The following article was written by Author and Manitowoc Resident, Sara Biren.
Cheese (curds). Beer. Cranberries. Lakes, supper clubs, Friday fish. Packers football and Brewers baseball.
These were some of the iconic, beloved things that I knew existed in America’s Dairyland when I moved to Wisconsin six years ago. Because my husband is originally from the southwestern corner of the state, I’d spent plenty of Friday nights at supper clubs with a Spotted Cow and beer-battered cod. I’d debated which dairy produces the freshest, squeakiest cheese curds. I’d vacationed in Door County and Hayward and Wisconsin Dells. I knew about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Frank Lloyd Wright, Harry Houdini, Les Paul, Chris Farley, Bon Iver, and Gus Polinski and The Kenosha Kickers and their connections to Wisconsin.
And I knew, of course, that the state can lay claim to a wide range of accomplished authors, essayists, poets, playwrights, and songwriters. What I didn’t know was that Wisconsin is home to a vibrant, robust organization that supports writers of all genres and styles at every experience level. And because we moved at a unique time (June of 2020, the early stages of the pandemic), I didn’t discover the Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) until we’d been here two years. Even then, I didn’t take advantage of member resources or become involved until two years after that.
WWA was established in 1948 (seriously! Almost 80 years ago!) and hosts year-round workshops, classes, and events throughout Wisconsin and virtually, and offers contests, publishing opportunities, and writing resources. Each October, WWA hosts a fall conference, gathering a vast array of incredibly skilled writers and publishing professionals willing to share their experience and expertise with attendees from Wisconsin and beyond. The conference moves to a different part of the state each year, and this year, WWA is bringing the talent, energy, and inspiration to Manitowoc.
Sara Biren
And the best part? You don’t have to be a member of WWA to join the fun. On Thursday, October 22, nine of these talented writers—including yours truly—will visit Manitowoc Public Library for an exclusive preview and panel discussion. Join us for this WWA Conference Preview at 6PM in the Balkansky Community Room for a lively conversation about inspiration, the writer’s life, and the publication journey, as well as a Q&A session and time to meet authors from all corners of Wisconsin: Larry Scheckel (Tomah), Elise Posledni (Franklin), James L. Peters (Chippewa Falls), Patricia Skalka (Milwaukee), George B. Krueger (Platteville), Anne Davidson Keller (Madison), Pat Scheckel (Minneapolis, formerly of Madison), and Manitowoc’s own Tara Huck and me—Sara Biren.
You can also visit the WWA Book Fair and Author Signing at the Inn on Maritime Bay on Saturday, October 24 from 2PM to 5PM to spend more time with the panelists, along with many more authors and publishing professionals. This is an amazing opportunity to find new, compelling books and meet the creatives behind them. Or maybe you, too, have a book in you. Bring your dreams and your questions to these events and ask away. Believe me, authors love to talk about their work and their process.
And if you want to get an inside look at all the things that could possibly go wrong in one author’s career, mark your calendar for Thursday, November 5 at 6PM, when I’ll be back at the Library for “Wait. What Just Happened?” Writers are quick to discuss all the amazing things that happen along their publication journeys, but how do you keep moving forward when everything goes sideways? I’ll share seemingly endless examples of ways my career has been on the brink of unbelievable success . . . and something has pulled that rug right out from under me. It’s sure to be a fascinating conversation with a lot of laughs—because what else can you do?
I hope you’ll join us for one—or all—of these bookish events for an up-close and personal glimpse into the writing lives of Wisconsin authors.
