Wauapca BookFest has lined up authors who work in a wide range of genres, from thrillers to poetry, children’s books to history, art criticism to mysteries.
Pick up a copy of the April 16 Wauapca County Post for a special section on the Waupaca BookFest.
Derek Anderson – He is the New York Times bestselling illustrator of 21 books for children, five of which he wrote. He illustrated the “Little Quack” series, written by Lauren Thompson, and the “Hod Rod Hamster” series, written by Cynthia Lord. His latest book is “Hod Rod Hamster: Monster Truck Mania.” Anderson lives in Minneapolis.
Bill Berry – He grew up in Green Bay and after more than 20 years as a journalist for several daily newspapers, redirected his energy to communicate about conversation and agriculture. His book “Banning DDT: How Citizen Activists Led the Way,” tells the story of how a dedicated group of Wisconsinites uncovered the dangers of DDT. He lives in Stevens Point.
Judy Bridges – She is the author of the award-winning writers’ guide “Shut Up & Write!” and the founder of RedBird Studio writing center in Milwaukee. She began her career writing articles, short stories, plays and corporate communications. Her next book will be a collection of life stories titled “You Drive, You’re Too Drunk to Sing.”
Nickolas Butler – He was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Eau Claire. He is the author of the bestselling novel “Shotgun Lovesongs.” His collection of short stories titled “Beneath the Bonfire” will be released this May. His short stories, poetry and nonfiction have appeared in many publications, and he lives in rural Wisconsin with his family.
Christine DeSmet – She is a novelist, screenwriter, short story writer and playwright and teaches writing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is the director of the Write-by-the-Lake Writer’s Workshop & Retreat and the Weekend with Your Novel. Her “Fudge Shop” mystery series takes place in Door County, and her “Mischief in Moonstone” mysteries take place in northern Wisconsin.
Dylan Garity – He is a College National Poetry Slam Champion, whose work has been featured on “Upworthy” and “The Huffington Post.” The 2012 graduate of Macalester College was a member of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Macalester Slam teams, which placed third, first and second in the nation respectively. He presented a poetry program in Waupaca on Saturday, April 4 and is the assistant director of Button Poetry.
Victoria Houston – She is the author of the “Loon Lake” mystery series, set in the Northwoods of Wisconsin against a background of fishing. Born and raised in Rhinelander, she returned to the community after careers in magazine and newspaper writing and public relations. Her nonfiction books include “Restore Yourself,” which she wrote with Dr. James Simon.
Dean Jensen – He began his career writing for the “Milwaukee Journal” and his passion was art criticism. He was eventually assigned to cover the Great Circus Parade. He tells the story of Lillian Leitzel, one of the world’s most famous circus aerialists, in “Queen of the Air: A True Story of Love and Tragedy at the Circus.” He owns the Dean Jensen Gallery in Milwaukee and continues to write.
S.J. Kincaid – Born in Alabama, she grew up in California and attended high school in New Hampshire. While living beside a haunted graveyard in Edinburgh, Scotland, she realized she wanted to be a writer. Several years, manuscripts and jobs later, she published her debut novel “Insignia,” with “Vortex” and “Catalyst” concluding the series. She lives on the West Coast.
K.J. Klemme – She spends her days as a computer geek and her days and evenings writing. Her suspense novel, “Tourist Trapped” debuted in 2014, and she is currently working on the second book in the “Trapped” trilogy. While publishing “Tourist Trapped,” she dove into the e-book process and now offers her services to fellow authors through her company, Travels and Travails Publishing. She lives in the Midwest.
June Melby – She is a writer and performer whose work has appeared in several publications. “My Family and Other Hazards,” her award-winning memoir about working summers at her family’s mini golf course in Waupaca, was released in 2014. She lives in a cabin in the woods with her husband and their cat and presented a program at the library on Tuesday, April 14.
Mike Mullin – He has been a Congressional page and spent a year in Brazil as a Rotary exchange student. He paid his way through college by working at Children’s Ink Bookstore and has worked for them in one way or another ever since. His award-winning “Ashfall” novel begins with a supervolcano under Yellowstone and imagines what might happen if it erupted. He lives in Indianapolis with his wife.
Joe Niese – He is a librarian and member of the Society for American Baseball Research. His first book, “Burleigh Grimes: Baseball’s Last Legal Spitballer,” was published in 2013 and another book is being published this year. He lives in Chippewa Falls and presented a program at Waupaca’s Winchester Academy on March 16.
Stan Tekiela – He is a naturalist, wildlife photographer and writer. He has authored more than 130 field guides, nature appreciation books and wildlife audio CDS for just about every state in the country. An active and professional naturalist for more than 25 years, he studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States.
Jim Trainor – He grew up in Los Angeles and wrote over 60 professional articles in his 20 years as a physicist. He became an Episcopal priest and wrote a book about the intersection of science and faith called “Grasp: Making Sense of Science and Spirituality.” He has written three novels; his latest, “Up North,” was published last fall. He lives in central Wisconsin with his wife.
Larry Watson – Born and raised in North Dakota, he is a poet, short story writer and novelist. His books include “Montana 1948,” “American Boy,” “Orchard,” “In a Dark Time,” “White Crosses,” “Laura” and his latest, “Let Him Go.” He has taught writing and literature at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and Marquette University. He lives in Milwaukee with his wife.