Scott Lowery’s poems appear in numerous print and online journals, including Prairie Schooner, River Styx, Nimrod, RockPaperPoem, and the Wisconsin Poetry Calendar. His new chapbook, Mutual Life (Finishing Line, 2023), documents everyday life during tumultuous times. Lowery has been awarded the Julia Darling Memorial Poetry Prize, Pushcart and Best of Net nominations, and a residency at the Anderson Center. Empty-handed won the Emergence Chapbook Prize from Red Dragonfly Press (2013). A 30-year veteran public school teacher, Lowery has presented writing workshops to young poets from grade school through college. Two of his teaching poems are anthologized in Stronger Than Fear (Cave Moon, 2022), a collection of social justice poems. After three decades living among the river bluffs and valleys of SE Minnesota, Lowery and his wife Connie Blackburn moved to Milwaukee in 2019, drawn by the inexorable pull of young grandchildren.

Mary ‘s latest book of poetry is called “Poems From The Heart”, her latest work, is dedicated to her late daughter, Barbara. Mary is active in the Wordsmiths riders club in North Fond du Lac and the Fond du Lac Writers Club. Mary is currently working on a book about all of her pets during her lifetime.

James Hamilton is a local poet and author who has made a significant impact on the literary scene in Waupaca. His words resonate with authenticity and emotion, drawing inspiration from his own life experiences. Book Release: Recently, he celebrated the launch of his new poetry collection titled “American Junkie: Life, Love, and Loss.” In this raw and poignant work, Hamilton delves into themes of struggle, love, and the complexities of existence.

Personal Struggles: Hamilton has openly shared his battle with substance abuse. Through writing, he has found solace and healing. His poems reflect the depths of human vulnerability and the power of art to transform pain into beauty.

Community Engagement: You can often find James Hamilton at local open mic events across Wisconsin, where he shares his powerful verses. His presence in these gatherings has become a mainstay, captivating audiences with his heartfelt delivery.

Hope and Connection: Hamilton’s hope is that his poetry will not only resonate with others who have faced similar challenges but also serve as a beacon of connection and understanding. Through his words, he aims to bridge gaps and touch hearts. James Hamilton’s poetic journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and his contributions enrich the literary fabric of Waupaca and beyond. 📖🌟

Bill Gillard is an award-winning teacher of creative writing and literature at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. His writing has appeared in dozens of journals, and he is the author of the poetry collection, The Vade Mecum of the True Sublime, and two chapbooks, Ode to Sandra Hook and Desire, the River. He is co-author of Speculative Modernism, a study of the origins of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. He is the Fiction Editor at the literary magazine, Masque and Spectacle. He earned an M.F.A. from Fairleigh Dickinson University, is a recovering youth hockey coach, and lives in Appleton, Wisconsin, with his wife and two daughters.

Patrick is a fascinating writer who comes from Oshkosh Wisconsin. In this program, Patrick talks about his experience with writing in different forms. We are very honored to have him on the program.

Maragaret Rozga is the former Wisconsin poet laureate. She’s also been active in the civil rights movement in the 60s. She talks about writing and some of her latest work in this interview.

Dawn Anderson is a positive poet. Her poetry is the vehicle to put more good into the world. You will find Dawn’s poetry in a wide variety of journals, newspapers, magazines, and archives as well as her books and blog which have an international following. Dawn is also a workshop facilitator and speaker who believes in the power of poetry to process, to focus, to align, and to find our way to happiness and fulfillment.

In addition to publishing and teaching, Dawn provides a custom poetry service to help people give tribute to important life events and memories.

Whichever mode you connect with Dawn and her poetry, you will find her and her writing is just the right mix of wit, wisdom and wonder. Visit her blog and custom poetry page at: [email protected]

Nick Gulig shares his poetry and his philosophy of writing.

Frank Watkinson is a 69-year-old singer-songwriter who has over a half-million followers on YouTube. We talk to Frank about how he writes his songs and and we get insights into his unique brand of creativity.

Bruce Fernandez is a poet, writer, musician originally from Brooklyn, New York. Heavily influenced by his latin heritage, he is never afraid to tap into his Puerto Rican/ Dominican roots. Bruce has been making music for over half of his 46 years and has been writing poetry longer than that. His art expresses his life as a child growing up under traumatic experiences from physical and mental abuse to growing up in the tough environment of the ghetto. Besides growing up in Brooklyn, he has lived in Miami Florida, participated in the forestry service while living for 2 years in Kentucky's Daniel Boone Forest and as of now he lives in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.