The Wisconsin Book Festival took place between October 23 to October 26, 2025, in Madison, Wisconsin. The event celebrates authors from across the country (and even the world) as they partake in panel discussions with moderators and room for audience questions.
Last year, The Badger Herald reported on the Wisconsin Book Festival’s events and spoke with a few of its featured authors. This year — in a time where reading and literacy seems more important than ever — the Herald did the same. What follows is a recap of just some of the Festival’s offerings and the authors who made attending worthwhile.
Jane Rotonda: Speaking with the Director
Similarly to last year, the Badger Herald spoke with Jane Rotonda, the Director of the Wisconsin Book Festival, in anticipation of this year’s event. Rotonda said the Book Festival, which is partnered with the Madison Public Library Foundation, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Public Library this year. She said the Festival, which celebrates literacy, reading and community conversations, is an apt celebration of the anniversary.
“It’s truly an honor and really delightful to showcase the 150 years of service of the Madison Public Library system,” Rotonda said.
Rotonda said she was led to her position due to a childhood love of similar book festivals, and a consistent highlight for her is seeing similar enthusiasm from guests. When touching on this year’s festival, Rotonda said each year’s events differ significantly from one another due to the vastly different authors and speakers in attendance.
The Wisconsin Book Festival, as any attendee can confirm, takes feedback seriously — surveys are requested after every event. The Herald spoke to Rotonda about how this feedback was incorporated into this year’s Festival. One major change, according to Rotonda, was the inclusion of microphones for accessibility purposes.
“It seems like a small example, but it’s not so small for those who it really matters to and feels important to,” Rotonda said.
Another returning feature inspired by feedback is the free coffee cart staffed by Cafe Domestique, according to Rotonda.
Lastly, Rotonda discussed the role of the Book Festival in the modern, post-pandemic age. She said events like the Book Festival appeal to a growing need for in-person events where one can connect with a community. Rotonda also said anyone should attend the Book Festival, and attending the events themselves are free and only require interest, not expertise.
“I think people are really valuing those organic moments that you simply can’t recreate in the virtual world … it’s unique, feels personal and just that more connected,” Rotonda said.
The Events of this Year’s Festival
The Badger Herald attended multiple events over the course of the Book Festival.
On Thursday, October 23, author Jane Hamilton hosted a conversation about her newest release, “The Phoebe Variations.” A coming-of-age story inspired by “Jane Eyre,” it depicts the titular protagonist as she meets her biological family upon encouragement from her adoptive mother.
During the talk — which was so full that attendees had to sit on the floor! — Hamilton discussed the value of female friendships, how reliable narrators can be and how she hoped to depict the strength of motherhood. Many of Hamilton’s writings, she said, were inspired by her time at London’s globe theater.
“[I want to write] a place to be for myself that was half as joyful as that theater,” Hamilton said.
On Friday, October 24, David Wroblewski discussed his new novel, “Familiaris,” a historical fiction novel that serves as a stand-alone prequel to his first work, “The Story of Edward Sawtelle.” An Oprah Book Club pick for 2024, the story follows a group of friends and family — accompanied by their dogs — as they explore the Wisconsin Northwoods.
Wroblewski drew a distinction between both of his works, particularly how the lighter tone of “Familiaris” shows a different side of family than the more tragic “Edward Sawtelle.” He discussed his research on the region and on dogs as well as the importance of enjoying writing.
“If you’re not having fun as a writer, you’re not going to write things people want to read,” Wroblewski said.
Saturday, October 25 was the busiest day of the Book Festival (at least for The Badger Herald). The first event celebrated author Jaquira Díaz’s new release, “This is the Only Kingdom,” moderated by professor Dantiel Moniz of the University of Wisconsin’s creative writing department. The novel features many characters, though at its core focuses on a mother and daughter in Puerto Rico as they contend with a murder, their harsh working-class environment and more.
Díaz discussed one of the major themes of her work: how people’s decisions are motivated by their environment. She talked about how she strove to depict her numerous characters with complexity and sympathy, recognizing their mistakes as part of a systemic whole.
“People aren’t [just] good or bad … everything is influenced by their environment,” Díaz said.
After a brief complimentary coffee break, The Herald attended an event discussing “Indian Country,” the newest release by author Shobha Rao. The novel follows an Indian married couple who move to Montana, coming in contact with the colonization of the U.S. and recalling their own.
Rao, who spent a brief but formative time in Madison, spoke at length about the value of the environment both in literature and in the real world. A primary theme of “Indian Country,” she said, was the importance of memory and how nature’s recollection surpasses our own.
“Land and water remember … they hold our memories,” Rao said.
Immediately after was a talk featuring UW alum Jon Hickey discussing his debut novel, “The Big Chief.” A political novel following a contested election in a tribal nation, the story is just as concerned with issues of corruption and power as it is with identity.
Hickey said that, though the book is clearly topical, he hoped to avoid it becoming a parody and instead remind readers of guiding principles of democracy. He discussed how he strove to depict tribal politics as competent and complex, as well as showing how most of his characters — like most people — balance privilege and anti-privilege. Ultimately, however, he noted the importance of his own audience.
“This book is nothing until it reaches a reader,” Hickey said.
A novel following not a tribe but a group of friends over much of their lives is “The Wilderness” by Angela Flournoy, who also spoke on Saturday. The novel, which Flournoy said was launched by the question of “why friendship?” explores five women’s relationships over 20 years.
A major theme of the novel, Flournoy said, was the role of privilege both in one’s behavior and how they exert it to help (or not help) others. She also spoke about how mid-life can be interpreted as the second coming-of-age, and how its important role has been undermined by American culture’s devaluing of aging. Still, Flournoy admitted that her book was more of a thoughtful reflection than an attempt to rapidly reshape societal values.
“You don’t write a book to control perceptions,” Flournoy said.
The last event attended may have also been the largest, centered around Lily King’s new book “Heart the Lover.” Described by King as a good student’s love triangle with two genius students, the work follows three college students and their relationships with learning and one another.
King explored how her characters, while each sympathetic, damage each other thanks to their own internal conflicts. She also noted how many aspects of her stories — such as the role of card games in “Heart the Lover” — emerged naturally over the course of the creative process.
“You never know while you’re writing a novel what things will take on thematic power,” King said.
The Herald, of course, only attended seven out of over thirty events at the Wisconsin Book Festival. It is reasonable to assume, however, that each author provided a similarly valuable and unique perspective as the ones discussed above.
What now follows are a series of interviews between The Badger Herald and some of the featured authors discussed above.
Martha Barnette: The Value of Words
Martha Barnette, the co-host of the linguistics-oriented podcast “A Way with Words,” recently released a book about her experiences, “Friends with Words.”
The Herald spoke with Barnette before her event about her work and what inspired her to pursue a life surrounded by linguistics. Barnette said her interest in linguistics stems from her mother being an English teacher, Latin courses in high school and meeting a professor in college. She was brought into podcasting work after writing a book on linguistics.
In terms of the inspiration for “Friends with Words,” specifically, Barnette said the book originated from a realization that she had been hosting her show for 20 years. She also said it addresses various questions she and her co-host, Grant Barrett, had been asked over the years.
“I was surprised one day when I just looked up … and realized I had been doing this for 20 years … we still haven’t run out of things to talk about when it comes to language,” Barnette said.
Barnette has attended book festival events before, she said, and a recurring positive is meeting fans face-to-face. She also said she learns quite a bit about linguistics simply from speaking to her listeners.
Barnette, who once wrote for the Washington Post, said her writing and podcasting work differed in the sense that her writing requires a higher mastery of language. She said she adored the process of wrestling a sentence to fit perfectly, which is significantly more difficult when speaking in real time.
Lastly, Barnette discussed the role of language in a rapidly-changing world. Barnette said she preferred authenticity and clarity in writing, especially in the age of generative AI and appreciates when writers develop their own language (such as for a fantasy setting) without the assistance of generative AI. According to Barnette, while story structure and plot beats might be shared by works across history, artists’ different uses of language will always produce original-feeling stories.
“Somebody who isn’t like me is going to tell the same basic plot, but in a very different way … that’s one of the wonderful things about [writing],” Barnette said.
David Wroblewski: Animals and Trust
The Herald also spoke to David Wroblewski about his work and new novel, “Familiaris.” Wroblewski said he did not initially intend to be an author but instead pursued programming and computer science research, taking 15 years after when he began writing to publish his first work. Wroblewski said he had attended past Book Festival events, though each is very different.
“They are all based in their locale … you wouldn’t mistake yourself for being anywhere else,” Wroblewski said.
Wroblewski’s writing focuses extensively on animals, particularly dogs. According to Wroblewski, that interest was developed at an early age when he was tasked with socializing and training puppies. What Wroblewski hoped to do, he said, was convey the incredibly communicative nature of dogs through writing, particularly focusing on their behavior and perception of the world.
Another recurring concept of Wroblewski’s writing is a focus on Wisconsin’s history. Wisconsin’s unique geography and Wroblewski’s personal experience living in and observing the state led to his setting stories in the state, Wroblewski said.
Lastly, Wroblewski offered advice for aspiring authors. He said writers should value what they write and to have more confidence in their language, even if it initially contrasts their preconceived notions.
“Trust what the language is doing on the page … follow where it goes,” Wroblewski said.
Jane Hamilton: The Importance of Interest
The Badger Herald also spoke with Jane Hamilton, bestselling author of eight novels, about her work and new novel, “The Phoebe Variations.” Hamilton said her writing career was inspired by her mother, who was a poet and short story author, and her grandmother, a novelist.
“I just grew up in a culture of women who were writing,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said her favorite aspect of Book Festivals are the questions audiences pose to her, and particularly enjoyed the Wisconsin Book Festival due to her close relationship with Madison. She said she frequently sells apples at the Madison farmer’s market and even saw prior customers in attendance.
Hamilton attended Carleton College for her undergraduate degree, where she had the privilege to read and think about books for four years, she said. Another crucial aspect of her time at Carleton, Hamilton said, was her proximity to other writers. Still, according to Hamilton, one’s specific degree is less important than some would think.
“It doesn’t matter what you major in as an undergrad, as long as you’re taking a deep dive and focusing your brain in a certain way,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said her works were in conversation with some of her favorite authors, such as Jane Austen. According to Hamilton, all authors must possess some love for reading, and their particular favorite works inform their artistic purpose.
Lastly, Hamilton offered advice for aspiring authors. According to Hamilton, the number of readers is less important than having a few trusted individuals who you trust to review your work deeply. Hamilton also said that, while the current industry for writing is difficult for new authors, one must at their core enjoy writing.
“If you’re not enjoying the process, which isn’t to say that it isn’t sometimes very difficult, then find something else to do,” Hamilton said.
Shobha Rao: The Role of Companionship
After attending her event at the Festival, The Badger Herald spoke with Shobha Rao and her new work, “Indian Country.” Rao said her interest in writing developed at an early age, where books like “Little House on the Prairie” and “Crime and Punishment” accompanied her through the at-times nervous life of a U.S. immigrant.
“I thought, well, what if I can be this companion for someone else, right?” Rao said.
According to Rao, the best aspect of Book Festivals is the interaction between authors and fans. At the Wisconsin Book Festival specifically, Rao said she enjoyed the gamut of ages and faces attending her event.
Rao, who has written numerous short stories in the past, said her decision to develop “Indian Country” into a full-fledged novel stemmed from a desire to explore its characters and narrative in-depth as opposed to her shorter works. Rao, who spoke about the role of environment in fiction at her event, said she often compares her internal feelings to natural phenomena.
Rao’s previous stories have balanced American and Indian settings. When asked about the differences between the two, Rao said she must grapple with feelings of nostalgia while writing stories set in India and her current immersion in the United States while writing stories set there. Her ultimate goal, she said, is to depict both countries as accurately as possible.
In terms of advice for aspiring writers, Rao said authors must be aware that success is never guaranteed. According to Rao, the best practice is to continue one’s work even if it seems difficult to triumph.
“There’s no substitute for [perseverance] … there’s no shortcut,” Rao said.
Jaquira Díaz: Why Literature is Important
The next interview was held between The Badger Herald and author Jaquira Díaz. Like some of her fellow authors, Díaz said her love for writing came from her family, particularly her father who was a Puerto Rican poet. She said she was fascinated by books even before she could understand them thanks to her father’s constant reading. According to Díaz, a major revelation arrived when attending the funeral of famed protest poet Juan Antonio Corretjer.
“It was kind of a moment of awareness for me, where I realized poets and writers were important,” Díaz said.
As part of Book Festivals Díaz values, she said, is connecting with seemingly unfamiliar people and realizing they have common ground through their enjoyment of literature. She said “This is the Only Kingdom” was originally non-fictional, but became easier to write once she decided to depict fictional characters instead of real people.
A major aspect of “This is the Only Kingdom” is its numerous characters. Díaz said she originally made a family tree but scrapped it, instead hoping to develop the characters to the point where a tree would be unnecessary. According to Díaz, she wrote numerous scenes of characters interacting to understand them better, even though she knew many would not end up in the final work.
Finally, Díaz said aspiring authors should make sure they read frequently and from an array of sources. According to Díaz, the best authors spend more time reading than they do writing.
“Read every genre, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, journalism, plays, screenplays … read as much as you possibly can and learn as much as you possibly can,” Díaz said.
Jon Hickey: Dialogue and Conversation
Lastly, The Badger Herald spoke with Jon Hickey, who is a UW graduate. Hickey said he wanted to understand the secrets of reading and writing due to his grandparents’ avid reading habits and massive collection of books. While an undergraduate, Hickey took extensive advantage of creative writing workshops, where he was exposed to writers both on campus and off-campus, he said.
While Hickey has attended book festivals before, he said this was his first time speaking at one. The experience, while exhausting, was well-appreciated, he said.
“Book tours are becoming much more of a rarity … I feel fortunate that my publisher believed in [my work] enough to send me out in the world,” Hickey said.
Hickey, who is a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Chippewa Indians, said he wanted to demonstrate the genuine consequences of tribal politics, where individuals leverage power for the sake of their people or for more self-centered aims.
Lastly, Hickey said that while he initially viewed writing as a solitary activity, he has since come to value the positive impact community can have on the craft. According to Hickey, authors should value conversations with their fellow writers, their agents, editors and their readers.
“You got to be in dialogue with people … art is a collaboration,” Hickey said.
Conclusion: The Festival as a Whole
Once again, the Wisconsin Book Festival highlighted the work and value of authors and brought together Madison’s already-vibrant community. The events attended by The Herald and the interviews it conducted highlighted the various roles of literature.
Some saw literature as a means of providing companionship to those who may, initially, feel out-of-place with their surroundings. Others saw it as a means of fostering political awareness and connection. All remarked on its communicative role, and how it can draw disparate groups together.
Perhaps, then, the Book Festival embodies one of the most valuable roles of authorship: its ability to foster awareness and camaraderie among all readers. Whether a student, writer or simply an interested fan, events like the Festival pose a means of connection unlike any other.
