The Wispresso Cafe—is where books, writing, coffee, and conversation brew together for Wisconsin authors. Hosted by TK Sheffield and starring a rotating cast of your favorite Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) personalities, this is your chance to find your voice, share your story, and be inspired by other creatives.

Zoom > https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82086054922?pwd=hirYSvOLwHOlc8pslQzXxtPZIeC7FD.1

Poetic Strategies: Imagery, Lineation, Syntax, Digression and Moving Forward    

Poems often begin for us as writers after we have an experience that seems charged with meaning. A first draft may get us started on the way to the poem we feel is somehow in this experience. Then what next to bring forth the lyrical quality of that experience? 

Published poems offer examples of poetic strategies that can enhance that lyrical quality of our poems. Among the strategies that we'll pay particular attention to are listing, repetition, digression and moving forward. 

Zoom > https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84716028912

During the two hour Zoom sessions you’ll receive feedback regarding your work from colleagues and a complete critique from instructor Laurie Scheer. This is a safe and supportive space that provides insight and encouragement from like-minded writers. There will be a limit of 8 participants to the group so that everyone receives time and feedback every session. The group is designed for all levels of literary and genre fiction writers. Laurie welcomes ANY fiction (except erotica) from novelists, short story writers, and flash fiction writers.

Zoom >  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88178908247?pwd=xvpu2D9hH47StoauuU5zGbSRG7Q85N.1

Lisa Lickel, author/editor, book coach, and editor of Creative Wisconsin magazine is leading five-week intensive critique groups for novel or other full-length book writers who have a drafted (completed or nearly completed) manuscript and experience working with others in critique groups. PLEASE NOTE: these are five sessions in a row. Maximum 4 and minimum 3 participants. Each participant will submit 25 pages of their own work for critique each week. In turn, they will read and critique pages submitted by the other 2 or 3 participants (maximum 50-75 pages each week). These sessions are for authors who want specific feedback on their novel or other book-length work

Zoom > https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84923853341?pwd=KzJ1Yyt3L0x3TndjNktBOVNMUGQxUT09

Lisa Lickel, author/editor, book coach, and editor of Creative Wisconsin magazine is leading five-week intensive critique groups for novel or other full-length book writers who have a drafted (completed or nearly completed) manuscript and experience working with others in critique groups. PLEASE NOTE: these are five sessions in a row. Maximum 4 and minimum 3 participants. Each participant will submit 25 pages of their own work for critique each week. In turn, they will read and critique pages submitted by the other 2 or 3 participants (maximum 50-75 pages each week). These sessions are for authors who want specific feedback on their novel or other book-length work

Zoom > https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84923853341?pwd=KzJ1Yyt3L0x3TndjNktBOVNMUGQxUT09

During the two hour Zoom sessions you’ll receive feedback regarding your work from colleagues and a complete critique from instructor Laurie Scheer. This is a safe and supportive space that provides insight and encouragement from like-minded writers. There will be a limit of 8 participants to the group so that everyone receives time and feedback every session. The group is designed for all levels of fiction, non-fiction, and memoir writers in either short or long form.

Zoom >  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88178908247?pwd=xvpu2D9hH47StoauuU5zGbSRG7Q85N.1

During the two hour Zoom sessions you’ll receive feedback regarding your work from colleagues and a complete critique from instructor Laurie Scheer. This is a safe and supportive space that provides insight and encouragement from like-minded writers. There will be a limit of 8 participants to the group so that everyone receives time and feedback every session. The group is designed for all levels of literary and genre fiction writers. Laurie welcomes ANY fiction (except erotica) from novelists, short story writers, and flash fiction writers.

Zoom >  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88178908247?pwd=xvpu2D9hH47StoauuU5zGbSRG7Q85N.1

Peggy Joque Williams' new historical fiction Braving the Dawn: A Novel of New France will be released on January 15, 2026 by Black Rose Writing.

My book, A Charisma of Owls, will be published by Atmosphere Press on this date.

Peggy Joque Williams will be celebrating the Launch of Braving the Dawn: A Novel of New France at Mystery to Me Bookstore in Madison with conversation partner Christine DeSmet. Date: January 28, 2026. Time: 6pm. Address: 1863 Monroe St., Madison, WI. Peggy's website:https://peggywilliamsauthor.com/. Mystery to Me website:https://www.mysterytomebooks.com/

In Kenosha county's most notorious case, a man murdered his wife using antifreeze. Ken Humphrey, serving as jury foreman, used the trial as a foundation for a murder mystery that blends John Grisham and The Breakfast Club movie. What emerged was an homage to his fellow jurors, titled The Breakfast Jury. Join him and several jurors as they discuss the experience.

Join us at Blue House Books, 5915 6th Ave A, Kenosha, on February 8, 12-3pm 

TK Sheffield signs "The Valentine Lines," a small-town Wisconsin romcom at Literatus & Co. bookstore, 401 E. Main Street, Watertown, Wis.

Waltraud: A True Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany, authored by Tammy Borden, was chosen as a 2026 Book Club read on Wisconsin Public Radio. Listeners are encouraged to read the book and then listen in for an author interview, call in with questions, and participate in the conversation on air.

DETAILS AT A GLANCE WHAT: Interview with Tammy Borden, author of Waltraud: A True Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany

WHEN: Thursday, February 19 at 11am

WHERE: The Larry Meiller Show

HOW: Tune in on Wisconsin Public Radio (Statewide News & Ideas Network)

There will be a reading from the baseball anthology, The Songs of Summer, on Sunday, March 1, at 2 PM at County Clare Pub, 1234 N. Astor St., Milwaukee.

Contributing poets invited to read their pieces. Open to the public. Just in time for Spring training! Please let Ed know if you are able to attend.

More details to follow. Thank you.

April 10-12, UW-Madison campus: The Wisconsin Screenwriters Symposium, hosted by the UW-Madison Department of Communication Arts, with support from the International Screenwriters’ Association, is holding its contest, pitch event, and panel discussions on the UW-Madison campus.

See the website for complete details and to register for this event: https://screenwriters.commarts.wisc.edu