April 25, 2026, 10:00am - 4:00pm
Racine Public Library
Arts & Culture, Educational, Family Friendly, Festival & Fair, Free, Networking, Writing
Visit with our showcase of local authors from the Racine area. Check the line-up for your favorites, and make sure to stop in to their presentations and panels. Throughout the day, authors will visit with community members, sign autographs and sell their products.
Room: Adult Services - 2nd Floor, including the Lake-Facing Windows and the Community Room
Age range: All Ages
No Registration
Author Lineup
Alan R Karls
Alan R Karls is a fourth generation Racine native with a master’s degree in communication from UW-Milwaukee. He has given history presentations at the Racine Heritage Museum and Racine Public Library and has written several novels and screenplays.
Title(s):
"Racine's Horlick Athletic Field: Drums Along the Foundries”
“A Teller's Tale”
Where to purchase books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00JALII7C?ccs_id=8ec39de6-719b-4936-af11-065323844a6a
Amanda Stewart
Amanda Stewart is a bilingual elementary school educator and someone who loves learning and all of her learners. She hopes that you can see the treasure in her debut bilingual book and the treasure in yourself!
Title(s):
"Treasures” / “Los tesoros"
Discover different types of seashells through the author’s playful prose and rhythmic rhymes. See how each child is unique and how they learn through the imaginative illustrations that each of them, just like their shells, is a treasure, too!
Website: https://linktr.ee/StoriesWithStewart
Where to purchase books: https://www.OrangeHatPublishing.com/product/treasures/
Andrew Drasen
Andrew Drasen is the author of “A Vision of Hope,” a memoir and self-help series focused on recovery, resilience and rebuilding a purposeful life after adversity. His work is grounded in lived experience and written to encourage reflection, accountability and personal growth.
Title(s):
"A Vision of Hope: A Story of Redemption and Purpose”
“A Vision of Hope: Reflections”
“A Vision of Hope: The Workbook”
A chronicle of one man’s journey through addiction, incarceration, and recovery, offering an honest look at the work required to rebuild a meaningful life. The companion Reflections and Workbook provide guided exercises and prompts designed to support self-examination, growth, and lasting change.
Website: https://AVisionOfHopeBook.com
Where to purchase books: https://AVisionOfHopeBook.com/addiction-recovery-books/
Ayesha Montgomery
Ayesha Montgomery is a poet and author and the sole contributor to the blog https://300TriedByWater.com. Since 2018, she has published numerous books.
Title(s):
"Love Is My Shelter”
Details the wonder in finding solace and optimism in the little things. The reader is taken on a poetic ride through the perils of overcoming trials and tribulations, mourning, family dysfunction, heartbreak, love and happiness.
“Perseverance of the Human Spirit”
A celebration of life woven into poetry. It uses poetic imagery to express sentiments of love, hope, encouragement and happiness.
“Past Chains”
A chapbook that poetically expresses beauty, cruelty, silliness and love of friends and family in a world full of converging complexities. It is my hope that all those who read this book will be inspired, uplifted and set free from their past chains.
“Bright Side of the Pale Moon”
A poet is lost in a multifarious season full of calamity, love, faith, racism and triumph as the truth unfolds before closed eyes. “Bright Side of the Pale Moon” expounds on the needs of a disrupted soul and gives us all a place to belong.
“Misty Dreams Poetry Zine”
A ride of artistic expression. This zine addresses financial strain, the beauty of love, family strife and aspiring to new heights in an ever-changing world.
“The Will 2 Live & Love”
A zine about the importance of caring for each other. Join me as I deep drive into the complicated waters of relationships, determination and faith.
Website: https://300TriedByWater.com
Where to purchase books: https://www.amazon.com/author/eshamontgomery
Celia Amantea Schulz
Celia Amantea Schulz lives in Mount Pleasant, WI. She is a retired nurse who spends her time enjoying the arts and contributing as an experimental writer — maybe a poet — and an avid photographer.
Title(s):
"I Met You In Racine” or “Te conoci en Racine”
Unique author-captured images take you on a months-of-the-year tour visiting 25 memorable landmarks and locations around Racine, Wisconsin. Text is translated in Spanish for basic readers.
“My Hearts Still Speaks; Reunion not Reunion poems and images”
Second in a series of 20 short poems and images that explore love and loss related to a reunion, heartfully expressed in narrative poetry and loosely accompanied by 22 images of the author's photography.
Website: https://facebook.com/wildwood/
Where to purchase books:
Christy Hoff
Christy Hoff released her first book of poetry, “Breath Mark,” in 2025. Hoff recently completed the ArtRoot Writer-in-Residence program (ending Dec. 31, 2025), leads a local writer’s workshop, and has published her work in numerous anthologies.
Title(s):
"Breath Mark"
In essence, the subtext of “Breath Mark” is community. A single breath is a life-sustaining event that brings continuity.
Website: https://HoffChristy.com/
Where to purchase books: https://BookShop.org/
Colette Murphy Broadway
Colette became fascinated with the round houses in Racine, which led to her curiosity to learn more about these homes designed by Anton Kratochvil. Her research culminated in this first edition of “The Round Houses of Anton Kratochvil.”
Title(s):
"Round Houses of Anton Kratochvil"
This book has information about all of the round houses designed by Anton Kratochvil located in Racine and the surrounding area.
Where to purchase books: https://nm-publishing.com/shop/
Dasha Kelly
Dasha Kelly is an award-winning author, poet and performance artist. She is Poet Laureate Emerita for the City of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.
Title(s):
"Baker's Dozen”
“Almost Crimson”
“A Line Meant”
Website: https://DashaKelly.com
Where to purchase books: https://DashaKH.com/
Deborah L Rodriguez
Deborah, a former resident of Racine, Wisconsin, is the author of an Amazon best-selling book, a pastor’s wife of 25 years and a veteran home educator. With a heart for service, she has volunteered as a leader and server in both ministry and home education, finding joy in witnessing God’s transformative work in the lives of others.
Title(s):
"Unveiled Identity: From Insignificance to Embracing Your Royal Identity in Christ"
A faith-based guide helping readers overcome feelings of insignificance by discovering their identity in Christ through Scripture study, personal reflection, musical accompaniment and walking through the author's personal journey of finding her own significance.
Website: https://AuthorDeborahRodriguez.com/
Where to purchase books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FY867Z97
Debra Hall
Debra Hall is a Racine poet, and “What the Current Cannot Swallow” is her debut chapbook. She has had poetry published in “Bramble Literary Magazine,” the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets’ calendars, and “A Wreath of Golden Laurels.”
Title(s):
"What the Current Cannot Swallow"
Hall traces her journey from crisis through grief to hard-won transcendence, finding that even in the current's pull toward despair, moments of grace remain.
Website: http://PoetDebra.com
Where to purchase books: https://www.amazon.com/What-Current-Cannot-Swallow-Debra/dp/1997737051
Dr. Debra Mrock
Dr. Debra is a global speaker, three-times author and podcast host who empowers women to reclaim their authentic voice and lead with confidence, clarity and purpose. She’s the creator of the “Lead Without Permission” and “Elite Performance Speaking Program” and the host of “She Roars Boldly.”
Title(s):
"She Roars Boldly: The Courage to Begin Again, Speak Your Truth, and Live Unapologetically Free, Brave, Bold and Built to Roar”
This book is an empowering call to women who are ready to reclaim their voices, rewrite their stories, and rise after heartbreak, silence or self-doubt. Through raw reflection, hard-won wisdom, and soul-stirring encouragement, the book guides readers on a journey of healing, self-discovery and personal liberation.
“From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Mastering the Art of Dramatic Speaking”
Debra has over 25 years of experience in speaking and teaching drama. She is a global speaker, author, co-author and workshop leader.
Website: https://RoarsBoldly.com
Where to purchase books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0FRTYCCX3?ccs_id=cb7ff918-51a2-4aff-83ce-ab1557ce3aa3
F. T. Sosa
For the past two decades, F. T. Sosa has balanced two worlds — music and fitness — each giving him a unique stage to showcase his passion for the resilience of the human spirit. His writing explores realistic themes of hope pressed against hardship, focusing on how light can break through the most dire circumstances.
Title(s):
"Finding Daniel"
Some lives fracture in an instant. Others spend a lifetime trying to mend.
Where to purchase books: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-daniel-frederick-sosa/1148767308?ean=9798279606054
Jeanne Arnold
At 94, my t-shirt says, “Sweet old lady? More like a battle-tested Warrior Queen fighting for equality.” Yet I’m an optimistic crone who blends humor with truth to create and publish my audacious memoirs by Jan Anthony, my pen name.
Book Title(s):
“The Whistling Girls & Crowing Hens” series
My writing is a collage of experiences that readers will enjoy — a good-natured acceptance among lesbians, LGBTIQA+ and straight people. Historic barriers and dogma have separated us too long.
“Not To Be Denied”
1900-1974: Captures humorous and scary family life and individuals’ choices that shape them. Two unhappily married women in their early 40’s with teenage children must decide when Jan asks, “What could it hurt if we just let it happen?”
“Gullibles’ Travels”
1950, 1975-84: Now trying the “bi-sexual” life, Bea divorces and tries not to be a lesbian while Jan strives to keep everyone happy. The Sexual Revolution is tested.
“Secret Transgressions”
1976-84: Jan’s PR job expands with Bea as her assistant. Bea submits to a sexual harassment incident with their boss, and she’s fired.
“Being Mother Courage”
1976-89: Jan and Bea’s store and press draw them into the advancing women’s movement, including feminist spirituality. Bea pioneers and educates desktop publishing at an international women’s conference in Barcelona, Spain.
“Grit & Gratification”
1979-82: Mother Courage Press creates a significant book for abused children. When Jan and Bea’s retail store closes, they’re free to travel.
“Moving On & Up”
1983-85: Jan heals her stress when the therapist uses Jan’s therapy idea. Jan’s boss eliminates her PR department.
“Closer To Fine”
1984-97: Jan’s job is exciting. She and Bea fly to New Zealand and later to Australia to publish two women’s adventures of crossing the Pacific together on a sailboat.
“Intimate Passages”
1984-2013: Bea challenges their intimate lives, but Jan persists. Bea experiences England’s crop circles.
Website:
Where to purchase books:
Jessie Froese
Jessie Froese is a local Racine born-and-raised creative. She recently became an author and illustrator of her first two books.
Title(s):
"Penelope Skunk and the Dat That Stunk”
A skunk who is having a very negative day is encouraged to think positive by being thankful for what she does have.
“Christmas in the 1930s”
A tribute to my husband’s grandfather who wrote this Christmas poem about his Christmas experiences in 1930s Saskatchewan, Canada.
Where to purchase books:
John E. Magerus
A former university professor and administrator, John Magerus volunteered for eight years as an archivist at the DeKoven Center in Racine, Wisconsin. This archival work led to the research and writing of the biography of James DeKoven, a nineteenth-century Episcopal priest and educator in Wisconsin.
Title(s):
“James DeKoven: Biography of a Famous Yet Forgotten Man”
This biography presents the life of James DeKoven, from his birth in Connecticut to his education in New York City, and eventually his move in 1854 to the frontier of the young state of Wisconsin. Previously unavailable sources, including letters and memoirs — and most importantly, his personal journal — have been studied in detail to gain insight into his ideas concerning education, religion and leadership.
Website: Please use my email, jmagerus@aol.com, to contact me.
Where to purchase books: https://WIPFAndStock.com/9798385229086/james-dekoven/
Kari Morey
Kari Morey taught English in Racine Unified School District for 15 years, and she currently serves as the academy coordinator within the district. She lives with her husband and three daughters in Mount Pleasant.
Title(s):
"In Their Skin"
Thirsty voices, thirty first impressions, and thirty untold stories written in thirty different styles. Within the walls of a high school junior English class in Racine, WI, the different voices inside intertwine, collide and shake you to the core, all while the students try to complete an assignment in a ninety-minute block of time.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AEPQyaQo3
Where to purchase books: https://a.co/d/gujlKbx
Keenan Jones
Keenan Jones is an author and middle school teacher who resides in the Twin Cities of Minnesota but grew up in Gary, Indiana and the south suburbs of Chicago. He writes children’s stories that celebrate Black culture, community and the power of literacy.
Title(s):
“Saturday Morning at the 'Shop”
The barbershop is a sound booth, an art gallery, a playground, a classroom and so much more. It’s a place for artistry and comradery and, most importantly, community.
Website: https://KeenanJWrites.com/
Where to purchase books: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Saturday-Morning-at-the-Shop/Keenan-Jones/9781665940801
Lori Kindt
Lori is a very creative, 71-year-old mother and grandmother who published her first books in 2022. When she's not writing, Lori enjoys fiber arts, caring for her crazy 14-year-old cat, local wildlife, and gardening.
Title(s):
“Modern Martyr ~ Justice from the other side”
When Naomi and her beloved dog are killed in a devastating car accident, she soon learns that death isn't the end. With her dog at her side, Naomi fights to stop the dark forces from destroying her town and everyone she loves along with it.
“Lonely Tears ...silent fears”
A small, old-fashioned poetry book, with short poems that speak about life.
Website:
Where to purchase books: https://LoriKindtsbooks.netlify.app/
Mandie Brice
Mandie Brice has used her experience as an educator, multi-passionate entrepreneur, and yoga instructor to share ways to help people make their lives a little better. She lives with her family in Milwaukee and loves to travel.
Title(s):
“Happiness Habits: Tiny Tweaks and Hormone Hacks to Boost Bliss”
This book provides science-backed strategies anyone can use to feel a little happier without doing a complete life overhaul, spending a ton of money, or committing hours and hours to making changes.
Website:
Where to purchase books: http://www.HappinessHabits.life
Matthew Kopf
Matthew Kopf is the author of “Sarah’s Still Life” (2021) and the upcoming “The Giants of Hildebrandt Meyer.” His fiction is character-driven, often lingering on the struggles of chasing one’s dreams, the ache of loneliness and the longing for connection.
Title(s):
“Sarah's Still Life”
A coming of age novel about a tea shop clerk struggling against her difficult family and circumstances in hopes of beginning a career as a food scientist.
“The Giants of Hildebrandt Meyer” (Fall 2026)
Bored, middle-aged, tax analyst Hildebrandt Meyer is thrust into a reckoning after a near-fatal collision shatters his assumptions about his life. He abandons his profession and dares himself to chase the dream he once surrendered.
Website: https://www.MatthewKopf.com
Where to purchase books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/163676892X
Melinda Hadley
Melinda Hadley is the author of “God’s By My Side Every Moment.” She shares real-life testimony of God’s faithfulness through every season.
Title(s):
“God's By My Side Every Moment”
A devotional built from real-life testimonies of loss, healing, obedience and God’s unfailing presence. Through personal encounters and reflections, Melinda Hadley invites readers to recognize God walking with them through every season of life.
Melvin D. Hargrove
Melvin D. Hargrove is the pastor and founder of Zoe Outreach Ministries in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin and a veteran of 19+ years. He received a bachelor’s of science in sociology from UW-Parkside in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Title(s):
“Man Of God: Black Manhood in Concert with Biblical Manhood”
Speaks to the truth of manhood being theologically and biblically defined first by Elohim, the Creator God. It also addresses the understanding of manhood being a deliberate and intentional process of maturation and growth, physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.
Website: https://www.MelvinHargroveMinistries.com/
Where to purchase books: https://www.MelvinHargroveMinistries.com/
Nick Comande
Nick is a lifelong resident of Racine. He served in the Racine Fire Department for over 32 years.
Title(s):
“My Comet Tales”
Nick Comande discovered the notes he kept when tracking Halley’s Comet during its 1986 visit and decided to share his observations and excitement from the six months he followed the comet during the different stages of its journey.
“Climbing For Causes: A Persoanl Story”
Based on his day-by-day journals written on the highest peaks of five of the seven continents of the world, Nick Comande — with no formal training whatsoever — traveled from Africa to Antarctica, facing harsh weather conditions, delays, a plane crash and illness as he tried to raise money for various charities.
Website: http://www.ClimbingForCauses.org
Where to purchase books: https://www.AuthorHouse.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/861311-my-comet-tales
R. Adrian Kolosso
R. Adrian Kolosso takes inspiration from the strange and unique. “The Halfdan Saga” is his first published novel, with many more on the way and to be published within the year.
Title(s):
“The Halfdan Saga”
Halfdan, a Norseman and mercenary, has to grapple with the consequences of a deal gone wrong that resulted in the death of a friend.
“Battle of Edge Keep”
Going against his morals, Halfdan goes back on his word and flees across Norway, making friends and allies along the way as he battles ancient beasts and cursed beings.
“Princess of Stones”
The castle is at siege and seemingly at a stalemate, only for it to end when someone let's the enemy in. It's up to an ill-equipped guard to find and save his beloved princess
Where to purchase books:
Robert R Lentz
I grew up in Caledonia, Wisconsin. I am a retired construction worker and farmer.
Title(s):
“Loving Amber. A father's story.”
A story about life with our severely handicapped daughter and its challenges.
Where to purchase books: https://a.co/d/iayule6
Rory Graves
With more than 14 years of experience in Racine’s archives and museums, Rory Graves has deep roots in local history. Haunted Racine draws on historical research and regional folklore to explore the people, places, and stories that linger in the city’s collective memory.
Title(s):
“Haunted Racine”
Like so many cities bordering Lake Michigan, Racine has a long and storied history. Some of that history is stranger than fiction.
Website: https://UnconventionalHistorian.com/
Where to purchase books: https://www.ArcadiaPublishing.com/products/haunted-racine-9781467150781
Stephanie Vorwald
Stephanie Vorwald is a mom of three boys, a dental hygienist by day, and an author by passion. When she’s not writing, she loves traveling, fishing, and making memories with her family.
Title(s):
“Witches and Immortals”
“Secrets and Thyme”
“Eric & Izzy”
“Bonds and Bones”
When Freya’s world collides with witches and chaos magic, she’s forced to navigate love, loss, betrayal, and generations of hidden secrets. In a universe where villains are made and not born, she learns that true power lies not in magic, but in love, sacrifice, and the courage to choose who to trust and who to become.
Where to purchase books: https://a.co/d/1zcQylT
Tracy A Daniels
Tracy Daniels is a licensed practicing counselor. She has worked extensively in the substance abuse and domestic violence fields.
Title(s):
“In the Midst of it all”
This autobiography details the author’s decisions while growing up in the inner city of Racine, Wisconsin.
April 25, 2026
10:00am - 4:00pm
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