Midwest Writers Room

Luella and Ken
  • 5.0 (13)
  • BOOKS

Podcast from the Wisconsin Writers Association. We discuss all things writerly, with an emphasis on the unique flavor of works that originate in the Midwest.

  1. 1D AGO

    Chapter Break with Laurie Hertzel

    BIO: Laurie spent 15 years as the books editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune (now called the Minnesota Star Tribune) and is the author of News to Me: Adventures of an Accidental Journalist, also published by the University of Minnesota Press and winner of a Minnesota Book Award. She reviews books for the Washington Post and the Boston Globe, and teaches in the MFA in Narrative Nonfiction program at the University of Georgia. SYNOPSIS: Laurie’s new book, “Ghosts of Fourth Street,” is a memoir that takes place in 1965 and 1966 in Duluth. It’s the story of a big complicated family that faces tragedy when the oldest son died, and it is told through the eyes of Laurie as a nine-year-old child. The book examines themes of family and loss, but it is mainly about the power of story—the stories told about the past, the stories families tell about themselves, the stories that little Laurie read In books that gave her solace during a difficult time. And it’s about the stories that families don’t tell, and what that kind of silence means. LINKS: lauriehertzel.net

    22 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Chapter Break with Tammy Borden

    BIO: Tammy Borden is sought-after speaker and author of Waltraud: A True Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany, a World War II novel based on her mother’s first-hand accounts as a German girl during one of the darkest chapters in history. As a professional copywriter turned novelist, she also worked in nonprofits for more than 20 years where she helped others tell their stories before pursuing her own creative endeavors. She and her husband live in Wisconsin where they enjoy nature, gardening, and Sunday afternoon naps. SYNOPSIS: Waltraud: A True Story of Growing Up in Nazi Germany is a gripping tale of survival and quiet resistance. Inspired by true accounts of the real Waltraud, the author’s mother, the novel shines a rare light on World War II from a German citizen perspective inside Hitler’s Germany, and introduces an unsung heroine who refuses to give in to an ideology of hate. Waltraud is more than a story of war. It is a testament to resilience, unbreakable love, and the strength of the human spirit. LINKS: TammyBorden.com

    19 min

  3. 5D AGO

    Season 4, Ep. 6 - Geoff Herbach, March 2026

    BIO: Geoff grew up in Southwestern Wisconsin playing both football and the cello. He is the author of nine Young Adult novels, a picture book, and a literary novel. He received the Cybils Award for best YA Fiction, the Minnesota Book Award, and the Burr/Worzalla Award from the Wisconsin Library Association.  Geoff’s books have been highlighted by the Junior Library Guild and listed among the year’s best by the American Library Association, the American Booksellers Association, and the International Literacy Association. In the past, he produced radio comedy shows and toured rock clubs telling weird stories. Geoff teaches creative writing at Minnesota State University, Mankato. LINKS: https://gjherbach.com/

    36 min

  4. MAR 21

    Chapter Break with Jaqueline Redmer

    Bio:  Jackie Redmer is a family medicine physician who practices geriatrics and palliative care in the Driftless Region of Southwest Wisconsin. She is also the mother of three school-aged daughters.   She started writing poetry during the pandemic to steady herself during the brief pauses of a busy life.  Over the years this has taken on different forms.  Her writing has been published in the Examined Life Journal, The Intima Journal, Bramble, Pulse, Wisconsin Poets Calendar and Kevin MD Blog. She completed the Columbia University Narrative Medicine CPA Program and pursued creative writing courses through Stanford University Continuing Studies Program.  Synopsis: Dissociative Effect Dissociative Effect is Dr. Redmer’s debut poetry collection. In this book she reminds us that humans have evolved to "think in stories, to talk in stories, to narrate an unfolding autobiography to ourselves in stories . . ." She reminds us that the narrative process is a template for healing as our narrative lives can be rewritten, retold, restoried. The "dissociative effect" is a reference to the anesthetic ketamine and the distance one can sometimes feel from living an embodied, authentic life. It is also a testimonial to the perspective shifting that is a necessary part of healing and the wisdom that can come from aging. Dr. Redmer uses Dissociative Effect as her own blueprint for healing. She organizes the book in 3 sections - disease (pathos), diagnosis (diagnoses), and treatment (ad sanadum) and exposes lessons learned when one looks deeply at the difficulties encountered in living a life. LINKS: jaquelineredmer.com

    31 min

  5. MAR 12

    Chapter Break with Richard Sweitzer

    BIO: Richard is an award-winning writer and longtime morning radio host. He received his Master of Arts degree in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Prior to that he studied English Literature and Creative Writing at UW-Stevens Point, winning the English Department Award, the Letters and Science Award, and the Ellen Specht Memorial Award, all while graduating summa cum laude. Richard also hosts a popular morning radio show in central Wisconsin. His decades-long tenure in radio has earned him numerous broadcast awards and significant recognition for his public service. He is also a joke writer for a world-famous comedian. SYNOPSIS: An immortal monster searching for a way to die, and the little girl who gives him reason to live.  At its most basic, that describes the heart of the story in ODE: The Scion of Nerikan. And while those two characters and their quest dominate the pages, it’s the friends and foes they meet along the way that truly flesh out their story. This emotional character-driven adventure has been described as a “gateway book” for those who have never read fantasy, and has been praised for its writing style and literary merit, including earning a prestigious “starred review” by Kirkus Reviews. LINKS: www.RichardSweitzer.com

    24 min

  6. MAR 9

    Season 4, Ep. 5 - Kara Grajkowski, March 2026

    BIO: Kara is an elementary school teacher by day and a literary agent for 3 Seas Literary Agency by mid-afternoon. She is passionate about championing high-interest, accessible stories that celebrate diverse identities and experiences. Having grown up immersed in the publishing world, Kara developed an early appreciation for the journey from manuscript to bookshelf. She is drawn to heartfelt, authentic stories that resonate in both vibrant classrooms and cozy reading corners.  LINKS: https://www.threeseasagency.com/

    30 min

  7. FEB 23

    Season 4, Ep. 4 - Sarah Tilton, February 2026

    BIO: Sarah, who writes under the pen name, Serra Wildheart, is a multi-genre indie author, speaker, and coach. The Legends of Star Junction series invites readers on an entertaining and insightful journey with captivating characters and mystical allies. She is the managing co-founder of Scribe Hive Publishing, which is a cooperative of indie authors.  LINKS: www.serrawildheart.com https://www.scribehivepublishing.com/serra-wildheart

    36 min

  8. FEB 20

    Chapter Break with Angela Bier

    BIO: Angie is a former pediatrician, mother, and a Wisconsinite from birth. Her interests run the gamut from genealogy to the obsessive collecting of perennials, from pilates to creative napping. Voices is her second book, the first was a work of nonfiction genealogical mystery titled The Accidental Archivist. She is a member of AllWriters Workplace & Workshop and a member of the Door County Published Authors Collective. She lives between Franklin and Gills Rock, Wisconsin, with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs. SYNOPSIS: When Elena moves to small-town Belvedere her junior year, she worries about fitting her high-achieving self into a new small-town school. When she starts hearing voices, the challenges wildly multiply. Told from the points of view of Elena, her mother, and a new frenemy named Kat, Voices explores relationships between women and the stories we tell ourselves--with a dash of magical realism thrown in. LINKS: www.angelabier.com

    25 min
See All (131)

5
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Podcast from the Wisconsin Writers Association. We discuss all things writerly, with an emphasis on the unique flavor of works that originate in the Midwest.

Information

  • Creator
    Luella and Ken
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    131
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Midwest Writers Room
  • Show Website
    Midwest Writers Room

You Might Also Like