Wine and Words Beer and Books

Written by MVWG Member Jess Witkins

The Mississippi Valley Writers Guild is pleased to announce its 4th Annual Wine & Words, Beer & Books event. Featuring nearly all new writers this year, and lots of brand new books, our fun and informal book fair will take place on Thursday, October 17th from 5:30-8:00pm at the Pump House Regional Arts Center. 


When we first launched Wine & Words, Beer & Books, we wanted to create an environment that celebrated the written word, supported local authors, and made getting to know the writers and their books a fun event. Book fairs can be overwhelming with so many options to choose from, and going up to an author at a table can be intimidating when you’re just trying to browse. We wanted to help with that! 


Wine & Words, Beer & Books is a party, a live reading, and a place to shop and socialize all in one! We hope you come on out, grab a drink, munch on some treats, enjoy the artwork in the Kader Gallery, and listen to local authors share excerpts from their books that span a variety of genres and age levels. There are breaks built into the readings so you have plenty of time to chat with authors, get your books personally signed, and top off your glass before the next batch begins. Find your next great read or pick up one (or two) for friends, after all the holidays aren’t far behind. 

This year, we’re pleased to host the following authors. AND, you can find teasers and book excerpts from all that we’re sharing by visiting our Facebook event page

Wine and Words Beer and Books_FB cover (2).png

See you October 17th, and happy reading, friends! 


Event Authors Sharing their Work

(listed alphabetically)

Joanne Adragna Shird

Kimberlee Ann Bastian

Phyllis Beckman

Alice Benson

Ken Blomberg

Julien Bradley

Gayle C. Edlin

Kaye Henrickson

Kathleen Kenney Peterson

Tracy Schuldt Helixon

William Stobb

Patricia Stoiber Ott

Kathryn Sullivan

Jan Wellik

Here are a few fun photos from our event last year!


Jess Witkins claims the title Perseverance Expert. From party crashing as an Oops Baby to paving her way through pop culture, Jess explores it all. Her special skills include: Pretending to be an orphan, severe allergic reactions to the sun, hanging out in coffee shops, and quoting movie lines from the Oscar winning film, Spaceballs. Hang out with Jess on her blog where she attempts to make pathetic look cool. You’re welcome to laugh with her, or at her, as I find the humorous side in life. Go ahead, SUBSCRIBE, you know you want to.