal, bitter rivalries, and lost love beneath the peninsula’s travel-brochure veneer. Befriended by several locals but unsure whom to trust or to suspect of murder, the one-time cop tracks a clever killer.

In a setting of stunning natural beauty and picturesque waterfront villages, Death Stalks Door County introduces a new detective series, “The Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries.”

About the Author:

Patricia Skalka is the author of Death at Gills Rock, the second book in the Dave Cubiak series. A former writer for Reader’s Digest, she presents writing workshops throughout the United States. She divides her time between her native Chicago and her cottage in Door County, Wisconsin.

Jill Dobbe and her new book about teaching in Egypt

Nonfiction

KIDS, CAMELS, & CAIRO

Traveling across the globe to work in an international school in Cairo, Egypt, was not exactly the glamorous lifestyle I thought it would be. I cherished my travels to the Red Sea, delighted in visiting the Pyramids, and appreciated the natural wonders of the Nile River. However, I also spent days without electricity or internet, was leered at by rude Egyptian men, breathed in Cairo’s cancerous black smog, and coaxed school work from rich, apathetic students. Why the heck did I do it? So I could experience the unexpected, explore the extraordinary, and bask in the thrill of adventure! Whether you’re a traveler or not, you will be astounded at this honest and riveting account of learning to live in an Islamic society, while confronting the daily challenges of being an educator in a Muslim school.

May, 2016

168 pp

ISBN  978-1517027810

EBook $3.99

Paperback $7.99

Buy on Amazon

Also available at Book World in Shawano, WI

About the Author:

Jill is an international educator and published author who writes about her experiences living and working in schools and countries around the world. She presently lives in her seventh country, Honduras, with her husband, Dan, and her Yorkie-Poo, Mickey. While working as an elementary principal, Jill also writes, travels, takes photos of the beautiful people and countries of Latin America, and muddles her way through the Spanish language. Jill loves her life as an international educator, and most days, feels like she is living her dream.

Wisconsin Writers Jade Ring contest info and judges

Judges for the 2016 Jade Ring competition include Laurie Scheer, Patricia Skalka, and Marilyn Taylor. Jade Ring contestants may also elect to receive the judge’s written feedback on their entries for an additional fee. See submission guidelines for more information. The contest submission period closes July 31, 2016. Winners and placers are announced at the Jade Ring Banquet Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the WWA Fall Conference held in Neenah.

Download the mail in submission form

OR Enter online

Nonfiction Judge

Laurie Scheer, Media Goddess, is a former vice president of programming for WE: Women’s Entertainment. She has worked as an assistant, d-girl, and producer for ABC, Viacom, Showtime, and AMC-Cablevision.

Laurie has been an instructor at numerous universities across the US including Northwestern, UCLA, American University, and Yale. She is the author of a book about working in Hollywood entitled Creative Careers in Hollywood and her DVD How to Pitch and Sell Your Screenplay has been a perennial favorite at screenwriting events.

As a professional speaker, she has appeared at annual conventions for NAB, NATPE, The Great American Pitch Fest, Screenwriters’ World, Reel Screen, WIFV, FTX West, the Willamette Writers Conference. She has served as a judge for numerous screenplay competitions, film festivals, and the International Emmys. She is currently a Faculty Associate/Writing Mentor with UW-Madison’s Continuing Studies Writing Department where she critiques writers’ works, conducts numerous online and in-person courses, and serves as the director of the Writer’s Institute.

She is also the Founding Editor of the literary magazine, The Midwest Review. Her current interest is in exploring ways to preserve good storytelling within the 21st century transmedia marketplace and sharing her new book The Writer’s Advantage: A Toolkit for Mastering Your Genre (Michael Wiese Productions, 2014) with writers in-person, online, and worldwide.

Fiction Judge

Patricia Skalka made her fiction debut with publication of Death at Gills Rock (2015) and Death Stalks Door County (2014), the first of the Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries from the University of Wisconsin Press. Death in Cold Water, the third volume in the series, will be published this fall.

A Chicago native and writing instructor, Skalka is a former Reader’s Digest Staff Writer, editor, and freelancer with human interest and medical articles in national print and online publications and nonfiction books published by Random House, St. Martin’s and Rodale. She is a member of The Authors Guild of America, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Society of Midland Authors and the Chicago Writers Association.

Poetry Judge

Marilyn L. Taylor, former Poet Laureate of Wisconsin (2009 and 2010) and the city of Milwaukee (2004 and 2005), is the author of six poetry collections. Her poems and essays have appeared in many anthologies and journals, including Poetry, American Scholar, Measure, and Able Muse. She has taken first place in a number of poetry contests, and recently received the 2015 Margaret Reid Award, an international competition for poetry in traditional forms.

Badger State Author Event Aug 13 Plan Now

Framed as "an intimate event" by Rochell and Roxanne, the Badger State Author Event is an ultimate "get to know you" opportunity for readers to connect with regional and national authors in the Midwest.

The Badger StateAuthor Event is scheduled for Saturday August 13th, 2016

This event will take place at the Marriott West Hotel located in Madison, WI

The morning session will be from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

followed by a 2 hour lunch break and

will resume from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Tickets, $15, are now available at eventbrite.com

Make sure to get your tickets early before they are sold out as there are a limited number available.

Harold William Thorpe and The O'Shaughnessy Chronicles

When a sibling unexpectedly inherits his grandfather’s dairy farm, Will O’Shaughnessy turns to selling Fords in rural, pre-World War I southwestern Wisconsin. But over the next two decades, even as his automobile business booms and he raises a family with his true love, Mary, Will yearns to return to farming. Meanwhile, the small town of Ashley Springs weathers the war, the booming 20s, prohibition and the Great Depression. There’s family drama in devastating illness and an estranged, alcoholic brother. Then, as automobile sales plunge in the deepening 1930s economic crisis, Will sees a reason to finally trade cars for cows. But can he convince his wife and daughters to follow him back out of town?

Giddyap Tin Lizzie: The Long Road Back to the Plow (The O'ShaughnessyChronicles Book 1)

$2.99 Kindle Edition

Will O’Shaughnessy has left behind Ashley Springs, and his car dealership, and moved his family to a dairy farm in the hills of southwestern Wisconsin. Now, as the Great Depression gives way to World War II, his daughters are growing up. Neighbors are driving gasoline tractors, but he’s still plowing with horses and milking by hand. Will is living his dream. But challenges bear down. His wife, Mary, insists on taking in their wild teenage niece from Texas. Accidents, unreliable farmhands and weather take their toll. Bills are piling up. He’s wrangling with other dairy farmers about forming a co-op. His troubled, maimed brother Jesse might be back. And did someone purposely set out to sicken his herd? Will is beginning to think that his grandfather was right, that he doesn’t have what it takes to run a farm.

Bittersweet Harvest: The Weight of the Plow (TheO'Shaughnessy Chronicles Book 2) Kindle Edition

$2.99 Kindle Edition

The Life and Works of Abraham Heschel and Thomas Merton Reflection Workshop

The School Sisters of St. Francis invite you, your friends, and family to an inspiring reflection workshop titled “The God of Infinite Love:  The Life & Works of Abraham Heschel and Thomas Merton.” This workshop will be presented on Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., at St. Joseph Center, the campus of the School Sisters of St. Francis, who are sponsoring the event. We hope to see you there!

SATURDAY JUNE 4

“The God of Infinite Love:  The Life & Works of Abraham Heschel and Thomas Merton” Reflection Workshop, St. Joseph Hall, 1501 S. Layton Blvd.

 (Greenfield Ave. at 27th St.),

Milwaukee, 

9 a.m.

$12.00

A treasure trove of stories about the Jewish theologian and the Trappist monk will be presented by Sacred Heart School of Theology’s Sister Mary Carroll, D. Min., lecturer and associate director of pastoral formation, with colleague Bonnie Shafrin, director of the Lux Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies. Learn about the memorable spiritual journeys and insights of the two most revered spiritual writers of the 20^th century. 

The fee is $12. 

Write checks to: School Sisters of St. Francis, c/o Donna O’Loughlin.  Contact: doloughlin@sssf.org or 414-385-5272. 

This event is sponsored by the U.S. Province of the School Sisters of St. Francis.