Council for Wisconsin Writers

Supporting Wisconsin writers from 1964 to 2022

Edward Schultz

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Literary Icon to Speak/Read from New Book

Prolific author and poet, and past CWW Book-Length Nonfiction contest winner, Paul Zimmer will be at The ARK, 401 East Jefferson St. in Viroqua on Saturday, March 21, at 7 p.m. to read from and talk about his new novel The Mysteries of Soldiers Grove.

Bramble Bookstore and Driftless Writing Center, which are sponsoring the event, say this about Zimmer:

“Paul has published twelve books of poetry, two books of memoir, and a book of essays. His writing has been awarded eight Pushcart Prizes, three for poetry, four for prose, one for fiction, and he was twice awarded Writing Fellowships from the National Endowments for the Arts. Paul directed three ongoing university presses, Pittsburgh, Georgia and Iowa, and initiated the Flannery O’Connor Award Series for short fiction at the University of Georgia Press. Along with the Pushcarts, Paul has received numerous awards for his writing: Award for Literature from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters; five times named Notable Essay from Best Essays of the Year; and his book of poems, Great Bird of Lovewas selected for the National Poetry Series. Paul was at the atomic bomb tests, serving as a draftee in the army in 1954, and witnessed eight atomic explosions from trenches 1 to 3 miles from ground zero; a life changing experience. Paul has been a quiet neighbor here in the Driftless for over twenty-seven years. If you haven’t met him, please do.”

The event is free. While an RSVP isn’t necessary, it would be appreciated.

Books will be available for sale, cash or check only.

For more information, contact: driftlesswritingcenter@gmail.com, Jennifer Morales at (608) 675-3779, Edward Schultz at (608) 624-5155, or Bramble Books at  637-8717 or bramblebooksellers@yahoo.com.

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Lots of WFOP News

The following is from the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ Cathryn Cofell-Mutschler:

Monday, SEPTEMBER 15, 6:30 p.m., Harmony Cafe, Appleton ​ – KATHRYN GAHL & WENDY SCHMIDT

Kathryn Gahl loves red lipstick, home cooking, and vintage clothing. The author of Life Drawing Class, a poetry collection, she belongs to The Poets of Mead (Sheboygan).  Find her stories and poems in many journals, including Margie, Salamander, The Notre Dame Review, and Wisconsin People & Ideas. She dances mad hot ballroom with her second and last husband, Robert–that is, when not playing with her grandson, Leonidas. More at www.kathryngahl.com.

Wendy L. Schmidt started seriously writing poetry and short stories about six year ago.  Since then, she’s been published in numerous anthologies, poetry magazines and websites including No Rest for the Wicked, Lake City Poets, B., Dark Moon Digest, Verse Wisconsin, Literary Hatchet, Twisted Dreams, Rebelle Society, Moon Magazine, Chicago Literati, and most recently was featured in The Horror Writers Association, Poetry Showcase Volume 1. She’s also a winner in the Reedsburg Farm/Art Festival and has several blogs including, She’s Got a Short Fuse and Bumpy Night Publications. She has an author page on Goodreads and is now offering up some spooky fun with her latest endeavor, a Youtube Channel entitled. Wendy L. Schmidt, Phantom Poetess.

The Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets (WFOP) Fox Valley Poetry Series meets at Harmony Café, 233 E. College Ave, Appleton on the third Monday of most months. Featured reader(s) at 6:30 pm, brief open mic after.  For more information contact Sarah Gilbert at pses@sbcglobal.net .

​ON DECK AT HARMONY:

Oct 20            Paula Anderson and Mariann Ritzer
Nov 17           Joan and Jeffrey Johannes
Dec 1              2015 WFOP Calendar reading with editors Steve and Jeannie Tomasko

 ADDITIONAL READINGS

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NEW NIGHT!  TUES, SEPT 2, EDWARD SCHULTZ AT THELMA, 51 Sheboygan, Fond du Lac: The Foot of the Lake Poetry Collective in partnership with Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts begins its 10th season of readings with poet Edward Schultz at 7 pm, accompanied by avant-garde jazz, duo Frank Wildingway on stand-up bass and clarinetist Robert Perry. Edward is founding President of the Driftless Writing Center, Inc., Viroqua, and current board member of Council for Wisconsin Writers. His writing has appeared in dozens of literary journals and anthologies; Atlanta Review, Chronogram, Rosebud, Haight Ashbury Literary Journal, Willow Review and has received a Contributing Editor’s Pushcart Nomination for his poetry. He has acted as preliminary judge for the Wisconsin People’s & Ideas Magazine poetry contest. Edward works as writing coach, mentor, and facilitates reading and writing workshops.

The reading is free and open to the public with an open mic following the featured reader. All readings take place on the first Tuesday of the month, September through May. For more information contact Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts or marywehner@charter.net.

NEW! FRI, SEPT 12:  Join the Fox Cities Cycling Association on our Moonlight Poetry Ride 8 pm at City Park in Appleton.  This free event will bike through the streets of Appleton in search of sidewalk poetry.  Helmet and lights required – more information at https://www.facebook.com/events/677983958950212/

SAT, SEPT 6, THE BAY AREA SPOKEN WORD POETRY NIGHT FEATURES MARYBETH MATTSON:  Help Barnes & Noble, Stadium District, Green Bay kick off spoken word poetry nights on the first Saturday of each month, 7:00 p.m.  Open to all ages and experience levels, with a special focus on youth, young adults and children. Try your hand at spoken word poetry and get tips from experts!  Singer/songwriter Marybeth Mattson first took to the stage as a performance poet in college. Moving home to Door County after completing college, Marybeth began singing with her mother (folk musician Jeanne Kuhns) before beginning to write and perform her own songs, solo at first, and later with Seth Raddatz. With lyrics that are both poetic and deliberate, Marybeth offers a new twist on the folk genre as she enchants listeners with level and lovely vocals.

 WED, SEPT 10, JUDY ROY featured at the DICKINSON POETRY SERIES: On the second Wednesday of every month the Dickinson Poetry Series features a reading by a local or regional poet followed by an open mic and reception. The public is welcome, and admission is free.  7:00 p.m. at the UUF, 10341 Highway 42 in Ephraim.  For more information visit www.uufdc.org or call 920.854.7559.

TUES, SEPT 23, JANET LEAHY at the Caramel Crisp, 200 E City Center, Oshkosh at their new time of 6:15 p.m.   Janet is a member of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets and the American Academy of poets. Her poems have been published in a variety of print and online journals including The Wisconsin Poets’ Calendar, Wisconsin People and Ideas, Fox Cry Review and Verse Wisconsin and several anthologies including Empty Shoes, Echoes, The Clearing Speaks, Goose River Anthology, and Wingbeats II.   Her first collection of poetry was “The Storm, Poems of War, Iraq.”  Poems in her most recent book “Not My Mother’s Classroom” are drawn from her experience teaching in Milwaukee.

An open mic will follow where participants may read one or two of their own poems or poems by others that they love.   Come early and enjoy a meal or grab a cup of coffee!  For more information, contact Kay Sanders at rksanders42@gmail.com or Mandi Isaacson at mandiisaacson@gmail.com

THURS, SEPT 25, READER’S LOFT PRESENTS CATHRYN COFELL, ROBERT VAUGHN & MARILYN WINDAU, 6-8 PM:  The trio will read poems around the theme of  “New Beginnings”  — bring your own to share for the open mic!  2069 Central Ct, Suite 44, Green Bay.   Welcome All! Open to the Public.   Wine, water, coffee, light finger food available.  Call 920-406-0200 or email amy@readersloft.com for more information.

WORKSHOPS & CONFERENCES

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New at The Mill: A Place for Writers

Note that in two of the classes offered, the maximum enrollment is 8,

so don’t wait too long. All classes held at Atlas Coffee Mill (www.atlascoffeemill.com)
425 W. Water Street, Appleton, WI 54911

Monday Nights (7 to 9 p.m.)

1. Poetry Workshop – “Wearing the Mask” Poetry and Persona– with Karla Huston

8 weeks, 9/15 – 11/3. 8 students only. Fee is $200.
Contact: info@karlahuston.com

2. Fundamentals of Fiction – with Steve Polansky

10 weeks, 9/15 – 11/17. 12 students only. $250
Contact: smpolansky@hotmail.com

Wednesday Nights (7 to 9 p.m.)

1. Writing Authentically – with Nikki Kallio
8 weeks, 9/24 to 11/17. 12 students only. $200.
Contact: nikkikallio@yahoo.com

2. Poetry Workshop – with Bruce Dethlefsen

8 weeks, 9/17 – 11/5. 8 students only. $200.
Contact: bpdethlefsen@gmail.com

3. English Prose Style – with Steve Polansky

10 weeks, 9/17 to 11/19. 12 students only. $250.
Contact: smpolansky@hotmail.com

Mill Saturday with Abby Frucht

The Tarot of Character” (for fiction and non-fiction writers)
Saturday, 9/13, 9 a.m – 12 p.m. Class fee: $65, which includes lunch, tax and tip and morning coffee.
Class is open to 12

 DEADLINES & SUBMISSIONS

CALL FOR POEMS ABOUT DOOR COUNTY for an anthology to be published in 2015, tentatively titled Soundings: Door County in Poetry.  The Door County Poetry Collective invites poets who have lived, worked or visited Door County for extended periods of time to submit up to 3 poems by September 5, 2014.  We welcome original poems about specific people or places, the topography, the social, cultural, historical or political milieu and/or the “spirit” of Door County. The editors are looking for fresh, accessible poems that reflect many kinds of experiences in this place–from Brussels and Forestville all the way to Rock Island, from the Bay side to the Lake side and everywhere in-between.

Poems may have been published if no fee is charged for re-publication. Poems may be in free verse or forms but they should be limited to one page in 12-point type. Electronic submission in the body of an email or a Word.doc attachment is required (doorcountyanthology@gmail.com). Please put “DC Anthology Submission” in the subject line of your email. Please include a brief (50 word) bio that describes your association with Door County. Questions may be addressed to estella.lauter@gmail.com.

Call for 2015–2016 Wisconsin Poet Laureate!

Beginning August 18, 2014, applications are welcome from individual poets who are seeking the position. Applications may also be submitted by a person who is nominating a poet for the position of Wisconsin Poet Laureate. A complete application package must be sent to the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission at wipoetlaureate@gmail.com no later than October 10, 2014. Application instructions and additional information are available at www.wisconsinacademy.org/newpl.

 

 

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WFOP Update

Here’s a reminder from Cathryn Cofell of upcoming WFOP events:

TUES, AUG 26, ABBY FRUCHT at the Caramel Crisp Café, 200 E City Center, Oshkosh at their new time:  6:15 p.m. An open mic will follow where participants may read one or two of their own poems or poems by others that they love. Abby’s new collection of stories, The Bell at the End of a Rope, was published 1 ½ years ago by Narrative Library. She is the author of five novels including SNAP, Licorice, Are You Mine?, Life Before Death, and Polly’s Ghost. Her earlier collection of stories, Fruit of the Month, which won the Iowa Short Fiction Prize in 1987, is now available in ebook form along with Abby’s other books as part of Dzanc Books’ rEprint series. She lives in Oshkosh but for twenty years has traveled regularly to Montpelier, Vermont, where she teaches at the Vermont College of Fine Arts MFA in Writing Program. An open mic will follow where participants may read one or two of their own poems or poems by others that they love.   Come early and enjoy a meal or grab a cup of coffee!  For more information, contact Kay Sanders at rksanders42@gmail.com or Mandi Isaacson at mandiisaacson@gmail.com

THURS, AUG 28 6-8 PM, READER’S LOFT IN GREEN BAY:  ​ Nathan Reid​, ​Phil Hansotia  & Ralph Murre​:  2069 Central Ct, Suite 44, Green Bay.   Welcome All! Open to the Public. Open Mic will follow the featured readings.  Wine, water, coffee, light finger food available.  Call 920-406-0200 or email amy@readersloft.com for more information.

On deck for future readings at the Reader’s Loft:

SEPTEMBER 25 (Thurs.)

Robert Vaughan

Cathryn Cofell

Marilyn Windau

TUES, SEPT 2:  The Foot of the Lake Poetry Collective in partnership with Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts begins its 10th season of readings on a new date each month, with the first for this season on Tuesday, September 2nd 2014. Poet Edward Schultz reads at 7 pm, accompanied by avant-garde jazz, duo Frank Wildingway, stand-up bass, and clarinetist Robert Perry.

 Edward Schultz is founding President of the Driftless Writing Center, Inc., Viroqua, WI. and current board member of Council for Wisconsin Writers. His writing has appeared in dozens of literary journals and anthologies; Atlanta Review, Chronogram, Rosebud, Haight Ashbury Literary Journal, Willow Review and has received a Contributing Editor’s Pushcart Nomination for his poetry. He has acted as preliminary judge for the Wisconsin People’s & Ideas Magazine poetry contest. Edward works as writing coach, mentor, and facilitates reading and writing workshops.  The reading is free and open to the public with an open mic following the featured reader. All readings take place on the first Tuesday of the month, September through May.  For more information contact Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts or marywehner@charter.net.

SAT, SEPT 6, THE BAY AREA SPOKEN WORD POETRY NIGHT FEATURES MARYBETH MATTSON:  Help Barnes & Noble, Stadium District, Green Bay kick off spoken word poetry nights on the first Saturday of each month, 7:00 p.m.  Open to all ages and experience levels, with a special focus on youth, young adults and children. Try your hand at spoken word poetry and get tips from experts!  Singer/songwriter Marybeth Mattson first took to the stage as a performance poet in college. Moving home to Door County after completing college, Marybeth began singing with her mother (folk musician Jeanne Kuhns) before beginning to write and perform her own songs, solo at first, and later with Seth Raddatz. With lyrics that are both poetic and deliberate, Marybeth offers a new twist on the folk genre as she enchants listeners with level and lovely vocals.

Wisconsin Poets' Calendar cover

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