7 books by Wisconsin authors we’re loving this winter

‘Tis the season for sharing good stories—and these seven books, all published by Wisconsin authors in 2024, make the perfect gift for readers of all ages!

Picture book: Each Day is a Gift by Lisl Detlefsen

On her family’s cranberry marsh near Wisconsin Rapids, Lisl Detlefsen writes picture books that are a feast for the eyes and the heart. In her latest, which is beautifully illustrated by Natalia Vasilica, she compares each day to a gift: some are unexpected, some are thrilling, and some are ordinary. Woven throughout her stunning pages, Detlefsen celebrates the importance of gratitude. “While you can’t choose what gift each day may hold, you can choose what to do with it once it’s been opened,” she reminds children and adults alike. 

Middle grade: Marvelous Jackson by Laura Anne Bird

Kids and their grown-ups will love this story of friendship, humor, and sweet treats written by Madison-based middle grade author Laura Anne Bird. Wayward thirteen-year-old Jack Wilson lives in the Northwoods and needs to find a hobby fast so he can get on the right path—or his dad will send him away to boarding school in the Upper Peninsula. Thankfully, Jack rediscovers the love of baking he shared with his late mother and throws himself into learning the finer points of brownies, scones, and sprinkles. Who knew sugar could save the day?

Young adult: Mighty Millie Novak by Elizabeth Holden

Avid Madison Roller Derby player Elizabeth Holden introduces readers to Millie Novak, an awkward and stubborn almost-sixteen-year-old who has just secured a coveted spot on the Prairie Skate Juniors team. As she and her teammates prepare for the highly anticipated Soy Anything tournament in central Illinois, Millie falls in love, grapples with her parents’ divorce, and finds out how tough she is. Note: zero knowledge of roller derby is required to appreciate this charming, fast-paced story of teenage angst and self-discovery.

Memoir: Year of Plenty: A Family’s Season of Grief by B.J. Hollars

B.J. Hollars is an English professor at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire and the founder and executive director of the Chippewa Valley Writers Guild. In 2020, he received a phone call from his father-in-law in Indiana, sharing news of his cancer diagnosis. So began his year of plenty, which featured tremendous stress along with numerous “small mercies” that held him, his wife, and their three children together. In luminous prose, coupled with haunting photographs, Hollars unwinds a moving story of loss, fortitude, and comfort.  

Short Stories: Close Call by Kim Suhr

Kim Suhr’s astute and generous short story collection pulls readers in from the get-go because we can see ourselves reflected in her (very realistic) characters—until something goes dreadfully wrong. How did that happen? we wonder, alarmed. Can it be fixed? (Spoiler: in some cases, yes; in others, not a chance.) Marriage, motherhood, infidelity, alcohol—Suhr tackles all these topics and more with cleverness and conviction. This comes as no surprise, considering she’s the director of Red Oak Writing, where she leads critique groups and provides manuscript coaching. Suhr lives in Wales in southeastern Wisconsin.

Nonfiction: Where the Grass Still Sings by Heather Swan

Poet Heather Swan teaches writing and environmental literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her newest book braids narrative, verse, science, and breathtaking art to honor the tiny creatures that play essential roles in our ecosystems, along with the people who are fighting so hard to save them. If you (understandably) feel bereft or angry about the fact that we have entered the Sixth Extinction, you’ll embrace Swan’s practical solutions for helping to safeguard our fragile planet.

Fiction: Muddled Cherries by Sally Collins

In Sally Collins’ riveting debut, Emily Schmidt flees her home and alcoholic father in western Wisconsin for Door County, where she lands a job at The Schooner, a restaurant on the shore of Lake Michigan. Emily spends a hot, sticky summer serving Old Fashioneds and platters of fried fish to diners, all while working to achieve wholeness and healing on her own terms. Readers who enjoy vacationing in the northeastern part of our state will delight in the vibrant sense of place that Collins, who lives in Door County, has created.

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