Speaking Engagements

Welcome to the Speaking Engagements page, which is updated by Mike -- often on two hours of sleep and three thermoses of coffee. So scroll down for the details, but remember: it's always good to call the venue to verify times, dates, etc. Yep.

General speaking note: Every year I say I'm trying to cut back, especially now that I have pigs, chickens and babies. I like getting out there to shake hands and say thanks, and I never tire of explaining why you should never stand behind a sneezing cow, so please feel free to inquire about speaking engagements, but please don't take it as an indication of anything other than my writing and home-fire commitments if I must decline. There are two little girls here who won't be little girls forever.

We do keep a list of all speaking requests - we're grateful for every one of'em and we do our best to get to as many as we can.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS 2008

(previous engagements/clients/references here)

January 25, 2008 - Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Mike and Band. They're calling it the NEW!/IMPROVED? show. Mike will be reading material from the new book he is working on, and then he'll be joined onstage by the Long Beds (and their "One New Song" guarantee). Tickets are $8 at the door. NOTE: 15% of ticket sales will be donated to Angelspace, a local provider of end-of-life care of the terminally ill. 8 p.m., The Nucleus/Racy D'Lene's Coffee Lounge, 404 Riverside Avenue. (715) 834-0000.

January 30, 2008 - Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Guest speaker, Eau Claire Lions Club Game Feed. St. Olaf Community Center, 2407 North Lane. Doors open at 5:30, dinner at 6:30. As I recall, this event is loaded with door prizes.

January 31, 2008 - Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Guest speaker, Chippewa Valley Chapter of the Red Cross Real Heroes Awards Dinner. Schedule of events here, reservations required, (715) 834-4182 for more info.

February 1 - Duluth, Minnesota. Mike and Band. Mike will read/yap and then be joined onstage with his band the Long Beds. Yessir. It's always fun. 7 p.m., Duluth Depot, 122 W. Michigan. Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door (advance tickets available at Perry Framing and Northern Lights Books & Gifts). Also, please bring a gently used/new children's book to donate for preschool literacy efforts in the Twin Ports area. More info/advance tickets: (218) 722-5267.

February 2 - Cable, Wisconsin. In-store signing at Redbery Books, 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Mike will hang out, visit and sign books for an hour. 42785 Hwy 63. (715) 798-5014

February 2 - Hayward, Wisconsin. Mike will be making a brief appearance at the Pavilion Wine Cave. My longtime friend Molly owns this funky place. I'll read or yap a little, and then I'll introduce Molly's mother Laurie Otis, who will read from her book The Amarantha Stories. I believe this is happening around 5 p.m., but you should call (715) 634-3923 for specific times and details.

February 2, 2008 - Hayward, Wisconsin. Mike and Band. 7:30 p.m. Mike will read/yap and then be joined onstage with his band the Long Beds. Expect sensitive twang. And chicken banter. This will be in the very cool Park Theater. Tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Here's a link to the theater info. Please note: We inadvertently told some folks that tickets were $10 in advance (they're $12) and that the show started at 7:00 p.m. (it starts at 7:30). We apologize for any confusion(s). This is not the first time we (Mike) has come up two dollars and half an hour short.

February 9, 2008 - Tomah, Wisconsin. Guest speaker, The Wisconsin Weekend for Hoof Trimmers and Families. Cow hooves, that is. I never trimmed a cow hoof. Sheep hooves, you betcha. Evening event, Cranberry County Lodge and Waterpark.

March 1, 2008 - Flintstone, Maryland. Guest speaker, Miltenberger Emergency Services Seminar.

March 7, 2008 - Mundelein, Illinois. Keynote speaker, 2008 Midwest Land Conservation Conference. More info at (269) 324-1683.

March 8, 2008 - Mineral Point, Wisconsin. Mike and Band.

2 p.m.-4:00 p.m. - Writers Workshop with Mike (location TBA). This will be an informal Q&A and discussion. Mike will talk about freelance writing, take yer questions, and sign books after the session. Cost is $25; maximum enrollment is 35. To register for the workshop, call 608.987.3292 or register on-line.

7:00 p.m. - Reading and concert, Alley Stage. Mike will yap, perform humorous interpretations of his scribbling and strain for literary relevance for about 45 minutes. Then Mike and his band the Long Beds will take the stage for a 50-60 minute music set. Danger: Billy is threatening to bring his banjo. After the show books and CDs will be available for sale (Mike will sign and shoot the breeze) and the Mineral Point Rescue Squad will serve dessert and coffee. Admission is $15 per person, with net proceeds going to Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts and the Mineral Point Rescue Squad. Tickets will be available at Shake Rag Alley, Berget’s Jewelry, and other venues in Mineral Point. Tickets will also be available on-line at www.shakeragalley.com or by calling (800) 838-3006. Some tickets will be available at the door.

March 22, 2008 - Amery, Wisconsin. Reading, discussion, signing. 7:30 p.m. The Northern Lakes Center for the Arts, 113 Elm St. (715) 268-6811. Tickets $5 adults, $1 children. Coffee and refreshments after.

March 28, 2008 - Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Guest speaker, WITC Leadership Conference. Registration required, info here. The keynote speaker is Pepper Burrus, head trainer of the Green Bay Packers. Yessir!

March 29, 2008 - Menomonie, Wisconsin. SOLD OUT Band Performance. Mike and the Long Beds take the stage of the gorgeous Mabel Tainter Theater for a full-length concert. This is a beautiful venue. Maybe we'll do a laser show. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $10 for adults, $8 for students/seniors, $6 for kids. 205 Main Street. (715) 235-0001 ext. 100 SOLD OUT

March 31, 2008 - Buffalo, Minnesota. This is a "Community Read" program to be held at Buffalo High School. There will be a reception from 5-6 p.m. At 6 p.m., several Buffalo High School students will lead a discussion of "Population 485". Mike will speak at 7 p.m. Buffalo High School, 877 Bison Blvd. More info: Bob Driver at (763) 682-8105.

April 1, 2008 - Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Guest speaker, private event.

April 7, 2008 - Mondovi, Wisconsin. Reading, discussion, signing. 7:00 p.m., Roger Marten Community Center. More info: (715) 926-4403.

April 10, 2008 - Menomonie, Wisconsin. Guest speaker. 6:30 p.m., West Wisconsin Land Trust Annual Member Meeting at the Mabel Tainter Theater, 205 Main Street. (715) 235-8850.

April 14, 2008 - Whitewater, Wisconsin. Reading, discussion, signing. 7:00 p.m., in the Summers Auditorium of the James R. Connor University Center. Open to the public, more details here.

April 15, 2008 - Lake Mills, Wisconsin. Reading, discussion, signing. 6:30 p.m., L.D. Fargo Public Library. (920) 648-2166.

April 16, 2008 - Chilton, Wisconsin. CHILTON EVENT SOLD OUT Reading, signing, discussion. 6:30 p.m. at the Chilton Public Library, 221 Park Street. (920) 849-4414. Mike will also be speaking at a local school. This is part of the Fox Cities Book Festival. Man, look at some of those names. CHILTON EVENT SOLD OUT

April 26-27, 2008 - Port Huron, Michigan. This will be a two-day event in conjunction with St. Clair Community College featuring Pulitzer-winning poet Franz Wright and my friend Mike Magnuson. Public event will be a reception and reading in the college's Fine Arts Theatre. For more information call (810) 989-5500. Updated information here.

April 29, 2008 - Traverse City, Michigan. Reading, discussion, signing. ~~Osterlin Library~~, Northwestern Michigan College. (231) 995-1019. This event is actually at the Hagerty Center on NMC's Great Lakes campus. 7 p.m.

May 7, 2008 - Monroe, Wisconsin. Reading, discussion, signing as time allows (must be in Beloit by 4:45 p.m.). Monroe Senior Center. more info: (608) 325-3173.

May 7, 2008 - Beloit, Wisconsin. Reading, discussion, signing. 7 p.m., Rotary River Center, 1100 Riverside Drive. (608) 364-2915.

May 8, 2008 - Madison, Wisconsin. Keynote speaker, Wisconsin Literacy's 6th Annual Celebration of Literacy. Among other things, this is a fundraiser for Wisconsin Literacy. Tickets required, more information here or call (608) 257-1655.

June 26-29, 2008 - Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Jackson Hole Writers Conference.

June 27, 2008 - Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Guest speaker, Jackson Hole Fire/EMS banquet. 6 p.m. at the Teton Pines.

September 6, 2008 - Washburn, Wisconsin. 7 p.m., Big Top Chautauqua. "Old Last Night" with Blue Canvas Orchestra, comedian C. Willi Myles, author and humorist Michael Perry, lunatic Tomas Kubinek, and other special guests. Tickets $32/$26/$18.

November 10, 2008 - Cameron, Wisconsin. Details pending.

And more to come...

We do keep a list of all speaking requests - we're grateful for every one of'em and we do our best to get to as many as we can.