23

Sep

Richard Wagner will appear live on Crowdcast. Join us at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/coming-out-moving-forward

Coming Out, Moving Forward: Wisconsin's Recent Gay History, the second volume in R. Richard Wagner’s groundbreaking work on gay history in Wisconsin, outlines the challenges that LGBT Wisconsinites faced in their efforts to right past oppressions and secure equality in the post-Stonewall period between 1969 and 2000. During this era, Wisconsin made history as the first state to enact a gay rights law prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation. It also became the first state to elect three openly gay/lesbian persons to Congress.

29

Sep

From the prizewinning journalist, internationally recognized expert on corruption in government networks throughout the world, author of Thieves of State: Why Corruption Threatens Global Security, a major, unflinching book that looks homeward to America, exploring the insidious, dangerous networks of corruption of our past, present, and precarious future.

Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/on-corruption-in-america. Before the event you will see a countdown and the event image. 

Now, bringing to bear all of her knowledge, grasp, sense of history and observation, Sarah Chayes writes in her new book, that the United States is showing signs similar to some of the most corrupt countries in the world. Corruption, as Chayes sees it, is an operating system of sophisticated networks in which government officials, key private-sector interests, and out-and-out criminals interweave. Their main objective: not to serve the public but to maximize returns for network members. 

01

Oct

Former Congresswoman Katie Hill will share her experience with misogyny and double standards in politics to help women topple the longstanding power structures that prevent them from achieving equality live on Crowdcast in conversation with Laurel White of Wisconsin Public Radio. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-she-will-rise. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image.  

02

Oct

Marilynne Robinson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Medal, returns to the world of Gilead with Jack, the latest novel in one of the great works of contemporary American fiction.

Presented in partnership with The Believer Festival, Literary Arts, and The Loft's WordPlay, Marilynne Robinson will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her new novel, Jack. Join us at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/jack.

05

Oct

Games, according to Meier’s notable definition, are “fundamentally comprised . . . of a series of interesting decisions,” and Sid Meier's Memoir! might best be described as the story of his own “interesting decisions.” Sid Meier will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss these decisions with David Gagnon, Director of Field Day Lab.  Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-sid-meiers-memoir. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

06

Oct

Amy Quan Barry, Anthony Doerr, and Lysley Tenorio, all former UW-Madison Writing Fellows, discuss their latest works in a wide-ranging conversation with UW-Madison Professor, Ron Kuka. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-son-of-good-fortune. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

12

Oct

This reading by alumni, mentors, and the current director of the Institute of American Indian Arts MFA program is a gathering of poetic voices who all identify as Indigenous. This reading will be as diverse as it is enthralling. These poets, who come from all parts of the country and the state of Wisconsin, have committed themselves to the act of rewriting the literary landscape by proving that Indigenous poetics is both vital and vibrant. Spend Indigenous People's Day with current city of Madison Poet Laureate, Angela C. Trudell Vasquez; former Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Kimberly Blaeser; Joaquin Zihuantanejo, winner of the Anhinga-Robert Dana Prize for Poetry; and Santee Frazier, award winning poet and current director of the Institute of American Indian Arts Low Residency MFA Program as they read from their latest collections. This will be an evening to remember. 

Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-indigenous-poetics. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

15

Oct

A warm, funny, and keenly perceptive novel about the life cycle of one family–as the kids become parents, grandchildren become teenagers, and a matriarch confronts the legacy of her mistakes. From the New York Times bestselling author of Modern Lovers and The Vacationers.

Emma Straub will appear live via Crowdcast with Judith Claire Mitchell, author of A Reunion of Ghosts. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-all-adults-here. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

15

Oct

The riveting story of the most infamous American con man you’ve never heard of: James Strang, self-proclaimed divine king of earth, heaven, and an island in Lake Michigan, until his assassination in 1856.

Miles Harvey will appear in conversation with Doug Gordon of Wisconsin Public Radio. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-king-of-confidence. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

In the summer of 1843, James Strang, a charismatic young lawyer and avowed atheist, vanished from a rural town in New York. Months later he reappeared on the Midwestern frontier and converted to a burgeoning religious movement known as Mormonism. Following the murder of church founder Joseph Smith, Strang unveiled a letter purportedly from the prophet naming him successor. He then persuaded hundreds of fellow converts to follow him to Beaver Island in northernmost Lake Michigan, where he declared himself a divine king.

15

Oct

One of America’s most celebrated poets challenges us with this powerful and deeply personal collection of verse that speaks to the injustices of society while illuminating the depths of her own heart. For more than thirty years, Nikki Giovanni’s poetry has inspired, enlightened, and dazzled readers. As sharp and outspoken as ever, this artist long hailed as a healer and a sage returns with this profound book of poetry in which she continues to call attention to injustice and give readers an unfiltered look into the most private parts of herself.

Nikki Giovanni will appear live on Crowdcast in conversation with Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-make-me-rain. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

15

Oct

Angie Kim and Kiley Reid will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss their debut novels Miracle Creek and Such a Fun Age. Miracle Creek won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and Such a Fun Age has been longlisted for the Booker Prize. Angie and Kiley will appear in conversation with UW-Madison Fiction MFA, Dantiel Moniz, whose debut Milk Blood Heat is forthcoming in February 2021.

Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-miracle-creek-such-a-fun-age. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

16

Oct

S.M. Hulse and Maxim Loskutoff will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss their novels Eden Mine and Ruthie Fear with UW Professor Ron Kuka. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-eden-mine-ruthie. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

16

Oct

Poets Cherene Sherrard and Heather Swan discuss poetry of witness and newly inhabited histories from their new books live on Crowdcast. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-writing-into. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

16

Oct

Authors Edward Ball and Robert P. Jones will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss the history of familial and institutional white supremacy through their books Life of a Klansman and White Too Long. Edward Ball and Robert P. Jones will appear in conversation with Kealey Bultena of Wisconsin Public Radio. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-life-klansman-white. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

16

Oct

Jacob Tobia will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss their book, Sissy, with local bookseller and trans writer, Misian Taylor. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-sissy. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

17

Oct

Claire Messud will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her new memoir Kant's Little Prussian Head and Other Reasons Why I Write in conversation with Meg Wolitzer. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-kants-little-prussian-head. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

17

Oct

Take action and shatter the glass ceiling with this empowering and optimistic feminist guide from the #1 New York Timesbestselling author of Dear Madam President. Jennifer Palmieri will appear live on Crowdcast for her new book, She Proclaims in conversation with Shannon Henry Kleiber from Wisconsin Public Radio. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-she-proclaims. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

17

Oct

Laila Lalami will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her memoir, Conditional Citizens, in conversation with Kate Archer Kent of Wisconsin Public Radio. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-conditional-citizens. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

17

Oct

Young Latinos across the United States are redefining their identities, pushing boundaries, and awakening politically in powerful and surprising ways. Many of them—Afrolatino, indigenous, Muslim, queer and undocumented, living in large cities and small towns—are voices who have been chronically overlooked in how the diverse population of almost sixty million Latinos in the U.S. has been represented. No longer.

Journalist Paola Ramos will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her new book, Finding Latinx, in conversation with Angelo Bautista of To The Best of Our Knowledge. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-finding-latinx. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

17

Oct

In this spellbinding exploration of the varieties of love, the author of the worldwide bestseller Call Me By Your Name revisits its complex and beguiling characters decades after their first meeting. Andre Aciman will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss Find Me in conversation with Brandon Taylor, author of Real Life. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-find-me. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

17

Oct

Kelli Jo Ford will appear live on Crowdcast for her debut novel, Crooked Hallelujah, in conversation with Lusy Tan, author of What We Were Promised. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-crooked-hallelujah. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

17

Oct

Physicists Brian Greene and Janna Levin discuss their new books Until the End of Time & Black Hole Survival Guide with Dean of the College of Letters & Science and Mary C. Jacoby Professor of Astronomy, Eric Wilcots. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-until-end-time-black. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image.

17

Oct

Terry Tempest Williams will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her new book, Erosion. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-erosion. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

21

Oct

Presented in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Program in Creative Writing, this edition of Wisconsin Wednesdays features UW Alumnae Elizabeth Ames Staudt for her new novel, The Other's Gold and Meg Wade for her new poetry collection, Slick Like Dark. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-others-gold-slick-like-dark. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

28

Oct

Presented in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Program in Creative Writing, this edition of Wisconsin Wednesdays features UW Alumnae Traci Brimhall and Lauren Russell for their new poetry collections, Come the Slumberless to the Land of Nod, and Descent. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-come-the-slumberless-descent. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

29

Oct

Wisconsin People & Ideas, the Wisconsin Academy’s magazine of contemporary Wisconsin thought and culture, presents a Wisconsin Book Festival reading featuring the winners of the statewide 2020 Fiction & Poetry Contests, hosted by editor Jason A. Smith.

Fiction readings include:

1st-place story "Junk Shed" by Jacquelyn Thomas (Dodgeville)

2nd-place story "Wiseacres" by Jennifer Morales (Viroqua)

and 3rd-place story "Without Provisions" by Barbara Kriegsmann (Sister Bay)

Poetry readings include:

1st-place poem "1967" by Susan Martell Huebner (Mukwonago),

2nd-place poem "Sister" by Kathryn Gahl (Appleton),

and 3rd-place poem "Liquirizia" by Dominic W. Holt (Monona).

Join us in celebration and support of Wisconsin's creative writing community!

This reading is presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Book Festival with support from Wisconsin Public Radio and Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Learn more about how to submit your work to our annual fiction and poetry contests here.

04

Nov

Dr. Ibram Kendi joins Madison College and the Wisconsin Book Festival for an essential conversation the day after the 2020 Presidential Election. Madison College's Vice President of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, Lucía Nuñez, will facilitate this discussion.

Dr. Kendi will appear live on Madison College's livestream platform. Register for the free event at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/madison-college-talks-dr-ibram-x-kendi-tickets-119644665415

05

Nov

Presented in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Program in Creative Writing, this edition of Wisconsin Wednesdays features former UW Writing Fellow, Aimee Nezhukumatathil for her debut work of nonfiction--a collection of essays about the natural world, and the way its inhabitants can teach, support, and inspire us. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-world-of-wonders. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

10

Nov

A novel of lifelong reckoning between two women by the award-winning Mary Gordon. Mary will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her new novel, Payback. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-payback. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

12

Nov

Over the last generation, the United States has undergone seismic changes. Stable institutions have given way to frictionless transactions, which are celebrated no matter what collateral damage they generate. The concentration of great wealth has coincided with the fraying of social ties and the rise of inequality. How did all this come about? Nicholas Lemann will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss his new book, Transaction Man, in conversation with Brady Carlson from Wisconsin Public Radio. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-transaction-man. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

16

Nov

As everyday white supremacy becomes increasingly vocalized with no clear answers at hand, how best might we approach one another? Claudia Rankine, without telling us what to do, urges us to begin the discussions that might open pathways through this divisive and stuck moment in American history.

Presented in partnership with The Believer Festival, Literary Arts, and The Loft's WordPlay, Claudia Rankine will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her new book, Just Us, in conversation with Jericho Brown. Join us at: https://literary-arts.org/event/west-x-midwest-pbf-rankine-brown/

17

Nov

From the infinitely inventive author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe comes a deeply personal novel about race, pop culture, immigration, assimilation, and escaping the roles we are forced to play.

Charles Yu will appear live on Crowdcast. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-make-me-rain. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

18

Nov

Presented in partnership with the University of Wisconsin Program in Creative Writing, this edition of Wisconsin Wednesdays features UW Alumnae Aria Aber and Elizabeth Powell for their new poetry collections, Hard Damage and Atomizer. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/hard-damage--atomizer. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image.

02

Dec

The award-winning author of Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self brings her signature voice and insight to the subjects of race, grief, apology, and American history. Danielle Evans will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her newest book, The Office of Historical Corrections. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-office-of-historical. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image. 

03

Dec

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres and the New York Times best-selling Last Hundred Years Trilogy, a captivating, brilliantly imaginative story of three extraordinary animals--and a young boy--whose lives intersect in Paris. Jane will appear live on Crowdcast to discuss her new book. Join the event at: https://www.crowdcast.io/e/wbf-perestroika-in-paris. Before the event begins, you will see a countdown and the event image.