Friday, November 6
Schedule of Events
Friday, November 6
The 17th Annual Southeastern Wisconsin Festival of Books returns to Carroll University in 2026. Help us kick off events on Friday, November 6 with a reception for our participating authors and writing contest award winners, followed by a Keynote address with author Edward Underhill. Keynote is free and open to the public.
All events on Friday take place in the Carroll University Campus Center Stackner Ballroom at Carroll University, 100 North East Avenue, Waukesha.
5:00 – 8:30 pm
Books & Company Bookstore
will be open for attendees to purchase books
and
Festival 50/50 Raffle
Drawing to be held following the Keynote
5:30 – 7:00 pm
Maas Foundation Reception
Reception for Authors, Presenters and Award Winners
Ticketed Event
Tickets are $10 per person. More information coming soon.
6:00 – 6:45 pm
Opening Comments
B.J. Best, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Carroll University
Century Companies Essay and Poetry Contest for Middle School Students
Century Companies Essay and Poetry Contest for High School Students
Duane Stein Short Story Writing Contest for Middle School and High School Students
Liliian Boese Excellence in College Writing
AllWriters’ Adult Creative Writing Contest
7:00 – 8:30 pm
Welcome
Kathie Giorgio, Program Chair, Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books
Edward Underhill is the author of The House of Now and Then, The In-Between Bookstore, and the YA novels Always the Almost, This Day Changes Everything, and In Case You Read This.
Facilitator: City of Waukesha Mayor Alicia Halvensleben
8:30 – 9:00 pm
Book Signing with Edward Underhill
Sales by Books & Company
Please also join us on Saturday, November 7 beginning at 9:00 am as our festival continues in Main Hall. There will be 4 sessions with a total of 20 panel discussions and presentations featuring 50 authors through the day. Book sales and book signings by authors will also be available.