• art,  authors,  books,  fiction,  madison,  publishing,  The Curiosities

    THE CURIOSITIES is Here!

    The Curiosities hit bookstore shelves on February 5, 2019, and I’m so happy that this book is finally out in the world and in the hands of readers. Set in a fictional artists’ colony run out of a lakeside mansion in Madison, Wisconsin, it’s a novel about artists, inspiration, and how to reinvent your life with purpose and flair. And, because I’m sucker for stories about second chances, it’s also about finding hope and joy after loss and mistakes. Pick up your copy at your favorite independent bookseller or online here. Here’s what others have had to say about The Curiosities: “Featuring a cast of characters as varied as the…

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  • art,  creativity,  design,  fashion,  local,  madison,  style,  wisconsin

    Read(y) to Wear Benefit Fashion Show

    Most of the time, being a writer is decidedly NOT glamorous. I shudder to think how many hours I’ve spent sitting in front of my laptop, shoulders hunched over the keyboard, with coffee stains on my leggings. But every now and then, the author life opens the door to a “pinch me I’m dreaming” type of opportunity. The Read(y) to Wear fashion benefit was one of such opportunities. On April 29, 2017, I got to “model” a paper dress made by fellow writer Holly Tierney-Bedord, and walk the runway with several lovely literary and design-minded people from Madison and surrounding areas. Proceeds from ticket sales went to Madison Reading Project, a…

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  • books,  madison,  writing

    Five Years Later, We’re Still Listening to our Mothers

    Five years ago, I met Ann Imig at Writers’ Institute, an annual writing conference held at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We connected at the coffee station in between sessions and decided to grab lunch at a little Mexican bistro called Chipotle. Ann was in a hurry, see. “I have go shopping,” she said. “My kids are with a babysitter and it’s my only chance.” Little did I know back then just how much Ann can accomplish while her kids are with a babysitter. What Ann needed to go shopping for that day was a dress to wear on stage as director of her very first Listen to Your Mother  show–a…

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  • authors,  beauty,  debut author,  fashion,  local,  madison,  vintage,  wisconsin

    Check “Cover Girl” Off the Bucket List

    BRAVA magazine chose VINTAGE as its literary salon selection for October 2014. In addition to holding an lovely vintage-themed author event at A La Crate Vintage Rentals, they interviewed me and did a photo shoot. It was a dream come true to show up and see racks of lovely vintage clothes and accessories laid out for me in my size! To read the interview on books, writing, and all things vintage, click here.

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  • authors,  book launch,  books,  entertaining,  local,  madison,  vintage

    Vintage Launch Party Pictures

    Last Saturday was the book launch party for my debut novel, VINTAGE, held at the High Noon Saloon in Madison. We had a great turnout, with most guests arriving dressed in vintage attire. Madison bookseller A Room of One’s Own sold over 100 copies of VINTAGE at the event. Thank you to all who attended! Click on any image to see a larger version.  

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  • authors,  books,  fiction,  literature,  madison,  recipes,  seasonal,  summer,  sweets

    A French Dessert and a Fresh Read

    For me, one of summer’s great joys is scarfing down mass quantities of berries and stone fruits. Another one of the season’s pleasures is sitting in a shaded spot, curled up with a good book. When the two converge? Serendipity. Last week, the fruit box delivered by my CSA farm was packed tight with eight pounds of sweet cherries. My husband, son, and I stuffed as many into our mouths as we could. Immediately. When we wiped the red juice from our faces, though, we still had quite a few cherries left. Enter, The Good Luck Girls of Shipwreck Lane, the delightful debut novel by Kelly Harms that I happened to be…

  • books,  dogs,  literature,  madison,  pets,  publishing,  storytelling,  wisconsin,  writing

    Q&A with Author Erin Celello

    Today I’m thrilled to be featuring an interview with Madison author Erin Celello about her latest novel, Learning to Stay (NAL/Penguin 2013), which, as Erin describes it, explores “the question of what happens when one person in a marriage becomes someone fundamentally different.” In Learning to Stay, what triggers the change is a traumatic brain injury that the husband, Brad, suffers while serving in the Iraq war. The injury dramatically alters his personality, transforming him from a thoughtful and patient man into someone who requires much more care than his wife, Elise, can provide while also keeping up with the demands of her career as a lawyer.  I’m not yet finished with the book–so…

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