Gift Wisconsin History this year

Give the Gift of Wisconsin this year.

Membership is a great gift option too.

The store is open, full of great things from the annual ornament, a badger, to t-shirts, toys, mugs, and of course books!

A couple of the new books from Wisconsin Historical Press that I've reviewed this year include

And a new one from Michael Stevens, The Making of Pioneer Wisconsin, is also just out. The book features a dreamy image from the original mural of the centennial celebration of Wisconsin's statehood for a cover. Pioneer Wisconsin is the story of Wisconsin settlers in three sections told through letters, biographical material and a few photographs and other art. Stevens includes a prologue analyzing cultures in conflict as the European settlers encroached upon traditionally native tribal people's lands in the territory.

The main text is divided into three sections, Journeying West, Being in Wisconsin, and the aftereffects of immigration, or "I prefer America." Stevens chose letters from settlers representing the four main quadrants of Wisconsin; people who came by all means possible in the first half of the nineteenth century. Photographs, woodcuts and other artwork from the society's collection help to illustrate the text and letters which are retyped, not reproduced.

One early informative missive is from the first attorney to practice in Waukesha who removed his family from Vermont in 1838. His letters are almost as a diary of the journey to their new home, partly by steamship along the Great Lakes.

Many of the letters are lengthy, full of angst, triumph, despair and instructions. Descriptions often compare the climate in Wisconsin to the home country, whether it's the eastern US or overseas.

Brief biographies of the letter writers are included. For example, the Reverend Jeremiah Porter was a missionary evangelist, eventually landing in Green Bay in the mid-nineteenth century with a goal of promoting the temperance movement. His letter to a colleague which includes some of his reasons for his passionate attempt to ban alcohol sales is poignant. 

The Making of Pioneer Wisconsin: Voices of Early Settlers is a nice addition to other pioneer collections in local histories. Reading about life from the people in their own words is a moving experience. Recommended for those who like immigration and settlement stories. It is not a long book at 162 pages and nicely laid out. End notes which contains references and an index included.

Other books I've viewed and reviewed this year include:

Somos Latinos: Voices of Wisconsin Latina Activists



Wisconsin State Parks Natural Geology

New guests at 6th Novel in progress Bookcamp 2019

NIP prepares for 6th annual camp May 2019 

Our sixth annual Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat residential programs will be held May 19-25, 2019, once again at the lovely Cedar Valley Center in southeast Wisconsin. It’s time to fulfill that commitment and take your work-in-progress to the next level.

Here’s what’s going on for the next Bookcamp workshop and the Writing Retreat:

Guest Speakers Ready for 2019 NIP

We will have another great cast of characters at our next Novel-In-Progress Bookcamp & Writing Retreat, May 19-25, 2019, two concurrent residential programs for writers.

Joining our core instructional staff, SJ Rozan, Lisa Lickel, and Phil Martin, we’ve got an exceptional list of guest speakers lined up.

Literary Agents Return

Returning are friends Jennie Goloboy, literary agent with the Donald Maass literary Agency, and Laura Zats, literary agent with Red Sofa Literary. They will be leading workshop presentations, joining our annual state of the publishing industry panel discussion, providing insight at our Thursday night Slush Pile Read, and hearing pitches Friday afternoon. 

Midnight Ink Editor 

Joining Jennie and Laura will be Terri Bischoff, acquiring editor at Midnight Ink Publishing, which specializes in mysteries and thrillers. Terri enjoyed her first stay with us last May so much she was eager to join us again in 2019. 

Indie Authors Present 

We’re also excited to announce that author and writing instructor Kristin Oakley with accomplished Indie authors Nicolette Pierce and Melissa Haag will be coming to the 2019 NIP to share their knowledge and expertise. They will conduct a panel discussion on self-publishing and provide a workshop on using the Internet to promote yourself as an author. 

Author Nicolette Pierce has published more than sixteen romantic suspense and mystery novels. As an award-winning self-published author, she loves a challenge and is set to rapid-release five new books. She attributes her success to the indie movement and always keeping up to date with the latest marketing trends. 

“If not in the midst of writing, you will find me setting up ads on multiple platforms including Amazon, Bookbub, and Facebook,” she said. Nicolette is a member of the Romance Writers of America. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and son. 

Award-winning author Melissa Haag writes Paranormal and Fantasy Romance from her home in Wisconsin under two pen names (Melissa Haag and M.J. Haag). She self-publishing her first title in 2013 and, so far, has 30 titles, selling more than a million copies, earning six figures a year since 2015. Melissa has expanded into audio books and has a foreign rights agent. Her books will be translated into three languages by the end of 2019, one series is already in Portuguese. 

“I love to talk about self-publishing—maybe a little too much!” Melissa said. “I’ve made plenty of mistakes along the way to learn a few handy dos and don’ts of self-publishing (I cringe when I think of my first book cover!) and am passionate about discussing my mistakes so no one else has to feel that pain.” 

A University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Continuing Studies adjunct writing instructor, Kristin Oakley’s debut novel, Carpe Diem, Illinois, won the 2014 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year Award for non-traditionally published fiction, was a finalist in the Independent Author Network 2015 Book of the Year, and a runner-up in the 2016 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition. Its sequel, God on Mayhem Street, was released in 2016. Currently working on a young adult dystopian trilogy, Kristin is a Chicago Writers Association board member, managing editor of The Write City Magazine and The Write City Review, and past president and a co-founder of In Print Professional Writers’ Organization. 

Registration info

Check out our website for application instructions and prices. Or contact Director Dave Rank, dave@novelbookcamp.com, 262-717-5154. Early registrants can take advantage of our installment payment plan.