Midwest Writers Room

BIO: Dave grew up on a dairy farm in northwest Wisconsin, and went on to earn a degree in journalism at UW-Eau Claire. He worked at the Rice Lake (WI) newspaper for more than 40 years as sports/outdoors editor, earning 20 first-place awards in the Wisconsin Newspaper Assn. for writing and photography. In retirement, Dave continues to write an outdoors blog, and an outdoors column for three norther...

BIO: Larissa is a fantasy romance who recently released her debut, A Realm of Lies and Power. When she isn’t in the trenches of being a mom, she can be found in the library–dreaming up new realms and brooding-anti heroes. She wouldn’t give a second thought to striking a deal with a faerie king if the chance presented itself.  SYNOPSIS: "I only killed in one of two ways. By the High Lord’s com...

BIO: Steven W. Strackbein began writing in his early thirties, during his military training amid the final days of the Iraq War. That time marked the beginning of a lifelong pursuit of storytelling, one that’s driven by a deep interest in human nature. Over the years, he earned degrees in Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, and an MBA—each one providing insights into the complexities of people a...

BIO:  Frank S Joseph's award-winning “Chicago Trilogy” novels -- TO DO JUSTICE, TO WALK HUMBLY and TO LOVE MERCY -- tell a story of lives forever changed by racial turmoil that marked and marred Chicago at mid century, a great city going up in flames. Frank lived it. As an Associated Press correspondent, he covered the ’60s riots that wracked Chicago’s inner city; the '67 Detroit riot, w...

BIO: Born in 1981, at the hospital in Grantsburg, Wisconsin, Sara Hefty (she/her) grew up on a family farm near Pine City, Minnesota, studied at multiple colleges and universities in the Midwest, and later established a home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, with her husband Brian. They have two dogs, Bexley Joy and Freyja Sunshine, together known as The Golden Girls. RINGING THE BELLS: SHE’S RECOLLECTING...

BIO: Trotta released his first cheese-based children's book in 2016 titled “Florida Cheese” then his second children's book “Wisconsin Cheese” in 2017, and his third book “California Cheese” in 2019, before unveiling “Minnesota Cheese” in 2025 (after a long Covid break). Trotta, who grew up in Waunakee where his father Dick served as a hall of fame high school football coach, played foot...

BIO: Writing under the pen name J. Ellis Blaise (blaze), James Salimes has served as Chaplain, Pastor, and Spiritual Counselor for two decades. At an early age, he descended into dungeons with pen and paper in hand. Enchanted by spells and sipping bitter tea warmed by dragon fire, he wrote tales of magical places. The Fullness of Time began as a bedtime story for his children. His wife, a creative...

BIO: Kelly is a children’s book author from the Fox Valley of Wisconsin, who has had a keen interest in true animal stories from the time she was a little girl.  She credits her years working as a preschool director, then public library marketing coordinator,  for helping her recognize the book themes and subject matter that most captivate young readers’ attention. She lives with her family, which...

BIO: Carol has an MA in Communication. She freelanced for newspapers and magazines. She did stand-up comedy and wrote and produced children’s plays. Orange Blossom Publishing released her YA Mystery, Early Summer , in 2022. Black Rose Writing published her middle-grade fantasy, Isasnora Snores , in 2019. Rowley Peters and the Lumberjack Ghost is Paur’s third children’s book. Paur is a member of SC...

BIO: Today we are interviewing Samantha Jacquest (jay-quest), owner of Blue House Books in Kenosha WI.  Sam grew up in Kenosha, graduating from the Communications Academy from Indian Trail, and went to college at UW-Whitewater majoring in journalism. After a year working in the newspaper industry, she went on to earn her Master of the Arts degree in Publishing from Oxford Brookes University in the...

BIO:  Author Peggy Joque Williams is a retired elementary school teacher. A Yooper by birth, Peggy grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula; but having raised her family in Madison, Wisconsin, she considers herself a Cheesehead by choice. When not writing, Peggy indulges her passion for genealogy research. She has traced her ancestral roots to 10th century France and England. She is especially proud...

BIO: Steven has severe cerebral palsy. Morse code is how he writes using his head since he is unable to use his hands. Steven has a Bachelor of Science with a writing minor from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and a Liberal Arts degree from Madison College. He is a client of The Purcell Agency. His books, It's A New Life! Mom Is Gone and I Found Love is available on Amazon. Currentl...

BIO: Malcolm McDowell Woods was born in Scotland to Irish parents and spent his childhood on the move, living in Derry, Northern Ireland, before emigrating to Canada and, ultimately, the United States. He is a freelance editor and writer and university lecturer and resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with his partner and their two dogs. Woods co-authored the book, Irish Wit and Wisdom , and was a co-...

BIO: Born and raised in Wisconsin, the author developed her passion for writing in sixth grade, courtesy of a first-year teacher’s creative writing assignment. The assignment was to write and illustrate a children’s book. The assignment was considered a big deal by the local newspaper, including a front-page article with pictures. The writing bug had bitten. Writing remained as an infrequent hobby...

BIO: Jennie Goloboy joined the Donald Maass Literary Agency in 2017, after six years at a Twin Cities-based literary agency. She has a PhD in the History of American Civilization from Harvard, and published a book based on her dissertation, Charleston and the Emergence of Middle-Class Culture in the Revolutionary Era , in 2016.  Her novel, Obviously Aliens, was published by Queen of Swords Press i...

BIOS: Jodi Kiffmeyer - Jodi is a native of northwestern Wisconsin who grew up begging her grandma for old family stories. That interest in family history eventually led her to the fascinating world of local history. Now she’s the one telling stories from her home in Eau Claire, where she also works as the archivist for the Chippewa Valley Museum. She’s published two books on Eau Claire history and...

BIO: Mary Wagner is a Wisconsin writer living in Sheboygan, and an award-winning essayist and children’s book author. She has been playfully compared to “Erma Bombeck…but in sexier shoes,” and described as “the Midwest’s answer to Carrie Bradshaw.” Wagner’s writing career started with reporting for both of Milwaukee’s major newspapers, and then shifted to magazine freelancing as she raised a young...

BIO: G. Anthony is a poet, writer, and creator of Nobody’s Words , a poetic memoir that reflects his journey of healing, transformation, and self-discovery. A Midwest native, G’s philosophy centers on stripping away imposed identities to embrace authenticity and inner freedom. G’s work is rooted in his experiences with mental health, resilience, and the power of creative expression. When he’s not...

BIO: Since graduating with a BA in Writing from Winona State University, Sally Collins’ work has appeared regularly in the Peninsula Pulse newspaper and Door County Living magazine. A semifinalist for the 2024 Wisconsin People & Ideas short fiction contest, her creative writing has recently appeared in Barstow and Grand and Feels Blind Literary. She lives in Door County, where she proudly serv...

BIO: Brian Reisinger is an award-winning writer who grew up working with his dad on their family farm in Sauk County, Wisconsin. He lives to tell the hidden stories of rural America and has been published by USA Today , Newsweek , Yahoo News , the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel , PBS/Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life,” The Daily Yonder , RealClearPolitics , The Hill , and elsewhere. Reisinger’s...

BIO: John Krause is the author of the Pudge Amazon series for middle-grade readers. A big fan of words, books, and libraries, John is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, a member of the Wisconsin Writers Association, and a Distinguished Toastmaster through Toastmasters International. When not writing or reading, he enjoys hiking, camping, and road trips. John lives...

BIO: Today we are interviewing Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong. Cathie is a literary agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency with nearly nine years experience in the business. A life-long lover of books, Cathie has vivid memories of the exact day she unlocked the secret code behind letters that, when combined, form words. Since then, it’s the rare occasion when you’ll find her without a book in her hand, a...

Bio: This Chapter Break episode features Patrick O’Donnell and his latest publication The Good Collar: A Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Thriller Patrick O’Donnell, a retired City of Milwaukee police sergeant with 25 years of street experience, where he supervised various special units and investigated major felonies. He’s the author of ten books, including his upcoming thriller, The Good Collar....

Bio: Nick Chiarkas  is a frequent writers’ conference presenter, a Wisconsin Writers Association Board Member, and the author of nine traditionally published books: two award-winning novels, Weepers and Nunzio's Way, and seven nonfiction books. He grew up in the Al Smith housing projects on Manhattan's Lower East Side. When he was in the fourth grade, his mother was told by the principal...

BIO: Tom lived the first five years of his life in Friendship, WI. He wrote his first story, A Dog Named Beer , in the second grade, to the amusement of his fellow students. Tom went on to earn a MBA and Masters in Creative Writing. He then spent forty years in academic medicine programs and physician practices. Throughout it all, he never lost his passion for writing. After living in Los Angeles...