WAUSAU – The second annual Central Wisconsin Book Festival returns to the Wausau area in late September.

From Sept. 27 through Sept. 30 various venues throughout the Wausau area will host authors, poets, artists and experts who will hold readings, presentations and lectures.

Events will be spread among MCPL’s Wausau Headquarters, Janke Book Store in Wausau, the UW Center for Civic Engagement in Wausau, Barnes & Noble in Rib Mountain, the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau and Sconni’s Alehouse & Eatery in Schofield.

The line-up of events includes:

  • A reading by four published University of Wisconsin system educators
  • A presentation on Wisconsin haunts with authors Craig Nehring and Enid Cleaves
  • An art and poetry exhibit at the Center for the Visual Arts; a live community storytelling event hosted by author and radio producer Charles Monroe-Kane
  • A literary tour of presidential graves and monuments with Wisconsin Public Radio’s Brady Carlson
  • An introduction to podcasting, also with Monroe-Kane; a presentation on book publishing with author Kenneth Farmer
  • A presentation on lakes with author Ted Rulseh
  • A reading with children’s author Maysee Yang Herr
  • A look at Wisconsin’s jazz history with author Kurt Dietrich
  • A workshop with comic book artist Duachaka Her
  • Street poetry with poet Paul Wiegel
  • A presentation on the state’s old-growth forests with author John Bates
  • A talk with mystery novelist Patricia Skalka
  • A young writer’s showcase with local students
  • An intro to blogging with blogger Alice Mills
  • A visit from Montana Poet Laureate Lowell Jaeger
  • A visit from Dan Kaufman, author of “The Fall of Wisconsin,” a book that’s been making waves and attracting attention nationwide

All events will be free, with only a select few requiring pre-registration. Call 715-261-7230 for more information or visit www.mcpl.us/cwbf.

About the events

SCHOFIELD – Four University of Wisconsin faculty members will read their original works of fiction, non-fiction and poetry during a special event on September 27 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Sconni’s Alehouse & Eatery, 1239 Schofield Ave., Schofield. In attendance will be P.R. Dyjak and Danielle Hale reading poetry, B.J. Hollars reading his non-fiction work and Jill Stukenberg reading fiction.

WAUSAU – Authors Craig Nehring and Enid Cleaves will talk about haunted locations around Wisconsin during a special event on September 28 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau. The authors will also discuss their books and take audience questions.

WAUSAU – “Trace – Art and Poetry,” an exhibit that features original artwork paired with poetry, will debut with a gala opening on September 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the Center for the Visual Arts, 427 N. Fourth St., Wausau. During the gala (and on Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), folks can vote for their favorite combination, with awards presented Sept. 30 from 2-4 p.m.

WAUSAU – Hear a collection of incredible stories (some true, some false) at “Fact and Fiction and Grace: A Live Storytelling Event” on September 28 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the UW Center for Civic Engagement, 625 Stewart Ave., Wausau. Author and radio producer Charles Monroe-Kane will emcee the event, where up to 10 people will tell stories related to the theme of “Grace.”

WAUSAU – Take a literary tour of presidential graves and monuments with Wisconsin Public Radio host Brady Carlson on September 29 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Marathon County Public Library, 300 N. First St., Wausau. Carlson will discuss his book “Dead Presidents,” which talks about how various presidents died and how they are memorialized in death.

WAUSAU – Learn what it takes to create your own podcast during a special workshop with radio producer Charles Monroe-Kane on September 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau. Open to teens and adults, with registration required. Call 715-261-7230 to register.

WAUSAU – Wisconsin author Kenneth Farmer will talk about his experiences self-publishing a book and how it compared to working with a publishing house, during a presentation on September 29 from 9:45-10:45 a.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau.

WAUSAU –Learn about the science behind your favorite lake (or any lake, for that matter!) during a talk with author Ted Rulseh on September 29 from 10-11 a.m. at Janke Book Store, 505 Third St., Wausau. Rulseh will talk about his book “A Lakeside Companion,” which covers various aspects of lakes, from science to scenery.

WAUSAU –Wausau native Maysee Yang Herr will read from her debut bilingual Hmong/English children’s book “Tej Yaam Kuv Nyam/Tej Yam Kuv Nyiam” (“The Things I Like”) on September 29 from 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau.

WAUSAU – Learn about the numerous jazz musicians who were born in Wisconsin, lived here or have connections to the state on September 29 from 10:45-11:45 a.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau. Author and jazz musician Kurt Dietrich will discuss his book “Wisconsin Riffs” and talk about the Badger State’s contributions to the world of jazz.

WAUSAU – Tweens, teens and adults interested in drawing, comics or graphic novels won’t want to miss a two-hour comics workshop with artist Duachaka Her on September 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau. Free, with registration required. For more info or to register, call 715-261-7230.

WAUSAU – Self-proclaimed street poet Paul Wiegel will talk about his approach to writing and performing poetry (and maybe even write a couple of spontaneous poems) on September 29 from 11 a.m. to noon at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau.

WAUSAU – Learn about Wisconsin’s old-growth forests – of which less than 1 percent remain – with naturalist and author John Bates on September 29 from 1-2 p.m. at Janke Book Store, 505 Third St., Wausau. Bates will discuss some of the best old-growth sites around the state.

WAUSAU – Writer Patricia Skalka will talk about her popular Dave Cubiak Door County mystery series on September 29 from 1-2 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau. A Q&A and book signing will follow.

RIB MOUNTAIN – A number of writers from around the central Wisconsin area will gather for a Local Writers Showcase on September 29 from 1-3 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 3400 Rib Mountain Drive, Rib Mountain. Talk with published and self-published authors about their writing techniques, their roads to becoming an author and more!

WAUSAU –Current and former students from the D.C. Everest Area School District, as well as UWSP-Wausau students, will read their own original written works during the Young Writers Showcase on September 29 from 2:15-3:15 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau.

WAUSAU – Blogger Alice Mills will give a presentation on “Blogging for Success 101” on September 29 from 3-4 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau. Mills will cover everything from finding your niche to helping build an audience and more. Free and open to adults.

WAUSAU – Wausau native and 2017-2019 Montana Poet Laureate Lowell Jaeger will give a talk on September 29 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau. Jaeger will read from his numerous published poetry collections and give a Q&A and book signing.

WAUSAU – Author Dan Kaufman will discuss his newly released book “The Fall of Wisconsin” during a special presentation on September 29 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the UW Center for Civic Engagement, 625 Stewart Ave., Wausau. Kaufman will also talk about the current state of politics in Wisconsin and what role the 2018 midterm elections will play.