Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Barstow & Grand Issue #2 Reading

The release party for Issue #2 will feature readings from the journal, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, as well as commentary from the editors on the publication process and how the journal has grown in its second year.

Pablo Center at the Confluence 120 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Meet the School Authors - Book Sale & Signing

Students, parents and the entire community are invited to create lasting memories by meeting award winning authors presenting in area schools during the Chippewa Valley Book Festival.

Memorial High School 2225 Keith St., Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Age: All Ages

Writers Anonymous

Bring your own ideas or browse their writing prompts. 7-7:30pm is a social hour. Settle in and get a drink. 7:30-8:30pm will start with brief introductions and then quiet writing for an hour. From 8:30-9pm you can keep writing or debrief your table about your progress.

SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar 615 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire

10th Annual Schneider Disability Issues Forum

Kathy Nimmer, 2015 Indiana Teacher of the Year and a finalist for 2015 National Teacher of the Year, will present “What Kindergarteners and Canines Know: Lessons from a Life with Students and Service Dogs” at UW-Eau Claire’s tenth annual Schneider Disability Issues Forum.

Woodland Theater, Davies Center UWEC 105 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Age: All Ages

"Everything Laura Ingalls Left Out of Her Novels" with author Shelley Tougas

Author will share everything Laura Ingalls left out of her novels in her presentation, suitable for all ages. Her book "Laura Ingalls Is Ruining My Life" will be available for signing.

Augusta Memorial Public Library 113 North Stone St, Augusta

Cost: FREE

Age: All Ages

The Gay Marriage Generation: How the LGBTQ Movement Transformed American Culture

At this talk, Professor Hart-Brinson (UW-Eau Claire, Sociology and Communication/Journalism) discusses his new book on the rise of gay marriage. How and why did gay marriage—an idea that was non-sense to most Americans three decades ago—become common sense for a new generation and end up becoming the law of the land? And what lessons can we learn from this about generations and politics today?

The Local Store at the Volume One World Headquarters 205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

UWEC Forum Series Guest Kevin Young: Fake News

In a mind-boggling account of America’s long fascination with falsehoods, poet, essayist and historian Kevin Young distills his collection of tall-tales and untruths in a book titled “Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts and Fake News.”

UWEC Schofield Auditorium 105 Garfield Ave, Eau Claire

Cost: Ticketed Event

Chippewa Valley Book Festival "Words without Borders": A Celebration of Poetry in Translation

Jesse Lee Kercheval and Karen Kovacik, along with a chorus of Eau Claire area poets and lovers of poetry, will read from their recent anthologies and translations of Polish and Uruguayan poets in a celebration of world poetry and a conversation between continents and countries.

Unitarian Universalist Congregation 421 S. Farwell St., Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Chippewa Valley Book Festival - Tessa Fontaine: Recklessness, Obsession, and Wild Abandon

Tessa Fontaine, author of The Electric Woman, a memoir about performing in America's last traveling sideshow, will talk about writing nonfiction. A social hour and cash bar will be held at 5:30pm, and a ticketed dinner at 6:15. Presentation starts at 8pm, and is open to the public.

The Lismore 333 Gibson Street, Eau Claire

Cost: Dinner is ticketed, presentation is free and open to the public

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Miriam Karmel
 - Still Writing Short Stories After All These Years

Author Miriam Karmel will make an unapologetic case for the short story as a form that is neither a novel in miniature, nor a prelude to something big. Her stories have appeared in Bellevue Literary Review, Water~Stone Review, Passages North, Coe Review, Moment Magazine, and more.

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library 400 Eau Claire St, Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Leah Weiss 
- Authentic Appalachian Voices in Fiction

Leah Weiss explains her process of tapping into the cadence and rhythm of the remote mountain voices of North Carolina. Her debut novel, If the Creek Don’t Rise, released in August of 2017, was selected as an Indie Next, Southern Indie Booksellers' Choice Book for 2017 and Library Reads.

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library 400 Eau Claire St, Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: Peter Geye - 
The Eide Family Trilogy

Peter Geye will discuss the evolution of his last two novels. He will also read from Wintering and the final installment of the Eide Family Trilogy, Northernmost, due out in 2020. Peter is the award-winning author of Safe from the Sea, The Lighthouse Road, and Wintering

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library 400 Eau Claire St, Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Chippewa Valley Book Festival: "The Education of Will" -Healing a Dog, Facing My Fears, Reclaiming My Life

Patricia McConnell, former co-host of WPR’s Calling All Pets, will share the true story of her beloved border collie, Willie, and how helping him overcome his issues led to her finding resolution to her own traumas.

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library 400 Eau Claire St, Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

ecWIT: Prose and Poetry Alive

A group of area women with backgrounds in education, theater and performance, who use dramatic reading to share their love of literature. ecWIT’s programs include plays, essays, fiction and poetry presented with interactive characterization without props, sets or costumes.

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library 400 Eau Claire St, Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Chippewa Valley Book Festival Presents: Young Authors Showcase

Come hear local young authors, grades 3-8 share their original works of prose, fiction and nonfiction. The event is free and open to the public. Celebrate young writers.

The Grand Theatre 102 W. Grand Ave., Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Age: All Ages

Nickolas Butler - 
The World Premiere of "Little Faith": Reading and Background

Nickolas Butler will read from his forthcoming novel, Little Faith, and describe the research and personal journey that led to the book's publication, scheduled for early 2019. Little Faith tells the story of a family in western Wisconsin dealing with the troubling magnetism of a fringe church.

UW-Stout Memorial Student Center 221 10th Avenue E., Menomonie

Cost: FREE

Chippewa Valley Book Festival - Patricia Skalka
: The Enduring Appeal of the Flawed Protagonist

When a character evolves from curmudgeon to hero, how do readers respond, and why? Patricia Skalka won the Edna Ferber Fiction Award from the Council for Wisconsin Writers for Death in Cold Water, the third of her Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries.

Altoona Public Library 1303 Lynn Ave., Altoona

Cost: FREE

Pulitzer Winner Caroline Fraser - Prairie Fires: The True Story behind Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House Books


Behind Wilder’s beloved epic of pioneer life lies a complicated story of homesteading hardships and economic and environmental disaster. Fraser will talk about the history behind the life—from the Plains Indian Wars and the settlement of the prairies to the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression—and how Wilder ultimately transformed pure struggle into an uplifting saga.

Pablo Center at the Confluence 120 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire

Cost: $10

Mai Neng Moua - 
The Bride Price: A Hmong Wedding Story

Mai Neng Moua will discuss the importance of written literature in the Hmong community, which has only had a formal writing system since the 1950s, and share reactions to the memoir from members of her own community. Lunch at noon, presentation at 12:30pm.

Chippewa Valley Museum 1204 E. Half Moon Dr., Eau Claire

Cost: Lunch reservation required, presentation open to the public

William Kent Krueger: 
The Transformative Power of Stories

Join William Kent Krueger for a consideration of the importance of stories, how they shape our understanding of the world and inspire us to become the people we want to be. William Kent Kreuger is the author of the New York Times best-selling Cork O’Connor mystery series, set in the great Northwoods of Minnesota.

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library 400 Eau Claire St, Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Thomas W. Pearson - 
When the Hills Are Gone: Frac Sand Mining and the Struggle for Community

Professor Pearson will discuss how anthropological research was used in writing his book about the impact of frac sand mining on sense of place, community, and local democracy in our area.

Fall Creek Public Library 122 E Lincoln Ave, Fall Creek

Cost: FREE

Molly Patterson - 
From Where I Stand: Point of View in Novel Writing

Going beyond simple distinctions of first and third-person and using the author’s novel Rebellion as an example, this talk will illuminate the benefits of employing diverse perspectives in novel writing.

Menomonie Public Library 600 Wolske Bay Rd, Menomonie

Cost: FREE

Heather Swan
 - Where Honeybees Thrive: Stories from the Field

Heather’s hopeful book introduces us to an interdisciplinary force of people from all over the world working to change the fate of pollinators and to make the world a healthier place for humans too.

Chippewa Falls Public Library 105 W Central St., Chippewa Falls

Cost: FREE

Meet Local Author Chris Weiner & Book Signing

Local author, Chris Weiner, will visit The Broom & Crow to share some spooky stories from his time as a paranormal investigator, answer a few questions, and sign his books, Spirits of the Chippewa and Haunted Chippewa Falls. Light refreshments will be provided.

The Broom & Crow 106 E. Grand Ave., Eau Claire

Cost: $5 Tickets, books available for $10

Child 6150-Author Danny Amos Lee

Author Danny Lee Amos will discuss the publication of his memoir, "Child 6150: A Plea for Help That Went Unanswered" and one can hear the story behind the man. Danny has publicized his story to encourage and assist newly released prisoners and promote the need for prison reform.

Menomonie Public Library 600 Wolske Bay Rd, Menomonie

Cost: FREE

Clearwater Revue

A benefit to end homelessness in Eau Claire, proceeds will help families move into sustainable housing. Showcases Eau Claire's outstanding musicians, writers, actors, comedians, and dancers in a variety show that will inspire all ages. Hosted by radio personality John Murphy.

Pablo Center at the Confluence 120 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire

Cost: $10 for kids under 12, $15 for students, $20 seniors, $25 adults

Age: All Ages

A Scary Good Dinner: Chasing Wisconsin's Ghosts & Monsters

A night of fright, fun, and fun. This event includes a four-course meal by Chef Nathan Berg and presentation by famed paranormal investigator, Terry Fisk. Stick around after dinner to chat with Terry, purchase a copy of his book, The Wisconsin Road Guide to Haunted Locations.

The Lakely 516 Galloway Street, Eau Claire

Cost: $50 per person

Age: All Ages

Let's Be Honest - A (Scary) Grown-Up Storytelling Series

The night's theme is "Totally Ghostly: Frightful tales and family legends." Featured storytellers TBA. Your host will be Mike Paulus. At Let's Be Honest – V1's grownup storytelling series – some of the area's best writers and yarn-spinners take to the mic for a night of personal stories told live.

The Volume One Gallery Located inside the Local Store at the Volume One World Headquarters, 205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Eau Claire Writer-in-Residence Max Garland

Garland is a Professor Emeritus at UW-Eau Claire, where he taught creative writing, literature, and composition. He served as Poet Laureate of Wisconsin for 2013-2014, during which he traveled nearly 20,000 miles across the state as an advocate for poetry and the creative imagination.

Chippewa Falls Public Library 105 W Central St., Chippewa Falls

Cost: FREE

Local Lit: Off the Page

Readings from various local authors. Local Author, former Eau Claire poet laureate, and Professor Emeritus, Bruce Taylor, has goals to entertain and to expose an audience to a wide variety and diversity of writers from the Chippewa Valley (sometimes beyond): poets, spoken word artists, essayists, fiction writers.

The Volume One Gallery Located inside the Local Store at the Volume One World Headquarters, 205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Two Tongues, One Voice: The Bilingual Poetry of Lucille Clifton and Aleida Rodriguez

This talk will explore how Aleida Rodríguez and Lucille Clifton situate themselves culturally and historically by writing in both standard English and their “native” tongues. The program is presented by poet and educator Katie Vagnino.

L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library – Eau Claire Room 400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Everything You Want to Know About Writing for Children (But Were Too Afraid to Ask)

Join children's and middle grade authors Caroline Akervik, Julie Bowe and Becky Wojahn (W.H. Beck) for a panel discussion on a range of topics in the children's writing world: from who hires the illustrator to how to make a living in stories. Moderated by author Rob Reid.

The Volume One Gallery Located inside the Local Store at the Volume One World Headquarters, 205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

True North: Real Wisconsin Stories

True North is a night of authentic stories, dynamic multi-media, and curious collaborations from some of Volume One's favorite writers, filmmakers, performers, artists, and musicians — all live on stage.

Pablo Center at the Confluence 120 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire

Cost: $25 advance, $30 day of

True North: Real Wisconsin Stories

True North is a night of authentic stories, dynamic multi-media, and curious collaborations from some of Volume One's favorite writers, filmmakers, performers, artists, and musicians — all live on stage.

Pablo Center at the Confluence 120 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire

Cost: $25 advance, $30 day of

Tell Me Something Weird Podcast Live With Guest BJ Hollars

Each week, Jodie Arnold and Eric Johnson get together on their podcast to share their love of murders, abductions, end-times predictions, and weird history. This week features: B.J. Hollars, author of such works as Flock Together: A Love Affair With Extinct Birds and Dispatches and many more.

The Plus 208 S. Barstow St, Eau Claire

Cost: FREE

Age: All Ages

Writers Anonymous

Bring your own ideas or browse their writing prompts. 7-7:30pm is a social hour. Settle in and get a drink. 7:30-8:30pm will start with brief introductions and then quiet writing for an hour. From 8:30-9pm you can keep writing or debrief your table about your progress.

SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar 615 Graham Avenue, Eau Claire

A Readers Theatre Production & Uniroyal Film: What Happened to Brian

A follow up to Miller's novel "America's Heartbeat, " in which a main character in the novel was a 52-year-old Uniroyal worker named Brian Chandler. The worst thing you can say about someone who's gone is nothing. See what Happened to Brian, and discover why many workers refer to a plant closing as a death in the family.

The Volume One Gallery Located inside the Local Store at the Volume One World Headquarters, 205 N. Dewey St., Eau Claire

Cost: FREE