Here’s Your Spot to Find In Person and Virtual Author Appearances
Presented by Independent Bookstores in Southeast Wisconsin
Sonja’s List was named in honor of the late Sonja J. Maas
May 2, 11:00 am CDT
Wonderland Bookshop
4001 N. Downer Ave., Shorewood
In Person Author Event
Amanda Sherer, author of The Quietest Thing
Registration:
https://www.wonderlandbookshop.com/event-details-registration/story-time-with-author-amanda-sherer
May 2, 2:00-6:00 pm CDT
Martha Merrell’s Books & Toys
231 W. Main St., Waukesha
In Person Author Event
Sean Sorce, author of Again: No Shortcomings, Just Short Stories, and Alaria Taylor, author of Dear Younger Self
Information:
https://marthamerrellbooks.com
May 2, 2:00-8:00 pm CDT
Martha Merrell’s Books & Toys
231 W. Main St., Waukesha
In Person Author Event
Michael Herbert, author of I Am Wonderfully Made in God’s Image
Information:
https://marthamerrellbooks.com
May 2, 6:30 pm CDT
Books & Company and
Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books
at 1039 Summit Ave., Oconomowoc
In Person Author Event
Kathie Giorgio, author of The Birth of a Widow, in conversation with Marcia Williams
Registration:
https://booksco.com/event/2026-05-02/kathie-giorgio-poetry-conversation
May 5, 5:30 pm CDT
Wonderland Bookshop
4001 N. Downer Ave., Shorewood
In Person Author Event
Donna Ghorbanpoor, author of Vacationship: Oh My Affogato!
Registration:
https://www.wonderlandbookshop.com/event-details-registration/book-launch-party-oh-my-affogato
May 5, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Claire Swinarski, author of The Supper Club Saints, in conversation with Olesya Salnikova Gilmore
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-05/swinarski-supper-saints
May 6, 6:30 pm CDT
Blue House Books
at Kemper Center
6501 3rd Ave., Kenosha
In Person Author Event
Katherine Applegate, author of Wombat Waiting
Tickets:
http://www.withfriends.co/event/27566649/wombat_waiting_katherine_applegate_in_kenosha
May 6, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Cory Haala, author of When Democrats Won the Heartland: Progressive Populism in the Age of Reagan, 1978-1992
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-06/haala-democrats-heartland
May 7, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Sarah Dessen, author of Change of Plans, in conversation with Donna Ghorbanpoor
Tickets:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-07/ticketed-dessen-plans
May 7, 6:30 pm CDT
The Well Red Damsel
6429 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa
In Person Author Event
S. A. Barnes, author of Death’s Daughter
May 7, 7:00 pm CDT
Woodland Pattern Book Center
720 E. Locust St., Milwaukee
Hybrid In Person/Virtual Author Event
Alan Felsenthal, author of Hereafter, and Dr. Kendra Sullivan, author of Reps
Information:
https://woodlandpattern.org/events/poetry-reading-alan-felsenthal-and-dr-kendra-sullivan
May 8, 6:30 pm CDT
(Rescheduled from April 17)
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Annelise Ryan, author of Monster in the Moonlight
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-04-17/ryan-monster-moonlight
May 9, 3:30 pm CDT
Blue House Books
5915 6th Ave. A, Kenosha
In Person Author Event
Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck, authors of Uh-Oh, Hugo!
Registration:
http://www.withfriends.co/event/27775288/uh_oh_hugo_jonathan_stutzman_and_jay_fleck_in_kenosha
May 10, 3:00 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Jonathan Stutzman and Jay Fleck, authors of Uh-Oh, Hugo!
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-10/stutzman-fleck-hugo
May 12, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Mark A. Johnson, author of American Bacon: The History of a Food Phenomenon
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-12/johnson-american-bacon
May 12, 6:30 pm CDT
Reads By the River and
Waterford Stillhouse
at 228 E. Main St., Waterford
In Person Author Event
James Cleary, author of Sanctuary
May 13, 6:30 pm CDT
Books & Company
1039 Summit Ave., Oconomowoc
In Person Author Event
Claire Swinarski, author of The Supper Club Saints, in conversation with Amy E. Reichert
Registration:
https://booksco.com/event/2026-05-13/claire-swinarski-conversation-amy-reichert
May 13, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Kirk Deeter, author of A Fishable Feast: Fly Fishing and Eating Your Way Around the World
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-13/deeter-fishable-feast
May 14, 6:30 pm CDT
Blue House Books
5915 6th Ave. A, Kenosha
In Person Author Event
Brighton Walsh, author of The Roommate Rules, in conversation with Ren Browne
May 14, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company and
Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee
at 2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Giovanna González, author of Cultura & Cash: Lessons from the First Gen Mentor for Managing Finances and Cultural Expectations
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-14/hpgm-presents-gonzalez
May 14, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company and
Villa Terrace Museum & Gardens
at 2220 N. Terrace Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Kenneth Dahlin, author of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Path to Beauty,
Tickets:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-14/dahlin-wright-villa
May 15, 6:00 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company and
Urban Ecology Center
at Riverside Park
1500 E. Park Place. Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
James H. McCommons,author of The Feather Wars and the Great Crusade to Save America’s Birds
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-15/mccommons-feather-wars-uec
May 15, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Michael Gebert. author of The Chicago Way: An Oral History of Chicago Dining, in conversation with Kyle Johnson Cherek
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-15/gebert-chicago-way
May 16, 11:00 am-2:00 pm CDT
Blue House Books
5915 6th Ave. A, Kenosha
In Person Author Event
Markelle Grabo, author of The Redwood Bargain
Registration:
http://www.withfriends.co/event/27754123/meet_and_greet_with_markelle_grabo
May 19, 6:30 pm CDT
Books & Company and
Pauline Haas Public Library
at N64 W23820 Main St., Sussex
In Person Author Event
Claire Swinarski, author of The Supper Club Saints
Registration:
https://booksco.com/event/2026-05-19/claire-swinarski-pauline-haas-public-library-sussex
OR
https://paulinehaass.librarycalendar.com/event/claire-swinarksi-author-event-3596
May 19, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Dane Bahr, author of The Dead Ringer, in conversation with Mary Webber O’Malley
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-19/bahr-dead-ringer
May 20, 5:00 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company and
Bernie’s Book Bank
at Prairie Springs on Park
1420 E. Park Place, Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Kathryn Stockett, author of The Calamity Club, in conversation with Natalie Shepherd
Tickets:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-20/stockett-calamity-luncheon
May 20, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company
2559 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Bill Schweigart, author of Dirty 20, in conversation with Nick Petrie
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-20/schweigart-dirty-20
May 20, 6:30 pm CDT
Boswell Book Company,
Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters and
Milwaukee Public Library
at Centennial Hall
733 N. Eighth St., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Joy Harjo, author of Girl Warrior: On Coming of Age, in conversation with Sherman Funmaker.
Registration:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-20/harjo-girl-warrior-mpl
May 21, 1:00 pm CDT
Books & Company and
Boswell Book Company
at Oconomowoc Public Library
200 W. South St., Oconomowoc
In Person Author Event
Caro Claire Burke, author of Yesteryear, in conversation with Daniel Goldin and Lisa Baudoin
Registration:
https://booksco.com/event/2026-05-21/caro-claire-burke-readings-oconomowaukee
May 21, 6:30 pm CDT
Books & Company and
Boswell Book Company
at UWM Student Union, Ballroom B
2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
Caro Claire Burke, author of Yesteryear, in conversation with Daniel Goldin and Lisa Baudoin
Registation:
https://boswellbooks.com/event/2026-05-21/burke-yesteryear-oconomowaukee
May 22, 7:00 pm CDT
Woodland Pattern Book Center
720 E. Locust St., Milwaukee
Hybrid In Person/Virtual Author Event
Soham Patel, author of The Daughter Industry; Mauricio Kilwein Guevara, author of The Thieves of Guevara; and Brenda Cárdenas, author of Trace
Information:
https://woodlandpattern.org/events/reading-a-homecoming-farewell-weekend-friday
May 23, 10:00 am-1:00 pm CDT
Literatus & Co. Books
401 E. Main St., Watertown
In Person Author Event
Ben Sadler, author of In The Meaning Full Life
Information:
https://www.literatusbooks.com/events
May 23, 1:00-9:00 pm CDT
Woodland Pattern Book Center
720 E. Locust St., Milwaukee
Hybrid In Person/Virtual Author Event
Bryon Cherry, Siwar Masannat, Bethany Price, edie roberts, Chelsea Tadeyeske, Sherwin Bitsui, Kimberly Blaeser, Franklin K.R. Cline, and Jake Skeets
Information:
https://woodlandpattern.org/events/reading-a-homecoming-farewell-weekend-saturday
May 23, 2:00 pm CDT
Lion’s Tooth Bookstore and Cafe
2421 S. Kinnickinnic Ave., Milwaukee
In Person Author Event
R.M. Almonte, author of Fogs of Time
Information:
https://www.lionstoothmke.com/events.html
May 30, 10:00 am-1:00 pm CDT
Literatus & Co. Books
401 E. Main St., Watertown
In Person Author Event
Krista Bleich, author of The One Who Knows: A Memoir of Starting Over in Midlife It’s Never Too Late
Information:
https://www.literatusbooks.com/events
May 30, 1:00 pm CDT
Blue House Books
5915 6th Ave. A, Kenosha
In Person Author Event
Katherine Packert Burke, author of All Us Saints, in conversation with Jimmy Juliano
May 31, 5:00 pm CDT
The Well Red Damsel
6429 W. North Ave., Wauwatosa
In Person Author Event
Máire Roche, author of Bromantasy, in conversation with Morgan Kielisch
Information is accurate at the time of publication.
Please use provided links to verify that event information has not changed.