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Home | Wisconsin Book FestivalHome | Wisconsin Book Festival Skip to main content User account menu Log in Image 23rd Annual Fall Celebration: OCTOBER 17-20, 2024Free, year-round public author events in partnership with the MADISON PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION Search Main navigation Festival at a Glance About the Festival Event Schedule Get Involved Give / Become a Member Media Central Search Image Image Image All Art Biography Children/Teen Equity/Social Justice Fiction LGBTQ+ Nonfiction Poetry Politics STEM Wisconsin Authors 9/24 That Librarian Amanda Jones 7:00pm - 8:00pm calls book lovers everywhere to rise in defense of our readers. Image That Librarian Amanda Jones inperson 10/5 2024 Midwest Video Poetry Fest: Night 1 Erika Meitner 7:00pm - 8:00pm An evening of films including original poems, experimental works, animation, translations, and more. Image 2024 Midwest Video Poetry Fest: Night 1 Erika Meitner inperson 10/12 2024 Midwest Video Poetry Fest: Night 2 Deshawn McKinney 7:00pm - 8:00pm An evening of films including original poems, experimental works, animation, translations, and more. Image 2024 Midwest Video Poetry Fest: Night 2 Deshawn McKinney inperson 10/16 UW-Madison Go Big Read: Sitting Pretty Rebekah Taussig 7:00pm - 8:30pm Challenges us as a society to be patient and vigilant, practical and imaginative, kind & relentless. Image UW-Madison Go Big Read: Sitting Pretty Rebekah Taussig inperson 10/17 Barons Austin Frerick 5:30pm - 6:30pm tells the stories of 7 corporate titans, their rise to power, and the consequences for everyone else Image Barons Austin Frerick inperson 10/17 Transforming School Food Politics Around The World Jennifer Gaddis, Dr. Sarah A. Robert 5:30pm - 6:30pm sets the stage to reimagine school food as part of the infrastructure of daily life. Image Transforming School Food Politics Around The World Jennifer Gaddis, Dr. Sarah A. Robert inperson 10/17 Writing Our Lineages: An Asian Memoirist Panel Tessa Hulls, Margaret Juhae Lee, Zara Chowdhary 5:30pm - 6:30pm Three debut memoirists discuss their works about unspoken multi-generational family histories. Image Writing Our Lineages: An Asian Memoirist Panel Tessa Hulls, Margaret Juhae Lee, Zara Chowdhary inperson 10/17 Holding It Together Jessica Calarco 7:00pm - 8:00pm Image Holding It Together Jessica Calarco inperson 10/17 Their Divine Fires Wendy Chen 7:00pm - 8:00pm A story about what our ancestors will, and won’t, tell us. Image Their Divine Fires Wendy Chen inperson 10/17 There Are (NO) Stupid Questions...In Science Leah Elson 7:00pm - 8:00pm Easy-to-understand and delightfully cheeky explanations for scientific and medical quandaries. Image There Are (NO) Stupid Questions...In Science Leah Elson inperson 10/17 2024 Charlotte Zolotow Lecture: Meg Medina - The Way In and the Way Out: Writing Picture Books in Contentious Times Meg Medina 7:30pm - 8:30pm Image 2024 Charlotte Zolotow Lecture: Meg Medina - The Way In and the Way Out: Writing Picture Books in Contentious Times Meg Medina inperson 10/18 Chasing the Stars James Lattis, Kelly Tyrrell, Doug Moe 4:00pm - 5:00pm Explore the stories of Wisconsin astronomers who've helped us better understand our universe. Image Chasing the Stars James Lattis, Kelly Tyrrell, Doug Moe inperson 10/18 A World Of Hurt Mindy Mejia, Matt Goldman 4:30pm - 5:30pm delves into survivor’s guilt and fleshes out the lives continued by the ones left behind. Image A World Of Hurt Mindy Mejia, Matt Goldman inperson 10/18 The Volcano Daughters Gina María Balibrera 4:30pm - 5:30pm charts a new history and mythology of El Salvador, fiercely bringing forth urgent voices. Image The Volcano Daughters Gina María Balibrera inperson 10/18 We Had Fun and Nobody Died Peter Jest , David Luhrssen 4:30pm - 5:30pm provides a rare window into the music industry from a promoter’s perspective. Image We Had Fun and Nobody Died Peter Jest , David Luhrssen inperson 10/18 The Elements of Marie Curie Dava Sobel 5:00pm - 6:00pm illuminates the life and enduring influence of one of the most consequential figures of our time. Image The Elements of Marie Curie Dava Sobel inperson 10/18 I Heard There Was a Secret Chord Daniel Levitin 6:00pm - 7:00pm Across cultures, sound and rhythm have been used to ease suffering, promote healing & calm the mind. Image I Heard There Was a Secret Chord Daniel Levitin inperson 10/18 Minority Rule Ari Berman 6:00pm - 7:00pm exposes the long history of the conflict between white supremacy and multiracial democracy. Image Minority Rule Ari Berman inperson 10/18 One of Our Kind Nicola Yoon 6:00pm - 7:00pm explores the ways freedom is complicated by the presumptions we make about ourselves and each other. Image One of Our Kind Nicola Yoon inperson 10/18 Still Waters Matt Goldman, Mindy Mejia 6:00pm - 7:00pm A gripping, emotional thrill ride on grief and uncovering the past before it’s too late. Image Still Waters Matt Goldman, Mindy Mejia inperson 10/18 Creation Lake Rachel Kushner, Chloe Benjamin 7:30pm - 8:30pm A work of high art, high comedy, and unforgettable pleasure. Image Creation Lake Rachel Kushner, Chloe Benjamin inperson 10/18 Defectors Paola Ramos 7:30pm - 8:30pm Explores how race, identity & political trauma influence far-right sentiment among Latino voters. Image Defectors Paola Ramos inperson 10/18 Hampton Heights Dan Kois 7:30pm - 8:30pm A tender horror-comedy about camaraderie, bravery, vulnerability, and growing up. Image Hampton Heights Dan Kois inperson 10/18 Bluff Danez Smith 9:00pm - 10:00pm A manifesto about artistic resilience when the places we most love are burning. Image Bluff Danez Smith inperson 10/19 We Read Youth Voices Writing Contest: Authors Reception Diya Dhawal, Grace Huang , Nora Moran, Ash Gartler 9:30am - 10:30am A celebration of this year's WE READ Youth Voices writing contest winners. Image We Read Youth Voices Writing Contest: Authors Reception Diya Dhawal, Grace Huang , Nora Moran, Ash Gartler inperson 10/19 Frostbite Nicola Twilley 10:30am - 11:30am An engaging exploration of refrigeration & how it has remade our entire relationship with food. Image Frostbite Nicola Twilley inperson 10/19 Lola Karla Arenas Valenti 10:30am - 11:30am A simmering tale of magic, adventure, and the extraordinary bond between a brother and sister. Image Lola Karla Arenas Valenti inperson 10/19 Spooky Lakes Geo Rutherford 10:30am - 11:30am plumbs the depths of 25 unusual lakes around the world. Image Spooky Lakes Geo Rutherford inperson 10/19 We Were The Universe Kimberly King Parsons, Chelsea Bieker 10:30am - 11:30am A young mother, in denial after the death of her sister, navigates desire, guilt, and grief. Image We Were The Universe Kimberly King Parsons, Chelsea Bieker inperson 10/19 Madwoman Chelsea Bieker, Kimberly King Parsons 12:00pm - 1:00pm A gripping story of motherhood and motherloss. Image Madwoman Chelsea Bieker, Kimberly King Parsons inperson 10/19 Safe Mark Daley 12:00pm - 1:00pm a deeply personal window into what happens when the universal longing for family faces bureaucracy. Image Safe Mark Daley inperson 10/19 The Morningside Téa Obreht 12:00pm - 1:00pm examines how people thrive in their imagination & how myths shape our families and our perceptions. Image The Morningside Téa Obreht inperson 10/19 Turning to Stone Marcia Bjornerud 12:00pm - 1:00pm reveals how rocks are the hidden infrastructure that keep the planet functioning. Image Turning to Stone Marcia Bjornerud inperson 10/19 The City in Glass Nghi Vo 1:30pm - 2:30pm An epic love story, of death and resurrection, memory and transformation, redemption and desire. Image The City in Glass Nghi Vo inperson 10/19 The Indian Card Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz 1:30pm - 2:30pm sheds light on finding a deeper sense of belonging amidst the ongoing fight for Native sovereignty. Image The Indian Card Carrie Lowry Schuettpelz inperson 10/19 The Insect Epiphany Barrett Klein, Heather Swan 1:30pm - 2:30pm proves that our world would look very different without insects, shaping what makes us human. Image The Insect Epiphany Barrett Klein, Heather Swan inperson 10/19 Women's Hotel Daniel M. Lavery 1:30pm - 2:30pm A poignant and funny novel about the residents of a women’s hotel in 1960's New York City. Image Women's Hotel Daniel M. Lavery inperson 10/19 Attack From Within Barbara McQuade, David Maraniss 3:00pm - 4:00pm shows us how to identify the ways disinformation is seeping into all facets of our society. Image Attack From Within Barbara McQuade, David Maraniss inperson 10/19 Forest of Noise Mosab Abu Toha 3:00pm - 4:00pm An urgent, extraordinary & arrestingly whimsical book, that brings us indelible art in a time of war Image Forest of Noise Mosab Abu Toha inperson 10/19 Malas Marcela Fuentes 3:00pm - 4:00pm A love letter to Tejano culture and community that helps these women discover what family means. Image Malas Marcela Fuentes inperson 10/19 Writing the More-Than-Human World: A Reading and Conversation with Heather Swan and Catherine Jagoe Catherine Jagoe, Heather Swan 3:00pm - 4:00pm How to cultivate wonder and hope at a time of unparalleled ecological destruction. Image Writing the More-Than-Human World: A Reading and Conversation with Heather Swan and Catherine Jagoe Catherine Jagoe, Heather Swan inperson 10/19 Beyond the Big Lie Bill Adair 4:30pm - 5:30pm unpacks the state of our politics but provides solutions to put an end to American political deceit. Image Beyond the Big Lie Bill Adair inperson 10/19 Extra! Extra! Eat All About It! Jane Conway and Randi Julia Ramsden 4:30pm - 5:30pm offers a unique glimpse into the Midwestern culinary landscape between 1870 and 1930. Image Extra! Extra! Eat All About It! Jane Conway and Randi Julia Ramsden inperson 10/19 Float Up, Sing Down Laird Hunt, Beth Nguyen 4:30pm - 5:30pm is the story of a single day in one of Hunt’s most beloved and enduring landscapes. Image Float Up, Sing Down Laird Hunt, Beth Nguyen inperson 10/19 STILL: The Art of Noticing Mary Jo Hoffman 4:30pm - 5:30pm traces an incredible undertaking, sharing breathtaking photographs from Hoffman’s enormous archive. Image STILL: The Art of Noticing Mary Jo Hoffman inperson 10/19 Too Good To Miss Poetry Reading: Extraordinary Poets With Wisconsin Ties Cynthia Marie Hoffman, Alison Thumel, J.L. Conrad 4:30pm - 5:30pm An evening of moving poetry by extraordinary poets with Wisconsin Ties. Image Too Good To Miss Poetry Reading: Extraordinary Poets With Wisconsin Ties Cynthia Marie Hoffman, Alison Thumel, J.L. Conrad inperson 10/19 2000 Blacks Ajibola Tolase, Natasha Oladokun 6:00pm - 7:00pm probes the complexity of economic & politically motivated migration from Africa. Image 2000 Blacks Ajibola Tolase, Natasha Oladokun inperson 10/19 Margo's Got Money Troubles Rufi Thorpe, Christina Clancy 6:00pm - 7:00pm A playful and honest examination of the art of storytelling and controlling your own narrative. Image Margo's Got Money Troubles Rufi Thorpe, Christina Clancy inperson 10/19 Nature's Writers: Mentored by the Land Donald Clark, Andy Adams 6:00pm - 7:00pm A unique & compelling story of the land and how it has inspired some of our greatest poets & authors Image Nature's Writers: Mentored by the Land Donald Clark, Andy Adams inperson 10/19 Tits Up Sarah Thornton 6:00pm - 7:00pm Connects concepts of bodily autonomy, gender equality, racial politics, and desire. Image Tits Up Sarah Thornton inperson 10/19 Feed the Planet George Steinmetz 7:30pm - 8:30pm Documents the global effort that puts food on our tables and transforms the surface of the Earth. Image Feed the Planet George Steinmetz inperson 10/19 Godwin Joseph O'Neill 7:30pm - 8:30pm investigates the legacy of colonialism in the context of family love and global capitalism. Image Godwin Joseph O'Neill inperson 10/19 New And Selected Poems Marie Howe, Chessy Normile 7:30pm - 8:30pm An indispensable collection of more than four decades of profound, luminous poetry. Image New And Selected Poems Marie Howe, Chessy Normile inperson 10/19 Thank You, More Please Lily Womble 7:30pm - 8:30pm A proven guide to a confident & joyful dating life that makes the right relationship inevitable. Image Thank You, More Please Lily Womble inperson 10/20 A Season for That Steve Hoffman, Judith Siers-Poisson 10:30am - 11:30am Explores the beauty of a culture that is one with its landscape, and becoming one with that culture. Image A Season for That Steve Hoffman, Judith Siers-Poisson inperson 10/20 Blue Light Hours Bruna Dantas Lobato, Mandy Moe Pwint Tu 10:30am - 11:30am paints a powerful portrait of a mother and a daughter coming of age together and apart. Image Blue Light Hours Bruna Dantas Lobato, Mandy Moe Pwint Tu inperson 10/20 The Inner Clock Lynne Peeples 10:30am - 11:30am How the science of circadian rhythms can help you sleep better, feel happier, and improve health. Image The Inner Clock Lynne Peeples inperson 10/20 Night Magic Leigh Ann Henion 12:00pm - 1:00pm On this imperiled planet, nature’s magic still exists, often in the places we least expect it. Image Night Magic Leigh Ann Henion inperson 10/20 Polostan Neal Stephenson 12:00pm - 1:00pm an inventive, richly detailed, and deeply entertaining historical epic. Image Polostan Neal Stephenson inperson 10/20 While You Were Out Meg Kissinger 12:00pm - 1:00pm explores the consequences of shame, botched public policy & the hope offered by new treatments. Image While You Were Out Meg Kissinger inperson 10/20 The Bright Sword Lev Grossman 1:30pm - 2:30pm Imperfect men & women looking for a way to reforge a broken land in spite of being broken themselves Image The Bright Sword Lev Grossman inperson 10/29 Wisconsin People & Ideas 2024 Fiction and Poetry Contest Winners Bob Wake, C. E. Perry, Linda Falkenstein, Diya Abbas, Han Raschka, Lisa Vihos 7:00pm - 8:00pm Image Wisconsin People & Ideas 2024 Fiction and Poetry Contest Winners Bob Wake, C. E. Perry, Linda Falkenstein, Diya Abbas, Han Raschka, Lisa Vihos inperson 10/30 Murder Girl Heidi Armbruster 7:00pm - 8:00pm A home-grown, world-premiere comedy about found family, old fashioneds & where to stow the roadkill. Image Murder Girl Heidi Armbruster inperson 11/2 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess Jeff Kinney 5:00pm - 6:00pm This side splittingly relatable summer story is the funniest Wimpy Kid book yet! Image Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess Jeff Kinney inperson Upcoming School Visits There are no ongoing events that match the selected criteria listed on the calendar at this time. Recent Wisconsin Book Festival Events 9/12 SCHOOL VISIT: Marvelous Jackson Laura Anne Bird 10:00am - 11:00am After losing his mom, a boy in northern WI rediscovers the love of baking he once shared with her. Image school SCHOOL VISIT: Marvelous Jackson Laura Anne Bird 9/11 French Girl Jesse Lee Kercheval 7:00pm - 8:00pm is a graphic memoir told in 17 connected stories of childhood, girlhood, sisterhood, & motherhood. Image French Girl Jesse Lee Kercheval 9/10 Moments of Happiness Mike Leckrone, Doug Moe 6:00pm - 7:00pm details the stories behind the highlights & work that made Leckrone's accomplishments possible. Image Moments of Happiness Mike Leckrone, Doug Moe 5/14 Real Americans Rachel Khong, Ada Zhang 7:00pm - 8:00pm What makes us who we are? And how inevitable are our futures? Recording Available Image Recording Available Real Americans Rachel Khong, Ada Zhang 5/9 SCHOOL VISIT: A Maleta Full of Treasures Natalia Sylvester 10:00am - 11:00am A warm, gentle ode to the people and places that make us who we are even if we haven’t met them yet Image school SCHOOL VISIT: A Maleta Full of Treasures Natalia Sylvester Past Years Image 201 W. Mifflin StreetMadison, WI 53703© 2013-2024mplfoundation.orgmadisonpubliclibrary.org join the conversation #wibookfestfacebook instagram x we couldn't do it without you: Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Watch Past Events Subscribe to our Newsletterenen1728654241https://wisconsinbookfestival.org

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