The Southeastern Festival of Books date has moved to Fall, UW - Waukesha
September 20-21
Featuring Kathy Giorgio
free
Wisconsin Writers Association annual Fall Conference and Jade Ring Contest Banquet, Wisconsin Rapids
September 27-29
Featuring Terry Whalin
Complete Tix: $90 for non-members
Sterling North Book Festival, Edgerton
September 28
free
Washington Island Literary Festival
October 4-5
Featuring NPR guests
Tix: $75
Wisconsin Book Festival, Madison
October 17-20
Monday, September 16, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Book review, literary panache: Pepperland, by Barry Wightman
Pepperland by Barry Wightman
Running Meter Press
c. April 2013
$9.99 eBook; $19.99 Print
Genre: historical fiction
Set in the late sixties, Pepperland
revolves around Martin, “Pepper,”
Porter, a man who wanted “to bang on the drum all day,” as the song says,
instead of using his considerable talent and college degree in computer
programming to bring in the big bucks of corporate America, possibly losing his
soul in the process. Instead, he explores a relationship with a woman he met at
school in Ann Arbor, “Fights the good fight and makes a difference,” as one of
his professors challenges, by putting together a rock band and fighting to be
heard. Avoiding entropy is a theme as the reader follows Pepper while he finds
his lost love in a Playboy club, works through the childhood death of a younger
brother, and records his music.
Set in “Tracks” the story unfolds like an LP. It reads
almost like a memoir, or an epitaph of changing times, making me wonder if we
let go of that era a little too quickly. Like Harold Crick’s watch in Stranger Than Fiction, Pepper’s guitar
pick sends subtle messages, reminding Pepper to follow the dream. I am a step
out of place, as I laughed at Tony Orlando, but for those who appreciate the
music and musicians of the sixties, Pepperland
will play like a much-enjoyed echo of an era that isn’t lost, just resting at
the back of the mind.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Garden Memoir sure to enchant
By Chris Eirschele
c. 2013
36-page book with eight chapters, photographs
“The innate ability to grow plants is a gift from my
parents; this is their story; what I did with it is mine.”
Garden Truths is a charming story of family, legacy, gifts,
secrets and joy, through it all, growing things. Eirschele’s memoir will touch
readers who have fond memories of their parents.
Eirschele’s dad loved to grow flowers from bulbs and perennials,
and especially loved to share them. Some of the authors’ family and friends
shared their memories of the precious gift.
Throughout the book, Eirschele has photographs of her own
plants, plants that illustrate the chapters. She also takes care to include
instructions for the growth, nurture, and storage of the plants she talks
about.
From lilies to sweet Williams to her mother’s indoor potted
citrus trees (an orangery), exotic plants, and fruit and vegetable hints,
Eirschele’s gentle memoir is sure to enchant.
About the Author:
Chris Eirschele is a freelance garden writer whose current work is found on www.BucketTripper.com. Chris' inspiration comes from plants grown, gardens explored and garden paths traveled. Her articles have been read in such far ranging publications as Ohio Gardener, Greenhouse Grower and Milwaukee Magazine. Her muse resides at her blog, www.StayGardening.com.
She is a past Master Gardener with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee County Extension and as member of the Southeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners and was horticulturally educated at Milwaukee Area Technical College. A native of Wisconsin, Chris now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
She has maintained a membership with the Garden Writers Association since 2006. Chris' past memberships include the Perennial Plant Association and the Daylily Society of SouthEast Wisconsin.
She is a past Master Gardener with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee County Extension and as member of the Southeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners and was horticulturally educated at Milwaukee Area Technical College. A native of Wisconsin, Chris now lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.
She has maintained a membership with the Garden Writers Association since 2006. Chris' past memberships include the Perennial Plant Association and the Daylily Society of SouthEast Wisconsin.
Friday, July 19, 2013
New Book! WWA's Jeanette Michalets, author of The Ten Cent Cafe
Jeanette Michalets's first novel, The Ten Cent Café,
has arrived
Historical/mainstream fiction, set in Wisconsin.
It is available through Amazon, through her website, and at Books and Company in Oconomowoc
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$3.99 Kindle
$10.44 Paper
In a charming café in a small Wisconsin city—where everything on the menu costs a mere dime—Henry Durant’s sinister history collides with his promising present in a way that will affect generations to come.
Starting in the early part of the twentieth century, the novel reveals the lives of four generations of Durant men. Patriarch Henry is a French-Canadian entrepreneur determined to create a new life for his large family in his adopted hometown. His son, George, a self-proclaimed ladies’ man, seeks love and adventure in 1920s Hollywood and the world of silent movies. Aaron, George’s son, is a tormented individual who longs to be a successful writer. His aspirations bring him into conflict with his father and eventually lead him on a downward spiral. In the end, it is Aaron’s son, Paul, who must overcome the anger and sense of abandonment he feels toward his father in order to find love and realize his own aspirations—dreams that bring him full circle—back to the little city where his ancestors once dwelled.
The Ten Cent Café is a timeless tale of love and loss, of ambitions realized and others abandoned, but above all, it is a story about the familial threads that bind a family together and sometimes break it apart.
The Ten Cent Cafe was recognized in the Wisconsin Writers Association’s annual contest in 2011.
Starting in the early part of the twentieth century, the novel reveals the lives of four generations of Durant men. Patriarch Henry is a French-Canadian entrepreneur determined to create a new life for his large family in his adopted hometown. His son, George, a self-proclaimed ladies’ man, seeks love and adventure in 1920s Hollywood and the world of silent movies. Aaron, George’s son, is a tormented individual who longs to be a successful writer. His aspirations bring him into conflict with his father and eventually lead him on a downward spiral. In the end, it is Aaron’s son, Paul, who must overcome the anger and sense of abandonment he feels toward his father in order to find love and realize his own aspirations—dreams that bring him full circle—back to the little city where his ancestors once dwelled.
The Ten Cent Café is a timeless tale of love and loss, of ambitions realized and others abandoned, but above all, it is a story about the familial threads that bind a family together and sometimes break it apart.
The Ten Cent Cafe was recognized in the Wisconsin Writers Association’s annual contest in 2011.
Join Michaelets and friends at her book launch/signing party on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Vino
Etcetera in Oconomowoc.
About the Author:
JEANETTE MICHALETS is the author of two nonfiction books and has published in numerous magazines, including Ancestry. She enjoys freelancing for the local newspaper and has been recognized for her essays. The Ten Cent Cafe was honored in 2011 by the Wisconsin Writers Association in its Jade Ring First Chapter Contest.
Michalets lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two dogs. In her free time, she volunteers for local historical preservation groups. She is at work on another novel.
Visit Jeanette's website
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Christian Writers Conference near Manitowoc in August!
Becky Lafferty offers a 2-day writing conference in August at their small alpaca
farm just south of Manitowoc, Wisconsin.
Last year’s conference was such a
blessing and this year we are excited to have:
·
five (5) fabulous Christian
authors to teach us what we need to know to get published and improve our
writing;
·
a diverse variety of
Christian writers’ topics;
·
wonderful upgraded conference
facilities on our 100+ year old alpaca farm;
·
a full day of events on
Saturday, which are included (with a hearty country lunch) in the registration
fee;
·
opportunities for critiques
and Query Letters seminar on Friday evening, for additional fees;
·
an early bird registration
fee through July 1, 2013; and
·
a block of reserved rooms at
the Holiday Inn-Manitowoc.
It was such fun to meet some of
you last year, and we hope to gather even more Christian writers this year. We
are a unique group of people and it is exhilarating to meet other like-minded
individuals!
Seating
is limited, so please register online at www.countrymemoriesfarm.com.
God has put this event on my
heart. To Him be the glory.
If you have any questions,
please phone or email.
Heartfelt blessings to you
all,
Rebecca
McLafferty
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
New book! GARDEN TRUTHS FROM MY FAMILY’S STORIES
GARDEN TRUTHS FROM MY FAMILY’S STORIES IS A SERIES OF ESSAYS ON THE AUTHOR’S LIFE GROWING
UP WITH HER GARDENING PARENTS IN WISCONSIN
Gardeners present a quirky way of living life. For this child of parents
who made growing plants a part of everyday living, the memories kept, as well
collected from relatives, developed into a fun retrospective.
Author
Chris Eirschele shares her recollections of growing up with gardening parents
all living in a little pink house in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in an ebook
entitled, Garden Truths From My Family’s
Stories. Made up of eight chapters of comical, sad and inspirational
essays, the pages are dotted with photos from the author’s collection. According
to Eirschele, “The garden became a knowable space where I was at home before I
ever realized these feelings would even matter.” The author’s parents shared
their garden life in their decidedly middle-class Wisconsin home with family
and friends. Sometimes quirky or funny but always sincere, they brought the
gardening life with them wherever they visited.
Chris Eirschele is a freelance garden writer
whose current work is found on www.BucketTripper.com. Chris' inspiration for
writing comes from plants grown, gardens explored and garden paths traveled.
Her articles have been read in such far ranging publications as Ohio Gardener,
Greenhouse Grower and Milwaukee Magazine. Her muse resides at her blog,
www.StayGardening.com.
She is a past Master Gardener with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee County Extension and as member of the Southeast Wisconsin Master Gardeners and was horticulturally educated at Milwaukee Area Technical College.
A native of Wisconsin, Chris now lives in
Scottsdale, Arizona.
She has maintained a membership with the Garden Writers Association since 2006. Chris' past memberships include the Perennial Plant Association and the Daylily Society of SouthEast Wisconsin.
She has maintained a membership with the Garden Writers Association since 2006. Chris' past memberships include the Perennial Plant Association and the Daylily Society of SouthEast Wisconsin.
Garden
Truths From My Family’s Stories is her first ebook. Self-published and
sold by Amazon
Digital Services, Inc. (ASIN: B00BDV05U0)
--Watch for my review in August!
Monday, May 27, 2013
New book details 100+ day trails in NW Wisconsin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
New book details 100+ day trails in NW Wisconsin
‘Headin’ to the Cabin’ focuses on recreational communities in 9 counties
HUDSON, WIS. (May 25, 2013) – Ah, “headin’ to the cabin” – those few words alone are enough to conjure images of a relaxing weekend by the lake, of a pleasant stroll through the woods or along a beach, of a place where one’s cell phone hopefully doesn’t work.
And what better way to experience all that the “up north” has to offer than through a day hike?
Cabin-goers to Wisconsin’s Northwoods now have available the most complete listing of the region’s day hiking trails in the new book, “Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northwest Wisconsin,” by Rob Bignell. The book was released this month.
Describing more than 100 trails, the book covers nine Wisconsin counties – Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn.
“In Northwest Wisconsin you can walk across 1.2 billion-year-old rock, dip your toes in the world’s largest freshwater lake, tramp along the same routes that the first European explorers bushwhacked during the 1600s, and see the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rockies,” said Bignell, an avid hiker and author of the popular and critically acclaimed “Hikes with Tykes” guidebooks. “I’ve hiked in more than 30 states now, and Northwest Wisconsin certainly ranks up there with the best.”
The book separates trails by communities that cabin-goers frequent. Each community entry includes at least one feature article about a great local trail and then includes snapshot descriptions of several other area day hiking trails as well as a list of neighboring communities for easy cross-referencing.
“Almost all trail guidebooks for the region fall into one of two categories: They’re either for backpackers making multi-day overnight trips or they cherry pick the region’s ‘best’ trails,” Bignell said. “But what if you’re spending a weekend up north and don’t have time to do a four- or five-day trip? Or what if you’re vacationing for a week, but the only trails listed in the guidebook all are a couple of hours drive from you?
“‘Headin’ to the Cabin’ in contrast focuses on day hiking trails that you can do in under a few hours and lists multiple trails in every major recreational community.”
A long-time hiker, editor and journalist, Bignell is uniquely qualified to discuss hiking. He and his son Kieran have hiked through old groves of redwood trees that soared 150 feet over their heads, peakbagged mountains, rambled along ocean coastlines, searched fossil and gem trails, and explored remote desert canyons, often all in the same month.
Those experiences led to Bignell’s previously published hiking books, “Hikes with Tykes” A Practical Guide to Day Hiking with Kids” (2011) and “Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities” (2012). He’s also the author of three writing/self-publishing guidebooks, a novel, and a collection of poetry.
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.
A Wisconsin native, Bignell now lives with his son in Hudson, Wis.
“Headin’ to the Cabin” is available for purchase in paperback or ebook at http://hikeswithtykes.com/headintothecabin_orderabook.html
Book specs:
Publish date: April 5, 2013 (ebook); April 12, 2013 (paperback)
Publisher: Atiswinic Press
ISBN: 978-0-9858739-6-7
Price: $9.95 (paper); $1.99 (ebook)
Pages: 168 (paper)
Cover: Paperback (paper)
Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5 (paper)
Website: http://hikeswithtykes.com/headintothecabin_home.html
New book details 100+ day trails in NW Wisconsin
‘Headin’ to the Cabin’ focuses on recreational communities in 9 counties
HUDSON, WIS. (May 25, 2013) – Ah, “headin’ to the cabin” – those few words alone are enough to conjure images of a relaxing weekend by the lake, of a pleasant stroll through the woods or along a beach, of a place where one’s cell phone hopefully doesn’t work.
And what better way to experience all that the “up north” has to offer than through a day hike?
Cabin-goers to Wisconsin’s Northwoods now have available the most complete listing of the region’s day hiking trails in the new book, “Headin’ to the Cabin: Day Hiking Trails of Northwest Wisconsin,” by Rob Bignell. The book was released this month.
Describing more than 100 trails, the book covers nine Wisconsin counties – Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, St. Croix, Sawyer and Washburn.
“In Northwest Wisconsin you can walk across 1.2 billion-year-old rock, dip your toes in the world’s largest freshwater lake, tramp along the same routes that the first European explorers bushwhacked during the 1600s, and see the fourth highest waterfall east of the Rockies,” said Bignell, an avid hiker and author of the popular and critically acclaimed “Hikes with Tykes” guidebooks. “I’ve hiked in more than 30 states now, and Northwest Wisconsin certainly ranks up there with the best.”
The book separates trails by communities that cabin-goers frequent. Each community entry includes at least one feature article about a great local trail and then includes snapshot descriptions of several other area day hiking trails as well as a list of neighboring communities for easy cross-referencing.
“Almost all trail guidebooks for the region fall into one of two categories: They’re either for backpackers making multi-day overnight trips or they cherry pick the region’s ‘best’ trails,” Bignell said. “But what if you’re spending a weekend up north and don’t have time to do a four- or five-day trip? Or what if you’re vacationing for a week, but the only trails listed in the guidebook all are a couple of hours drive from you?
“‘Headin’ to the Cabin’ in contrast focuses on day hiking trails that you can do in under a few hours and lists multiple trails in every major recreational community.”
A long-time hiker, editor and journalist, Bignell is uniquely qualified to discuss hiking. He and his son Kieran have hiked through old groves of redwood trees that soared 150 feet over their heads, peakbagged mountains, rambled along ocean coastlines, searched fossil and gem trails, and explored remote desert canyons, often all in the same month.
Those experiences led to Bignell’s previously published hiking books, “Hikes with Tykes” A Practical Guide to Day Hiking with Kids” (2011) and “Hikes with Tykes: Games and Activities” (2012). He’s also the author of three writing/self-publishing guidebooks, a novel, and a collection of poetry.
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.
A Wisconsin native, Bignell now lives with his son in Hudson, Wis.
“Headin’ to the Cabin” is available for purchase in paperback or ebook at http://hikeswithtykes.com/headintothecabin_orderabook.html
Book specs:
Publish date: April 5, 2013 (ebook); April 12, 2013 (paperback)
Publisher: Atiswinic Press
ISBN: 978-0-9858739-6-7
Price: $9.95 (paper); $1.99 (ebook)
Pages: 168 (paper)
Cover: Paperback (paper)
Trim Size: 5.5 x 8.5 (paper)
Website: http://hikeswithtykes.com/headintothecabin_home.html
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