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Fox Cities Book Festival: Connecting writers and readers across our diverse communities.

Laura Jamison

Fiction
https://laurajamisonauthor.com/

I never set out to be a writer. But I was always a terrific reader.
I grew up in a town of two thousand, nestled on the Ohio River. My fondest childhood memories were combing the stacks of the Ripley Library, the last Carnegie Library to be built in the state of Ohio, or going with my parents to the mall and being allowed to buy a new book. I read everything, but, even then, I had a particular fondness for books that considered women’s choices. Those of you of a certain age might remember the Sunfire books, a series of young adult historical romance novels published by Scholastic Books in the 1980s. I collected them all. It wasn’t the romance that drew me in. It was the choices – should Emily simply fall back on her wealthy family or follow her dream to work hard and become a nurse? No chance, of course, for Emily to become a doctor in turn-of-the century New York.
When it was time for my own choices, I gravitated to law. There was a lot I loved about it, and still do. At its best, practicing law is about thinking creatively and helping people craft solutions that create new value for both sides. I’ve been lucky to practice law both in a large national firm and at two publicly traded companies while raising my four children. No two days are the same and I have had the good fortune to work alongside a number of talented people including my most important partner, my husband, Nate (feeding twins at midnight and three a.m. so I can sleep–he’s got that handled).
And yet. Life had more in store for me because in the summer of 2016, at the ripe old age of 41, I began work on my first novel. I hadn’t written a word of fiction since middle school (at least not that I can remember). I was visiting my parents when the idea for the book came to me. I read a news item that another high-flying woman was writing a book about how women could architect their lives to be successful. Here we go again, I thought. Another book geared toward telling women, not institutions or society, to change themselves (and from an author who I doubted had a perspective that would be relevant to most moms). Exhausting and irritating. But this author, after all, is a person who is trying to be helpful, in her way. What if she was your friend, even your best friend? And so the idea All the Right Mistakes was born.
From my perspective, I believe that we are living in an extraordinary time for women. While it’s true that there have never been more choices for women than there are now, it’s also true that there is significant, unfinished business when it comes to achieving equality at work and home. I don’t have the solution, but I do have a story to tell. I’m grateful to my publisher, She Writes Press, for giving me a opportunity to tell it. Please drop me a note and tell me your story. Or better yet, write it, because, whatever happens to me as a writer, I know one thing for sure–I’ll always be reading!



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In partnership with Diverse & Resilient, the Commu In partnership with Diverse & Resilient, the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Appleton Public Library, and Lawrence University we are excited to present festival kick off author, Carmen Maria Machado on October 11th at 6:30 PM. 

Machado is the author of In the Dream House, a book that has been lauded as "original, subversive, proud, and joyful" by the LA Times.

The event takes place on National Coming Out Day. Join us in person for a virtual watch party on the Lawrence University Campus (Warch Center Campus Cinema). 

See you there!
Enjoying the freedom to watch Fox Cities Book Fest Enjoying the freedom to watch Fox Cities Book Festival Events in your pjs or wishing for the energy of the Festival crowd? We have events for both of those vibes! The 2022 Festival schedule features both online and in person events. You can see the complete schedule by going to: https://foxcitiesbookfestival.org/schedule/
Fox Cities Book Festival will be at Market on Main Fox Cities Book Festival will be at Market on Main on September 10th in Little Chute. Stop by to get a 2022 festival schedule or support the festival by purchasing your next read from our book sale fundraiser.
Join the Fox Cities Book Festival at Stone Arch Ti Join the Fox Cities Book Festival at Stone Arch Tied House from 11AM - 3 PM on June 11th on the patio for AUTHORS & ALES. <3

Be the first to know who will be visiting the Fox Cities for our in person 2022 Fox Cities Book Festival October 13-16 and meet local writers.

Fox Cities Book Festival connects writers to readers! Meet over 20 local authors during Authors & Ales. Drop in anytime to meet local writers, purchase their books, and find your next favorite read. Support local authors while enjoying food and drink available for purchase from Stone Arch Tied House.
Local authors attending Authors & Ales include:
• Julia Flaherty
• Ryan Surprise
• Chia Gounza Vang
• Barbara Wulf
• Leah Dobrinska
• Adrian Martin
• J.B. Sensenbrenner
• Kirsten Hopfensperger
• Patrick Phair
• Cailyn Lloyd
• Jill Dobbe
• James Richard Lawrence
• Trevor Wangeline
• Diane Dahl
• Michelle Marez
• Linda Vander Heyden
• Cynthia Schumerth
• Pao Lor

Drop in anytime during the event to be the first to get the 2022 Fox Cities Book Festival schedule! Pick up the printed 2022 Festival week schedule and purchase books by our Fall Festival authors from The Book Store. A portion of The Book Store sales will benefit Fox Cities Book Festival.
Join us on FRIDAY, MAY 27TH AT 4:30PM at the Littl Join us on FRIDAY, MAY 27TH AT 4:30PM at the Little Chute Public Library for Native American Games. Part of the supplemental events for the 2022 Fox Cities Reads!

For all ages, no registration required! This session will include games from Native Alaska and Tribes around Indian Country. Inuit Stick-Pull, Run and Scream, and Ball Race will be featured. All games will start with a short historical and Native cultural presentation, demonstration, and then game play. Wear comfortable shoes and clothing for learning and playing some Native Traditional games.

About the Instructor: 
Paul is Wolf Clan and a proud member of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin. He graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education in 1984; earned his Master of Tribal Administration and Governance from the University of Minnesota Duluth in May of 2018; and has enjoyed working in the Native Youth Development field ever since. Physical Education, Parks and Recreation Management and Native Traditional Games is his passion and has allowed him to live, work and play in Durango, CO, Santa Fe, NM, Albuquerque, NM, Tempe, AZ and at home on the Oneida Reservation. Paul also taught Physical Education and was the Recreation Director at the Indian Community School in Milwaukee, WI where he successfully implemented Native Traditional Games into both programs. In August of 2014 Paul completed his duties and responsibilities as an elected Tribal Councilman for the Oneida Nation, 12 years of serving his Community and Nation on the local, state, federal and international levels have been an invaluable experience for him.
Thanks to everyone who came to hear Tommy Orange t Thanks to everyone who came to hear Tommy Orange tonight!
The Fox Cities Reads event featuring Tommy Orange, The Fox Cities Reads event featuring Tommy Orange, author of "There There," takes place TONIGHT at the Appleton North High School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. 
Some reminders for tonight's event: 
This is a FREE event.
No tickets are required. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 
Sorry, there is no virtual option.
There will be 15 minutes of audience Q&A, so bring your questions!
Please wear a mask! 
Fox Cities Book Festival  Appleton Public Library Kimberly Public Library @kaukaunapubliclibrary @littlechutelibrary Neenah Public Library @neenahlibrary Menasha Public Library The Book Store in Appleton, WI @thebookstoreappletonwi @communityfoundationfoxvalley Wisconsin Humanities
Instagram post 17919523472298639 Instagram post 17919523472298639
Thanks to @local5live for having our President Aub Thanks to @local5live for having our President Aubrey talk about her favorite books, the Fox Cities Reads, and even tease the 15th book festival in October this morning! ❤️
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