Best-Selling Author Jane Hamilton scheduled as Keynote Speaker for
7th Annual Southeast WI Festival of Books
WAUKESHA, WI—The Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books in Waukesha returns for its seventh year spotlighting writers who live in Wisconsin or are connected to the state. The two-day festival celebrates its seventh year with the theme “Roots and Branches,” while also highlighting the 50th Anniversary of University of Wisconsin-Waukesha.
This year’s literary festival takes place November 4-5 at the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha, 1500 N. University Drive. The Friday, November 4 Reception and Keynote event is ticketed, while events on Saturday, November 5 are free. Parking is free for both days of the Festival.
The Keynote Speaker is bestselling novelist, Jane Hamilton. Jane Hamilton’s novels have won literary prizes, been made into films, and become international bestsellers; and two of them, The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World, were selections of Oprah’s Book Club. Her nonfiction has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Allure, O: The Oprah Magazine, Elle, and various anthologies. She’s married to an apple farmer and lives in Wisconsin. For more information about the author, visit her website at http://www.janehamiltonbooks.com.
An Evening with Jane Hamilton, with Jim Higgins, book editor from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Authors of the SEWI Festival of Books is a ticketed event held on the UW-Waukesha campus, Friday, November 4, 2016 with the reception beginning at 5:00 p.m. (Commons,) followed by the Keynote at 6:30 p.m. (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre-Fine Arts Building) and a book signing afterwards. Tickets to this event are available to the public for $35 and include Ms. Hamilton’s book, The Excellent Lombards. Tickets may be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2602858 or contact the UW-Waukesha Foundation at 262-446-3328 or wakfoundation@uwc.edu for more information.
Saturday, November 5, at 9 a.m. (Hub,) a Breakfast Session with Jane Hamilton will be held at the Festival which is free to all. Seasoned author and former SEWI Festival of Books keynote speaker Kathie Giorgio will host the event.
More than 60 writers, in varying genres, for adults are scheduled to appear at the festival. In many cases, writers will give presentations or take part in panel discussions, then go to the signing area to inscribe books and meet readers.
The Festival features a Writer Marketplace for writers who publish their own books, a Cookbook stage and various exhibits.
Saturday highlights include an original cabaret inspired by Waukesha Reads! book selection To Kill A Mockingbird, followed by a special session announcing the winners of the Festival of Books Century Fence Essay Contest and Waukesha Reads-The Big Read Flash Fiction Contest.
Special author panels with current and retired faculty and alumni celebrating the roots of UW-Waukesha are scheduled as the institution celebrates its 50th year.
Returning this year is the program, Live Art with guest artists from the Advanced Placement Arts department from Shorewood High School, where art students will be displaying their work and are available to discuss their creations.
Support for the Festival
Grant support for the Festival of Books includes the Waukesha County Community Foundation/Mihi Cura Futuri Fund, the Bernard J. & Marie E. Weiss Fund at the Greater Milwaukee Foundation and We Energies.
Program Sponsors include UW-Waukesha and the UW-Waukesha Lecture & Fine Arts Committee
Corporate Sponsors and community support include All Writers Workplace, Books & Company-Oconomowoc, BMO Harris Bank, Century Fence Company, Country Springs Hotel, Greater Waukesha Literacy, Holiday Inn-Pewaukee, Literacy for All, Meli Bar & Restaurant, Waukesha Reads! and Waukesha State Bank.
