Join us for a round table discussion with authors Rex Owens, Barry Wightman, Nick Chiarkas, and Christine Keleny. 

Christine Keleny is an award-winning author, reader, editor, book designer and publisher. She loves writing and helping others publish the book of their dreams through her publishing company: CKBooks Publishing. Christine also teaches workshops for both youth and adults and speaks at writers conferences. You can find all of her books at christinekelenybooks.com. 

Rex Owens published his first novel in the Irish Troubles Series, Murphy’s Troubles, in November 2013 the second, Out of Darkness, in June 2015 and the third, Dead Reckoning in April 2018 by Henschel Haus Books – Three Towers Press.  Christine DeSmet describes his writing as cinematic.  His fiction explores motives in making life changing decisions and common themes in our human journey. Rex writes a blog at www.rexowens.us.  He is the host of the award winning radio talk show ‘My World and Welcome to It’, broadcast on the 1st^d and 3rd^h Monday at 10:00 am on 103.5 FM KSUN.  The program is also streamed live at: www.sunprairemediacenter.com. 

Barry Wightman’s first novel, Pepperland, received a starred review on Booklist, and won a Silver IPPY for best fiction from the Independent Publishers Book Awards. He has an MFA from the Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier VT, and spent five years as fiction editor of Hunger Mountain, a journal of the arts. Barry Wightman’s Sound & Script provides writers of all genres with a wide range of literary, editorial, and voiceover services.

Nick Chiarkas’ extensive legal and law enforcement background allows him to write from a place of powerful personal experience. He doesn’t just write about crime and mystery. He’s lived it. Readers will enjoy writing which stems from his experience as Research Director to the President’s Commission on Organized Crime and assisting domestic and international organizations in developing public defender policy.

Join us on Zoom March 4th at 7PM

Join WWA for our spring conference: After the Draft - More Than Just Craft. Our speakers and panelists will answer all your questions about what happens after you finishing writing you novel, memoir, poetry collection.

Meet Our Speakers: 

Christina Clancy 

Christina's debut novel, The Second Home, was released in June 2020 and will be available in paperback June 2021. The novel reflects her deep and abiding love for both Milwaukee, where she grew up and the town of Wellfleet, Cape Cod, where her family has had a home since the 1890s. The novel has been optioned by Tristar for a limited television series.

Christina received a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, and taught English for almost a decade at Beloit College. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her very tall husband John and two children, Olivia and Tim.

Tim Storm

Tim Storm is an award winning writer and teacher whose work has appeared in a number of journals and anthologies, including Black Warrior Review, Copper Nickel, Short Story America, and Literary Hub. His passion for storytelling and its inner workings informs his teaching, editing, and mentoring. He runs an online writing school (stormwritingschool.com), which offers articles, worksheets, and courses geared toward helping writers hone their craft of engaging and moving stories.

Laurie Scheer

Laurie Scheer has assisted writers in the entertainment industry and at insitutions of higher learning throughout her diverse career as a producer, consultant and faculty member. As a professional speaker, she has participated in nationwide writing events. She has mentored hundreds of writers as they realize their writing success. Laurie is a co-founder of New Nature Writers, an organization dedicated to writing about nature. As an Aquarian, she has always wanted to bestow healing for the globe. She's currently writing near Joshua Tree National Park and is surrounded by cactus and mountain ranges that have many answers.

Christine DeSmet

Christine DeSmet is an author, a writing coach, critique professional, and writing instructor. She is a Distinguished Faculty Associate at University of Wisconsin-Madison Countinuing Studies where she created and directed the Writers' Institute for many years as well as the Write-By-The-Lake Writer's Workshop & Retreat. For the past three years she has been helping writers finish novels and hire agents or publishers in the UW-Madison "Pathway to Publication" coaching program.She writes the Fudge Shop Mystery Series set in Door County, Wisconsin, including the newest, Undercover Fudge. She has sold various novellas and has optioned screen plays.