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, 6:00 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)
The Wisconsin Book Festival is presented by Madison Public Library in partnership with Madison Public Library Foundation.