On Sunday, October 29th the Broadway Theatre Center’s lobby will be filled with published Wisconsin authors before, during, and after performances of Renaissance Theaterworks’ production of SEX WITH STRANGERS. The authors appearing from 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday are: Cari Taylor-Carson, Christi Craig, Kathy Lanzarotti, Mel Miskimen, Pam Parker, Lisa Rivero, and Kim Suhr. They represent memoir, non-fiction, humor, and short stories.
As an advance introduction to the authors, Renaissance (RTW) asked them questions related to their writing and some of the conflicts presented in the play SEX WITH STRANGERSZ by Laura Eason.
Lisa Rivero
RTW: Can you describe your current book? What genre is it? What do you like about that genre? And what other kinds of writing do you do?
LISA: Recently I co-edited (with Christi Craig) and published an anthology of creative nonfiction, essays, and found poetry titled Family Stories from the Attic. Collaborating with Christi, who did the bulk of the editing, was a dream, and we both were fortunate to work with twenty-two generous, talented authors from around the United States and New Zealand. The book’s concept was to showcase writing as a way to understand more fully our personal and collective pasts, by writing about objects such as diaries, letters, photographs, notebooks—even a set of family silver. Given the diversity of approaches and backgrounds of the submissions we accepted, we were delightfully surprised at how well the collection held together as a whole.
In addition to publishing, I have written non-fiction books, essays, articles, and fiction, and I’m currently doing a kind of (later than) mid-life pivot to focus on writing speculative fiction and poetry.
RTW: What inspired you to write? What kinds of fiction genres do you like reading?
LISA: For as long as I can remember, I knew I would be a writer, even when I was making my own childhood poetry chapbooks on construction paper, tied together with yarn. Over the years, that persistent beacon has taken several forms, from being a journalism and then English major, to technical writing, teaching composition to budding engineers, writing a food and wellness column, and writing about psychological topics. I love to read almost anything (including old-fashioned hard cover encyclopedias), but really enjoy quirky authors, such as George Saunders, Flannery O’Connor, and Haruki Murakami, as well as science fiction, fantasy, poetry, and all stories and novels that offer a glimpse into parts of the universe—real or imagined—that I previously did not know.
RTW: Have you ever been tempted to use initials to disguise your gender as a writer?
LISA: As I’m making the transition to trying my hand at more speculative fiction, I’ve thought about using initials or a gender-neutral pseudonym, as that’s a genre does seem to experience some gender-bias, and also to make a more defined transition from one aspect of my writing career to another. Right now, however, I’m leaning towards using my real name, whether from laziness or principle.
Lisa Rivero is the co-editor (with Christi Craig) and publisher of Family Stories from the Attic (Hidden Timber Books), an anthology of essays, creative nonfiction, and poetry inspired by family letters, objects, and archives. Lisa has written professionally for over two decades and taught college writing and creative thinking courses at the Milwaukee School of Engineering for many years. The author of four non-fiction books, a middle-grade historical novel, and several articles and essays, she is currently focusing on writing poetry and speculative fiction.
On Sunday, October 29th the Broadway Theatre Center’s lobby will be filled with published Wisconsin authors before, during, and after performances of Renaissance Theaterworks’ production of SEX WITH STRANGERS. The authors appearing from 1:00pm to 5:00pm on Sunday are: Cari Taylor-Carson, Christi Craig, Kathy Lanzarotti, Mel Miskimen, Pam Parker, Lisa Rivero, and Kim Suhr. They represent memoir, non-fiction, humor, and short stories.
As an advance introduction to the authors, Renaissance (RTW) asked them questions related to their writing and some of the conflicts presented in the play SEX WITH STRANGERS by Laura Eason.
Cari Taylor-Carson
First, a little bit about her book: Life on the Loose, a memoir, takes a suburban Mom with four teenagers on her journey of discovery. After she founded Venture West, an outdoor adventure travel business, she led week-long tours from canyons in Utah, to mountains to Montana, to Kathmandu. In the book, she writes of the learning curve she encountered as she traveled the world with her trusting customers close behind. She stumbled a few times and holds nothing back as she details the lessons she learned on the job. In the end, Taylor-Carlson gained both competence and confidence in her role as an outdoor guide
RTW: Cari, have you ever gotten a bad review?
Cari: I have received only positive reviews for Life on the Loose, however, as the Dining Critic for Urban Milwaukee, I have been called an unprofessional, passive-aggressive, nitpicking, racist hack, just not all in the same sentence. In my opinion, writers who put their work in to the public domain need a thick skin. It’s a process. Negative reviews hurt, especially when they attack the reviewer, not the review. When I receive a negative review, I question my worth as a writer, but have learned to carry on because writing is my passion.
RTW: Is having your latest novel optioned for a movie something that interests you?
Cari: If Reese Witherspoon wants to play me, I won’t turn her away. Unlike “Wild,” shot in the American west, Witherspoon would be able to travel the world as my doppelganger in Life on the Loose. Of course, I would be happy to join her and her Hollywood crew as an advisor to make sure they keep it real.
Cari Taylor-Carlson ran her own business, Venture West-guided outdoor adventures, for 32 years and founded the Milwaukee Walking and Eating Society. A former environmental educator at Schlitz Audubon Society and Boerner Botanical Gardens, Taylor-Carlson is now best known as a food writer. She is the author of several books on Milwaukee’s dining scene including Milwaukee Eats, Milwaukee’s Best Cheap Eats, and The Food Lover’s Guide to Milwaukee. She has written for many publications including Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin Trails, Silent Sports Magazine, Milwaukee Magazine, and M Magazine. She is a regular contributor to WUWM’s “Lake Effect” and curently reviews restaurants for Urban Milwaukee and Riverwest Currents.
To learn more, visit her website lifeontheloose.com.
Nothing to write about?!? Impossible! In “Pizzazz!” writers will participate in activities and exercises that “wake up” the creative side of their brains and open up a world of writing ideas. Ideas are all around us if we train our eyes to see them. (Teachers will come away with loads of writing ideas and topics, too!)
The Book You Publish Tomorrow Begins Today
It’s time to begin your book, so put on your jacket — your book jacket, that is. In this engaging workshop, participants will learn what other young authors have published and participate in creative exercises to help them focus their great ideas into book-worthy material. Whether they like to write poetry, fiction or non- fiction, this workshop will give young writers a sense of direction and a plan for making their writing dreams come true.
Writers’ Circles and Deep Revision
Moving beyond simple “peer editing,” this workshop trains young writers to give, receive and use feedback to make their writing come alive for their readers.
Custom Program
The instructor will craft a program that meets your group’s specific needs.
Rates:
Half day (3 hours): $500
Full day (6 hours): $900
(Includes instruction for up to 20 students. Add $15/student for each additional participant. Number may be limited by the format/topic chosen. )
The rate includes prep time, mileage (within 30 miles of Milwaukee), materials and instruction.
Other time durations are possible at an hourly rate.
Call 414.881.7276 or email: kim(at)redoakwriting.com to learn more and schedule your workshop.
Instructor: Kim Suhr is the Director of Red Oak Writing and the author of Nothing to Lose (Cornerstone Press, 2018). She holds holds a State of Wisconsin teaching license as well as an MFA in Creative Writing from the Solstice program.
Masks and vaccinations are encouraged but not required. We want to keep our staff, our campers, and their families safe, so please stay home if you have symptoms of covid or have tested positive. (We’ll provide some fun at-home writing activities and keep campers as connected as possible through technology.)
Led by accomplished writing coaches who tailor activities to the age and interests of each group, Creative Writing Camps provide young writers with the time, space, support, and community they need to nurture their passion for writing.
Each day includes some light-hearted activities, age-appropriate lessons on the craft of writing and, best of all, time to write. The grounds outdoors provide a lovely setting for gathering inspiration and listening to the writer within. We work outdoors as much as the weather will allow.
During the week, our writers share their work with others in a small writing circle to receive valuable input and support. Many list this as their favorite part of the week because they may not have writing friends at school or in their neighborhood. Friendships form quickly and last beyond the end of our week at camp.
On Friday, young writers present a reading of their favorite writings. Participation is optional. Friends and family are encouraged to attend.
Use the drop-down menu under “For Youth” to learn more
