Council for Wisconsin Writers

Supporting Wisconsin writers from 1964 to 2022

Woodland Pattern Book Center

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Celebration Honoring Outgoing and New Wisconsin Poet Laureate

Please join us to celebrate our WI Poets Laureate. Be there for the Passing of the Torch to celebrate the accomplishments of our outgoing Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Karla Huston, and be among the first to learn who our amazing 2019-2020 Wisconsin Poet Laureate will be for 2019-2020, whose name will be announced at the event.

The ceremony will be the centerpiece in the Woodland Pattern Book Center’s poetry marathon and benefit on Saturday, January 26, at 4 p.m., in Milwaukee. The Council for Wisconsin Writers is delighted to help sponsor the significant work of the Poet Laureate Commission. The event will include readings from several past poets laureate and members of the Poet Laureate Commission. Additional details are at https://www.woodlandpattern.org/events/

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Pi(e) and Poet Laureate Appearances on Tap

READING

POETRY & PI(E)

Tuesday, March 14, from 5–6:30 pm

Wisconsin Academy Steenbock Offices • 1922 University Ave., Madison

Join us on National Pi Day (March 14, 2017) for a poetry reading featuring the new Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Karla Huston. Coffee and pie will be served in celebration of everyone’s favorite mathematical constant. Tickets are now on sale: Prices are $25 for Academy Members and $35 for the general public.

Our Poetry and Pi(e) guests will enjoy pies generously donated by Hubbard Avenue Diner. Hubbard Avenue Diner, located in downtown Middleton, is “famous for pie!”

READING

Poetry & Pi(e) in Milwaukee

Tuesday, March 14, from 7–8:30 pm

Woodland Pattern Book Center • 720 East Locust St.

A poetry reading with Susan Firer & Matt Cook held in collaboration with Woodland Pattern. Refreshments courtesy of Honeypie and Anodyne Coffee.

PROFILE

Meaning and Melody

by Elizabeth Wyckoff

from Wisconsin People & Ideas • Winter 2017

Appleton poet Karla Huston dishes on poetic process and plans for her new position: Wisconsin Poet Laureate.

http://us12.campaign-archive2.com/?u=33612bb69abd7400f27d329c3&id=edec6d28a5&e=b6417e1744

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Poetry Marathon to Benefit Indy Bookstore

The following is from Wisconsin poet Ed Werstein:

For the 5th consecutive year I will be participating in the Woodland Pattern Poetry Marathon and fund raiser. Woodland Pattern is a gem of independent bookstores and is known throughout the Midwest. It has one of the largest collections of small press poetry and Native American literature in the US.
Since there is not a lot of profit in that kind of a mission, this is one of their main fundraising activities. And great entertainment to boot.
The marathon goes from 10AM until 1AM on Saturday January 25th.
150 different poets each with 5 minutes of fame—–or infamy.
I’ll be reading sometime between 2 and 3 PM. Sylvia Cavanaugh will be reading during that hour too.
Here is a link to the event and a roster of scheduled readers. If you are so inclined you can contribute in my name (or Sylvia’s) by clicking on the link. Any amount will be greatly appreciated by Woodland Pattern.
And if you’re free why not come out and give a listen?

http://www.woodlandpattern.org/marathon_2014.shtml

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American Indian writers' conference in Milwaukee

This isn’t much notice, but “Returning the Gift” headliners Joy Harjo and Joseph Bruchac will give a public reading at 7 p.m. Wednesday (tonight!)  at Woodland Pattern Book Center, 720 E. Locust St.

Harjo, a leading poet and musician, will read from her new memoir Crazy Brave. Bruchac is renowned for preserving and extending Native traditions through books, storytelling and music for both children and adults.

Both writers were part of the first “Returning the Gift” conference. Admission is $8, $7 for students and seniors, $6 for Woodland Pattern members.

Most conference events Wednesday and Thursday will take place at UWM’s Hefter Conference Center, 3271 N. Lake Drive. The conference will feature panel discussions on writing from nature, indigenous languages in contemporary writing, working with Native youth through writing, and practical business-of-writing stuff. Conference co-director Jim Stevens, editor of the Yukhika-latuhse journal, will chair the panel “Music, Resistance, & Story: A Cornucopia of Wisconsin Writing” at 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

Details about the rest of the conference here:   http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/arts/american-indian-writers-conference-in-milwaukee-this-week-g36mvih-168410346.html

 

 

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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.