Central Wis. Book Festival to be held late September

WAUSAU – Readers, writers, artists, poets and anyone who appreciates the written word are invited to attend literary events that make up the third annual Central Wisconsin Book Festival.

The festival features readings, workshops and panel discussions with authors, poets, artists and other experts, and runs Sept. 23 through Sept. 29 at various venues throughout the Wausau area.

This year’s lineup consists of nearly 20 free events. A few events require pre-registration. Call 715-261-7230 for more information or visit www.mcpl.us/cwbf.

The lineup

• Pardeep Singh Kaleka and Arno Michaelis – a Sikh and a former white supremacist – will talk about the friendship they formed following a 2012 shooting at a Sikh temple on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Wausau East High School Auditorium, 2607 N. 18^th St., Wausau.
• An open mic poetry reading will be held on Sept. 26 from 4-5 p.m. at Jalapeños Mexican Restaurante & Bar, 300 Third St., Wausau. A poetry reading with poet Heidi Czerwiec will follow from 5-6:30 p.m.
• Attend a poetry workshop on activist poetry with Wisconsin Poet Laureate Margaret Rozga on Sept. 27 from 2-4 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library, 300 N. First St., Wausau, or on Sept. 28 from 1-3 p.m. at the Center for the Visual Arts, 427 N. Fourth St., Wausau.
• Historian and author, and Wausau native, Charles Hughes will explore the history of race in movies, fashion and other forms of popular culture during an engaging talk on Sept. 27 from 6-7 p.m. at the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, 309 McClellan St., Wausau.
• Poet, essayist and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib will read selections from his newly-released book of poetry “A Fortune for Your Disaster” on Sept. 27 from 7:30-8:30 p.m. at the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, 309 McClellan St., Wausau.
• Author Scott Spoolman will discuss the geology and history of Wisconsin’s many state parks during a presentation on Sept. 28 from 10-11 a.m. at the Marathon County Historical Society, 410 McIndoe St., Wausau.
• Hear six central Wisconsin writers talk about their careers, how they got started, the obstacles they have faced and more during “Homegrown: A Local Writers Panel” on Sept. 28 from 10:30 a.m. until noon at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau.
• Learn the basics of writing a memoir or family history during a free workshop on Sept. 28 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Marathon County Historical Society, 410 McIndoe St., Wausau. Author Jen Rubin will talk about the process of writing her own memoir and offer tips for crafting your own.
• Author Jen Rubin will read from her memoir “We Are Staying” and talk about the long storied history of her family’s small business that operated in Manhattan for 80 years during a talk on Sept. 28 from 1-2 p.m. at the Marathon County Historical Society, 410 McIndoe St., Wausau.
• Authors Callie Bates, Liam Callanan and Charles Hughes will talk about what inspires them to write, and what led them to a career in literature, during an author panel discussion on Sept. 28 from 1-2 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau.
• Hear about the issues and events that shaped Wisconsin’s capital during the 1960s on Sept. 28 from 2-3 p.m. at the Marathon County Historical Society, 410 McIndoe St., Wausau. Author Stuart Levitan will talk about his book “Madison in the Sixties,” discuss significant events and more.
• Wisconsin author Liam Callanan will read from his latest novel “Paris by the Book” and answer audience questions during an author visit on Sept. 28 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau.
• Wisconsin Poet Laureate Margaret Rozga will read from her latest acclaimed book of poetry on Sept. 28 from 4-5 p.m. at the Center for the Visual Arts, 427 N. Fourth St., Wausau. Rozga will also talk about activist poetry and will answer audience questions.
• Acclaimed writer and graphic novelist Craig Thompson will talk about his work and how growing up in Marathon County has influenced him during an author talk on Sept. 28 from 7-8 p.m. at the UW Center for Civic Engagement, 625 Stewart Ave., Wausau.
• Author and adventurer Melanie Radzicki McManus will recount her 36-day journey hiking more than 1,000 miles on Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail during a talk on Sept. 29 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau.
• Members of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets will read their work during a public reception on Septe. 29 from 2-4 p.m. at the Marathon County Public Library’s Wausau Headquarters, 300 N. First St., Wausau. Former Wisconsin Poet Laureate Bruce Dethlefsen and other poets will be in attendance.
• Popular mystery novelist Victoria Houston will discuss about the inspiration for her latest novel “Dead Big Dawg” during a book talk and Q&A on Sept. 29 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Trails End Lodge, 3901 Sherman St., Wausau.