26 in 2026: Go to at least 1 author talk -- Shelly Van Pelt

 When Fox Cities Reads announced that Remarkably Bright Creatures was going to be the Fox Cities Read for 2026, I knew I had to attend the author talk. I read the book back when it first came out and loved it. I even convinced that my book club to read. Unfortunately my book club meeting was the same day as Shelly Van Pelt's visit. I hoped to be able to do both but figured it would have been doubtful. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures is a delightful book about an escape artist octopus, an older woman, and a lost soul. Even though an octopus is a main character, it is truly a book about friendship and life. It is Shelly Van Pelt's debut novel.

Shelly Van Pelt was scheduled to speak at 6 at the Appleton Library. Having seen several well known authors as part of the Fox Cities Book Festival and know how many people will show up especially for this book, I knew how I had to get there early. I got there at least 90 minutes before hand. I was not the first person there. We waited outside the room for about 45 minutes before being allowed in. I chose a seat about half way back. By the time it started it was standing room only.

Shelly Van Pelt not only is an amazing author, she is also a great speaker. She spoke for about 45 minutes about how the story developed and the upcoming movie. I loved how she would spend hours at the Atlanta aquarium watching and observing the animals as part of her research. She took questions for about 10 minutes. 

After she was done speaking, she was going to sign books. This is where it got insane. I ducked out while she was still answering questions. There was at least 50 people in front of me. The line snaked from the outside the conference room, down the hall, and into the library. The moved slowly but it was worth the wait.

I got my book signed and even got a picture. I made a comment about it being a long night for her and she was like I get to sit here. You guys have to stand the entire time. She was very personable and nice. 

If you ever get a chance to hear her talk, do it. If you get a chance to hear any other speak do it. They love meeting readers and share their books. 

Book Talks 2025 -- Tom Nelson

 I happened to see that Kaukauna was having an author talk on the Edmund Fitzgerald. The hubby is big fan of the Edmund Fitzgerald and I asked him if he wanted to go. He said he did so we had date night at the library.

Tom Nelson, the current Outagamie County Executive, partnered with Jerald Podair, a professor at Lawrence University, to write Wrecked: The Edmund Fitzgerald and the Sinking of the American Economy.

Many books have been written about the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald. This book focused more of the impact of the economy and other theories on why the ship sank. Bottom line was the Edmund Fitzgerald was junk and couldn't handle another winter storm on Lake Superior. Because it wasn't owned by a parent company, they were more worried about the bottom line then the condition of the ship. 

To hear Tom Nelson and Jerald Podair talk about the book was fascinating. Both contributed to the conversation and had different perspectives (and theories) about why she sank that cold and stormy November night 50 years ago. 

There weren't many people there which was too bad. Apparently his other talks had many more people. I don't know if this one wasn't advertised very well or what. Both men gave a great talk and if you get a chance to go hear him speak about his book, definitely check it out.  

Book Talks 2025 -- David Jones

 I  saw an Facebook post about Kimberly Library was having another author, a local author. The book looked interesting and I thought it was true crime. I was excited to check him out.

David Jones was from Phoenix, joined the Air Force, and since his wife was from the U.P. ended up in WI after he retired from the military. He joined the area police forces and eventually retired. After he retired, he decided to write books all set in and around the Fox Valley. His first series, Guardians of Rockport, is a dystopia series set in Sherwood. I am not interested in dystopia. but being set in the Fox Valley, I am intrigued enough maybe one day I will check it out. However, he also wrote crime fiction books, The first one is No Perfect Crime.

David spoke about his background, his secretive military career, and his police service. He was an amazing speaker. I could have listened him for hours. He had many stories to tell. 

I did buy No Perfect Crime. It is really weird reading a book set pretty much in your backyard. It is surreal when the characters visit local places, like JD's, just like we do. 

As David says, it is high-quality fiction but it is a fun quick read. It's not going to win any awards but not cozy mystery either. I definitely can't wait to read book 2. 

You never know what you are going to discover when you go  hear a local author. This was definitely another winner. Who knows what author I will discover next. 

Book Talks 2025: Lynda Drews

 Even though my reading time has been drastically cut along with time to do fun library events, I still try to make time for them as I can. When I saw Kimberly Library was having an author talk and it was a scandalous subject, I decided I better rearrange my schedule. 

Lynda Drews was talking about her latest book, The Maid and the Socialite. It is set in Green Bay in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Being a local author and set in the area really made me want to check it out. 

The Maid and the Socialite: The Brave Women Behind Green Bay's Scandalous Manahan Trials is about two women who have been abused in various ways by Dr. Manahan. One is his maid and the other is second wife. In a time where women didn't even have the right to vote, let alone a voice against powerful men, these two went against the man who had lawyers and doctors in his pocket. 

Lynda Drews talked more about her research and how she decided to write the book versus the book itself. She lives in an old house in the Astor District of Green Bay where many of the wealthy elite used to live. She discovered that a Manahan lived in her house and decided to write about them as they were a prominent Green Bay family.  However through her research she discovered a very dark and sinister past that she had to uncover. 

I immediately put the book on my audio book TBR. I can't wait to hear the story. If I didn't have to get back to work, I would have bought a copy. 

Lynda also leads walking tours of the Astor District neighborhood talking about the book and the places featured in the book. They cost $18 and usually sell out fast. I am trying to find one that fits my schedule and I might go check it out.

If you like true crime books, I would check out The Maid and the Socialite. 

Book Talks 2024: Brenda Novak

 I was disappointed back in December 2022 when Brenda Novak announced her book stream tour would not be stopping in Wisconsin.. she would travel through WI but not stop. It didn't surprise me but it would have been nice. I wasn't driving 4-6 hours just to go see her. So when she announced that her book tour this year would take her to Kenosha, I mentioned this to the hubby. He rearranged his scheduled so he could take me.

I discovered Brenda Novak by accident at the start of the Pandemic when she invited Susan Mallery, another favorite author of mine, to be part of her virtual book launch. And I was hooked. I joined online book group. She writes women's fiction and along with some romance and suspense. She really likes conflict so some of her books are struggle because unless I am the mood for a thriller, I prefer light reads. Not all her books are overly suspenseful and are good reading. I am definitely a fluff kind of reader. Her Dundee, ID series is probably my favorite series and Summer on the Island is my favorite one this year. 

Blue House Books in Kenosha was hosting Brenda. It was right down town and the first tour stop to sell out.. The hubby and I had pizza from Cut Stone Pizza before hand. Like most Indie Bookstores, it is not a large bookstore. Even though we got there 10-15 before hand most of the seats were taken. I directed the hubby to a cozy arm chair in the corner while I snagged one of the few remaining seats up front.

Brenda talked about her new book, The Banned Books Club as well as how she got started in writing. She spoke for a good half hour along with reading part of her book. Then she opened the floor up for questions. After that she signed our books we pre-ordered, which was not a requirement. 

Meeting Brenda was pretty dang awesome. She and her daughter, Alexa both recognized me from my blog post I did earlier in the year about places to visit in Wisconsin for a different book she had coming out this year. They even looked to see if any of the recommendations I had in the blog were close. Sadly there were not.. in my original vision there might have been. Brenda was great. I usually hate meeting authors, so famous.. or infamous, that I don't know what to say but it was easy to talk to them. She was impressed I made the journey down. I said I bribed the hubby with pizza. 

It was a fun evening. Maybe one day she will get to my neck of the woods. The only problem is a lack of a good venue, even with the air stream. I would if the Plaza and Lyon's book would sponsor her and she could do it outside on the plaza in Neenah. That would be fun. Hmm. I might have to suggest that.

As much as I loved meeting Brenda Novak, I think R.L. Stine and Debbie Macomber still beat her out for my favorite author events. It will be really hard to beat both of them. 

St. Louis and the south always get big name authors. I will take what I can get around here especially now that the Fox Cities Book Festival is no more. I would suggest always taking the time to meet your favorite author when you get a chance even if it's a few hours away.