2008 Wisconsin Book Festival
A spectrum of literacy
A spectrum of literacy
response to the J.C. Wright librarian, Amy Wilcox Owens, who had met them at a conference and said they were just the most wonderful people. As a librarian,
she had been reading their books and had their books go through several generations of children. So I am very excited about them coming.”
As a part of their appearance, Fabu raised funds to purchase 105 copies of their books to be distributed to three classes at Lincoln, Midvale and J.C. Wright
schools. After the authors visit the school prior to their public appearance, the students will have the chance to take their books to the Changing World
presentation and have their books signed.
This is something that is very important to Fabu. “I have autographed copies of books that I have put on the top shelf of my bookcase,” Fabu said. “They
are so meaningful to me that I never want to lose them. I want to know where they are. Amiri Baraca was here and I went to my bookshelf and I had 3-4 books of
his that I had collected over the years. And of course, I wanted them autographed. I was so happy to meet someone I had read for years. So why would it be
different for children? The McKissacks have been writing since the 1980s. Of course you would like to bring your book and have them autograph it.”
Sundee Frazier is a former resident of Madison whose first book ‘Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in It’ won the Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe
Award for New Talent. “Sundee, a biracial writer, lived in Madison for many years and talked about her dream of writing children’s books specifically for biracial
children,” Fabu recalled. “Once again, there wasn’t enough out there for them. So she wrote this great book. She’ll be back to share her book, why she wrote it
and her own personal stories as a biracial child.”
Also on tap for the book festival is a panel on Asian women writers that will be held at Taste of Asia on October 15. On a panel moderated by Heidi
Pascual, publisher of Asian Wisconzine, will be MaiZong Vue, a Hmong storyteller and short story writer, Jennifer Braun who was born and raised in India and
writes about India and Dr. Leslie Bow, a native of China who is a professor at UW-Madison, a literary critic and writer of creative, non-fiction and memoirs. “This
is giving us a broader spectrum of what is happening in literature among Asian women writers,” Fabu said. “It is very important to hear their voices. We need to
know what is going on in the world of Asian literature, even if this is a small slice. We will offer egg rolls from different countries in Asia and some liquid
refreshment. And we also invite people to stay and eat and experience the food. Taste of Asia was actually chosen because it offers food from a variety of
Asian countries. I really enjoy that as well. Again this is just giving an audience a multilevel experience, to not only to experience and taste the literature, but
also to have some good food as well.”
On October 17, there is ‘Black People and Their Contributions to Madison, Wisconsin and the World.’ featuring Dr. Richard Harris who has documented
and is still writing a book about the Black presence in Madison, Clayborn Benson who works on researching the Black contribution to Wisconsin and manages
the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum in Milwaukee and Dr. Edward Powe, a graduate of the UW-Madison who documents the lives of Black people in
all parts of the world.
The Latino Experience in Southeast Wisconsin will be held on October 18. “There are two wonderful books that are out,” Fabu said. “I think it is wonderful
that we have these two books, ‘Latinos in Milwaukee,’ written by Dr. Joseph Rodriguez and Dr. Walter Sava and ‘Latinos in Waukesha,’ written by Dr. Walter Sava
and Anselmo Villareal.” In addition to the authors, Dr. Ben Marquez from the UW Dept. of Political Science will be on hand to moderate the session.
There will also be a session featuring literary agents for those who aspire to write and a special spoken word session at Genna’s Lounge on October 18.
“I really think it will be a wonderful time,” Fabu said about this year’s festival. The Wisconsin Humanities Council has exceptional people overall. They are very
giving to the community.”
For more information about the Wisconsin Book Festival, visit www.wisconsinbookfestival.org. To sign up for a one-on-one meeting with a literary agent, e-
mail Fabu at blkpoetess68@hotmail.com.
she had been reading their books and had their books go through several generations of children. So I am very excited about them coming.”
As a part of their appearance, Fabu raised funds to purchase 105 copies of their books to be distributed to three classes at Lincoln, Midvale and J.C. Wright
schools. After the authors visit the school prior to their public appearance, the students will have the chance to take their books to the Changing World
presentation and have their books signed.
This is something that is very important to Fabu. “I have autographed copies of books that I have put on the top shelf of my bookcase,” Fabu said. “They
are so meaningful to me that I never want to lose them. I want to know where they are. Amiri Baraca was here and I went to my bookshelf and I had 3-4 books of
his that I had collected over the years. And of course, I wanted them autographed. I was so happy to meet someone I had read for years. So why would it be
different for children? The McKissacks have been writing since the 1980s. Of course you would like to bring your book and have them autograph it.”
Sundee Frazier is a former resident of Madison whose first book ‘Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in It’ won the Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe
Award for New Talent. “Sundee, a biracial writer, lived in Madison for many years and talked about her dream of writing children’s books specifically for biracial
children,” Fabu recalled. “Once again, there wasn’t enough out there for them. So she wrote this great book. She’ll be back to share her book, why she wrote it
and her own personal stories as a biracial child.”
Also on tap for the book festival is a panel on Asian women writers that will be held at Taste of Asia on October 15. On a panel moderated by Heidi
Pascual, publisher of Asian Wisconzine, will be MaiZong Vue, a Hmong storyteller and short story writer, Jennifer Braun who was born and raised in India and
writes about India and Dr. Leslie Bow, a native of China who is a professor at UW-Madison, a literary critic and writer of creative, non-fiction and memoirs. “This
is giving us a broader spectrum of what is happening in literature among Asian women writers,” Fabu said. “It is very important to hear their voices. We need to
know what is going on in the world of Asian literature, even if this is a small slice. We will offer egg rolls from different countries in Asia and some liquid
refreshment. And we also invite people to stay and eat and experience the food. Taste of Asia was actually chosen because it offers food from a variety of
Asian countries. I really enjoy that as well. Again this is just giving an audience a multilevel experience, to not only to experience and taste the literature, but
also to have some good food as well.”
On October 17, there is ‘Black People and Their Contributions to Madison, Wisconsin and the World.’ featuring Dr. Richard Harris who has documented
and is still writing a book about the Black presence in Madison, Clayborn Benson who works on researching the Black contribution to Wisconsin and manages
the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum in Milwaukee and Dr. Edward Powe, a graduate of the UW-Madison who documents the lives of Black people in
all parts of the world.
The Latino Experience in Southeast Wisconsin will be held on October 18. “There are two wonderful books that are out,” Fabu said. “I think it is wonderful
that we have these two books, ‘Latinos in Milwaukee,’ written by Dr. Joseph Rodriguez and Dr. Walter Sava and ‘Latinos in Waukesha,’ written by Dr. Walter Sava
and Anselmo Villareal.” In addition to the authors, Dr. Ben Marquez from the UW Dept. of Political Science will be on hand to moderate the session.
There will also be a session featuring literary agents for those who aspire to write and a special spoken word session at Genna’s Lounge on October 18.
“I really think it will be a wonderful time,” Fabu said about this year’s festival. The Wisconsin Humanities Council has exceptional people overall. They are very
giving to the community.”
For more information about the Wisconsin Book Festival, visit www.wisconsinbookfestival.org. To sign up for a one-on-one meeting with a literary agent, e-
mail Fabu at blkpoetess68@hotmail.com.
By Jonathan Gramling
One of the beautiful things about Madison is that you can go anywhere in the world you want to in
your mind’s eye if you know where to look. Somewhere, someplace, almost all of the world’s traditions
and cultures are represented here. You just need to know where to look.
The same can be said about the world’s literary traditions. They are here if you just know where to
look. Fabu Carter Brisco, Madison’s poet laureate, has been brought on my the Wisconsin Humanities
Council for the second year as a consultant to look in all of the right places to ensure that many of the
world’s literary traditions are reflected in the line-up for the Wisconsin Book Festival, which is being held
October 15-19 at various venues in the Madison area. As a lover of literature, Fabu is up for the
challenge.
On October 18, noted children’s book authors Patricia and Fred McKissack will be joined by Sundee
Frazier for the panel The Changing World of Children. The McKissacks have written over 100 children’s
books with an African American theme. “They started writing in the 1980s because they didn’t find very
much about African American children,” Fabu said over a cup of coffee. “So they have literally written
over 100 titles. They have so many children’s books that have been award winners. I brought them in
One of the beautiful things about Madison is that you can go anywhere in the world you want to in
your mind’s eye if you know where to look. Somewhere, someplace, almost all of the world’s traditions
and cultures are represented here. You just need to know where to look.
The same can be said about the world’s literary traditions. They are here if you just know where to
look. Fabu Carter Brisco, Madison’s poet laureate, has been brought on my the Wisconsin Humanities
Council for the second year as a consultant to look in all of the right places to ensure that many of the
world’s literary traditions are reflected in the line-up for the Wisconsin Book Festival, which is being held
October 15-19 at various venues in the Madison area. As a lover of literature, Fabu is up for the
challenge.
On October 18, noted children’s book authors Patricia and Fred McKissack will be joined by Sundee
Frazier for the panel The Changing World of Children. The McKissacks have written over 100 children’s
books with an African American theme. “They started writing in the 1980s because they didn’t find very
much about African American children,” Fabu said over a cup of coffee. “So they have literally written
over 100 titles. They have so many children’s books that have been award winners. I brought them in
Fabu Carter Brisco is a consultant with the Wisconsin
Humanities Council whose mission is to ensure that
the Wisconsin Book Festival is inclusive of all
Humanities Council whose mission is to ensure that
the Wisconsin Book Festival is inclusive of all