Author Biographies – Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books

2026 Author Biographies

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Colleen Alles is a lifelong Michigander and award-winning writer. The author of three novels and three poetry collections, Colleen earned her MFA at Spalding University. You can find more at www.colleenalles.com.

Alice Benson lives in Wisconsin with her wife. Alice recently retired from a job in a human services field. Her shorter published works have appeared in Woman’s World, Chicken Soup For the Soul, Writers Resist, and a variety of other publications. Alice recently completed writing two books with her granddaughters – Trapped in a Tablet and Nana Was a Bootlegger. Both are published by Watchful Wizard Publishing. Alice’s new adult novel, The Life That She Wanted, was published by Running Wild Press in 2026. For further information, visit alicebensonauthor.com.

April Bentley is the Founder and Executive Director of Rubies Corporation, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit dedicated to prevention, awareness, intervention, and creating safe spaces for youth and families impacted by trauma and exploitation. She is the author of Don’t Rush to Get Old, a personal journey of life lessons, healing, faith, and becoming, and the recording artist behind I’m Free, a declaration of the freedom she has found through overcoming. She also co-authored From Pain to Power, a social-emotional learning comic designed to help young people recognize their internal struggles, understand their emotions, and discover the strength they have within themselves to overcome them.

Maurice Broaddus is an award-winning Afrofuturist, editor, and librarian. He’s had over a hundred short stories published and his books include Marvel’s Black Panther: T’Challa Declassified, Sweep of Stars, Breath of Oblivion, A City Dreaming, Unfadeable, Pimp My Airship, and The Usual Suspects.

Jesse Brookstein has long dabbled in various artistic endeavors, often for fun, occasionally for cash, and always with passion and purpose. Prior to Best of the Wurst, he wrote and self-published A Perfect Pair: The History of Landjaeger in Green County, Wisconsin and 910 Mayer Ave: Exploring the Legendary Oscar Mayer Facility Eight Years After Its Closure. Jesse is also the founder of Third Lake Sausage Shop, which specializes in sausage-related books and gifts. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Liam Callanan is the author of the national bestseller, Paris by the Book, as well as five other books. He’s taught at UWM for more than 20 years. Learn more at liamcallanan.com.

Brenda Cárdenas is the current Wisconsin Poet Laureate and recipient of a 2026 Academy of American Poets’ Laureate Fellowship. She has authored Trace (Red Hen Press), winner of the 2023 Society of Midland Authors Award for Poetry and silver winner of Foreword Review’s Indie Poetry Prize; Boomerang (Bilingual Press); and three chapbooks and has co-edited two poetry anthologies. Her poems and essays have also appeared in many literary journals and anthologies, such as American Poetry Review, Poetry, Latino Poetry: The Library of America Anthology, and Prairie Schooner, which honored her work with their Strousse Award. You can find her at brendacardenas.net.

Greg Carter is Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. He received his Ph.D. in American Studies from University of Texas at Austin. He is author of The United States of the United Races: A Utopian History of Racial Mixing (2013) and I’d Just as Soon Kiss a Wookiee: Uncovering Racialized Desire in the Star Wars Galaxy (2025). He served as President of the Critical Mixed Race Studies Association between 2017-2019.

Matt Cashion’s story collection, Last Words of the Holy Ghost (UNT Press) won the Katherine Anne Porter Prize, his most recent collection, How We Do Things Here (Cornerstone Press) was a finalist in the Flannery O’Connor Award for short fiction, and his novel Our 13th Divorce (Livingston Press) won the Edna Ferber Book Prize. A three-time winner of the Zona Gale award for short fiction, his short story, “Music Appreciation for Dead People,” won first prize in the 2023 Wisconsin People & Ideas fiction contest, judged by Debra Monroe. He earned an MFA from the University of Oregon and teaches Creative Writing at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he also serves as faculty advisor for Steam Ticket Literary Journal. (www.mattcashion.com)

DeWitt Clinton is an Emeritus Professor at UWW-Whitewater living in Shorewood, Wisconsin. He is currently editing his 7th collection of poetry.

John Coy is the author of young adult novels, chapter books, and fiction and nonfiction picture books. He has received numerous awards for his work and loves working with students to celebrate reading and writing. He lives by the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.

J.R. Dawson is a Nebula, Hugo, and Sturgeon Award finalist, and winner of three Golden Crown awards. Her second book, The Lighthouse at the Edge of the World, won Society of Midland Authors’ Best Novel. She currently lives on Dakota land in Minneapolis with her chaotic dogs and loving wife.

James DeVita, a native of Long Island, NY, is an author, actor, and theater director. He is a core company member at American Players Theater, a classical repertory theater in Wisconsin. His novel, Sanctuary, written under the pen name James Cleary, was published in April, 2026 by Penguin Random House in the US and Canada, and also by HarperCollins in the UK. It will be released internationally in Italy, France, and Germany. His previous novels include The Silenced, A Winsome Murder, and Blue.

Phyllis R. Dixon writes fiction that entertains and informs. Her most recent novel, Something in the Water, received the 2026 Astra Award for Best Fiction from the Hollywood Creative Alliance She is a Milwaukee native, UWM graduate and now resides in Memphis, Tennessee.

Marisa Rae Dondlinger is the author of five novels, including SoulMates, Come And Get Me, Gray Lines, Open, and Scenes From a Bar. When not writing, she travels the country watching her children play tennis.

Karen Drecktrah is the author of Little Ida – The Story of a Family Tree. She’s currently working on her second novel, From Ashes. She recently retired and currently lives in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Kennan Ferguson

Nancy Flinchbaugh is an award-winning Christian contemplative author whose life mission includes working and writing for peace, building bridges across racial and political divides, and advocating for the Earth. Her published works include five contemporary novels, (the Revelation series and an environmental love story), as well as two contemplative nonfiction books.

Kathryn Gahl began writing as a farm girl, kept writing while earning dual degrees in English and nursing, a career as nurse manager, and raising two children, alone. The Wisconsin Library Association awarded Outstanding Achievement Awards to The Velocity of Love and The Yellow Toothbrush: A Memoir of Trauma and Mercy. She believes in the transformative power of dark chocolate, deep sleep, and red lipstick.

Barb Geiger, a retired teacher turned adventurer, lives and writes in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Her memoir, Paddle for a Purpose, received the 2019 PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence and the 2024 International Impact Award. Barb’s short memoir and poetry have appeared in several anthologies and Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ calendars, and her poetry chapbook, Mississippi Meanderings, was released in 2024 by Finishing Line Press.

Kathie Giorgio is the author of eight novels, two story collections, an essay collection, and six poetry collections. Her latest poetry collection, The Birth Of A Widow, was released in March 2026. Her eighteenth book, ninth novel, Unique In All The World, will be released in February 2027. She’s been awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association and the Eric Hoffer prize for fiction, and nominated for the Pushcart Prize in fiction and poetry. Giorgio is the director/founder of AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop LLC, an international creative writing studio. Kathie lives, writes, and teaches in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Lilly J. Goren has always been fascinated by the intersection of politics and narrative. This has led her down a twisty path studying and teaching political science, literature, film, television, and popular culture in general. She is a professor of political science at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. She is co-editor, with Nicholas Carnes, of The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume II: Into the Multiverse (University Press of Kansas, 2025), and The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe Volume I: The Infinity Saga (University Press of Kansas, 2022).

Ross Hightower Somehow, after spending most of his life in the south, Ross found himself living in Milwaukee and loving it. One cold, snowy morning, not too long ago, he woke with a story stuck in his head. That wasn’t unusual, but what happened next was unprecedented. He wrote it down. That small story grew into his first novel, Spirit Sight.

Jeanette Hurt In addition to her two bestsellers, Wisconsin Cocktails and The Unofficial ALDI Cookbook, Jeanette Hurt has penned several other books on food and drink including The Whiskey Sour, Drink Like a Woman, and Cauliflower Comfort Food. She is currently at work on her 17th book, which will also feature ALDI.

Thomas Jacobson is a Holocaust survivor who was on the ill-fated M.S. St. Louis. He graduated from UW-Madison Law School in 1962 and founded the first integrated law firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jacobson successfully argued two cases in the U.S. Supreme Court, overturning Wisconsin’s pre-judgment garnishment and change-of-venue laws.

Catherine Jagoe is a poet, essayist, and translator based in Madison, Wisconsin. The recipient of a Pushcart Prize, among several other honors, she has published ten full-length books and four chapbooks across genres. Her memoir Unbelonging: A Life in Search of Home appeared this summer with UW Press.

Nancy Jorgensen is a Wisconsin writer, educator, musician, and blood donor. She is the mother of a high school English teacher, and the 2016 Olympic gold medalist in women’s triathlon. Her essays appear in HuffPost, Business Insider, The Offing, River Teeth, Wisconsin Public Radio, and elsewhere. Her most recent book is a middle-grade sports biography, Gwen Jorgensen: USA’s First Olympic Gold Medal Triathlete (Meyer & Meyer). Find out more at NancyJorgensen.weebly.com

Dasha Kelly is an author, performer, facilitator and creative change agent. She is Poet Laureate Emerita for the city of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin. Her newest releases include an award winning poetry anthology, A Line Meant; a documentary film based on her touring show, Makin’ Cake; and her third novel, Baker’s Dozen.

Michelle Wiberg Kobriger is a lifelong lover of books, art-maker, and resident of southeastern Wisconsin. Her debut novel, AspenRidge—Book 1 of the Persephone’s Garden series—was published May 14, 2026 by Black Rose Writing. Bison Valley Ranch, Book 2 of the series will be released August 18, 2027.

Jim Landwehr has a recently published short story collection, All That It Seems, and four memoirs: At the Lake, Cretin Boy, Dirty Shirt and The Portland House. He also has six poetry collections, including Tea in the Pacific Northwest, and Thoughts from a Line at the DMV. Jim serves on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Writers Association and the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, and lives in Waukesha.

E.A. Lawrence lives with her family, multiple sclerosis, many fountain pens, books, and a pollinator garden in the Great Lakes. Recently, her fiction has been published in SciPhi Journal’s 2021 special thematic issue on xeno-anthropology, ElectricSpec, and Zooscape in 2027. When not writing fiction or reading, E.A. works in academia as a scientist and updates her eclectic blog, Technicolor Lily Pond (https://technicolorlilypond.wordpress.com/), with thoughts and her nature photography.

Valya Dudycz Lupescu is a Chicago writer, poet, and editor. Valya is the author of Mother Christmas, The Silence of Trees, Forking Good, and Geek Parenting. She is also the editor of Embroidered Words, the first anthology of Ukrainian speculative fiction translated into English. Valya earned her MFA in Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been making magic with food and words for 30 years, incorporating traditions from her Ukrainian heritage with practices that honor the Earth. Find her at vdlupescu.com

Rosalind McClain

Hannah Morrissey is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Black Harbor suspense series, Home for the Homicides, and the upcoming Scream City. Her books have been optioned for film/TV. She lives near Milwaukee with her husband and pugs.

Mary Ann Noe Upon retirement, Mary Ann Noe reinvented herself as an author, publishing novels, non-fiction, and poetry. She reads anything she can get her hands on, writes, and bakes (and eats the results). Enjoying grandchildren, she and her husband reside in Wisconsin, where she communes with friends and Mother Nature.

Joshua Parkes is a former actor and the author of The Dust Behind the Door from Koehler Books, available spring of 2027. His previous works include the Reprobate series of sci-fi noir a dozen Purim Spiels that have been produced throughout the United States.

Margaret Rozga, emeritus professor of English at the UW Milwaukee–Waukesha campus, served as the 2019-2020 Wisconsin Poet Laureate. She is the author of six poetry books, most recently Restoring Prairie.

Jesus Salas

Sara Sarna is a poet, actor and hiker living in Southeastern Wisconsin. Her work has been seen in print and online and heard from stage and radio. for more information, please visit sarasarna.com.

Patty Schopp has always found joy in being outdoors, cooking with friends, playing with dogs, savoring art of all types, and cavorting through life with her husband of over 50 years. Her first novel, Promises in the Rough, was published in early 2026 by All Things That Matter Press.

Katrina Serwe started poemwalking after a delightful midlife crisis. She published a chapbook, First Steps (Brain Mill Press, 2025) and a full-length collection, A Thousand Miles of Poetry (WWA Press, April 2026) both comprised of poems foraged on Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail. You can follow her journey at KatrinaSerwe.com.

Jon Shelton is President of the American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin. He is also professor (on leave) of democracy and justice studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. He is the author of two books, most recently, The Education Myth: How Human Capital Trumped Social Democracy, and serves on the Green Bay Common Council.

David Southward taught for decades at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. His poetry collections include Queer Physics (Kelsay Books, 2025), Bachelor’s Buttons (Kelsay Books, 2020) and Apocrypha (Wipf & Stock, 2018). David resides in Milwaukee with his husband, Geoff, and their two beagles. davidsouthward.com

Rhea Thomas lives in Austin, Texas where she works as a program manager in the digital media world. Her short stories have been published in multiple publications, including, most recently, The Fictional Café, Toasted Cheese and Does It Have Pockets, as well as in an anthology titled The Fire Within. Her first book, a collection of short stories, was published in August 2025, and she’s currently working on a literary mystery novel.

Alison Townsend is the author of the PEN finalist memoir, The Green Hour: A Natural History of Home; two books of poetry, Persephone in America and The Blue Dress; and a short prose volume, The Persistence of Rivers. Her poetry and nonfiction appears widely, and has been recognized in Best American Poetry, The Pushcart Prize, and Best American Essays 2020. She is Professor Emerita of English at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and stewards four acres of prairie and oak savanna outside Madison.

Joyce Uglow is the award-winning author of Stuck! The Story of La Brea Tar Pits, including Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2026 SCBWI Crystal Kite (Midwest), Outstanding Science Trade Book, ALSC | ALA Notable, CBC Librarian Favorites, and CBC Teacher Favorites. Her poems have appeared in various anthologies for children.

Stef Wade

Naomi R. Williams

Wendy Wimmer is a writer living in Wisconsin. Her work has been published in Barrelhouse, Waxwing, Paper Darts, Believer, ANMLY, Per Contra, Blackbird, and others. She holds a PhD in English Literature with a Creative Dissertation from the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, and a Master of Arts in English Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She has judged several short story and author competitions, including the Midland Authors Adult Fiction, the Charlotte Short Story Competition and the Pen America Robert Bingham Debut Short Fiction Collection Awards. Her short story debut collection Entry Level: Stories won the Autumn House Fiction Prize, selected by judge Deesha Philyaw, and her debut novel The Doomscroller’s Companion was a finalist for the AWP James Alan McPherson Prize for the Novel, published by University of Wisconsin Press in October 2026. She’s active on Threads @wendy_wimmer or Instagram @wendy_wimmer.

Nancy Yarborough