Write On Hosts First Door County Book Fair

Write On, Door County will host its first Door County Writers and Book Fair – a free, family-friendly event – on Oct. 2, 10 am – 3 pm, outside under a large canopy tent. It will go on rain or shine at Write On, Door County, 4210 Juddville Road south of Fish Creek.

More than 30 writers of children’s books, poetry, fiction and nonfiction will attend, along with songwriters, playwrights, creators of arts and photography books, and representatives of local groups such as the Door County Playwrights Collective, the Door County Poets Collective and Write On, Door County.

“In March of 2021, Write On started an online monthly meeting for writers who have published books and wanted to network, share advice and lessons learned,” said Jerod Santek, Write On’s artistic director. “This became the Door County Authors Networking Group. One of the ideas proposed early on was to have some kind of event that highlighted the number of published authors who live in, or have significant ties to, Door County.

“We wanted to include writers whose end product may not be a book: songwriters and playwrights, for example. Our hope is that this becomes an annual event celebrating the wide range of literary talent that exists within our community.”

Among the writers taking part are children’s authors Kimberly Eisch, Anne Emerson, Ann Heyse, Sue Jarosh and Jamie Palmer; novelists Val Clarizio, Lynda Drews, Dan Powers and Dean Wild; poets Sharon Auberle, Tom and Ethel Davis, Annette Grunseth and Ralph Murre; and nonfiction writers Marggie Hatala, Carol Hoffman, Rudy Senarighi, Patsy Stierna and Joseph Tachkovsky.

Each author will have books available for sale, but because not all will be able to accept credit cards, attendees are encouraged to take cash or checks. Authors will also be signing books and talking about their writing process and journeys to becoming published authors. 

The event includes welcome remarks, 10 am; readings and discussion by memoir and nonfiction writers, 10:30 am; music by Michael Blick, 11 am; readings and discussion by children’s book authors, 11:30 am; music by Katie Dahl, 12 pm; readings and discussion by poets, 1 pm; discussion with photographers and creators of art books, 1:30 pm; and readings and discussion with fiction writers, 2 pm.

Because the fair is an outdoor event, Write On’s policy regarding vaccinations or negative COVID-19 tests does not apply. Find more details at writeondoorcounty.org.