Council for Wisconsin Writers

Supporting Wisconsin writers from 1964 to 2022

Verse Wisconsin

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Fox Cities Book Festival Offers Book, Author Feast

The Fox Cities Book Festival could more aptly be called a Book Feastival. The lineup of authors and events for the April 11-18 bibliotheque-esque banquet runs deep and wide.

Some, such as  UW-Madison Professor Emeritus and author of three-dozen books Jerry Apps, poet and Verse Wisconsin co-editor Sarah Busse and prolific mystery and children’s book author Kathleen Ernst, are current or former CWW award winners.

Some, such as Redbird Studio writing center founder and author/writing mentor Judy Bridges, poet and writer Karla Huston, short-story writer and book reviewer Ted Hertel, and journalist and award-winner novelist Paul Salsini, are current or former CWW board members.

Some, such as poet and retired educator/public library director Bruce Dethlefsen and poet and author Ellen Kort, are current or former Wisconsin poets laureate.

Some, such as The Zookeeper’s Wife author Diane Ackerman, The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York author Deborah Blum and creator of the adorable Fancy Nancy children’s books Jane O’Connor, are writers of national best sellers.

Read all about this feastival at the Fox Cities Book Festival website at http://www.foxcitiesbookfestival.org/, the complete list of authors and their bios at http://www.foxcitiesbookfestival.org/authors/2012 and the schedule of events at http://www.foxcitiesbookfestival.org/schedule/2012.

Learn more about the Council for Wisconsin Writers, its annual contest and contest winners at www.wiswriters.org.

 

 

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"Verse Wisconsin" Co-Editors Named Madison Poets Laureate

A recent news release from the City of Madison starts out…

“Madison Mayor Paul Soglin announced that Sarah Busse and Wendy Vardaman have agreed to serve as Poets Laureate for the City of Madison. Busse and Vardaman will share the volunteer position from January 16, 2012 until January 18, 2016.”

A reception and celebratory poetry reading is being hosted this Saturday, February 11, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m., at the Goodman South Madison Library, 2222 South Park Street, Madison, WI 53714. State Poet Laureate Bruce Dethlefsen, members of the Hibiscus Poetry Collective and Poets Laureate Emeriti Fabu and Andrea Musher are among those who will be reading from their works. The reception is free and open to the public.

The rest of the news release is at http://www.cityofmadison.com/news/view.cfm?news_id=3067

Congratulations from all of CWW to Sarah and Wendy on this great honor.

Please visit the CWW website at www.wiswriters.org.

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5 Poets to Read from Book

We didn’t get much notice, but poetry aficionados who like to listen to poets read their works will be doing just that tomorrow, Jan. 28., in Milwaukee.

Following is a news release that landed in my inbox this afternoon announcing the event and the book the five poets have published. Congratulations to each of the authors and best wishes at tomorrow’s reading.

Five Authors Collaborate on “Portals and Piers” a Collection of Original Poetry

  [Milwaukee, WI January 27, 2012] – For close to 15 years, the five writers whose poems appear in “Portals and Piers” have spent Sunday mornings reading and discussing each other’s work. 

The result of these regular gatherings brings readers everywhere this collection of more than thirty of the strongest poems produced by the core members of this unusual and diverse group.   

“The portal might be the door to a palace. Or the entrance to a mine shaft. It might invite you in. Or warn you away from danger – or diamonds.  The pier is where journeys by water begin and end. It offers posts to which you can tie your boat. Suspended over the surface of the lake… A portal may open.”

Published by Sunday Morning Press, the book features original poetry by Milwaukee based group members Stephen Anderson, Chris Austin, Paul Enea, Elliot O. Lipchik and Steve Pump.  All previously published, and many award-winning, this particular assemblage of men remained dedicated and constant in their desire to improve their skills and take on the task of self-publishing a book.

 Many of the poems included in this collected works first appeared in publications including Southwest Review, Free Verse, Verse Wisconsin, Tipton Poetry Review, Harvests of Millenium, Porcupine, Phoenix, The Salmon, and Express Milwaukee.

 Meet the authors at the official book release on March 9, 2012 at Woodland Pattern Book Center, 720 E. Locust Avenue in Milwaukee. The entire group will also be appearing at Woodland Pattern’s poetry marathon on January 28, 2012 at 6pm. 

For more information on “Portals and Piers,” and a closer look at the authors, please visit www.sundaymorningpress.blogspot.com.  For more information on the book release and authors’ readings, please visit www.woodlandpattern.org.