Wisconsin Book Festival Fall Celebration
October 21–24







The Wisconsin Book Festival is preparing for the fall kickoff to its 2021–22 programming season, with a hybrid approach for author events — some virtual and others in person. In-person events will mostly take place on Saturday, October 23, during the annual fall celebration weekend at Central Library, with select in-person events in partnership with the Wisconsin Science Festival at the Discovery Building on the UW-Madison campus. This year’s event highlights include:

Award-winning educator and historian Carol Anderson for The Second, 7:00 pm Thursday, October 21 (virtual) Literary fiction icon Miriam Toews for Fight Night, 8:30 pm Thursday, October 21 (virtual)

Radio host, journalist and public speaker Celeste Headlee for Speaking of Race, 7:00 pm Friday, October 22 (virtual)

Wisconsin’s own Nickolas Butler for Godspeed, 3:00 pm Saturday, October 23 (in person)

Whiting Award recipient Jaquira Diaz for Ordinary Girls, 3:00 pm Saturday, October 23 (in person)

Best-selling thriller writer Nick Petrie for The Breaker, 4:30 pm Saturday, October 23 (in person)

Defense attorney, motivational speaker and nonprofit leader Jarrett Adams for Redeeming Justice, 7:30 pm Saturday, October 23 (in person)

Intrepid journalist and science writer Mary Roach for Fuzz, presented in partnership with the Wisconsin Science Festival, 11:00 am Sunday, October 24 (in person) Programs scheduled in the weeks leading up to the fall celebration include:

#metoo movement founder and activist Tarana Burke for Unbound, 6:00 pm Thursday, September 23 (virtual)

Internationally renowned multi-genre writer Sandra Cisneros for Martita, I Remember You, 7:00 pm Tuesday, September 28 (virtual)

Memoirist Bobby Love and wife Cheryl Love for The Redemption of Bobby Love, 7:00 pm Thursday, October 7 (virtual)

Feminist essayist and memoirist Melissa Febos for Girlhood, 7:00 pm Tuesday, October 12 (in person)

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